"That's right."
"Perhaps the man in black is crazy."
"It is possible."
"In which case the mystery amounts to nothing."
For a few seconds the two lads sat staring at each other. Then Frank removed a pin from some hidden place, and held it toward Bart.
"Here," he said, "take this and see how easily you can scratch that stone."
Hodge took it, and attempted to scratch the black stone that was set in the ring.
"Why, the thing is hard as flint—yes, harder!" he exclaimed. "The pin will not leave a mark upon it, and it has already turned the point of the pin over."
"Still, as you said, the stone is scratched."
"What do you make of that?"