The Air Ship BoysorThe Quest of the Aztec Treasure

By H. L. Sayler

CHAPTER I

THE DEPARTURE OF THE OVERLAND LIMITED

The Overland Limited, aglow with lights, stood in the DearbornStreet station in Chicago waiting for eight o'clock and the last ofits fortunate passengers. Near the entrance gates, through whichperspiring men and women were hurrying, stood the rear cars of thetrain. Within these could be seen joyous passengers locatingthemselves and arranging bags and parcels. 

In fifteen minutes the long journey of Ned Napier and his chum AlanHope to the far southwest was to begin. 

At the other end of the big shed, where the cars of the long trainseemed to fade almost out of sight, four persons were anxiouslyawaiting the approach of the hour of departure. One of these, theconductor of the train, consulted his watch, as he had done severaltimes already, holding it close within the glow of his green-shadedlantern. 

"It's getting pretty close to time, Major Honeywell, " he said withsome concern. "You're sure he'll be here?"

The man addressed, who stood leaning lightly on a cane and whosesoft dark hat and clothes indicated his military calling, showedsimilar concern, but replied confidently:

"We have nearly fifteen minutes. Young Napier has a reputation fornever failing. I'm sure he'll be here in time. "

"Here's the telegram, " interrupted young Alan Hope, as he drew ayellow sheet from his pocket. "It is from Youngstown, Ohio, andsays Ned's train is on time. He left Washington yesterday and ifeverything is all right he reached the Union Depot a half hour ago. He'll be here. "

"Well, you know we can't wait, much as I'd like to, " replied theconductor. "You'd better have everything ready. "

"She's dat, sah, " interrupted the fourth person of the group, ayoung negro, who, as he spoke, placed his hand on the side door ofthe car, and moved it on its easy running bearings. 

"You see, there isn't much time left, " continued the sympathetictrain official. "We're coupling up. " And he nodded toward thegloom beyond the train shed out of which the big compound locomotivewas already emerging. The military man with the cane became moreapprehensive. 

"What shall we do if Ned fails to get here?" he said suddenly afterpeering down the long platform toward the busy end of the station. 

"Oh, we didn't go into this to fail, " cheerily responded the youthby his side. "If we 'fall down' it won't be on a simple thing likethis. He'll be here. It won't take us but three minutes totransfer the stuff when it gets here. Never fear. I'll just takeanother look in the car to make sure. "

As he did so the colored boy exclaimed:

"It's all right. Here's de screws as he done tole us to git andhere's de screw-driver outen de box as he done writ us to have readyand dar's de door all ready fur to fly open. "

To prove it the lad gave the wide door in the side of the car ashove, and as it ran back on its track a portion of the inside ofthe car was exposed. It was a peculiar car and worth description, for in it, next to the big engine and ahead of all the other cars ofthe almost endless train, Ned Napier, his friend Alan Hope, andtheir servant, Elmer Grissom, were to be the sole passengers on amost mysterious and, as it proved, most eventful journey. Inrailroad parlance the car was what is known as a "club" car. Halfof the interior was bare and unfinished, like the compartment inwhich, on special and limited trains, baggage is carried. This partof the car, now exposed to view, was dimly lighted with oneincandescent bulb. In the half-light it could be seen that thespace was almost wholly filled with tanks, boxes, casks, crates andbundles, all systematically braced to prevent jarring or smashing. It was plainly not the luggage of ordinary travelers. Except for anarrow passageway in the center of the car and a space about fivesquare next the open door, every inch, to the very ventilators ofthe car, was crowded with bound or crated, numbered and taggedpackages. In the open space next the door Alan Hope now appeared. 

"Coming yet?" he asked with apparent confidence as he peeredoutside. 

The colored boy Elmer shook his head. 

Just then the conductor returned and again his watch. 

"Eight minutes, " he said; "time's getting along and I've got to goback and see about my train. I don't want to make you nervous, butdo you want us to take this car if fails to get here with thestuff?"

"I suppose there's no need, " replied the military man, beginning toshow irritation. "But there's eight minutes yet. "

"I know, " replied the conductor, "but after we are coupled up and itis time to leave we can't stop to cut this car out. We've got tohave five minutes for that. At five minutes of eight you'll have todecide whether it is go or stay. I'm sorry--but you'll have todecide in a minute or two. "

"Decide it now, " interrupted Alan from the open car door. "We'regoing and he'll be here. "

The Major appeared to be in doubt as to the wisdom of this, butbefore he could say anything Alan continued:

"Couple up whenever you want to, Mr. Conductor, we'll be ready, " andhe sprang out of the car, his face set with determination. 

By that time the throbbing engine had silently moved up next the carand two grimy depot men with smoky torches had swung off thefootboard to make the connections. 

"Got to know, " repeated the sympathetic conductor. "Only fiveminutes. " He looked at the Major for the final word. 

The latter peered down the long almost vacant platform. There wasno one in sight but the late arrivals being helped aboard the carsin the far end of the station. Then he gave another look of appealat his own watch as if in doubt what to say. To send a special carhalf way across the continent was no inexpensive project. And tosend it without the person or the precious material that it wasintended seemed not only a waste of money but foolish. Although theanxious man had both confidence and nerve it could be seen that hewas in a quandary. 

"Five minutes, " exclaimed the railway official. "Does she go orstay?"

Before the man could answer, Alan faced him and with a hand on theMajor's arm exclaimed:

"Ned will be here, he can't fail; tell him we're going. "

The Major smiled. "That's it, " he exclaimed suddenly. "Take heralong. It's up to us to take care of ourselves. "

"Good, " said the conductor, "I hope he'll make it. "

With a signal to couple on the engine he hurried away for a finalinspection of his train. 

For a moment the three persons left behind stood in silence. Therewas a hiss of the engine as it pushed the connecting blocks togetherand then those waiting so anxiously could hear the jar of connectingvalves as the brake hose were snapped. Confident as Alan was, itgave him a sinking feeling. Then, as the swish of tests sounded andthe gnome-like figures of the depot men crawled from under the car, the Major looked again at his watch in despair. 

"Four minutes--"

Before he could say more Alan caught sight of a movement among thosegathered around the last car at the far end of the depot. 

"There he is!" he shouted and darted forward. 

"He sho'ly is, " exclaimed Elmer, his white teeth showing, "and Yar'sde screw driver and yar's de screws all ready. "

A slowly moving truck had carefully turned the end of the waitingtrain and, drawn by two baggage-room employees, was making its wayalong the platform. By its side walked a boy--a lad of aboutseventeen. One of his hands rested on the truck and his eyes werecarefully fixed on the load it bore. This was a black, iron-boundcase about four feet long, three feet deep and perhaps a yard inheight. On each side in red letters were the words:

"Explosive; no fire. " Beneath this ominous legend were two largeiron handles. 

When the men drawing the truck quickened their pace the boy spoke tothem sharply and they fell again into a steady walk. For thecurious onlookers through whom the strange little caravan passed thelad by the side of the truck seemed to have no concern. A travelingcap was pushed back from his young face and his keen and alert eyesand the tone of his voice indicated a quality that goes with thoseborn to command. 

"Hello, Ned, " came a ringing greeting from Alan as he ran forward. "They were afraid you wouldn't get here. But I knew you would. It's only a minute or two. Hurry. "

"Four, " said the new arrival cheerfully and confidently. 

He gave his left hand to Alan and a better welcome in a cheery wordof greeting, but his right hand did not leave the truck. Nor didhis eyes leave it except for a moment. 

"And the Major?" asked the new arrival as the truck rumbled on. 

"Waiting to bid us good-bye. "

"Everything aboard and shipshape?"

"Everything but this, " and Alan glanced at the black case on thetruck. 

"I've carried it a thousand miles like a baby, " laughed Ned. "Rodewith it all the way in the express car. "

"Then you didn't sleep last night?"

Ned laughed. "It was too interesting, " he answered, "and I cansleep to-night. But I'm glad it's here with no one killed and not adrop spilled. "

Advancing leaning heavily on his cane, the military man had hurriedforward, his face radiant. 

"Welcome, my boy, and congratulations. But for goodness' sakehurry, " he began hastily. 

Ned smiled again. "I think we had better not hurry this, " and hepointed to the truck load. "That's the reason I'm late. I walkedthe horses from the Union Depot. You see we can't afford to spillour supplies. It was too hard to make and cost too much. "

In another moment the truck was abreast of the open car door. 

"Back her up, " exclaimed Ned giving a hand himself to the tongue ofthe truck. Then, as the top of the truck came up flush with the cardoor and floor he sprang lightly on the truck and motioned the mento do likewise. For a moment they hesitated, but being reassured, Ned and Alan and the truck men lined up on either side of the bigcase. Slowly and carefully, with a brawny truck man on each side tohelp the less stoutly muscled lads, the case slid forward and with a"yeo-ho" or two from Ned it was soon in the car. Without a pause itwas pushed at once into a space outlined on the floor. 

"And about two minutes to spare, "' cried the Major from the platformjubilantly and thankfully. 

"Not quite, " laughed Ned, "but it'll be a half a minute and that'sas good as an hour. The screws, Elmer. "

The colored boy, who had been busy keeping out of the way, sprangforward to perform his part of the apparently ticklish job. It wasthen seen that each bottom corner of the mysterious box had an ironflange. In the center of' each of these was a small hole. 

"Major, " called out Ned as the truck men climbed out of the car, "these men were very obliging and careful. "

The Major understood him, and as he began searching his pockets fora bill Ned quickly inserted four screws in the waiting holes andwith a few sharp turns of the screw driver made the case hard andfast to the floor of the car. Almost as quickly he threw the doorinto place and bolted it, and then with Alan hurried out for a lastword to the friend who was so much interested in his success. 

"Was I right?" he exclaimed. "Half a minute?"

"To the dot, " enthusiastically answered the Major. "Now, boys, good-bye. Everything in that car is exactly as you planned andasked. From now on it is subject to your orders alone. What mineare you know. God bless you both and good luck to you!"

As the boys took his hand Ned handed him a letter. "I'm sorry Icouldn't have seen my mother again, but please send her this. Iwrote it to-day on the train. "

Far down the line of cars came the words, "all aboard, " and Elmer, cap in hand, sprang onto the steps. 

"Good-bye, " exclaimed Alan, "and thank you for the great chanceyou're giving us. "

"Good-bye, " said Ned, "if we fail in our work it won't be yourfault, Major. "

And then, as the train began to move, the boys stepped aboard, offat last, after six weeks preparation, in search of the lost Cibolaand the treasure of the Turquoise Temple. 

