"Gee, if Bet's fingers had been there!" gasped Joy.
"Well, maybe I'd have been more careful if her hand had been there. I never take chances."
While Bet held the drill in place the professor dealt blow after blow until he was ready to drop with exhaustion.
"And some men keep that up all day, I'm told," he gasped as he threw down the tool and dropped to the ground. "I don't believe they do," he added.
"I've seen men keep at it pretty steadily for hours," interrupted Kit, "but they don't go at it so strenuously. You put all your soul and body into it. They don't get excited and they don't wear themselves out with wild flourishes. You see when a prospector has that work to do, he doesn't have to hurry. He has all the time there is."
"To tell you the truth," laughed the professor sheepishly, "I'm so anxious to start looking for the treasure that I don't want to dig this shaft, I'm like a child with a new toy."
"Come here, Kit," called Bet. "You hold this drill for a while and let me swing the hammer. I'm just dying to do it."
"And maybe I'm not glad there is a wire to hold. You'd hit me, sure."
"Don't trust me even yet," Bet returned with a gay laugh.
"That's right, Kit," trilled Joy. "You are only two feet away from her hammer, she might easily miss the mark by that much." Joy was glad of a chance to tease Bet.