"You can make them understand better," he said.
"I can that," responded that individual, promptly; and he disappeared into the tent, issuing forth immediately with the gold-pan, which still contained the results of the important experiment. He thrust the pan with its gleaming treasure into the hands of one of the deputation. "I saw that go through mysel'," said he. "There's no much o' a phantom aboot that, is there?"
The crowd behind caught a glitter of the gold as the pan was passed round, and now there was no mistake about the energy of their cheer—a hundred throats echoed it forth. When it had subsided, Mackay again made felicitous utterance.
"We'll have a ten-ton vat rigged up within a couple o' days," he announced, in stentorian tones. "An' Bob, here, wishes me to say that the charges for treatment will no' be in any way extravagant."
A yell of approval rewarded his effort, yet still the assembly showed no signs of departing.
"I think you should sing the 'Muskittie' to them," suggested Jack, "then you'd see them run."
He had to run himself after that, and when he returned, the conclusion of the meeting was near. The leader of the deputation was making strenuous endeavour to justify his position. He harangued the congregated miners with forceful eloquence, pointing out what an inestimable service the young inventor would confer upon the country and themselves.
"And now, boys," he concluded, "let her go again. Three cheers for the discoverer of the process. Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" And the Flat thundered with their hearty applause.
When they had gone, Mackay heaved a hearty sigh of relief.
"You're far too open-hearted for this pairt o' the world, Bob," he said dryly. "If there had been one among that crowd wha kent anything aboot chemistry, he would have got as big a knowledge o' your process as you have yourself."