The men were interested at once. They asked many questions which the Professor answered freely. When they learned that he was a geologist, among his other accomplishments, the men thawed instantly.
"Maybe you wouldn't mind looking at some pay dirt for us?" questioned Tom Royal.
"I should be glad to serve you in any way possible," replied the Professor cordially. "Have you struck anything yet?"
"We don't know. We may have. Of course we've found evidences, but whether it's real pay dirt or not we don't know."
"Yes, I came to the conclusion, after analyzing the rock I found, that gold could not be extracted from it in anything like paying quantities. Are there many others in here on similar quests?"
Royal said no.
"There are those here who, I reckon, have found some stuff, though," declared Dunkan.
"Yes?" replied the Professor, glancing at the speaker inquiringly.
Tad caught the significance of the remark and fixed his eyes on Jim Dunkan.
"Others, sir?" ventured Tad.