CHAPTER II

NED'S MEETING WITH MAJOR BALDWIN HONEYWELL

Six weeks before Ned Napier and Alan Hope had set out on this tripNed had been the surprised recipient of a mysterious note. In thismessage, written on the stationery of the Annex Hotel, he was urgedto call on the writer the next morning at ten o'clock. With hismother's approval he had kept the engagement. The events whichfollowed will explain how Ned came to take his momentous journey tothe far southwest. 

Promptly on the hour Ned presented himself at the office desk. Aclerk with a handful of letters gave him a half glance and turnedaway. 

"I say, " began Ned in a voice that made the clerk turn quickly, "Iwant some information. "

The man stepped forward, leaned over the counter far enough to get afull view of his questioner, and answered:

"All right, sonny. What can I do for you?"

"You can tell me if Major Baldwin Honeywell is staying here. "

"Friend of Major Baldwin's?" asked the clerk, his smile broadening. 

"If Major Honeywell is stopping here I suppose he is paying well forhis entertainment, " replied Ned after a moment's pause. 

"Sure, " answered the facetious clerk, "regular rates. "

"Perhaps that ought to include civil attention to those he hasbusiness with. I have an appointment with him at ten o'clock. Iwish you would see at once that he knows I am here. "

The clerk's smile was not quite so broad now but he was stillamused. 

"What name shall I give, son?" He was about to repeat the "sonny"that had grated a little on Ned's sense of the proprieties but hestopped short--and added: "Have you a card, Mr. --?"

"I have no card and I don't call myself 'Mr. ', " answered Ned, "butyou can say that Ned Napier is here and will be glad to see MajorHoneywell whenever it is convenient. "

At the mention of "Ned Napier" the clerk's airiness disappeared. Acertain respect seemed to take its place. Then he leaned forwardand said a good deal more politely: "You are not the Ned Napier?"

"I never heard of any other one of that name, " answered the boy. "But I think we are losing time. Please say I'm here. "

A moment later a page announced that Major Honeywell, in suite 8 A, desired Mr. Napier to be shown up at once. Reaching the apartmentthe page knocked and there was a quick "Come in. "

Hat in hand, and with all the manliness and dignity his seventeenyears afforded, Ned stepped into the room. At a table a man hadjust risen as if from work on some papers. As the man turned tocome forward and his eyes fell upon the lad he paused as ifsurprised. Ned Napier was neither large nor small for his age. Buthis circumstances had been such, financially, that his attire wasplain and perhaps old fashioned--much of it the handiwork of hisfrugal and fond mother; and the absence of smart and up-to-dateideas in clothes and shoes made him look, perhaps, even younger thanhis years. Other lads of his acquaintance--those in his classes inhigh school--aped their elders. Ned's time and interests were toomuch given up to his boyish ambition to permit this. 

Ned saw a man of about sixty years, with snow-white moustache, dressed in blue. The man had every appearance of being both asoldier and an officer. His face was tanned as if by much exposureto the sun, but the line of white at the top of his forehead, wherehis hat gave protection, suggested that the color was both recentand transitory. Major Honeywell's hair, which was yet dark and onlyslightly streaked with gray, was too long to suggest present activeservice, as Ned at once concluded. His face, too, had something ofthe student in it, and this effect was increased by a pair of largegold spectacles with double lenses. The man's contracted eyes gavethe youth the uncomfortable feeling of being microscopicallyexamined, and Ned was for a moment ill at ease. The manner of thescrutiny was that of a scholar who had before him a strange newspecimen. Ned, still with hat in hand, felt more like a dead bugthan a very live boy. Then the white-mustached man smiled, tookoff his heavy-lensed glasses, and stepped forward with his handextended. 

"I am Major Honeywell, " he began in a low voice, "formerly of theregular army and later detailed on ethnological work for theGovernment. You are--"

"Ned Napier, " responded his youthful caller. 

"You must take no offense if I am a little surprised, " exclaimedMajor Honeywell; "I had supposed you would be older. Perhaps yoursurprise came first on receiving my note?"

"It did, " replied Ned; "I was surprised and so was my mother. Butshe thought I ought to come, although we could not imagine what youwanted. "

Major Honeywell smiled and motioned Ned to a chair with agraciousness that made the lad more comfortable. It had taken but apassing glance to reveal to the boy that he was in the presence ofno ordinary man. The articles scattered about the room, whichapparently were part of his host's traveling outfit, confirmed this. Of three leather cases or trunks in front of the mantel and withinNed's view, one was open. On the extended top of this, still partlycovered with the folds of a light Indian blanket, were several flatand dull plates or dishes of Indian design, more or less broken andchipped. From the case came a pungent aromatic smell such as Nedhad noticed in the "Early American" room of the museum. He was notquite sure what "ethno" meant, but he made a guess that it relatedto old Indian things, and this theory he confirmed to himself whenhe noticed on the table that Major Honeywell had just left anotherpiece of pottery and by its side a large reading or magnifyingglass. 

"A collector, " thought Ned, more puzzled than ever. 

"I thank you for coming, " said Major Honeywell finally. "It wasgood of you to do so. But I had supposed you were older--at least ayoung man, " and he smiled again as if in some doubt. 

"Perhaps, " replied Ned with just a shadow of resentment in hisvoice, "if you will tell me why you sent for me I can help you inmaking up your mind as to whether you were wrong in doing so. I'mseventeen. "

Major Honeywell arose, took off his glasses again and walked towhere Ned was sitting. 

"I hope you'll not take offense, my boy. But my business with youis most important. It is possibly the most important thing that hasever come to me. Fate, or chance more properly, of course, seems tohave brought us together. If what I have in mind and have partlyhoped could be brought about, is brought about, you will have noreason to regret my sending for you. We must be sure of ourselves. So far we know almost nothing about each other. Since ouracquaintance may mean a great deal to us let us be sure ofourselves. Therefore, you will pardon me if I ask you if you arethe Ned Napier?"

Ned laughed good-naturedly. 

"That's what the clerk down stairs asked me few moments ago--if Iwere the Ned Napier. Well, I never heard of any other Ned Napier. But boys don't carry credentials, you know, Major Honeywell. I'lltake your word for it that you are Major Baldwin Honeywell, formerlyof the United States Army, and now of the--what do you callit--ethno--?"

"Ethnological survey, " laughed the Major. "Then, since we know eachother, I want to congratulate you, my young friend, on being one ofthe brightest, nerviest, and most promising young men of America. I've read about you and that's why I sent for you. "

Ned could only conclude one thing and it made him blush. "You meanmy dirigible balloon experience last summer?" he asked with growingembarrassment. 

"I do, " replied Major Honeywell with what Ned thought was whollyunnecessary warmth and enthusiasm, "and I want to shake the hand andcongratulate the youngest, most daring and most promising balloonnavigator in the world. "

CHAPTER III

THE RELATION OF MIGUEL VASQUEZ

It may be well to recount how such a young lad as Ned had become sofamous. 

Ned's father had been a consulting engineer with a fondness foraeronautics. When Mr. Napier died, a year before Ned's meeting withthe Major, it was discovered that he was making in his little shop asmall dirigible balloon to be used at an amusement park. Mr. Napier's death was sudden. Manufacturer's bills for the balloon bagand engine came due and Ned, young as he was, knew that he must paythem. Putting on all the dignity that his sixteen years wouldpermit he called on the manager of the amusement park. 

"I hear your father is dead, " said the manager. "I suppose we havelost the twenty-five per cent we advanced on the air ship. "

"Why do you suppose that?"

"Because he had complete charge of the work and we have no one totake his place. "

"I mean to do that myself, " said Ned. 

The manager smiled and shook his head. "No doubt you would try--youlook it--but we don't care to experiment. "

"But you want the air ship, don't you? You've advertised it. "

"Yes, it was ordered--through your father. Since he is dead andcannot contribute his services, our agreement is void. "

"Very well, " replied Ned. "Good day. "

"Look here, " interrupted the manager, "what do you mean to do?"

"I'm going out to sell an air ship. "

"You mean our air ship?"

"You said the contract is void. "

The manager laughed again, but not as jovially. 

"You ought to get on, " he exclaimed. 

"I've got to get on, and I'm going to do it by being on the square. "

"I guess you're right. What's your proposition?"

"Since you've thrown up the contract I'm going to sell the balloonat a profit. The price is now $3, 000. And I want a contract asoperator for six weeks at $100 per week. "

The manager stared at Ned and then exclaimed. "I'll do it. You arethe very youngster we want. "

That was how Ned Napier came to finish the air ship his father hadplanned, and how it happened all that summer that the papers printednews stories and Sunday specials with pictures of his daringflights, and how Major Baldwin Honeywell and other happened to speakof him as the Ned Napier. 

To return to the scene of Ned's meeting with the Major--

"My name is Ned Napier, " the boy began as soon as his host'scordiality gave him a chance, "and I am the young man the newspaperswrote about. "

"I certainly made no mistake in sending for you, " exclaimed thesoldier. "But, before I say more I want you to realize that thisis, to me, a most important matter. "

"You mean it is--"

"A solemn secret. I want secure your services in a desperate anddaring adventure that will mean a great deal to me--and a great dealto you. "

"Certainly, " was the boy's response. "I give you my pledge on that. "

A look of relief came into the old soldier's face. 

"If I furnished you the money, " went on Major Honeywell suddenly, "could you produce in a short time a practical and manageableballoon?"

Before the boy could answer the old soldier continued: "I don't meanone of those affairs in which ascensions of an hour or so are made. I mean one in which you could travel for several days--perhaps aweek?"

"No, " said Ned, "it can't be done. No one has yet remained in theair in a balloon over fifty-two hours. "

Major Honeywell said nothing, but Ned could see that what he hadtold the Major had dashed some budding hope. 

"That is, " Ned hastened to explain, "you couldn't do it unless youperiodically renewed your supply of hydrogen. I really believe, "continued Ned, "that I ought to know more about what you areplanning to accomplish. "

Again the white-mustached man was silent a few moments, and then hetold without reserve the great secret. He began with an account ofhimself. Until three years before he had been an officer in theUnited States cavalry, stationed in the southwest. Then thePresident had assigned him to ethnological work. His special workwas in the ruins of the Sedentary Pueblos. While scaling a cliff inthis work he fell and permanently injured his left knee. 

Resigning from the army, he traveled for a year and then went tovisit an old friend, Senor Pedro Oje, whose immense sheep herds inSouthwestern Colorado had made their owner a millionaire. 

While here, hearing of an ancient nearby pueblo, just south of theMesa Verde, Major Honeywell and his friend drove to the settlement. To Major Honeywell's surprise he found an old friend in Totontenac, the chief. As the two white men were about to leave, old Totontenacpresented to his soldier friend an ancient funeral urn. 

