That was his last glimpse of Papuan and pygmy, for the way led down abruptly into their valley, and soon they were crossing the strip of deep jungle and had arrived on the coral bank. A shout for Nicky, answered by a low whistle, brought them to the stream bank, where the old white sail of the small proa showed up through the thickets. Nicky had already gotten the crate aboard and was all ready to shove off. They tumbled in, and Baderoon took the helm, while Sadok drew in the sheet rope. The creek banks slid swiftly by, and presently they were out in the lagoon and headed down it toward the capes of the open sea. “Good-by, New Guinea!” shouted the curator, waving his hand at the column of smoke that rose far back in the hills. “Some day the white race will need you--but it’s a long, long way off yet, boys!” he laughed, dropping his voice. “And now let’s have those cinnabar specimens,” he added, as the proa swept along like a swallow under the fresh breeze. “Mum’s the word about them, everybody,” he warned. “It’s the one big secret of the expedition.” “I suppose we’ll see you next as president of the New Guinea Mining Company, Limited, Mr. Baldwin?” laughed Nicky, who was busily whittling at a short bamboo stick he had brought aboard. “That opens up a big subject, boys,” answered the curator, seriously. “If either of you want a big position in such a company, just say the word and it’s yours. You’ll be rich and prosperous beyond your dreams.” “And you, Mr. Baldwin?” inquired Dwight, curiously. “Such temptations are not for me,” replied the curator. “When I’ve reported this thing to certain financiers, I’m through. My whole life has been that of a scientist, a seeker after knowledge. When I have found a new thing my interest in it ceases. As a wanderer and an explorer I am happy; as a wealthy mine owner I’d be miserable. All my education has been in the service of science; it’s the only life for me.” “Me, too!” grunted Nicky, splitting his bamboo wand and sticking a small sliver in it to hold it open. “And, there’s one specimen from New Guinea that I _didn’t_ get, and that’s a sea snake. You can have your mine for all of me!” “By George! that’s the way I feel, too!” exclaimed Dwight. “The engineers and the moneyed men can have Red Mountain, for all I care. I’d far rather collect a new butterfly in some out-of-the-way hole than own a million dollars. All I want is to be with you on your next expedition, Mr. Baldwin.” The curator looked into their eyes understandingly. “It’s the way we naturalists all feel,” he said, appreciatively. “Enough to live on and the chance to do something for science is happiness to us. Sadok and I are going into the interior of Borneo next, and I’d be delighted to have you with me. Your characters are pretty well formed now; all this that we’ve gone through has simply hardened them, so I know I can depend on you--and that’s the most precious knowledge any man can have--”