“They were only casually mentioned,” said Jerry, and briefly he related what is already known to my readers about the visit East of the two Westerners, and the curious train of events that had followed.
“And are you going after the sixty nuggets of gold?” asked the professor, eagerly.
“We hope to,” spoke Bob, while the chums nodded.
“Then may I go along to look for the luminous serpents?”
“Of course!” exclaimed Jerry. “But we’ll have to put this up to the folks,” he added to his chums. “I hope my mother will let us go, and——”
“Oh, I’m sure my folks won’t object,” said Bob, while Ned nodded to show that he, too, thought he could easily gain the necessary consent.
“Then the thing to do is to tell them about it,” went on Jerry. “Professor, you know where your room is—the same one you always have. Jim, I’m going to put you and Mr. Brill up here, and maybe——”
“We were calculating on going to a hotel,” said the mine foreman. “We’re not exactly used to plush carpets on the floor, and all that sort of thing.”
“Oh shucks!” exclaimed Jerry. “You’ll stay here. Besides, I think the hotel is over-crowded, anyhow. We’ve got lots of room. I’ll bring mother in and introduce you to her, and then we’ll leave you for a while. Dinner will soon be ready.”