Mr. Peterson!" he
called, as he noticed the old prospector coming along. "Have you had
any luck?"

"I heard you were down here," said the many not answering the question
directly, "and as I had to run over from my island for some supplies I
thought I'd stop and see you. How are you?" and he shook hands.

"Fine!" answered Tom. "Have you found the lost mine yet?"

Alec Peterson paused a moment. Then he said slowly:

"No, Tom, I haven't succeeded in locating the mine yet. But I--I expect
to any day now!" he added, hastily.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE LONGEST SHOT

"Well, Mr. Peterson," remarked Tom, after a pause, "I'm sure I hope you
will succeed in your quest. You must have met disappointment so far."

"I have, Tom. But I'm not going to give up. Can't you come over and see
me before you go back North?"

"I'll try. Just where is your island?"

"Off in that direction," responded the fortune-hunter, pointing to the
northeast. "It's a little farther from here than I thought it was at
first--about thirty miles. But I have a little second-hand steam launch
that my pardners and I use. I'll come for you, take you over and bring
you back any time you say."

"After my gun has been tested," said Tom, with a smile. "Better stay
and see it."

"No, I must get back to the island. I have some new information that I
am sure will enable me to locate the lost mine."

"Well, good-bye, and good luck to you," called Tom, as the
fortune-hunter started away.

"Do you think he'll ever find the opals, Tom?" asked Ned.

His chum shook his head.

"I don't believe so," he answered. "Alec has always been that
way--always visionary--always just about to be successful; but never
quite getting there."

"Then your father's ten thousand dollars will be lost?"

"Yes, I suppose so; but, in a way, dad can stand it. And if I make good
on this gun test, ten thousand dollars won't look very big to me. I
guess dad gave it to Alec from a sort of sentimental feeling, anyhow."

"You mean because he saved you from the live wire?"

"That's it, Ned. It was a sort of reward, in a way, and I guess dad
won't be broken-hearted if Alec doesn't succeed. Only, of course, he'll
feel badly for Alec himself. Poor old man! he won't be able to do much
more prospecting. Well, Ned, let's get to work on that ammunition
hoist. It still jams a little on the ways, and I want it to work
smoothly. There's no use having a hitch--even a small one--when the big
bug