Major Honeywell was almost paralyzed with astonishment when he sawthat the vessel was sealed and that it bore on its side, instead ofthe conventional Aztec design, this inscription in black: "MiguelVasquez, 1545. "

"What was in it?" asked Ned quickly when the Major came to this partof his narrative. 

"That man was undoubtedly a soldier who marched out of Mexico in1539 with Friar Marcos, the great explorer, " went on MajorHoneywell, ignoring the question, "and when others gave up thesearch for the famed seven cities of Cibola and the wealth of theAztecs that every Spaniard believed rivaled the treasure of theIncas, this man kept on. Either by accident or design MiguelVasquez was left by the expedition and six years later he wrote oncowhide and concealed in that vase one of the most valuable historicrecords extant in America to-day--confirmation that there was a realbasis for the tales that lured the Spaniards to this region in questof treasure. "

Stepping to a trunk Major Honeywell took from a compartment a tintube. From this he extracted a stiff sheet of parchment-likematerial. 

"It's writing, isn't it?" exclaimed Ned. 

"Yes, and Spanish. It is Miguel Vasquez's last will and testament, written over three hundred and fifty years ago. And here is atranslation of it. You may read it yourself. That is my secret--and yours now!"

And these are the words that turned the current of Ned Napier'slife:

"A relation of Miguel Vasquez soldier of Spain made in the year 1546concerning the hidden city of Tune Cha. Coming out of Saint Michaelin the Province of Culican I journeyed with Captain Marco de Nica in1539. At Vacupa I departed from him and remained now six yearsamong those of this land. Three years I dwelt in the town of Acucoand heard often of the city of Tune Cha wherein is to be found theTemple of Turquoise than which none more beautiful is to be found, not even in Castile itself. Such I have seen with my own eyes. Itstandeth within a palace of five hundred rooms or more wherein areto be found priestly vessels of gold and silver. And this samepalace or City of Priests is compassed about by a massive wall. Andin the center of the palace standeth the Temple, facing the sunwhich is the sacred place of al Quivera, Arche and Guyas. And thewalls of this Temple are naught but precious Turquoise even to theheight of forty feet or more, and the pillars thereof are of goldand silver alternate. Knowledge of this hidden and beautiful cityhath not been reported unto Spain nor even unto Nueva Espana. FromAcuco it lieth thirty day's travel west of north and as I estimatein 36 degrees latitude in the mountains of Tune Cha. From the Riode Chuco it lieth west six days' travel. Nor may it be discoveredbut by those who have knowledge of it. Miguel Vasquez"

"What I had hoped to do, " said Major Honeywell at last, "was to makethe most perfect balloon ever built and discover through you thishidden temple of turquoise treasure. You say you cannot do it. "

Something he had never felt before shot through Ned's body. Hisface flushed and then grew pale under the spell that was on him. 

"Major Honeywell, " he said suddenly, "I don't know of a balloon thatcan be made to fly for a week. But if it is necessary to have oneto do what you wish I'll make it and I'll find Vasquez's TurquoiseTemple. "

CHAPTER IV

THE CONTRACT, AND LIQUID HYDROGEN

"I knew you'd do it, " exclaimed Major Honeywell, beaming. "Nowwe'll have my friend Senor Oje up and get right at the details. "

"One moment, Major Honeywell. It is easy to say what I just toldyou. But it means I've got to do something no one has ever done. I've got to take with me--in the balloon, of course--the material toreplace the gas I lose. "

"Well, that's easy, isn't it? For you--" qualified the old soldier. 

"I guess you don't know much about ballooning, " laughed Ned. 

"Will money enable you to do it?"

"I hope so! Other experimenters have tried to carry materials tomake gas. I'm going to take the gas itself in a glass jar. "

"In a glass jar!"

"Precisely. Liquefied hydrogen gas. "

At that moment Senor Pedro Oje, who had been summoned by MajorHoneywell, entered the room. An almost Indian complexion and castof countenance indicated his Mexican origin. What had taken placewas related to Senor Oje, and he left no doubt that he wasthoroughly in sympathy with the project. He soon put matters on abusiness basis. 

"We are to share alike in what is found, I understand, " he said. "Major Honeywell will have a third interest because the secret ishis. This young man is to have a third because the risk is his. And I am to have a similar portion for furnishing the capital. Andthat brings us to the real starting point, " the Mexican capitalistcontinued. "What is it to cost?"

"Ten thousand dollars at least, " answered Ned instantly. 

"Phew!" exclaimed Major Honeywell. 

Senor Oje, not unused to speculative investments, gave no sign ofsurprise. 

"How shall it be arranged?" was his only comment. 

"Put that amount to my personal credit in the First National Bank--if you care to trust me. "

"We are trusting you with more than that, " replied Major Honeywellwith earnestness. 

"It will take me six weeks to make my arrangements. In that time, as I need the money, I will draw on the account, " said Ned. 

"Very good, " said Senor Oje; "I will draw up the agreement. "

"Now, " continued Ned, addressing Major Honeywell, "what is yourinterpretation of the message of the Spaniard?"

"Of course Vasquez's words must be modernized. What he termed theTune Cha Mountains begin in New Mexico and extend northwesterly intoArizona and Utah. In many places their plateaus rise eight thousandfeet above the sea. Their thousands of peaks and canyons are fitrivals of the wonders of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. Nowadaysthey are known by many names--the Sierra Chusca, the Lokaeboka, theCarrisco. 'Thirty days' travel west of north' is not very definite, but it certainly locates the palace in the far northwestern part ofthese mountains. 

"The Rio de Chuco can only mean the Chusco river. The only place inits winding course that is six days' journey from the mountains iswhere it joins the Amarilla. This is south and east of Wilson'sPeak, which is our landmark. "

"Very good, " exclaimed Ned, briskly. "Now, what is the nearestpoint in civilization?"

"Clarkeville, Arizona. "

"Then that is my starting point. This is June twentieth. I shallbe ready by the last day of July. Of course I shall need a specialcar. "

"Very well, " responded the capitalist. "I see you know what youwant. "

"Incidentally, " exclaimed Ned, "I shall, of course, be permitted tocarry my own assistants. "

"Assistants? Yes, of course, " replied Major Honeywell, "but theymust be persons of discretion. "

"My chum, Alan Hope, who will make the ascension with me, will beone, and a colored boy, Elmer Grissom, who has helped me prepare forall my flights, will be the other. "

There was no dissent. 

"When shall I make my report?" Ned added. 

Major Honeywell and his friend conferred a moment. 

"Will five weeks be enough time for your exploration?"

"I think so; perhaps less. "

"Then we will meet you at the Coates House in Kansas City on thefirst day of August. "

Senor Oje arose and lit a fresh black cigar. 

"It will be well for you and Major Honeywell to talk over thesethings while I see my Chicago banker, " said he. And with a good-natured "Adios, Senores, " he left the apartment. 

"Now, about this liquid hydrogen?" began Major Honeywell at once. 

"Well, " said Ned, "instead of ballast, I'm going to carry reservehydrogen with me. "

"And is that so difficult?" asked the Major. 

"Impossible, if you try to carry material to make the gas, " answeredthe boy. 

"And so you are going to carry it in liquid form?"

"I'm going to try, although the making of liquid hydrogen is, sofar, pretty much a theory. It has been made only under tremendouspressure and at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit. "

The Major whistled. 

"That is so cold that ice is red hot comparatively, " explained Ned. "This work must be done, in Washington. "

They discussed the balloon itself, and the car and the engine forpropelling it; where these were to be made in the East, and how theywere to be forwarded to Chicago as they were completed. Ned himselfwas to go East at once and remain there until the last thing wasaccomplished. 

Ned's chum, Alan Hope, had just taken employment for the schoolvacation in a large sporting goods store not far from the hotel. Afew minutes later Ned walked leisurely into this store and soughtout the fire-arms department, where Alan was on duty. 

"Hello, Ned, " exclaimed Alan, "what do you think of this?" And witha smile he handed him an automatic pistol he was inspecting. 

Restraining himself, Ned looked it over carefully. 

"It holds ten cartridges and it's a beauty, " declared Alan. 

Ned weighed it carefully in his hand. "What's it worth?" he askedwith dignity. 

"Eighteen dollars. "

"I think we'll need three of them!"

Alan laughed. 

"And there are a good many other things I think we shall need, " wenton Ned, soberly. 

"This hot weather is pretty bad on some people, " laughed Alan. "But, by the way, who are 'we?"'

"You and Elmer Grissom and I, " answered Ned carelessly. 

"And where are we going?" continued Alan, who was not unused toNed's joking. 

"On a little run in a private car down into New Mexico. "

Alan looked at him a moment and then determined to have the jokeout. 

"Then what are we going to do?" he asked, still laughing. 

"Make a trip through an unexplored mountain region in the bestdirigible balloon ever built. "

Alan wondered just where the joke came in. "And then?" hecontinued. 

"Discover enough hidden treasure of jewels and silver and gold tomake us rich. "

"Shall I get you a cabbage leaf and some ice water?" asked Alan. 

"Get your father's consent that you can go; that'll be all, "announced Ned and then, breaking into a laugh, he relieved theperplexed Alan by explaining what had just taken place. In tenminutes Alan had secured permission to be off for the remainder ofthe day and the two boys hurried away for luncheon, to revel indreams of their great opportunity. 

By night Mrs. Napier had consented, though with tears, to Ned'sgoing, and later Alan's father reluctantly did the same. As Ned wasto leave the next afternoon and had to see Major Honeywell and SenorOje in the morning it was a busy evening that the two boys spent inNed's workshop. 

At one o'clock in the morning Alan's work in Chicago was outlinedand Ned's needs in the East were all listed. 

"And now, " exclaimed the tired but exuberant Alan, "it is allarranged but the name. What are we to call the air ship?"

"The 'Cibola, '" answered Ned without hesitation, "the dream of theSpanish invaders and our hope of success. "

CHAPTER V

A DINNER PARTY ON THE PLACIDA

The long, heavy, limited train on which the young air ship boys wereat last embarked on their extraordinary mission pulled slowly out ofthe station. 

Ned made a quick survey of the Placida. Coming out of the baggageend he passed first into a drawing room. In this were two sectionsthat opened up into four berths. Beyond the berths a passageway ledto a private stateroom. When the boys reached the stateroom, Elmerwas standing at the door with a happy smile on his face. 

"Fo' de captain, " exclaimed the colored boy. 

