Читать книгу Danny Dunn and the Fossil Cave - Jay Williams - Страница 7

CHAPTER TWO

Danny’s Choice

For a long moment, the young people stood motionless, staring. Then Danny stooped to pick up the thing.

“Don’t touch it!” Irene gasped.

“Why not?” said Danny. “It’s only an old hammer, after all.”

He turned it over, examining it curiously. Joe tilted his head back. “What’d I tell you?” he said. “I didn’t hear any plane. That thing must have fallen from a flying saucer. Are you sure it’s just a hammer? Maybe it’s a death ray shaped like a hammer.”

“I’m almost sure it isn’t,” said a strange voice. Looking upward in astonishment, the three saw a short, weather-beaten man regarding them from the top of the ridge. He was dressed in a corduroy jacket patched with leather on the elbows, but there was nothing ragged or dirty about him. He had the look of one who had traveled far, an outdoorsman, or an explorer. His hair was white above his sunburned face, but his eyes were bright blue, sharp, and lively.

“I’m terribly sorry,” he said. “I hope nobody was hurt.”

“We’re all right,” Danny answered.

The stranger climbed quickly down the ridge. “I had just chipped out a fine little cephalopod, and I laid my hammer on the rock above me. It slid down.”

He held out a lump of stone and the young people could see that it had a faint marking on it, or rather, in it: a small, coiled shape like a snail-shell.

“That’s what I found,” said the man.

“That’s a sifflepod?” said Joe. “It looks like a snail.”

“The cephalopods were mollusks, something like—well—sea snails,” the other said.

“Oh, then you’re a fossil hunter?” asked Irene.

“Not exactly. I’m a geologist. But I can’t resist a nice specimen.”

“I knew you were a geologist,” said Danny. “I could tell by the shape of your hammer. Are you working at Midston College?”

“Oh, dear no,” said the other, with a smile. “I’m just visiting here. Although heaven knows what Bullfinch must think. I knew I ought to phone him, but when I got off that early train and looked up at these hills, I thought to myself, ‘What beautiful examples of sedimentary rock!’ I got out my hammer, left my suitcase in the waiting room, and—well, here I am.”

At the mention of Professor Bullfinch’s name, Danny snapped his fingers. “Now I know who you are,” he exclaimed. “You’re Doctor Tresselt, and you’re coming to stay with us.”

“I am undoubtedly Dr. Tresselt,” said the geologist. “But I think you’re mistaken. I’m going to stay with Professor Bullfinch. Not that I wouldn’t like to stay with you,” he added, in a kindly tone. “I’m very fond of children. I have three or four of my own.”

“I know,” Danny said.

“You do? I didn’t think my children had any friends in this neighborhood.”

“No, I mean I know you’re going to stay with Professor Bullfinch. I live with him. I’m Danny Dunn. My mother is his housekeeper.”

“Well, I’m delighted to meet you,” said Dr. Tresselt, shaking the boy’s hand warmly. “And these are your brother and sister, no doubt?”

Irene giggled. “My name’s Irene Miller, Dr. Tresselt. I live next door to Dan.”

“Her father teaches astronomy at Midston,” Danny added. “And this is my friend, Joe Pearson.”

“Nice to know you both,” Dr. Tresselt said.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll return to the ledge. There are some very attractive fossils—”

“Jumping catfish!” said Danny. “Wait a minute, sir. I—I really think you ought to start for town. If you got in on the early train, Professor Bullfinch will be worrying about you. It’s past eleven o’clock.”

“Hmm. Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Dr. Tresselt shaded his eyes with his hand and looked about. “Unfortunately, I haven’t the faintest idea how to get back to town. But never mind. Bullfinch will certainly find me. He was always very good at that sort of thing when we were in school together. Goodbye.”

And with that, he turned away.

“Dr. Tresselt!” cried Danny. “Gee, excuse me, but—well, we know the way to town.”

“Of course you do,” the geologist beamed. “An excellent idea. You run along and tell Bullfinch where I am. He’ll understand.”

He waved his hand at them and started to climb the ridge.

“What’ll we do?” Irene whispered. “Just leave him?”

“We can’t,” said Danny. “It wouldn’t be fair to the Professor. Anyway—he forgot his hammer.”

At that moment, Dr. Tresselt returned. “My hammer,” he said, apologetically. “Thanks very much.”

“Listen, Dr. Tresselt,” Danny said, desperately, “I know my mother’s expecting you for lunch. She’ll be very disappointed. And I know the Professor’s looking forward to seeing you. I really think you ought to come along with us. Then you can come back up here this afternoon, or tomorrow. After all, you are supposed to stay for a week.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Dr. Tresselt tapped the hammer against his palm. “I mustn’t be so selfish… The fact is, you see, I’m afraid I sometimes let my interest in my work get the better of me. You’re quite right, of course.”

He straightened, decisively. “You’re a very good conscience, Danny. I ought to hire you. Let’s go, then.”

They started off together, directly down the hill, knowing that sooner or later they’d come out in the meadows above the town. But they had only gone a short distance when Joe, pointing ahead, said, “Hey, look, Dan! That big white oak on the point of rock. Isn’t that the one—?”

Danny glanced at it. There, sure enough, was the tree which marked the site of the cave. He looked at his friends, and then back at Dr. Tresselt, strolling behind them and whistling happily. He heaved a deep sigh. He knew perfectly well that if the geologist saw the cave, he would go no further.

Then he did one of the bravest things he had ever done. “It’s just an old tree,” he said. “Come on, let’s get Dr. Tresselt home.”