Buck had been watching his old acquaintance keenly. Now he leaned over and laid his hand on Dent's arm.
"Look here, Jim," he said, "you're achin' in every bone o' your body for a real good trip again. Come with us."
The invitation was like a spark thrown upon gunpowder. The gunsmith struck the counter with his open hand till the weapons danced again.
"By George, I will!" he cried, "I'll come fast enough. It's the sort o' trip I'd choose out of a thousand."
Jack saw what a splendid recruit offered here, and he hastened to second Buck.
"If you could, indeed, spare time to accompany us, Mr. Dent," he said, "we shall be delighted to have your company and assistance."
"Well, sir," said Dent, "I'll give you a month. I can manage, I know, to get the business looked after by a friend as long as that. And within a month, if we go the right way to work, we ought to get a good idea as to whether the Professor's in the hands of that gang or not."
"And if your business suffers at all, Jim, you need never fear you'll be at a loss in the end," said Buck. "There's plenty of money for everything."
"Oh, that's all right," returned Dent. "Didn't you say you're offering a reward of £500 for finding the Professor?"
"That's so," replied Risley.