〃Superb！ Mr。 Starr； superb！〃 answered Ford； 〃just look at it yourself！〃
And so saying； with his pick he struck off a fragment of the black rock。
〃Look！ look！〃 he repeated； holding it close to his lamp； 〃the surface of this piece of coal is shining！ We have here fat coal； rich in bituminous matter； and see how it es in pieces； almost without dust！ Ah； Mr。 Starr！ twenty years ago this seam would have entered into a strong petition with Swansea and Cardiff！ Well； stokers will quarrel for it still； and if it costs little to extract it from the mine； it will not sell at a less price outside。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Madge； who had taken the fragment of coal and was examining it with the air of a connoisseur； 〃that's good quality of coal。 Carry it home； Simon； carry it back to the cottage！ I want this first piece of coal to burn under our kettle。〃
〃Well said； wife！〃 answered the old overman； 〃and you shall see that I am not mistaken。〃
〃Mr。 Starr；〃 asked Harry； 〃have you any idea of the probable direction of this long passage which we have been following since our entrance into the new mine？〃
〃No； my lad；〃 replied the engineer； 〃with a pass I could perhaps find out its general bearing； but without a pass I am here like a sailor in open sea； in the midst of fogs； when there is no sun by which to calculate his position。〃
〃No doubt； Mr。 Starr；〃 replied Ford； 〃but pray don't pare our position with that of the sailor； who has everywhere an