Men certainly strike a vein or alluvial placer by the merest chance now and then, but the trained man works from indication to indication until, though he is sometimes mistaken, he feels reasonably sure as to what waits to be uncovered by the blasting charge or shovel.

Grenfell's previous account of the discovery had, however, not made quite plain the fact that he had adopted the latter course.
"You told me you found the quartz by accident when you went to drink at a creek," he said.

"Any green hand might have done the same." Grenfell laughed.
"The point is that I knew there was gold in the valley.

I told you we stayed there until the provisions had almost run out.

I wanted material proof--and I was satisfied when I found that little strip of outcrop." "A little strip! You said the lead ran right back to the hill and one could follow it with an adit." "It does, although I haven't seen it.