“Wha—what am I up against?” he asked. “Is he crazy—or am I? What is he after, anyhow? Have I got bugs on me?”
“You did have, my dear man,” said the professor, calmly, as he took out a small box, with a glass top, under which he imprisoned his prize. “You were carrying about with you a very rare specimen of a jumping fly—something I have been hoping to capture for years. Now I have the little beauty. Oh, you can’t get away!” he added, as the insect leaped against the glass. “I have you safe.”
“Is—er—am I—what’s it all about, anyhow?” cried the miner, looking from one to the other.
“It’s all right, Harvey—it’s all right,” said Jim Nestor soothingly, for he knew the professor of old. “Mr. Snodgrass collects bugs and things for scientific purposes. He just found one on you, that’s all.”
“A jumping fly—excilio muscarium—it might be Latinized,” explained the scientist. “A very rare specimen. I am exceedingly obliged to you.”
“Oh—Oh, you—you’re welcome,” stammered Mr. Brill. “I hope I haven’t any more things on me,” and he looked himself over as well as he could.
“No more,” said the professor, aiding in the search. “I wish you had. But what is this I heard about the luminous snakes?” he asked. “Snakes that shine at night—illustris serpensus as they could be called. Many years have I longed to get such a specimen, and now, unexpectedly, I get on the track.
“I might explain,” he went on, turning to the boys, “that I have been sent out by a Boston museum to look for a new kind of blue lizard, but I can combine my search for that with the luminous snakes—the latter being much more valuable. I came to Cresville, thinking perhaps you boys might be going off on some expedition, as you frequently are, and I proposed to join you to look for the blue lizard. I came directly to your house, Jerry, since your mother has been so kind as to give me a standing invitation, and, just as I enter I hear—‘luminous snakes!’ Oh, how I rejoiced! This has indeed been a fortunate day for me!” and he looked at the jumping fly in his little box.
Mr. Brill was less excited now, since Jim Nestor had, in a whisper, explained more about the talented and kind professor, whose only hobby was bugs and reptiles.
“Tell me more about the snakes,” urged the scientist.