"Where are you to bunk, Alan?" Ned asked, quickly. 

"Oh, the crew is in the main room. "

"Not much, " exclaimed Ned. "We're partners in this enterprise. Idon't have any better than the rest. "

And in another moment he had dropped his valise alongside Alan'sberth. 

"We'll keep the little room for consultations, " he said with alaugh, "when we don't want Elmer to hear us talking about theIndians. "

The colored lad grunted. 

"Can't scare me wif no Injun talk, " he said. "I specs I ain't halfso 'fraid o' Injuns as I is o' dat stuff in de black box. "

"And it's time to attend to the 'stuff, '" interrupted Ned. 

They returned to the baggage room. 

"Now, " Ned began, "the door to this car must be kept locked exceptwhen the train crew are compelled to come through. We, in turn, must be careful about fire and lights. But, for fear of accident, Ihave taken some precautions. "

Alan and Elmer then saw that the top of the case was fitted with alid the edges of which were bound with rubber. In the center of thecovering was a short spout. 

"What's the use of an air and gas proof top with a hole in it?"asked Alan, inspecting it curiously. 

"Maybe dat's to let de air in and de lid's to keep de hydrogum fromgettin' out, " volunteered the colored boy. 

Ned was too busy to answer the one or to laugh at the other. He hadunlocked the lid and thrown it back. About six inches beneath thetop of the case stood eight iron boxes--two rows with four boxes ineach. These boxes, six inches square, were each about three feet inheight and in each could be seen the neck of a glass vessel. Securely packed in their iron jackets to prevent breaking, stood theglass receptacles, open-mouthed and apparently empty. But downbelow the shadowed rims were soft clouds of gaseous vapor, beneathwhich reposed the precious contents that had cost Ned over athousand dollars--the liquid hydrogen. 

On top of the square iron buckets was coiled eight or ten feet ofrubber hose. Taking it out Ned closed and locked the lid. He thenscrewed one end of the hose onto the open spout and, springing tothe top of the case, passed the other end out of the openventilator. 

"Now, " Ned explained, "we are in less danger. Difficult as it is tocondense hydrogen, it is more difficult to keep it in liquid form. It constantly seeks to return to gas. In a closed place it mightmake trouble. "

Elmer had already disappeared, with popping eyes and mumbles ofprotest. Alan proudly exhibited to his friend the results of hisshare of the work of preparation. Every crate, box, barrel andpackage was numbered and labeled and securely fastened in place. 

On one side of the car stood five large oak tanks, looking like thefamous beer tuns of Germany. 

"I can make more hydrogen in those than you've got in your blackbox, " Alan exclaimed jokingly. 

"I'll have a better look at them in the daylight, " finally said Ned;"and now those easy chairs in the other car would feel pretty good. "

"Aren't sleepy, are you?" asked Alan, forgetting that his chum hadnot slept the night before. 

"No, " said Ned, "only happy. But I'd be happier if I had had timeto get a good hot supper. "

"All ready, sah, in de stateroom, " announced Elmer's cheerful voice. 

Both boys turned--Ned in surprise. 

"Supper's all ready, sah!" continued the colored boy, "and waitingfo' you all. "

In the stateroom was a sight to arouse a sleepy boy and to delight ahungry one. In the middle of a small table was a bunch of pinkroses. On either side, in a dish of cracked ice, was the half of aluscious cantaloupe. Silver knives, forks and spoons, sparklingglass-ware and snowy napkins at once revealed the resources of thePlacida's pantry. 

"Well, I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed Ned. 

"Pretty nifty, eh?" laughed Alan. 

"Well, if this isn't the last straw!" exclaimed Ned as they seatedthemselves. "But I want to thank you both. I didn't know howhungry I really was--"

He was about to plunge a spoon into the fragrant, cool melon when hesaw a folded note by his plate. Opening it he read:

"Dear Ned: Good luck and good voyage. The roses are from my owngarden. Bring me a turquoise ring. MARY HOPE. "

It was from Alan's sister. 

"Shall we do it, Alan?" he cried. 

"Shall we?" answered Alan wringing his chum's hand. "We'll do itor--"

"Is you all ready for dis?" asked the young chef suddenly appearingwith a smoking broiled steak. "It can't wait no longer. "

And it did not have to. 

An hour later the two happy boys sat on either side of the table inthe drawing room of their car. 

"Are you getting nervous?" began Alan. 

"About what?" asked Ned. 

"Oh, about everything. The responsibility for this car and thesetting up of your balloon, and the trip itself. "

"Are you?" exclaimed Ned. 

"My, no, I'm not. But then I'm not the captain. But I thought youmight be. "

"Aren't we getting along all right?"

"Perhaps too well, " Alan answered. 

"Never talk that way, " interrupted Ned decisively. "Everything ishappening as it does because we planned it just that way. Thingscan't go too well. That is a foolish idea. The good fortune ofcareful preparation should only confirm your judgment. "

This was the sort of advice Alan had to take now and then from hisfriend; but it always did him good. 

"Then you don't believe in good luck?" rather sheepishly suggestedAlan. 

"I believe in it, yes, " replied Ned, "if it comes--and I never putit aside. But I never count on it. "

Sleep seemed to have fled from Ned's eyes. Although Alan suggestedthat it might be well to turn in early and be up early, Ned insistedon seeing Major Honeywell's chart of the country they were toexplore, saying that he had another night on the journey in which hecould sleep. 

The chart was really only a rough pencil sketch. The instructionswere more in detail. 

"This country, now a portion of the reservation of the Navajo andSouthern Ute Indians, is a wilderness, " Major Honeywell wrote. "White men do not visit it because the Indians will not permit them. Mining prospectors who have tried to do so have been murdered. "

"Cheerful, isn't it?" interrupted Alan. 

"This jumble of mountains has no connection with our two greatwestern mountain ranges. The towering plateaus, cut with yawningcanyons, are plainly the result of some special volcanic action. This unknown region extends over a hundred miles northwest andsoutheast, and on all sides drops suddenly into the sandy deserts. At Clarkeville the desert begins at once. If you will start alittle east of north and locate the Indian village of Toliatchi, twenty miles away, you will be on the Arroyo Chusco. Although thebed of this stream may be dry it can be traced northward sixty-fivemiles, where it unites with the Amarilla, eighty-five miles fromClarkeville. At the juncture of these water courses, if you facewest, the roughest part of the Tunit Chas will confront you. Atyour right will be Wilson's Peak. That portion of the Tunit Chas tothe southwest forms the Lu-ka-ch-ka mountains. To the northeast liethe Charriscos. Somewhere in these mountains lie the temple and thetreasures we seek. "

CHAPTER VI

BOB RUSSELL OF THE KANSAS CITY COMET

When the Overland reached Kansas City at nine o'clock the nextmorning the air ship boys were just finishing an appetizingbreakfast of fruit, omelet, pancakes and coffee. The Placida, theirspecial car, came to a stop at the far end of the station trainshed, and, covered with dust as it was, and almost hidden amonghissing engines and baggage and express cars, there seemed littlereason for it to attract attention. Of course it was not ignored bythe railway officials. No sooner was the train at rest than thedepot master and the division superintendent were knocking at thedoor. They had special orders concerning the car, and immediatelywheels and brakes were being tested and ice and water were beingtaken aboard. 

The railway officials made a quick inspection of the car, asked ifanything was needed, and were soon gone. A few minutes after theyhad left a young man suddenly appeared, dodging among the cars. Hesprang on to the rear step of the Placida, but before he could enterthe car, the door of which had been left open by the departingofficials, the vigilant form of Elmer Grissom blocked his way. 

"Who's in charge here?" demanded the stranger. "I'm a reporter andwant to see him in a hurry. "

The railway officials had been admitted through the baggage portionof the car, but Elmer knew that this way was not open to everyone. He understood the need of secrecy, and politely forcing the reporterout of the door on to the platform he led him to the front of thecar. 

"If you'll give me yo' card, " he then said with dignity, "I'll takeit in, sah. "

As he was about to do so, Ned and Alan emerged from the car for afew mouthfuls of fresh air. 

"Hey!" exclaimed the impatient young man, "I'd like to see the manin charge of this car. It's important and I'm in a hurry. I'm areporter for the Comet. "

The boys smiled. 

"We are in charge, " answered Ned. "What can we do for you?"

The reporter seemed taken somewhat aback at seeing two youngstersdirecting a special car. His bearing changed at once. 

"I've been sent to get a story about where you are going and whatyou are going to do, " he said with a little more consideration;"that is, if you care to tell. "

Ned puckered up his lips and thought. He had met reporters beforeand he knew what a "story" meant. 

"I think we don't care to say, " he replied in a moment. He did noteven care to say it was a secret. Even that admission, he knew, would be a basis for something that might interfere with his plans, "Our correspondent in Chicago says you left there last evening witha carload of new and powerful explosives. "

"Was such a story printed this morning?" asked Ned, eyeing thereporter closely. 

"I think not, " said the reporter, "but we are an afternoon paper, you know. We have a report that you are on your way to Mare Island, California, and that you have a carload of explosives for the navy. "

"Was such a story printed this morning?" repeated Ned, smilingagain. 

"No, it wasn't. But it will be this afternoon, " answered the youngman impatiently. 

"If such a report had been known in Chicago last night, " replied Nedsharply, "it would have been in every newspaper in that city andthis city this morning. No correspondent sent you such a story. You are a poor guesser. "

The reporter was at least four years older than Ned and Alan. Therefore, he gave a little start of surprise. He had been trappedin a trick that he had often worked successfully on many an olderperson. For Bob Russell, easily the brightest and quickest-wittedreporter in his city, thus to be turned down by two "kids" wouldnever do. Without wasting time to deny Ned's charge, he tried abelligerent role. 

"Do you deny you have newly invented ammunition in that car?" heexclaimed brusquely. 

"I deny nothing and refuse to be put in the attitude of doing so, "calmly answered Ned. "Although it happens you are wrong again. "

The young man laughed and again changed his tactics. 

"Well, look here, boys, what's the use of getting mad about this?You're working on something, just as I'm working on a newspaper. You've got a good story somewhere about you and I'd like to have it. What's the matter with being good fellows and loosening up?"

"Because it is purely a business matter in which the public would betoo much concerned if it knew what we were doing. "

"Well, whatever it is, it's good--I know that, " replied the youngjournalist, laughing, "and I'm sorry I'm not in it with you--specialcar--flowers--traveling like railroad presidents. I'm on. But, say, when this thing breaks I'd like to be in on the yarn. I waslying. I never heard of you before the train pulled in. But youknow the railroad people are on. They told me you had a black casemarked 'Explosive. ' That's all I know. Say, couldn't you tell methis--are you going through to the coast?"

