"You'll have to let go of it," decided Jack, almost choking with
laughter at the plight of the eccentric little man.

"Let go of it? My dear sir," murmured the professor in a shocked tone,
"this specimen is worth at least twenty dollars, not to speak of its
scientific value."

"But you can't stay here," said Jack decisively.

"And I won't let go of the specimen," declared the professor with
equal firmness.

"What on earth are we to do?" said Jack, looking helplessly at Tom.

Not far off Tom had noticed a man digging potatoes. It gave him an
idea.

"We can borrow that man's shovel and dig his arm out," he suggested.

"It's about the only thing to do, I guess," said Jack. "You go and
see if you can get it. I'll keep the professor company."

Tom soon came back. The potato-digger accompanied him. The man was
much interested in the eccentric man's plight.

"If that ain't the beatingest I ever heard on," he remarked, gazing at
the professor, and then he tapped his head significantly and looked at
the boys in a knowing way.