We'd better make the search at once, Mr. Hardy.
You'll need a rope and tools, I suppose. Hunt up the men you spoke of as
quickly as possible, will you?'
Harry and Dick started off together in quest of McKnight. He was on the
night shift, and they found him in bed. Harry explained. McKnight was
scornful and profane.
'What--that boy Haddon again?' he cried. 'Now what's his little game?
What devilment's he up to?
'But this looks all right,' Harry expostulated.
'All right, my grandmother's cat! You'll be findin' quartz reefs in a
gum-tree next.'
'You ask Jacker an' Ted,' put in Dick resentfully, hurt to find his
well-intentioned efforts so ungraciously received.
'Ask Jacker, is it? If Jacker comes playin' any of your monkey tricks
with me, my lad, I'll make him smell mischief, I tell you.'
'But hang it all, Mack! you might as well come an' see. I own the chances
o' finding a shallow reef in that locality look blue, but you know there
was talk o' something of the kind years ago.'
'Yes, talk by fellers that didn't know a quartz lode from a load o'
bricks or a stone wall. Get out, I'm sleepy.'
'Show him the specimen,' said Dick.
Harry handed it over.
'The boy says this is from his show. How's that?' he said.
McKnight took the stone indifferently, cast his eye over it, and then sat
up with a jerk. He moistened the stone here and there, glared again in a
strained silence, and one leg shot out of bed.
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