Ned relented a little. 

"Perhaps, " he said smiling, "we might go to the coast. "

"You might?" interrupted the reporter eagerly. 

"Or we might stop in the mountains. "

The reporter looked perplexed. 

"Then you've got something to do with mining?" interrupted theimpulsive journalist, "and it isn't the navy yard. But you camefrom Washington! I know that, you see. "

"Yes, " volunteered Ned, "but we might be from the HydrographicOffice. "

"Cloud breakers, " quickly interrupted the reporter again. "How'sthat for a guess? Are you rain makers?"

"What are they?" innocently asked Alan. 

The reporter saw he was wrong. 

"I give it up, " he said shrugging his shoulders. "You are two wiselads. "

"Not wise, " suggested Ned, "but attending strictly to our business. "

"Right you are, " answered the reporter. 

"I've got to leave you to have a look through the train. Sorry I'mnot in on this. Where ever you're going, it looks good to me. Whenyou come back, don't forget me. Save the story for me, Bob Russellof the Comet. "

Handing his card to the boys with a cheery "So long!" he was gone. The boys felt a little relieved. They had done what they could toprotect the interests of their patrons and themselves by keepingtheir mission a strict secret. So far as Ned knew, the only personswho had knowledge of what they were doing and where they were goingwere his mother and sister, Alan's family, and Major Honeywell andSenor Oje. Not even Elmer Grissom's parents knew where he wasbound--it was sufficient for them to know that he was with Ned. Ofcourse the railway people knew where the car was to stop. Beyondthese it was necessary for no one else to know what was being done--not even the manufacturers who made the balloon, the engine andtheir precious gas. But what the young air navigators desired andwhat Bob Russell wanted were two different things. 

CHAPTER VII

THE MAKING OF A NEWSPAPER STORY

Let us see whether the young reporter was baffled by the reticenceof the secretive boys. 

"Every one to his trade, " murmured Bob Russell, as he hastened fromNed and Alan, "and now, me to mine. "

Bob was what was known on his paper as the "depot reporter. " It wasnot the most important assignment, for usually his work consistedonly in describing such notable personages as passed through thecity and now and then in interviewing the more important of these. But this day he was confronted with a mystery and it was hisbusiness to solve it. He acted quickly. 

Hurrying after the depot master, with whom of course he wasfriendly, he persuaded that official to go at once to the conductorof the train and ascertain the names of the boys. This was a simplething, done in that manner, for even the passengers in a special orprivate car must have regular tickets. The conductor at oncerevealed the identity of the three passengers. Although Bob knewthe conductor, he realized that he stood a chance of being refusedeven thin information if he asked for it personally. 

While his friend the depot master was getting this information, Bobquickly, but apparently carelessly, approached the head brakeman whohad helped bring the train from Chicago. It was Tom Smithers--alsoa friend of Bob's, who made a point of knowing every employeerunning into the station. 

"I see you've got the Placida with you?" began Bob indifferently. 

"Yep, " answered Tom, "and loaded to the axles. All exceptpassengers. She's running light on them. Two boys and a coon. "

"I just had a talk with them, " remarked Bob, carelessly offering thebrakeman a cigar. "Pretty dusty, eh?" After a moment's casual talkBob returned to the subject. 

"I guess those kids must be next--running a car with locked doors. "

"Locked doors!" snorted Tom, putting his cigar away for asurreptitious smoke. "Not on your life. Not against me. You betshe was open whenever I rang. "

"But it might just as well have been locked, " said Bob. "The placeis so jammed full of stuff. I couldn't make out what it was, butthere was a wad of it. "

The unsuspecting brakeman then gave Bob what he was hoping to get. 

"Well, I stopped and saw it, " he confessed. "I roused up the coonafter midnight to have a look at the ropes and when I came back Itook my time. They got a case of powder or dynamite in there marked'Explosive. ' I didn't bother that but the rest was plain. Half theboxes in the car were labeled 'balloon works' or 'motor works. 'It's a balloon show--nothing else. "

"Where is the car going?"

"They ain't consulted me, " laughed Tom. 

A few moments later Bob was in the office of the divisionsuperintendent. When he left he knew that the Placida would bedropped on the only siding at the little town of Clarkeville in NewMexico. He had also looked over the best map in the offices andfixed in his mind the topography of the adjacent country. 

Before half past nine Bob had presented these scattered facts to hiscity editor. 

"It's a story, all right, Bob, and a good one. Go to it, " said theeditor. And Bob did the best he knew how--in a newspaper way. Onthe suggestion of the editor he telegraphed to the representative ofthe Comet in Chicago: "Who is Ned Napier?" In a little over an hourhe had a hundred and fifty word telegram outlining Ned's aeronauticcareer and concluding: "Why? What do you know? Napier not here. Family won't talk. "

Then Bob began his story. It was, for a reporter of his experience, brilliant, with good deductions, good guesses and good ambiguousgeneralities. It seemed to tell more than it really did. 

At four o'clock that afternoon Ned and Alan were speeding over thegreen and fertile prairies of middle Kansas in blissful ignorance ofwhat Bob Russell had done. Under striking headlines appeared thefollowing story:

"Ned Napier, the famous young aeronaut of Chicago, passed throughthe city this morning on his way to the southwest to execute themost daring and important balloon journey ever undertaken in thiscountry. Accompanied by an assistant, Alan Hope, and on board aspecial car packed with $50, 000 worth of apparatus he will proceedto Clarkeville, an insignificant town in New Mexico, from whichplace he will make his hazardous flight over the mountains lying tothe north. The aerial journey may possibly extended over the SierraNevadas as far as the Pacific Coast. 

"The details of the expedition are not made public, as young Napierhas been retained by the authorities at Washington and is operatingunder a strict pledge of secrecy. The knowledge that such anexpedition is under way was made known for the first time to therepresentative of the Comet by Mr. Napier at the Union Station thismorning. While slow to discuss the ultimate object of his trip Mr. Napier talked of his plans in a general way. 

"'I represent the Hydrographic Department, ' he said to the reporter, 'and the journey I am about to make may extend from Clarkeville asfar as the Pacific. I hope it will accomplish what the departmenthas planned, but you know that we who are in this profession arealways prepared for failure. My assistant and I may easily have ourlives crushed out on the rugged peaks of the mountain chain we areattempting to cross. '

"Mr. Napier suggested that some might conclude that he had been sentout as a 'rain maker, ' or 'cloud breaker' in an attempt to securerain for the arid plains, but he laughed at this idea. 

"In the government's special car, carefully safeguarded, is carrieda large can of a new and powerful explosive. In exhibiting this tothe reporter Mr. Napier good-naturedly said:

"'I am sorry I cannot tell the public the exact character of thisnew explosive. But the secret belongs to the government. '

"When it was suggested that the explosive might be destined forcertain elaborate experiments in the unpopulated wilderness of theregion to which the expedition is now hastening on the Limited, Mr. Napier would only answer;

"My lips are sealed. I can say no more. But I compliment theComet in discovering what all the eastern papers have missed--that astupendous thing is projected and that I have the honor, with myfriend, Mr. Hope, to attempt it. "

Then followed an elaborate rewritten version of what had beentelegraphed from Chicago concerning Ned. After this was a detailedaccount of the car, not omitting little Mary Hope's bouquet of fadedroses, which in Bob's story became "a wealth of cut blossoms, thetribute of Mr. Napier's scientific friends. "

What Bob wrote was in type by twelve o'clock. Three hundred wordsof it were telegraphed to the Chicago evening newspapers. Sharp atsix o'clock that evening the Chicago correspondent of the New YorkWorld sent advice to his paper that he had a story on the mystery ofwhat Ned Napier was about to do for the government. Word came backat once to send on the story. 

At ten o'clock the telegraph editor of the World in New York tookthe account just received to the managing editor of the paper. 

There was a minute's consultation, a nod of the head, and at twelveo'clock that night Bob Russell was awakened to respond to atelephone call. It was his own managing editor who read him thistelegram:

Managing Editor, Comet, Kansas City

Send man at once to follow Chicago balloon man and discover mission. Advance funds and draw on us. Will share story with you. 

Managing Editor, New York World. 

It is hardly necessary to say that Bob Russell was a passenger onthe Limited leaving the next morning. He was just twenty-four hoursbehind in the race, but he meant, if he could, to execute hisorders, and was already smiling delightedly in anticipation of whathe knew would be a contest of wits. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE HOSPITALITY OF NEW MEXICO

Clarkeville was even smaller than the boys had imagined it. Thelittle depot was far more pretentious than any other building insight. Beyond this was a wide and exceedingly dusty street. On thefar side of this unpaved roadway was a row of one- and two-storyframe buildings. Here and there was a cheaper structure of littleelse but corrugated iron sheets, while to the left, where a similarstreet crossed the railroad at right angles, there was a one-storycement building proudly labeled "Bank. " Both streets suddenlydisappeared in a sandy, treeless plain. 

Wooden awnings in front of the buildings extended over the sidewalk. At the edge of these awnings were a few teams and many saddledhorses, some of them hitched to posts, and others standing with theirbridle reins dropped to the ground. Not many persons were in sight. The deep and cloudless blue sky was brilliant with the noonday sunwhile a hot breezeless haze hung over all. 

The Limited had made its usual daily pause and then to the surpriseof the agent had run down beyond the water tank with one car, switched it back onto the one siding until it stood opposite themusty smelling freight shed, and, quickly coupling up again, hadgone. 

Ned and Alan had alighted when the train stopped. Around them theboys could detect the first signs of the real West. At one end ofthe station a big-hatted Mexican squatted by a hot tamale can. Among others idling near were some high-heeled and sombrero-toppedcow-boys, whose easy and loose clothing made Alan envious at once. Even the depot attendants, with their belts and loosely knottedneckerchiefs, seemed gayer and freer than their brother laborersback in the East. 

With coats off and collars loosened the two boys filled their lungswith the tonic air, for, in spite of the heat, a certain drynessseemed to give life and vigor to the atmosphere. 

"There it is, Alan, " exclaimed Ned finally, pointing away to thenorth and the distant mountains, "beyond those peaks and somewhereunder that sapphire sky is our land of promise. We'll be in it in afew days. "

The brilliant sky, the exhilarating air and the new life about themfilled both boys with enthusiasm. 

