"Dat's what I done said, Massa Mark."

"No, you _didn't_ say it, but you meant it, I guess," went on Jack.
"Yes, we _were_ talking about diamonds, Washington. I know a place
that's full of them."

"Where?" inquired the colored man, thrusting his head farther into the
room, and opening his eyes to their fullest extent. "Ef it ain't
violatin' no confidences, Massa Jack, would yo' jest kindly mention it
to yo's truly," and Professor Henderson's faithful servant, who had
followed him into many dangers, looked at the two boys, who, of late
years, had shared the labors of the well-known scientist. "Where am
dose diamonds, Massa Jack?"

"On the moon," was the answer.

"On de moon? Ha! Ha! Dat's a joke!" And Washington began to laugh. "On
de moon! Ha! Ho!"

"Well, you can read it for yourself," went on the lad, tossing the
paper over to the colored man. The latter picked it up, gazed at it,
first from one side, and then from the other. Next he turned it upside
down, but, as this did not make the article any clearer, he turned the
paper back again. Then he remarked, with a puzzled air:

"Well, I neber could read without mah glasses, Massa Jack, so I guess
I'll hab t' let it go until annoder time. Diamonds on de moon, eh?
Dat's wonderful! I wonder what dey'll be doin' next? But I'se got t'
go. Diamonds on de moon, eh? Diamonds on de moon!"