“All of which disquisition,” said Professor Chadwick dryly, “doesn’t solve our problem.”
“No, indeed,” said Mr. Jesson; “we are as badly off as before.”
“Worse,” exclaimed Jack.
“How’s that?” asked Tom.
“Well, haven’t we lost those gems?”
“Oh, bother the old gems,” said Tom, “we’ve got the box, haven’t we? If any one in the States doesn’t believe we ever had the three gems we can show them the casket as proof that we really did have them once.”
As he spoke he picked up the box from the sand where Herrera had flung it, and handed it to the Professor.
“It will make a handsome relic of our trip at all events,” said that gentleman, with half a sigh. “I guess I’ll present it to some institute interested in such things.”
“Pity those bumps on the cover aren’t precious stones,” said Ned, indicating the three dull-colored knobs on the cover. “Wonder what they are there for?”
“To make the box look nobby,” ventured Tom, a pun which almost cost him a clip on the side of the head.