Part 35 (2/2)
In the soft soil they could see nuons which had passed that way One of these tracks was fresh
”I'll bet that auto with Tate and Jackson was here just before we came!”
cried Randy ”Those fellows are certainly on the job They probably believe that 'possession is nine points of the law'”
”And it”The authorities haven't things under their control in a wild country like this as they have in and around the big cities”
There were no oil wells near the Spell tract, and to get to the nearest the lads had to tramp over another hill, a distance of more than a quarter of a mile Here they found several wells in operation, the combined flohich, they were told, amounted to about four hundred barrels per day
”Not so bad, when you consider this oil is worth about two dollars and a half a barrel,” remarked Jack
”That makes a thousand dollars a day,” returned Fred ”Gee, just think of taking in that much every twenty-four hours!”
The boys were told that another as to be shot off that afternoon
This was located about half a mile away, and they resolved to visit the place, first, however, stopping by the roadside for lunch They were told where they could get a drink of water
”Phe it s up his nose at the dose
”I guess we'll get our fill of oil before we get through, Randy,”
laughed Jack ”Sohborhoods are saturated with oil from end to end The houses and barns are full of it, and so are the roads, and they tell -rooms and bedrooms smell of oil”
”And just see how black the stuff is,” declared Fred ”It doesn't look one bit like the oil we are used to using It certainly needs a lot of refining”
”And just think of the hundred and one things that coasoline, and benzine and naphtha and paraffin, and I don't knohat all”
The middle of the afternoon found theht in--that is, provided everything ell, the the head workood-natured Irish saturated with oil from head to foot
”'Tis not a noice way av its in his pocket”
”Yes, and you haven't got to stay here forever,” answered Jack, with a so to soreeable”
”Sure, an' that's true, Son, so 'tis,” said the foreman
He explained to thees had been lowered They had tested out the well at eighteen hundred feet, but without success Now they were doenty-six hundred feet, and the indications for oil were decidedly good
At length ca off the well So the derrick had been removed, and all the electric connections were pronounced in good working order Then the boys and the others who had assembled were ordered back to a safe distance
It was a thrilling moment, and no one felt it more than the four Rovers
They waited a few round as if by an earthquake Then they saw so shoot skyward, and then ca in all directions
”They've struck it! They've struck it!” yelled Andy excitedly ”They've struck oil!”
”Gee, but I'll bet that ood,” announced Fred ”That well must have cost a lot of money”
”Forty thousand dollars, the foreet back unless ant our clothing ruined” For the as shi+fting and sending a fine spray of oil in their direction