FIRST INTER VIE W WITH AR TEMUS WARD. 285 



" No, no — no, no — you state it plain enough, but that cocktail has muddled ine 

 a little. But I will — no, I do understand for that matter ; but I would get the 

 hang of it all the better if you went over it again — and I'll pay better attention this 

 time." 



He said, " Why, what I was after was this." 



[Here he became even more fearfully impressive than ever, and emphasized each 

 particular point by checking it off on his finger ends.] 



" This vein, or lode, or ledge, or whatever you call it, runs along between two 

 layers of granite, just the same as if it were a sandwich. Very well. Now, suppose 

 you go down on that, say a thousand feet, or maybe twelve hundred (it don't really 

 matter), before you drift, and then you start your drifts, some of them across the 

 ledge, and others along the length of it, where the sulphurets — I believe they call 

 them sulphurets, though why they should, considering that, so far as I can see, the 

 main dependence of a miner does not so lie, as some suppose, but in which it can- 

 not be successfully maintained, wherein the same should not continue, while part 

 and parcel of the same ore not committed to either in the sense referred to, whereas, 

 under different circumstances, the most inexperienced among us could not detect 

 it if it were, or might overlook it if it did, or scorn the very idea of such a thing, 

 even though it were palpably demonstrated as such. Am I not right V 



I said, sorrowfully — " I feel ashamed of myself, Mr. Ward. I know I ought to 

 understand you perfectly well, but you see that treacherous whiskey cocktail has 

 got into my head, and now I cannot understand even the simplest proposition. I 

 told you how it would be." 



" Oh, don't mind it, don't mind it ; the fault was my own, no doubt — though I 

 did think it clear enough for " 



" Don't say a word. Clear ! Why, you stated, it as clear as the sun to anybody 

 but an abject idiot; but it's that confounded cocktail that has played the mischief." 



" No ; now don't say that. I'll begin it all over again, and " 



" Don't now — for goodness sake, don't do anything of the kind, because I tell 

 you my head is in such a condition that I don't believe I could understand the 

 most trifling question a man could ask me." 



" Now, don't you be afraid. I'll put it so plain this time that you can't help but 

 get the hang of it. We will begin at the very beginning." [Leaning far across the 



