he seemed to like very much, for he began to chew
them.

"That's what he wanted all the while," said Teddy.

"Well, let him eat all he wants, and then he won't be hungry any more
and he'll pull us where we want to go," advised Hal.

They did this, after setting the cart up on its wheels. When Nicknack
turned away from the bush, and looked at the two waiting boys, Ted said:

"Well, I guess we can go on now."

"Yes," added Hal, "and I hope well find those blue rocks. But I don't
believe we're ever going to."

At last, however, when it was getting rather late in the afternoon and
Ted had said it was time to go back, Hal, who was driving the goat
through a part of the woods they never before had visited, pointed to a
big stone buried in the side of a hill and cried:

"Look! Isn't that rock blue, Ted?"

"It does look kind of blue, yes."

"Then it's just what we're looking for. See, there's lots of little blue
rocks, too. Let's take some back to camp. Maybe they're the same kind
Trouble had, and there may be gold in 'em! Come on."

They piled the rocks, which were certainly somewhat blue in color, into
the wagon, and started back with them.

"We found 'em! We found 'em!" they called as they came within sight of
the tents. "We got the blue rocks!"

"Well, they're pretty, certainly," said Grandpa Martin, as he picked up
one from the wagon, "but they're no better than any other rocks around
here, as far as I can see."

"They've got gold in 'em, Hal says," Ted stated.

"Gold? Oh, no, Curlytop!" laughed his grandfather. "I've told you there
is no gold on this island."

"There's _something_ in the blue rocks," declared Hal. "Feel how heavy
they are--lots heavier than any other stones around here."

"Yes, they are," agreed Grandpa Martin, as he weighed one of the stones
in his hand. "There might be some iron in them, but not gold. Look out!"
he suddenly called as the stone slipped from his hand. "Look out for
your toes!"

Laughing, the Curlytops and Hal jumped back. The blue stone which
Grandpa Martin dropped, struck on the edge of the shovel which was out
in front of the tent. As the rock hit the steel tool with a clang,
something queer happened.

At once the rock began to burn with a curious blue flame, and a
yellowish smoke curled up.

"Oh, the rock's on fire!" cried Janet. "The rock's on fire!"

"Yes, and look!" added Ted. "It's burning blue, just like the light we
saw on the island one night."

"And