"Whoopee!" almost shouted Alan finally, throwing out his arms as ifto embrace his friend. "All we need is an Indian or two and I guesswe'd be out West for sure. "

"You may not be so anxious to see them before we start back, "remarked Ned. "Anyway, I promise you enough of them in thiscountry. "

With the departure of the train, the two boys became the center ofsome attention. Strangers were not plentiful in Clarkeville, andwhen the news spread that a special car was standing behind thefreight shed on the far side of the tracks there was an instant rushof idlers in that direction. Ned and Alan returned with them andsmiling good-naturedly right and left took stand at the forward carsteps. 

It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, but so anxious had theboys become in the last stage of their journey that they had orderedElmer to put off the noonday meal until they reached Clarkeville. The colored boy, troubled over the notion of a good dinner spoiling, was waiting on the car platform for it chance to get his "bosses, "as be delighted to call them, into the car. 

Before he could do so, and while the two chums were answering idlequestions as to whether they were a "show, " Ned's quick eye caughtsight of a more important personage. A middle-aged man, not quiteso western in appearance as the others, but plainly as much at homein the saddle, rode up with a clatter and sprang from his pony. 

Ned advanced quickly, spurred on by the new arrival's quick "Howdy, strangers!"

"My name is Ned Napier, " explained the lad, "and this is my friend, Alan Hope. "

The rider held out his hand. 

"I'm Curt Bradley, and I'm the mayor of this town, " he replied byway of introduction. 

"Glad to meet you, " answered Ned. "You've just saved me the troubleof looking you up, for that would have been my first business. "

"Not to be over cur'ous, " laughed the Mayor as his eyes took in thebig expensive car and then returned to the two boys, "might Iinquire the nature o' yer business. "

Ned laughed. 

"Certainly, " he answered, "but come aboard first. Elmer, " he saidto the waiting cook, waiter and porter, "another plate for Mr. Bradley. "

And in spite of the wholesome-looking but bronzed Mr. Bradley'sprotest that gentleman was soon sitting with the boys before whatwas perhaps the most elaborate meal he had ever eaten. His protestcame from the fact that he had already had his dinner, but the freshfruit and vegetables and spring chicken were temptations too strongfor him. 

When Ned saw that their new acquaintance was at his ease and rapidlybecoming satisfied he lost no time in coming to the point. 

"Our visit here, Mr. Bradley, is, in part, a secret. I hope youwill accept my assurance, however, that it can in no way operateagainst or damage your town or its residents or the country roundabout. I want your assistance. "

"Ye can hev that, " came the quick answer, "and if your lay is noone's business, why, it ain't none o' ours. "

"I'm glad to hear that, " answered Ned. "But there may be some whowill not be so considerate. "

"When I pass the word I guess they'll all think about like me, "interrupted the Clarkeville official. "Ye jest tell me what it isyou want. "

"First I'll explain to you that in the other part of this car wehave the material to make a dirigible balloon. "

"A what!" exclaimed the Mayor, his mouth full of chicken. 

"A balloon that you can guide through the air. "

Curt Bradley dropped his knife. 

"One o' them flyin' machines?"

"Exactly. "

"And kin we all see it fly?"

"Certainly, " answered Ned, "if you will just see that no oneinterferes with us. I shall be glad in time to show you, I hope, the most perfect dirigible balloon ever put together and to explainjust how it is to be operated. But in a few days, when it is ready, we are going to sail away on business that is our own. And whenthat time comes curiosity must stop. If anyone attempts toascertain where we are going or what we mean to do I sound warningnow that we will do all we can to prove to him that it is none ofhis business. "

The Mayor looked at them in surprise. 

"Why, " he began, "I suppose ye must be on a mighty partic'lar job. Are you--?"

"There!" interrupted Ned. "You see you are beginning to askquestions. Since we can't answer them we'd rather not hear them. "

"Right, " exclaimed the Mayor. "Give me yer word it's all fair andsquare and that ye ain't violatin' no laws and I'll give ye my wordthey won't be no more questions asked. "

"I'm glad to do that, " answered Ned, "we want certain accommodationsfor which we are willing to pay. But we want the confidence ofClarkeville that we are all right, even if we are a little young. "

"Clarkeville is yours, " laughed the Mayor, getting up from thetable, "and now what do ye want first?"

In another hour the two boys, guided by Mayor Bradley, had examinedthe entire settlement. A little way down the railroad track theyfound a rather ramshackle building, mostly tin roof, and behind it alarge plot of ground surrounded with a high corral or fence. Thesign read "Buck's Corral. " In the East it would have been called alivery stable. The air navigators engaged the place at five dollarsa day for a week or more, and put a half dozen Mexican laborers atwork removing the few horses and cleaning out the building andcorral. The proprietor, who owned one of the few wagons in thetown, they also hired as a drayman at $2. 50 a day for himself andteam. 

Work began at once. Through Mayor Bradley three reliable men wereemployed as watchmen, and these, in eight-hour shifts, undertook theduty of seeing that nothing in the corral was molested in theabsence of Ned and Alan. Then the work of transporting materialbegan, the first task being the removal of the five large generatingtanks. 

Alan had been thoughtful enough to foresee the need of specialclothing, and it was not long before he and Ned and even ElmerGrissom were enjoying the freedom of wide-brimmed hats, stoutshirts, thick-soled shoes, and belts. Elmer's duty was the constantcare of the Placida, which he only left on special permission. Nedand Alan were free to devote themselves wholly to the agreeable andlong anticipated task of at last "getting ready. "

Help was easily hired and with Buck's wagon in service thewide-opened doors of the baggage car seemed to give out more boxes, crates and bundles than a full freight car. When strangers were onthe car the colored boy stood like a sentinel over the black casewhich was made less conspicuous by being covered with a blanket. And his constant injunction "No smokin', sah, " soon won him asobriquet, Mexicans and cow-boys alike calling him "Smoky. "

Elmer was relieved from picket duty in time to prepare an extrasupper to which Mayor Bradley, Buck, and Jack Jellup, the townmarshal, were invited. It was extra work for "Smoky, " who took hisnew name with a mild protest; but when he called the crew to themeal it was apparent that he harbored no resentment. Jack and Bucktook their seats gingerly, but the boys soon made all at home. 

"There ain't agoin' to be no pay took fur this day's work, " suddenlyexclaimed Buck as he finished a generous portion of cold sliced hamand potato salad. 

The boys laughed in protest. 

"I ain't seen real food in ten years, " continued Buck, "and what Isaid goes. This meal's worth a week's work to me. "

"All I got to say, young uns, " interrupted Jack Jellup, the marshal, "is that this 'ere town is yours. "

Jack's idea of hospitality was an invitation to the boys to visitthe town saloons as his guest, but Ned arid Alan laughed and thankedhim, pleading weariness as a reason for declining. The finaltribute of the three guests, however, before they left, was to pushthe Placida along with crowbars until it was free of the freighthouse and stood where the evening breeze could freely find its waythrough the windows. Then with hearty "buenos noches, " ("Goodnight") and promises to see that every one was on hand early in themorning, they left. 

For some time Ned, Alan and Elmer sat in camp chairs on the carplatform reveling in the glorious starlit night. From somewhere inthe little town came the sound of low singing and a Spanish airplayed on the mandolin. It was all so different from the life theboys had known that it seemed like a dream. And when their realdreams did come it was of the not far distant Tunit Chas. 

CHAPTER IX

"CALIFORNY KID" GETS A JOB

Old Buck's horse-corral had blossomed over night into a modernballoon factory. And the proprietor, with his bronco team, and thesuperintending Ned and Alan made big gaps the next day in theprecious freight of the Placida. By noon the five casks forgenerating hydrogen, the cooling and purifying box, and the leadpipe and other equipment, had been transferred to the old horseyard. Three tons of iron turnings, forwarded by freight in advance, were found in the keeping of the railroad agent. It took Buck sixtrips to move this, and that consumed the afternoon. 

A special trip was made by the wagon just after luncheon. This wasto transport the tool chest--practically two chests, for it was alarge one containing both wood and iron-working tools. With it rodethe two boys, both in overalls and ready to begin the setting up andadjustment of the generating tanks. 

After their arrival at the corral, the rest of the afternoon, inspite of the heat, slipped quickly away. But by night a foundationhad been leveled in a corner of the yard and the five barrel-likegenerators were firmly anchored and connected by lead pipes with thecooling and purifying box. 

"Looks purty much like a distillery, " commented Buck, who had justmade his last trip with the iron shavings, which were now piledclose by the casks. 

"And is, " laughed Ned, "in a way. "

But he volunteered no more. In fact the whole matter was a mysteryto every one in the town, except Mayor Curt Bradley and Marshal JackJellup. 

In the morning the first work accomplished was the removal, one at atime, of ten casks of sulphuric acid, each weighing four hundredpounds. It was a delicate job and not unattended with danger incase of a cask breaking. The boys began to realize the need of helpof a higher grade than that of the "greasers" who had been thus fartheir only assistants except Buck. 

Their usual good luck seemed to be with them, however, for just inthe middle of the work of sliding a heavy carboy of acid from thewagon a stranger stepped from the group of onlookers, and withoutwords gave a hand to the job. 

Alan was about to thank him hurriedly, when the stranger said:"Wot's the game, son? Wot's doin'?"

Alan was at first inclined to resent this "tough" familiarity. Thenhe realized that the language of the man was in his natural mannerof speaking, and he said:

"Who are you and where are you from?"

"Give you one guess, " laughed the stranger. "No! Can't tell a'bo'? Well, just tramp. Wot's dew name? I lost me card case. Menom de plumb is Kid, Californy Kid. And me address is--well wot'sde name o' dis munificent metropolis?"

"Clarkeville, New Mexico, " answered Alan smiling. 

"Well, den me address is dat. Wot's de nex' inquiry?"

The man was young. His clothing was worn and greasy, his shoes werepatched, and those parts of his face and hands that could be seenbetween smears of coal dust were red from exposure and the sun. 

"How do you happen to be here?" continued Alan. 

"Well, cul--beg pardon, son--de fact is I lost me purse and debrakeman on de fast freight wouldn't take me check. I was dumped. And I can't get away exceptin' I walk. "

"Then you wouldn't care to work?"

"Will dis beautiful city give me coin and chuck widout work?"

"I'm afraid not, " laughed Alan. 

"Den' it's work for yours truly, " answered the tramp with a sort ofcheery humor. "But, say, boss, ye couldn't stake me to a drink andsome chuck afore I loosen up me muscles?"

"Your pay will be two dollars a day, " said Alan, "but no drinkinggoes. Here's a note that will get you something to eat. " Andwriting a message to Elmer the tramp was soon hurrying to the carfor a meal. A half hour later, with his sleeves rolled up, hereturned, riding alongside Buck on the wagon. 

Ned had given the new hand little attention. 

