True knowledge of the nature of silver mining came fast enough.

We went out "prospecting" with Mr.Ballou.

We climbed the mountain sides, and clambered among sage-brush, rocks and snow till we were ready to drop with exhaustion, but found no silver--nor yet any gold.

Day after day we did this.

Now and then we came upon holes burrowed a few feet into the declivities and apparently abandoned; and now and then we found one or two listless men still burrowing.