"Got it right here," said Jack, producing the bottle which the
professor had given back to him.

"Glory be!" exclaimed Zeb Cummings, as he took the lead-wrapped vial
as though it was something precious. "I was afeard that if anyone
found it they might hev thrown it away, bein' as it don't look as if
it amounted ter anything much."

"Is it valuable?" asked Jack, who could not restrain his curiosity.

"That's jes' what I don't rightly know," rejoined Zeb. "I reckon I'd
better tell yer how I come ter git it an' then you kin judge fer
yourselves."

"We'd like to hear," said Jack, who had felt all along that there was
some mystery about the yellow-bearded giant.

"All right! Sit down and I'll tell yer ther yarn. But say, who is yer
friend? No offense meant, ye understand."

"This is Professor Jerushah Jenks," said Jack.

"What, the guy that knows all about rocks and such like?" burst out
the miner.

"I believe I have achieved some small fame in that line," said the
professor.

"Wa'al if this don't beat pay dirt I'm a Piute," exclaimed the miner.