"What is it? The wild man?" gasped Dick, looking round him in alarm.
"No, your boots, your boots; look at them!" cried the professor.
"Is there a snake on them?" cried Dick, preparing to jump up.
"Don't move! Don't move for your life!" fairly screamed the dumpy little geologist, springing forward. He fell on his knees at Dick's boots as if they had been sacred, and with trembling fingers flaked off, into his left palm, some black mud which stuck to them.
Then he stood erect, his face aglow with triumph and enthusiasm such as the man of science rarely permitted himself.
"Gentlemen," he said, with a flourish, "there is no reason to look further for the mineral-bearing ground."
"You have found it?" choked out Jack.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"On Dick Donovan's boots."