“How’s that?” asked the professor.
“We nearly ran you down,” explained Bob.
“Oh, that? A mere trifle!” said the odd little scientist. “I run chances like that half a dozen times a day. I would risk almost anything for such a specimen. And what would I not risk if I could find the prize I am after?”
“Are you after something new?” asked Bob, as he watched Mr. Snodgrass carefully put away in the cyanide bottle the red butterfly.
“Yes, something very new,” answered Mr. Snodgrass. “I have been commissioned by the museum, for which I collect specimens, to get them a singing fish.”
“A singing fish?” cried Ned, thinking it was a joke.
“A singing fish,” replied the scientist. “That is, it does not exactly sing, but when taken from the water it makes a peculiar sound. It is said to be the only fish that does this. But, in addition, it has the power of flying for short distances out of the water, and it can also swell itself up to about twice its natural size. So you see it is a very valuable specimen to get, and very, very rare.”
“But you can’t find it on land,” objected Jerry.
“No, my dear boy,” admitted the professor, as he shook hands with his friends, “but I expect to shortly make a trip on the ocean. Then I hope to get my singing fish. I wish you boys were going on some voyage, and I could go with you.”