Part 25 (1/2)

”I think it is all foolishness anyway,” Joy exclaimed. ”What we want now is that treasure, and instead of looking for it, you are going to dig a well.”

Kit laughed as she always did at Joy's mistakes. ”Call it a well if you want to,” she said patronizingly, ”but don't let Tommy Sharpe or Seedy Saunders hear you say it. They'll tease you unmercifully.”

”It's this way, Joy,” explained Bet, impatiently. ”Kie Wicks might get wise to it, and come in at the end of two months and snap up this claim too, if we haven't done our work. That has to be done within two months.”

”Then he'd get the stone with the markings?”

”Yes, that's it. And he might find the treasure, if we don't watch out,” added Kit.

”Then let's get to work at once!” cried Joy, digging her spur into Dolly's side.

”You mean, Professor Gillette will get to work at once while you and the rest of us stand around and look pretty,” said Enid.

”Why we don't mean any such a thing, Enid Breckenridge. I'm perfectly willing to work and do my share,” snapped Bet, her face red with anger.

”I'll not have Professor Gillette imposed on like that.”

”We'll all do what we can,” soothed Kit. ”Although I'm not sure we'll make much headway with the pick and shovel.”

”I think we should have a Mexican do the work, girls,” said Enid.

”He'd do it in half the time.”

”Professor Gillette said it was better not to have anyone else around for a while until we could find out something about this treasure,” Bet said. ”So we might as well make up our minds to dig right in and work hard.”

Once on the site of the claim, the professor unloaded his tools and looked about for a suitable place to put down the ten-foot shaft. His knowledge of mining was not very great but he and Kit finally decided on the best spot.

The old man started in at once, swinging the pick as if it were a hammer. He soon dug away the thin layer of earth and crushed rock, and reached solid stone.

”It's a good thing I brought the drills along!” the professor threw down his pick and took up a drill and heavy hammer.

”Isn't it exciting!” cried Bet. ”Do let me try to use the drill.

”All in good time, child, all in good time,” he promised her as he adjusted the tool. ”This is a two-man job anyway. Somebody has to help me.”

Bet crouched down close beside him and held the drill steady while the old man prepared to hit. She glanced up at him, dubiously. The old man laughed.

”Don't know as I blame you any,” he said as he twisted a piece of heavy wire about the drill and gave Bet an end to hold. ”There, you can steady it with that, so I won't hit your fingers.”

”Oh, I wasn't afraid,” began Bet but the professor laughed and Bet did not finish her sentence.

”You looked as if you were very much frightened indeed. You were certain I would hit your fingers, and I'm not sure I wouldn't have,” he chuckled.

And his first strong blow did miss the drill and the girls, watching him, laughed.

”Gee, if Bet's fingers had been there!” gasped Joy.

”Well, maybe I'd have been more careful if her hand had been there. I never take chances.”

While Bet held the drill in place the professor dealt blow after blow until he was ready to drop with exhaustion.

”And some men keep that up all day, I'm told,” he gasped as he threw down the tool and dropped to the ground. ”I don't believe they do,” he added.