human
You hold a free miner's certificate, Leger?
gpt
Yes, sir,
human
You can produce it?
gpt
Tom, he said hoarsely,
human
I'm afraid I did, he said.
gpt
I hadn't the money when the time came round. I didn't want you to know that--and I couldn't ask Hetty. We scarcely expected to find anything, you see. Afterwards, I suppose it slipped my memory.
human
Should a free miner neglect to renew his certificate upon expiry all mineral-claims held by him under it revert to the Crown,
gpt
I'm sorry, Ingleby, but I'm afraid you have thrown away your claim.
human
I can't blame you, sir, he said hoarsely.
gpt
I don't think there is anything to be gained by protesting.
human
Well, said Tomlinson,
gpt
That, he said,
human
Now, he said,
gpt
I'm going to do some talking. That claim's Ingleby's, Major, until you've declared it open, and wiped out his record.
human
Well, said Coulthurst drily,
gpt
I am sorry to find myself compelled to do it. The claim lately held by Walter Ingleby and Thomas Leger, having reverted to the Crown, is open for relocation. A notice will be issued to that effect. I may, however, point out--to you--that no free miner can hold more than one claim in the same vicinity.
human
That's all right, said Tomlinson.
gpt
The one I've got is quite enough for me. You have a certificate, Ingleby. Take out a new one, Leger.
human
That gold came out of the reverted mine, and they might claim it wasn't yours. We'll make sure, he said.
gpt
There's a man worth keeping your eye on who has a hand in this deal. More than the necessary amount there, sir? Let him have his certificate. I'll look in for the rest any time that suits you.
human
I fancy any advice that prospector Tomlinson desires to give you would be worth considering,
gpt
It's rustle now! he said.
human
There's nothing to stop either of you pegging a new claim down on the lead alongside the old one. It's even chances you strike it quite as rich there. Get your stakes in!
gpt
Where are you going?
human
To put the boys on the lead. Still, it's quite likely that a friend of mine will relocate your old claim a little ahead of them. He'll be there 'most as soon as the major puts up his notice that it's open. He may think it worth while to let me in somehow for telling him.