“Professor Snodgrass!”
[CHAPTER XIII]
A WELL-KNOWN VOICE
In the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments is told the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. In this, at the mention of the magic word “Sesame,” the ponderous rocky portal of the treasure cave swung open or shut, according to its previous position.
And now, as Ned, Bob, and Jerry stood outside the cabin door, through which they had a glimpse of the well-remembered figure, and as together they uttered the magic word “Professor Snodgrass,” the same thing happened as happened to Ali Baba.
The door of the cabin was quickly shut, and not by the figure seated at the table before the mass of papers.
For a few seconds the three lads remained transfixed with surprise. They looked at one another, then glanced at the closed door, and then peered into each others’ faces.
Jerry was the first to recover the use of his voice.