He was rapidly covering the statement of location from the paper nailed to the board.
"You fellows picked up a lot of ore stuff around here," continued Dolph Gage.
"Yes ?" Tom inquired.

"Did you see us ?" "Yes, and we also saw you making an assay." "You did." "Of course we did.

Say, friend, how did that assay come out ?" "It came out of the furnace," Tom answered still writing.
"'Course it did.

But say, how did that assay read ?" "Read ?" repeated Tom.

"Why, bless me, I never knew that an assay could read." "You know what I meant, younker.