Now he looked him over and asked:

"What's your real name?"

"Gus, boss; or, spellin' it out, Gustave Lippe. How's dat for ahandle--Lippe?"

Ned looked at the young man long and sharply. 

"One name, they say, is as good as another out here. But I didn'tknow tramps got this far west. "

"Sure, " answered the tramp, "It's long jumps and hard ones. It's melast excursion dis way. "

"Well, " said Ned slowly, "you can work for us as long as you are nottoo inquisitive. "

"Dat's me, boss. I'm de clam till me two dollars per will git me tode next whistle. "

"Then you'd better arrange to board with Buck. "

"Dat's me lay, boss, already booked. Now show me some work. Metrunk was checked t'roo and I ain't nuttin' on me mind but me job. "

"Well, you had better spend the rest of the afternoon in cleaning upa bit, " suggested Ned. "Here's five dollars in advance. Reportearly in the morning. "

"Tank's, boss, " said Gus, the tramp. But he took the bill slowly. 

"But, you can't spend it on beer and whisky and work for us, " addedNed. 

Gus shifted uneasily. 

"You'd better have a bath and a shave. And if you need clothes andcan get them here, " continued Ned, "I'll advance more to-morrow--ifyou show up all right. "

"I kin work widdout a shave, " the man said, "ain't der nuttin' doin'to-day?"

Assured that to-morrow was when he was wanted the tramp slowly andapparently reluctantly turned and slouched away toward the stores. 

"What do you make of him, Ned?" asked Alan as the two toys resumedwork. 

"Too slangy, I think, " commented Ned. 

But the final stowing of the acid soon drove the tramp from theminds of the boys. 

When the young aeronauts finally closed the corral and returned tothe car, the sun a great red ball, was just dropping behind theserrated mountains of the western horizon. On the car steps, Nedturned and pointed to the north. Far away the dusky gray of theplains deepened into darker and darker shadows that ended in a lowblack mass. But here and there from the black wall rose irregularspires, their tops pink-tipped by the red sun. 

"Yes, " exclaimed Alan, "the Tunit Chas--our mountains. "

And even though the vigilant Elmer called from within, the boysstood and gazed in silence until the last glow had died away and theland of their hopes was lost under the stars. 

Important as was the work to be done in Buck's corral, there wasanother vital thing to be accomplished while this progressed. Thatwas the creation of a base of supplies near the navigator's field ofwork. This was preferably to be at the junction of the Amarilla andChusco rivers, and that point lay just eighty-five miles to thenorth. Between Clarkeville and that spot there were no roads and, at this time of the year, perhaps, no water. With the best wagonand team they might be able to get, this trip over the desert wouldrequire not less than five days. 

It was impossible for either of the boys to go on this importanterrand, as both were needed on the spot to set up the balloon. Soit had long since been decided that Elmer was to have charge of thissecondary expedition. And since it was Elmer who would have toconduct the expedition safely to its destination and establish arelief camp, the colored boy had been thoroughly coached in hiscoming task. 

"Kin I?" the boy had said more than once. "When de Cibola gits darI'll be dar. And ain't no Indians nor rattlesnakes nor hot weathergoin' to break up dat camp. "

And the camp meant gasoline, water, food and a stepping stone backto civilization, whether the expedition ended in failure or success. As the boys had already planned that Buck should furnish the wagonand horses and guide Elmer's caravan, they had asked him to callthat evening to talk it over. 

"I'm ready to start, yes, right now, " Elmer had said as he servedthe good supper over which he had been laboring, "but I does jesnach'elly hate to turn you young gemmen over to dese greaser cooks. "

The boys laughed. "You don't think we can keep this up all summer, do you?" exclaimed, Ned. "Even 'greaser' cooks are better thanhaving nothing to eat. And up there, " nodding toward the north, "there won't be any cooks. "

"Don't forget, " interrupted Elmer, "camp--camp--well, my camp. Whenyou get dar dar'll be a good meal waitin' you and when you git outende mountains I'll still be dar waitin' wid eatin's. "

The boys laughed again. 

"Like as not, " suggested Alan, "if you get all that truck up there. You'll certainly have enough. But don't you bother about the eating. You just watch the water and the gasoline. "

"Till de snow flies, " exclaimed Elmer with emphasis. 

"Which, right there, " dryly remarked Ned as he disposed of the lastof a generous slice of melon, "is rather indefinite. "

When Buck, whose real name they had discovered to be WilliamBourke--easily corrupted into "Buck"--appeared, the boys had a delicatejob before them. Inquiry had quickly shown them that Buck's twenty-fiveyears on the old Santa Fe trail as guide and an active service in thearmy as scout easily made him the man to conduct Elmer to the north. 

To all their long explanations and reasons Buck listened in silence. When there seemed nothing more to be said, Buck smothered the stillglowing end of a cigarette between his dark weather-beaten fingersand said slowly:

"When do we start?"

It was arranged that on the second morning Buck should be ready fora journey of uncertain length; that the general direction should benorth; that the final destination should be revealed by Elmer on thesecond morning out. 

"Soldier-like, " Buck had commented, "and that's the way I like it. "

Buck and an assistant were to take an outfit of two wagons, eachdrawn by four horses. In the lighter wagon six barrels of waterwere to be carried for use in case the usual "water holes" were dry. In case of an accident, the lighter wagon and horses were to be sentsouth by the second man and Elmer and Buck were to make a quick dashforward with what water and supplies could be carried on the otherwagon. 

Old Buck made rather light of the matter. 

"Injuns ain't nothin' nowadays, " he had explained, shrugging hisshoulders, "ye jest want to keep yer bearin's and git used todrinkin' atmosphere and ye'r all right. "

The contract with Buck called for thirty dollars a day in money andfood for himself and a helper. Both parties to the contract weresatisfied and after Buck's fresh cigarette disappeared in thedirection of the town the boys lost no time in turning in for a goodnight's rest. 

CHAPTER X

AN ERROR IN CALCULATION

While Buck was busy getting his wagons and horses and water casksready the next morning the boys were not surprised to see Gus, thetramp, drive up just after breakfast with the moving team. 

"Have you had breakfast?" asked Alan by way of a greeting. 

"Have, " retorted Gus, pulling up his team awkwardly. "It's mewrappin' meself around tortillas till I feel like a bag o' cornmeal. "

"I can't see that you've spent any great amount of that five dollarson yourself, " interrupted Ned, noticing the tramp's unshaven faceand the still visible traces of coal smoke. 

"Well, boss, ye'r right. Dead right. But, ye see, de barber o' disgrowin' city only works on Saturday and me friend Buck's bat' tubhas a leak. Anyhow, de ladies hereabouts is scarce and few. Thinkwot a swell I'll be when Sunday comes. "

"Come in the car. We've plenty of water, and soap too, " suggestedAlan, smiling. 

'"Well, boss, don't tempt me. I'm working. I can't soldier away notime dudin' meself up on do bosses' time. "

"All right, " replied Ned, laughing, "every one to his taste. "

There was plenty of work to be done, and in a few minutes all wereat it. The chief task this day was the unloading of the materialsyet on the car. That had to be done by night, except in the case ofthe boxes marked "Overland, " all of which had been carefully andspecially crated for wagon transportation. Of these there seemed agreat many, and they were all put in one pile in the space madevacant by the removal of the gas generators. The hydrogen case, covered with a blanket, stood always under Elmer's watchful eye. This was to be removed last. 

As the boys meant to stay close by their valuable outfit, theyplanned to load Elmer's caravan early the next morning and to see itstart on its trying and dangerous trip. Then they intended toremove the hydrogen cask to the corral and take up their own abodein the same place. The Placida--with no little regret--was to besurrendered to the railroad and returned to Chicago. 

For that reason this was a busy day. Load after load of crates, boxes, and bundles were carried to the big corral, the teamsstirring up the dust of Clarkeville's main street on their way. Itwas heavy work, and required care. Smoky-faced Gus was earning hispay. So skilful and adroit was he in executing tasks assigned himthat Ned commented on it to Alan. 

While the boys were at their noonday lunch Buck appeared to reportprogress. The big wagon was to come from a sheep ranch, ten milesto the south. A man had gone for it and would arrive with it thatnight. The wheels of the smaller wagon were being soaked in waterand the axles had been greased. 

Ned could not resist asking:

"How's your new boarder, Buck?"

"Ain't seen much o' him. Purty poor feeder fur a tramp. Can't geta tortilla down him nohow. "

Ned looked at Alan significantly. 

"Hasn't any baggage, has he?" continued Ned. 

"Not a stitch. Lessen you allow fur a extra suit o' underclothes. "

"Under clothing?" exclaimed Ned. "Two suits?"

"Yep. And fine, too. My old woman washed a suit to-day and she'lows as how it cost more than the rest o' his outfit. "

"Don't you think that funny?"

"'What?" responded Alan sleepily. 

"Why, a tramp with two suits of fine underwear?"

"Probably he stole them. "

"And probably be didn't. A real tramp might steal them, but hewouldn't wear them. "

"Well, what do you care, " laughed Alan, "whether he's a tramp or notso long as he's useful?"

Ned was silent a few moments. 

"Tramp or not, that fellow will bear watching. "

"All right, " conceded Alan, "I guess we can do that. "

By night the barn and horse yard of the corral looked like acombination manufactory and hardware store. The seven sections ofthe skeleton-like car stretched across the old horse yard like adisjointed snake; crated aeroplane guides, and the propeller and therudder leaned against the fence, looking like the frame work of ahouse; the more compact engine, motor, radiator and fan stood readyfor unpacking under the shelter shed, while shafts, connections andboxes of small parts filled a large part of the empty stalls. Thetins of gasoline for experimental flights and the first trip toElmer's camp were in a far corner of the yard, and in the wagon shedstood the two immense special trunks containing the gas bag and theItalian hemp netting. 

The evening meal was not as cheery and chatty an affair as thepreceding ones had been, although Elmer had done his best in honorof their farewell. And the boys insisted that at this last meal thewaiter should be dispensed with, and Elmer was put at the head ofthe table. 

"Yo' make me feel as if I was a startin' fo' do norf pole, "exclaimed Elmer. "I don't see what's de use of so much fussin'. "

"Well, anyway, " exclaimed Ned, holding up a glass of iced tea, "here's luck to you, Elmer. "

"And de same to you, " answered Elmer. "And to all of us. "

Rising bell was to ring at four o'clock the next morning; so theboys all turned in at once after they had cleaned up the kitchen. 

It was about twelve o'clock when a sudden call sounded through thecar. 

"Alan!". 

