His friends had never known him abuse their confidence.
"Yes," he said at length.

"I think it's silver.

Traces of lead, and perhaps copper, too; you seldom find silver pure.

But won't you go on with the tale ?" "The party's food was getting short.

That meant they would starve if they did not reach the factory soon, and they set off again at dawn.
There was no time to prospect and deep snow covered the ground, but my father made what he called a mental photograph of the spot.