"Walter? Why he is the man who signed the note we found on the Investigator's life boat No. 3 and from whom we have never heard."
"I remember now," said John, reflectively. "He mentioned Wright who was one of my companions. But I did not know Walter,—but what is this?" All craned forward now. "Here is a line; it looks[p. 36] like a large V, pointing to the south;—that is if the upper part of the paper is the north."
"There is some sort of tracing on it," said George.
"Your eyesight is good, George, see if you can see any figures on the sheet that will explain the V, and the reason for the name below."
"There is the slightest sign of a figure, or a word just below the point of the V. It looks like '30'. This seems to be an arrow, which points to the right diagonally."
"Now you boys have something to occupy your minds. Yon have been interested in the Walter note for a year; now is the time to do some investigating."
"I have an idea," said Harry, jumping up. "Where can we find the original Walter's note? We can compare the signature, and that will tell whether it is Walter or not."
The Professor smiled as he noticed the eagerness of the boys. They rushed out of the room and went over to the shop to reclaim the note that had given them so much concern fourteen months before.
When they had gone John said: "I presume you have already guessed what the note contains?"
"Unquestionably it has reference to the location of the main ledge of copper or other ore which is measured from some point in that vicinity, and which may be determined later on by noting the place where the missive was found, or from some natural landmark."