So Frank sat down again, though occasionally, as he and Jerry talked on, he kept casting glances out toward the spot where the venturesome bather was disporting himself like some aquatic animal.
"An idea came to me just now," remarked Jerry, who could not get his mind off the subject that had been holding their attention at the time Frank spoke to Bluff.
"Suppose you pass it along, then?" smiled his chum.
"There may be something up in these mountains that Thaddeus Lasher wants, and he doesn't feel like allowing others to get in on the discovery."
Frank shook his head, as he said:
"Possible, but hardly probable. Put all such notions as a discovery of gold in the rocks or sand out of your head. There isn't any formation to make that even a gambler's chance; and I think the same would apply as to an oil discovery. Men once looked this field over carefully, and pronounced against any hope of that."
"But you have an idea, you said?" suggested Jerry insinuatingly.
"I'm not going to mention that one just yet. But I don't mind telling you what came into my mind at first, as the most probable thing," replied Frank.
"I suppose I'll have to be satisfied with that, then," grumbled Jerry.
"It isn't at all to the credit of either Thaddeus Lasher or Andy, and let me say right here that I take very little stock in it now."