“Oh, I shall be a rich man!” exclaimed the delighted professor. “Every one is a prize!”
“And we’ll be rich when we get ’em away from you,” murmured the hidden man. “Things will soon be coming our way.”
He raised himself up, and took a cautious observation. He saw the boys and men grouped about a small cavern in the rocks—a cavern where most of the luminous snakes had been found. At that moment Jerry made a grab, crying:
“Here’s another!”
“And about the last one,” added the professor. “I think those are all I counted. We have enough, anyhow,” and he took the wriggling snake which Jerry held out to him.
The hidden man saw it. A great change came over his face. It grew red with anger, and then white from disappointment.
“Snakes!” he hoarsely whispered. “Snakes! Great Peter! They’re after snakes and not gold! I’ve been stung! They are with that scientist after all! Snakes! Not gold! Oh, what chumps we are!” and he sank back out of sight as the party turned to go to the airship.