Homely Tragedy. 251 



in. 



A green mountain slope, with red outcrop- 

 pings here and there, had originally suggested 

 untold treasure in the shape of rich iron ore. 

 This had produced, as the hill-side abundantly 

 showed, the various stages of mining enthusiasm, 

 But the ordinary processes of nature would, in 

 this case, seem to have been reversed ; and so 

 it came about that the wildest dreams of the 

 prospectors were never to be realised. The 

 rich red rock which showed at the top de- 

 generated in quality in exact ratio as it gained 

 in depth. And this fact it was that cost the 

 original holders so many thousands of pounds. 

 Never had speculation seemed less speculative. 

 But, instead of being buried in the inmost 

 recesses of the mountain, the absolutely pure 

 ironstone cropped up among the brackens, 

 picking out their tender green with its deep 

 earthy stains. Nuggets knocked from the 

 " leads" were dense and heavy to the hand, 

 and mutely asked but to be worked to be trans- 

 muted into gold. It needed but little persua- 

 sion for men to embark in this undertaking, and 

 that little was furnished by the mining engineers. 

 Their reports were as glowing as the red iron- 

 stone itself. Then active operations were com- 

 menced. Every one concerned threw himself 

 vigorously into the work, and a valley previously 



