The boys laughed knowingly and exchanged glances.
“Go ahead and tell him, Frank,” urged Harry.
“Well,” said Frank, “as you know, Billy, we gave Ben one of the rubies as his share of the loot of the One-eyed Quesals and as a partial recognition of his bravery in rescuing us from the White Serpents.”
Billy nodded and waited eagerly for Frank to resume. Ben Stubbs, the hardy ex-sailor, prospector and adventurer, whom they had discovered marooned in an inaccessible valley in the Nicaraguan Cordilleras, was very dear to the hearts of all the boys.
“What do you suppose he did with the money after he had sold the ruby for twelve thousand dollars?” resumed Frank.
The reporter shook his head.
“I can’t guess,” he said; “bought a farm?”
“Not much,” chorused the boys, “he invested part of the money in a tug-boat and has been doing well with it in New York harbor. We met him when we were in New York a couple of days ago and partially outlined our plans to him. Nothing would do but he must come along.”
“We couldn’t have a better camp-mate,” cried Billy.
“I agree with you,” said Frank. “So I told him we’d think it over.”