At length the Yankee became interested, and joined them.
But they looked about the spot where the professor had found the little cube for full half an hour, and not another thing could they find that seemed out of the way in the place.
“Well,” observed Dick, as they were called to breakfast, “I would keep the cube, professor, if I were you, and be very careful not to lose it.”
“Oh! you may rest assured that I will,” was the reply.
After the remains of the breakfast were cleared away, Leo arose to his feet and signified his intention of climbing a tree to see how the land lay.
Selecting a good, tall one, which was at the same time easy to climb, he went up.
The tree was nearly a hundred feet high, and the boy did not pause until he reached the top.
Then he prepared to take in the surrounding country.
The sun, which seldom found its way to the ground in the swamp, was shining brightly all around him, and Leo felt his spirits rise as if by magic.
“This is fine,” he muttered to himself; “but I can’t see much besides tree tops and cane brakes, after all. But it is worth ten dollars to have the sun shine on you five minutes like this. Ah, by George!”