CHAPTER XVI.
ZEB CUMMINGS.
"Z.2.X., the most radio-active stuff in the world!" exclaimed Jack.
"I suppose that approximately describes it," said the professor, "but what do you know about it?"
Jack explained how ardently his father had wished for the missing element to make his system of radio telephony the most efficient in use.
"Well, if what Sanchez said was true, and the map is right, there is plenty of it right on that island," said the miner.
"Yes, that may all be," objected the professor, "but how are you going to get at it?"
"Wa'al that's a poser. You can't reach it in a boat and you can't reach it over the desert," said Zeb. "The country all round there is dry as an oven and, anyhow, if you got to ther banks of ther Colorado right by ther island ther's no way of gitting down to ther island. Sanchez says that the Injuns told Foxy's friend that a long time ago, when first they found the stuff on the island, there was a way of getting down to it. But an earthquake sunk the river bed and nobody had been thar since the Injuns that found it. He said that they first come to take notice of it by reason of the way it shined at night. But only a few of the tribe would go near on account of their thinking the place was haunted."
"Have you got that map?" asked the professor.
"Yes, if you'll reach my coat I'll show it you," said the miner.