“Of course, but most fellows would tell you ahead that they were going to do so and so and make a lot of talk about it. You just go ahead and do it without making any fuss.”
“Why, no, of course not, but it is so different from the ordinary fellow’s way of doing things.”
The boys watched the picture appear on Billy’s plate, and the funny fellow said with a grin of great satisfaction:
“There is something there all right, Jack. It is good and sharp, too, if I know anything. Why, you can see each individual leaf and the rocks stand out fine.”
“Yes, I think the boys are going to be surprised,” declared Jack, as he watched the developing, and removed the plate from the bath just at the right time and put it in another tray.
After fixing the image and washing the plate well with several waters, having everything convenient to his hand, he examined the plate carefully by the white light, which could do it no harm, and suddenly said in a tone of the greatest astonishment:
“My word, Billy, we are going to surprise somebody and no mistake. You don’t know everything that is on this plate.”
“Well, what is it?” Billy and Percival both asked, being greatly excited by Jack’s impressive tone.
“I’ll show you shortly. I am going to make an enlargement of this so that you will have no trouble in seeing just what I see.”
“Yes, but Jack, can’t you show us?” asked Percival with some impatience. “Must you make a secret of it?”