"Professor, I am an ignoramus."
"Then it is my duty to inform you that the man or woman who drinks water from that spring is swallowing millions of tiny flint knives, hard as diamond dust--indeed, diatomaceous earth is used commercially as a polishing powder."
"You mean that if we drink that water we shall be polished off?"
The Professor glared. Like many distinguished scientists, he took himself seriously, and he knew that this was a serious matter.
"Those tiny flint knives cut to ribands the mucous membrane."
"Fortunately," said Ajax, "we don't drink that water. The spring was only developed a few days ago." In a graver voice he continued: "We are exceedingly obliged to you. Of course we shall warn our men."
"Has nobody drunk of that spring?"
Ajax thought that he detected a note of disappointment. He replied reflectively: "I don't think so. The cattle have used it. It doesn't seem to have affected them."
"Are you sure of that?" he demanded sharply.
"You can ask our foreman."