At last Tom strolled back, his gaze on the dial of his watch.
"Cool enough for a look, now, I think," Reade announced.
Harry bounded eagerly toward the crucibles, feeling them with his hands.
"Plenty cool enough," he reported.

"But how did you guess, Tom ?" "I didn't guess," Reade laughed.

"I've timed the crucibles before this, and I know to a minute how long it ought to take." "What a chump I am!" growled Harry, in contempt for self.

"I never think of such things as that." Tom now carefully emptied the crucibles.

In the bottom of each was found a tiny bead of half-lustrous metal, which miners and assayers term the "button." "The real stuff!" glowed Hazelton.
"Ye-es," said Tom slowly.