The man looked at the boys. He did not seem annoyed now.
"Gold! No, I wasn't looking for gold," he said. "But I have found a very rare kind of seashell for which I have been searching all Summer. At last my scientific collection is complete. My search is ended!"
The boys did not know what to think.
"Weren't you looking for gold?" asked Sammy, much amazed.
"Gold! No, I care nothing for gold. I am a college professor and from my studies I decided that a certain rare seashell was to be found on this coast. I came here, and dug in many places for it. I even dug at night, for the creature that lives in this shell is said to prefer to feed at night. But I never had any luck until now."
"Then you know nothing about pirates," said Sammy, sadly.
The professor looked curiously at them.
"Ah, I have seen you boys before," he said, musingly.
"Yes, we followed you once," said Frank.
"I remember now. And I drove you away. I did not mean to be impolite, but this shell is a very delicate one, and you were walking over the land where I thought I might find one. I feared you would crush it. That is why I asked you to leave. But it is all right now. See, I have the treasure," and he showed the boys a curious pink and blue shell in his hand. To them it did not amount to much, but probably to the scientist it was very valuable.