“Not the least in the world, my dear boy,” was the final report. “I am sorry, but it seems to me to be absolutely valueless!”
[CHAPTER VII]
A QUEER CONFERENCE
That Jerry Hopkins, especially, and his two chums, relatively, were disappointed by the verdict of Professor Snodgrass may easily be imagined—and “disappointment” is putting it mildly. True, there had been no real grounds for thinking that the queer, yellow mud was of any value, and yet Jerry had chosen to assume as much. And his half-belief had affected his chums. Now to find out that it was worthless was something of a shock.
“No, I can’t imagine any use for it,” went on Dr. Snodgrass, as he fingered the sticky, yellow lump Jerry had handed to him. “I am familiar with most kinds of clay in this region, and this is not among the valuable sorts. What made you think it was, Jerry?”
“Well, the way those fellows seemed to be taking it out for one thing, and the eagerness with which they are trying to get mother’s land for another.”
“Are you sure they were taking out the clay itself?” asked the scientist.
“They said they were merely excavating ditches to drain the swamp,” spoke Ned.