He advanced toward the airship, with a glance at the empty pocket where the gold had been.
“Stop!” suddenly exclaimed Professor Snodgrass, catching hold of Jerry’s sleeve. “I’m not so sure the gold has been taken away—at least by a human agency.”
“What’s that?” cried the tall lad.
“I say I’m not so sure the gold has been taken away.”
“But it’s gone; isn’t it?” demanded Ned.
“Yes. But let me ask Mr. Brill a few questions,” went on the scientist. “I’d like to know,” he continued, “if this place is exactly as it was when you hid the gold?”
“Well, no, not exactly,” declared the prospector. “There have been quite some changes. Of course the big rock is just the same, but those around it seem to have been moved. And, now that I look at it again, I can see that the pocket isn’t in exactly the same location.”
“I thought so!” exclaimed the professor, in triumph. “And now can you see any traces of water having covered this place since you were here?”
Mr. Brill glanced curiously at the scientist, and then looked carefully around him.
“Water?” he repeated. “Why, yes, now that you mention it, I should say there had been a sort of washout or flood here.”