When I showed him all the data I had collected from text-books and encyclopaedias about the insect and plant life of the desert, and all the notes I had made myself from my own observations, he actually whistled with surprise.

He sat and fired questions at me like a Gatling gun for nearly an hour, winding up by asking me if I had any idea what a valuable collection I had made, and if I would be willing to part with it.
"Then it came out that he is a noted naturalist who is preparing a set of books on insects and their relation to plant life, and is spending a year in the West on purpose to study the varieties here.

Some of my specimens are so rare he has not come across them before, and he said my notes would save him weeks of time--in fact, would be like a blazed trail through a wilderness, showing him where to go to verify my observations without loss of time.
"Of course, when it comes to the pinch, I _don't_ want to part with my beautiful collection of specimens.

It means a great deal to me; I was over four years making it.

But it is too great an opportunity to let pass.