The professor, who had been glancing from the aged hermit to the hut, and then back to the old man, suddenly uttered an exclamation, and made a dive for the door.
“There he goes!” cried the scientist. “There is the one I’ve been looking for for nearly a month!” and, a second later, he had disappeared inside the cabin.
“What’s the matter? Is some one after you?” asked the old man hastening in the footsteps of the scientist, while the boys trailed in behind. “What do you want?”
“I have it! I have it!” called the professor’s voice. “It’s a beauty, and a rare one.”
“What does he mean?” asked the hermit, turning to the boys.
“It’s a pink-winged dragon fly,” cried the professor, coming back at that point and hearing the question. He had penetrated to the farther side of the cabin. “I saw the insect on the cabin door,” he went on, explaining to the old man. “Then I saw it go in. I knew it would not stay long, so the only thing to do was to make a jump for it, without waiting to explain. I am very glad I got it, for it’s worth at least seven dollars, and perhaps more. I must apologize for running into your cabin in that hasty manner,” the scientist went on, turning to the old man.
“I guess that was the best way of getting you into it,” said the hermit with a smile, which, the boys admitted, was a very pleasant one for a murderer. “But now you are here, do not be in a hurry to get out again.”
“If you have no objections I will stay until I have put away this dragon-fly specimen in a case,” said the professor, pulling out a small flat box in which he placed his precious specimens temporarily.
“Let me ask you to supper,” went on the old man, seeming to the boys to be very eager to have them remain. “It is so seldom that I have company that I appreciate it very much. Stay and have a meal with me.”
The boys and the professor hardly knew what answer to make. They did not want to stay, yet did not care to offend by saying no.