"Aye," voted Will.
"Aye," grunted Joe.
"I assent," said Professor Ditson, with his usual preciseness.
Jud alone said nothing.
"How about it, Jud?" inquired Big Jim.
"Well," returned Jud, doubtfully, "who's goin' to lead this expedition?"
"Why, the professor here," returned the lumber-king, surprised. "He's the only one who knows the way."
"That's it," objected Jud. "It's likely to be a rough trip, an' treasure-huntin' is always dangerous. Has the perfesser enough pep to keep up with us younger men?"
Professor Ditson smiled bleakly.
"I've been six times across South America, and once lived among the South American Indians for two years without seeing a white man," he remarked acidly. "Perhaps I can manage to keep up with an old man and two boys who have never been in the country before. You should understand," he went on, regarding the old trapper sternly, "that specialization in scientific investigation does not necessarily connote lack of physical ability."