； too； Mr。 Starr！〃 returned Simon Ford。
〃That we shall know later。〃
〃And I can answer for it！ Trust to the instinct of an old miner！ It has never deceived me！〃
〃I wish to believe you； Simon；〃 replied the engineer； smiling。 〃As far as I can judge from this short exploration； we possess the elements of a working which will last for centuries！〃
〃Centuries！〃 exclaimed Simon Ford； 〃I believe you； sir！ A thousand years and more will pass before the last bit of coal is taken out of our new mine！〃
〃Heaven grant it！〃 returned Starr。 〃As to the quality of the coal which crops out of these walls？〃
〃Superb！ Mr。 Starr； superb！〃 answered Ford； 〃just look at it yourself！〃
And so saying； with his pi