At that moment Professor Snodgrass fairly jumped toward Tod.
“Excuse me!” exclaimed the scientist. “Don’t move an inch, I beg of you! It’s very important. Don’t stir!”
“If it’s a rattlesnake, jest stomp on its head,” said the miner, coolly. “I’m not afraid of ’em. Where is it?” and he prepared to turn around.
“Quiet! Quiet!” begged the little bald-headed man. “I will have it in a second,” and he made a dive for the miner’s boot. “There!” exclaimed the professor, “I have it!”
He arose, holding something tightly in his hand, and he quickly transferred it to his green specimen box, at the same time remarking:
“That certainly was a beauty; worth at least fifty dollars at the lowest calculation!”
The old miner looked at the professor, and then at the boys. Then he pointed significantly to his head. The scientist did not see him.
“What did you capture that time?” asked Bob.
“A rare specimen of a jumping fly,” was the answer. “It is the first one I have ever seen,” and the scientist began to jot down in his book some notes concerning it.