“Oil-ander Tin-can-der,” murmured Bart. “Oh! I see. Oil-can!”
“Exactly.”
“Well,” resumed Mr. Ricka, “everything went along well until that balloon trip. That brought about the climax. Of course it was all an accident, and we had no idea our barge would pick you boys from the river. You see we have a barge to bring machinery to us. It had delivered some and was to bring more. It was on the way after it when the balloon fell. Sandy Merton, whom we kept in our employ, was aboard and recognized you boys. He told Captain Needham, who, knowing how nearly you had discovered our secret, determined to hold you a while until he could let me know. He had no right to, of course, and we will pay you any reasonable damages.
“For you see we have struck oil,” Mr. Ricka went on. “Our property which extends for over a mile all around Bender’s hill, is rich in oil. As soon as you boys escaped Captain Needham turned about and came back. I apprehend that is correct, Captain, for, though he sent a telegram to me telling of your—er—of your detention—I have not seen him from shortly before the balloon fell, until this moment.”
Captain Needham nodded in assent.
“The need of secrecy is at an end,” Mr. Ricka continued. “Our rights are all secured and we don’t care how soon everyone in Darewell knows about the oil.”
“What was Jimmie Nelson doing out there?” asked Bart.
“He’s a friend of Sandy’s,” replied the oil man. “We hired him to stay out there and pull the string, which rings a bell in the cabin, as soon as he saw any one. We knew he was lazy, and this was the easiest and safest job we could think of for him.”
“He’s asleep now,” said Fenn.
“I suppose so. Well, there’s no need for him any longer. I guess we’ll discharge him. Now as to you boys. I realize we had no right to detain you, and you doubtless suffered some hardships. Will a thousand dollars’ worth of valuable oil stock apiece satisfy you?”