“I guess we’ll have to go back home and report a failure,” said Bob, gloomily. “Anyhow, we haven’t got much more grub, and maybe we’d better take a flight out of here and get some—that is, if we’re going to keep on with the search.”
“And that’s just what we’re going to do!” exclaimed Jerry. “We’re going on with this search. What are you talking about, Bob? There’s grub enough for a long time yet. Don’t you worry.”
The next day they took up the search again, but with hearts growing more and more despondent all the while. Several times Jerry looked off to the distant cliffs, as if to see if he and his companions were being watched by the grub-stakers, or Noddy Nixon. But if their enemies were there they did not show themselves.
It was coming on toward evening. They had again moved the airship, and had passed the middle of the valley.
“We’re on the Canadian side of the Border now,” remarked Mr. Brill, as he grubbed around among the rocks.
“Are we?” asked Ned, indifferently. “Well, I don’t see that it’s any luckier for us than the good old United States were.”
They were about to give up the search for the day. The sun was just sinking down behind the cliffs of the valley, when Professor Snodgrass, who had wandered off to one side again, gave a cry. It was a shout of delight.
“He’s found something!” yelled Bob.
“The gold! Is it the gold, Mr. Snodgrass?” asked Jerry.
“No!” was the disappointing answer. “But oh, boys come here! I have just seen the largest and most perfect specimen of a yellow jumping spider I ever laid my eyes on! Bring me a small net and a box, while I keep him in sight! Oh, you beauty. You are almost as valuable as the luminous snakes!” and the scientist fairly danced up and down in front of a hole in the rocks.