“Not much damage done,” he said, after a long inspection. “I guess we can fix it up.”
“Can we go on?” asked Ned, anxiously.
“It will take a good hour to mend things,” replied Jerry.
“That will give me a chance to gather some bugs,” observed the professor. “Pardon me,” he exclaimed to Nestor. “There is a beautiful specimen of a katydid on your leg,” and, with a deft gesture, the bug collector captured the insect and transferred it to his box.
“I hope you didn’t want it yourself,” said the naturalist, looking rather anxiously at the miner, who seemed surprised.
“Oh, land, no!” was the reply. “Help yourself whenever you see any of the crawlin’ things on me. It’s a favor, more than anything else. I hate bugs an’ things.”
While the professor wandered about with his net, Jerry proceeded to repair the leak to the gasolene tank. Bob and Ned decided they were hungry, and got out some lunch, of which, a little later, all were glad to partake.
“There,” announced Jerry, “I guess we can go on again.”
“There’s a good place to camp about twenty miles farther on,” said Nestor.
“What place is it?” asked Ned.