It was necessary to arrange for the financing of the project, but that had been planned before the boys left Cresville, so there was little more to do. Also it was necessary to hire men to do the actual labor of getting out the ore. This would take some time, but Tinny agreed to look after this.
“Meanwhile, you boys can take a holiday and get rested after your trip,” he said. “Roam about the place. There’s lots to see that will interest you and Professor Snodgrass. Bill and I will get a gang of men up here, and we’ll soon begin taking out the ore. What do you say that we make Bill foreman?”
This suited the lads, and the old miner was glad to be given the position. He was eager to work and he knew mining from several angles.
“If only Noddy Nixon doesn’t try any of his funny stuff,” murmured Ned.
“If he starts anything I’ll tell him where he can get off!” cried Jerry. “And Jack Pender and Dolt Haven with him! I’m not going to stand for any nonsense from them!”
“I don’t believe they’ll come up here,” suggested Bob. “What they’re after is the treasure chest of Blue Rock.”
“We’ll have a go at that ourselves,” said Jerry.
But when Tinny heard this he paused in his busy preparations long enough to say:
“Don’t count on that, boys. It’s only a fairy tale.”