Inquiries made by the boys before reaching the place where they expected to locate Professor Snodgrass brought forth little or no information concerning him. Their first queries resulted in nothing. No one seemed to know anything about a little bald-headed man, with a passion for bugs. But, as they sent their boat into the swampy end of the lake they saw, on the shore, a single cabin, that looked as if it might be the home of a hermit.
An old man came to the door of the shack and, in answer to their hail, gave them their first reliable information.
“Yep, there’s a crazy feller up there in the mountains,” the hermit said, nodding in the direction the boys were taking.
“A crazy man?” repeated Jerry.
“Well, suthin’s the matter of him. He picks up bugs and puts ’em in a box. He says they’re valuable. If that ain’t crazy I’d like to know what is?” he asked, as if there were no disputing his question.
Further talk with the man disclosed that he had taken Professor Snodgrass and his belongings up to a sort of hunting cabin, which the little scientist was to make his headquarters.
“That’s the place for us, then,” announced Jerry.
“Be you friends of his?” the hermit wanted to know.
“Yes,” answered Jerry.
“Humph! Queer he didn’t tell me he had company comin’,” said the man, as if he had been intentionally slighted.