pay-streak

The first cross-cut the man made, there was space for only three holes, so narrow had become the pay-streak and so close was he to the fountainhead of the golden stream he had been following for four days.

All Gold Canon 2010

And a Christmas without punch is sinking a hole to bedrock with nary a pay-streak.

TO THE MAN ON THE TRAIL 2010

But the pay-streak was dipping deeper and deeper into the earth.

All Gold Canon 2010

To the right, a heap of frozen gravel and a rude windlass denoted where they toiled each day in dismal groping for the pay-streak.

WHERE THE TRAIL FORKS 2010

But the pay-streak was dipping deeper and deeper into the earth.

All Gold Cañon 2010

And a Christmas without punch is sinking a hole to bedrock with nary a pay-streak.

To The Man on the Trail 2010

The first cross-cut the man made, there was space for only three holes, so narrow had become the pay-streak and so close was he to the fountainhead of the golden stream he had been following for four days.

All Gold Cañon 2010

After all, as the Kid says, "A Christmas without punch is sinking a hole to bedrock with nary a pay-streak."

A Bowl of Yuletide Cheer 2007

And it is rather remarkable to think that those ancient miners were able to reach that pay-streak that some of the others have been able to do in other mines.

Mining—A Permanent Industry 1926

"Looks like it orter be as thick as mush if you can run a few thousand yards of that there pay-streak over it."

The Man from the Bitter Roots Caroline Lockhart 1916