“Holy cow!” Jerry exclaimed, leaping backward.
Russ laughed. “That’s the infinitesimal grain of radium in the luminous dial. So, you can feel secure that it will warn us if we enter an area where there’s any unusual radioactivity.”
He rummaged around in the carton and pulled out two canvas straps. “These hook on the ends so the counter can be slung across your shoulder like a camera.”
Prince came over and sniffed suspiciously at the plastic boxes. “Nothing to eat there, feller,” Sandy told him.
“Eat! That’s a good idea,” Jerry said. “I’m famished.”
Quiz was disgusted. “Only Jerry could think of food at a time like this. Who cares about eating when there’s an A-bomb lying right at your door-step?”
“I hope not,” Jerry said, looking around with an expression of exaggerated horror.
“Jerry’s right,” Russ said firmly. “The first order of the day is to pack away a substantial breakfast. We may be tramping through the woods until dark. Let’s go upstairs and see what Ranger Fellows has cooking.” He gathered up the two Geiger counters and walked to the tower.
Prince whined reprovingly as they left him at the foot of the steps. “I’ll bring you down a bowl of chow right away,” Sandy promised.
They were halfway up the stairs when a sudden thought struck Jerry. “Say, Mr. Steele, what would happen if one of those big lightning bolts hit that atomic bomb square on the nose?”