It was Ned, who, clad in pajamas, was shaking his chum. The latter, dazed for a moment, sprang upright, soundly whacking his head on theupper berth, in which Elmer was snoring loudly. 

"What is it?" he exclaimed, rolling out on the floor. "Who hit me?Indians?"

"Not yet, " laughed Ned, shaking his "pal" into wakefulness. "Listen!"

He struck a match, lit a candle and sat down on the edge of theberth. 

"You're a bum calculator, " he began, eyeing Alan. 

"I didn't calculate where that berth was, " answered Alan ruefully, rubbing a lump on the top of his head. 

"And you didn't calculate where we are now, " somewhat excitedlyadded Ned. "And I didn't think of it until just now. "

"Go on, " interrupted the still sleepy Alan. "If it's a riddle Igive it up. "

"I suppose you know what the air pressure is to a square inch, "answered Ned, like a school teacher rebuking a slow scholar. 

"Why, 14. 7 pounds, of course. "

"Where?" exclaimed Ned again, sharply. 

"Where?" echoed Alan. 

"Why, at the sea level-that's where. Not out here. Do you know howhigh we are above sea level right here?"

Alan began to see the point and a smile came over his face. He hadno chance to answer:

"We're a little short of seven thousand feet up in the air righthere in Clarkeville, " continued Ned in about the same tone ofexultation he might have used had he found a gold mine. "Now, listen. How many cubic feet of gas does our balloon hold?"

That question was easy. The boys knew that as well as themultiplication table. 

"Sixty-five thousand, four hundred and ninety-three feet. "

"And how much weight is it going to carry?"

"Three thousand nine hundred and thirty-five and a half pounds. "

"Exactly, " went on Ned. "That's the weight we are going to carryfigured at sea level. Did it ever occur to you that our sixty-fivehundred feet of hydrogen can lift more way up here seven thousandfeet in the air, than it can at sea level? Did it ever occur to myspecial engineer and calculator that as the weight and pressure ofthe air grows less our hydrogen will lift just that much moreweight. 

"By the great horn spoon!" exclaimed Alan. "Give me that candle. "

In another moment he was at the drawing room table with a pencil inhis hand. It did not take him long to make his calculations. 

"Live and learn, " he exclaimed finally. "I'm certainly all you saidwas a 'bum calculator. ' Our altitude here is 6, 875 feet, for I tookit to-day just for practice. And we can carry in our balloon justexactly 693. 6 pounds more than we figured. "

"I thought so, " laughed Ned. "It came to me in a dream, I guess. But you don't need to feel badly. You say I'm the boss, yet I neverthought of it. You see, the trouble is that all the balloonascensions ordinarily are made from the large cities of America orEurope. Who ever thought of ascending a mountain to get a start?But since we have done so we must figure accordingly. "

"And what is the first thing you are going to add?" asked Alan. 

"First thing?" exclaimed Ned. "First and last and in the middle, gasoline. We may find water in the mountains and we might even findfood, but we're not going to find gasoline. Now we'll do part ofour work whether Elmer meets us or fails. "

The incident showed the essential difference between Ned's mind andAlan's. Alan was careful, precise, and adept in detail. Ned hadthe "dreams" and inspirations of an inventor. 

CHAPTER XI

A DISGUISE PENETRATED

The boys, in spite of their broken slumbers, all turned out promptlyat four o'clock the next morning. They found this hour thepleasantest of the day in this hot and dry region. The late moonwas just disappearing, and over the plains swept a breeze thathinted of snow on some mountain peak not far away. Not a soundbroke the stillness but the occasional cry of a skulking coyote. 

"Hear it, Elmer, " said Alan, as the boys got busy in the baggagecar. "You want to look out for those fellows. "

"I ain't feared o' no cutes and I ain't feared of no Injun, "solemnly answered Elmer, "jist so dem rattlers gives me de go-by. Dat's all I ast. "

Buck's big wagon had arrived and was backed up to the car and now, by the light of a lantern hanging above the door, the work ofloading began. 

With their improved gas bag the boys had figured on a record flightwithout renewing the gas supply. They had hoped to be able to stayat least seventy-two hours in the air. But during a large part ofthis time they expected to drift without the engines, for they couldnot carry enough gasoline to last for more than twenty-four hours ofengine work. By their new calculations they had more than enoughgasoline, and according to Ned it seemed probable that the decreasedair pressure on the bag might extend the period of flight anothertwenty-four hours, or to four days. 

After that all would depend on the liquid hydrogen. The remarkablequalities of this unique product were to be tested for the firsttime in the history of ballooning. When the gas in the bag haddiminished by leakage through the valves and elsewhere so that itwas no longer sufficient to carry the car, the liquid hydrogen wasto be turned into gas which was to take the place of that lost. Nedhad left Washington with sixteen cubic feet of the liquid in eightdelicate Dewar bulbs, or casks. He figured that one-quarter of itwould be lost by evaporation, leaving twelve cubic feet. This seemsa small supply until one understands that the hydrogen increases involume 880 times as it returns into gas from the liquid form. Thetwelve cubic feet of liquid, therefore, would give them a littleover ten thousand cubic feet of new gas. And this, with the loss ofballast and provisions in three or four days, Ned calculated, wouldgive the balloon a new life of a day or so. 

Therefore, the secret plan was a direct journey to Elmer's camp, aflight of eighty-five miles, which would bring the Cibola near tothe foot of the mountains of mystery. After this camp had beenlocated and more gasoline taken aboard the boys were to head theircraft toward the Tunit Chas mountains. What would follow they couldnot foresee. With good luck they might be able to hover birdlikeover the peaks, canyons and plateaus for five days. With bad luckthey might have to come down sooner or fall. Then, if the Cibolafailed them, they would have to find their way to the treasuretemple and the ruined palace on foot in a rugged wilderness, infested with unfriendly Indians and reptiles, or struggle back, insome manner, if they could, to Elmer's relief station, and thus tocivilization. 

Should the worst happen and the balloon fail them, the boys might belost in a desolate region that is even now uncharted by thegovernment. The only resources they would have would be the Cibolaequipment and their own ability to take care of themselves. In anyevent, the knowledge that Elmer and Buck were in camp ready tosuccor them meant a good deal. And that was why the loading of theoverland outfit had so much interest for the boys. 

Of tins of provisions there were many: condensed foods--Germanerbswurst, or army rations of ground peas and meat; dried potatoes;eggs in powdered form; preserved and salt meats; hard tack; tea andcoffee; flour; and evaporated fruits. The water was alreadyarranged for and the wagon containing the casks was at Buck's adobehouse. 

On the floor of the wagon, packed in bunch grass, were the preciousgasoline casks. On top of all came the silk waterproof tent and thecamp equipage. Stowed under the seat was the box containing spareflags, a heliograph, part of a wireless telephone outfit (the otherpart was to be carried in the balloon) and compass. Two magazinerifles and ammunition were included in the outfit, and Elmer donnedfor the first time in his life a belt and holster to carry one ofthe magazine revolvers that Ned had bought on the day when he firsttold Alan what he had undertaken to do. 

By the time this work was done it was day. Then came breakfast, which Elmer insisted on preparing. He even demanded that he begiven time to make hot biscuits. These, with thick slices ofbroiled ham, the last of their oranges, and hot fragrant coffeeconstituted the last meal on the Placida. 

As the meal came to an end the clump, clump of horses' feet in thesand announced that Buck had arrived and that it was time forbreaking the "special car" camp. Alan and Elmer hastened to cleanup the little kitchen that had given the boys so many savory mealsand to pack up the remaining provisions, and Ned jumped off the carto see Buck. 

To the lad's surprise he found Gus, the tramp, just as dirty andjust as cheerful as ever, proudly mounted on one of the newlyarrived horses. Buck noticed the surprise in Ned's face andexplained:

"The helper I thought I could get fell down on me. My boarder'sgoin' with us. I guess he'll do. "

"You understand you don't know where you're going, " said Ned, approaching Gus as he rolled off his horse, "nor when you're comingback?"

"I knows dat we ride and dat dere's chuck a-plenty, " smiled Gus, "and whichever way it is, " he added lowering his voice andchuckling, "can't be no worse dan Buck's place--fur me. "

"Do you want to go?"

"Well, I ain't a settin' up nights a longin' to, but to oblige afriend, Mr. Buck, I allowed meself to be persuaded. "

"Well, we'll see, " said Ned. 

Ned rather wanted to watch this young man. Something suggested thatthe tramp was too quick witted to be made a party to their plans. Ned didn't exactly know what harm the stranger could do them, but hedecided to talk it over with Alan. While Buck was hitching up thehorses Ned turned to go into the car. 

They were loading from the far side opposite the hydrogen cask andas Ned passed the corner of the car he almost ran into the stationagent. The agent, who was also the telegraph operator, had atelegram for Ned, which the boy took eagerly. Ned had sent amessage to Major Honeywell, telling of their safe arrival, and didnot doubt that this was some important afterthought of the Major's. The address ran: "Mr. Ned Napier, Private car Placida, Clarkeville, New Mexico. " Tearing open the envelope Ned read:

"Just learned Kansas City Comet has story mysterious trip forgovernment starting Clarkeville. Real object not known. Look outnot followed. 

"Baldwin Honeywell. "

With three jumps Ned was in the car and had pull Alan into thedrawing room portion. The telegram was read again and the two boyslooked at each other in astonishment. 

"How could they?" began Alan. 

"No matter how, " answered Ned, almost out of breath. "They did andthat's enough. Now I know!"

"Know what?"

Ned pushed his chum to the side of the car and pointed outside whereBuck and his helper were at work. 

"Look at him, " he exclaimed. 

"At Buck?"

"No. At the tramp who won't wash his face, who has a gentleman'sunderclothes and who is so anxious to work for us!"

"Well, I see him. But--"

"Haven't you ever seen those sharp eyes before?"

"You don't mean--?"

"I do. If that isn't Bob Russell, the Comet reporter, I'm a goat. "

CHAPTER XII

NED TO BOB RUSSELL'S RESCUE

It was a time for quick and fast thinking, and Ned and Alan did it. Alan's instant suggestion that they denounce the disguised tramp wasalmost as quickly voted down. 

"So long as we didn't know who he was he had the advantage of us. Now that we know--" and neither of them now doubted the fact for aninstant. "We have the advantage of him, " argued Ned. "Let's turnthat knowledge to profit. We can easily guess what he is trying todo. Major Honeywell's message says our real object is not known. This reporter has learned something, and I suspect he could havefound quite a lot from the train crew. On that he has written agood enough story to attract attention. That shows he is no fool. And he wouldn't come out here unless he had been sent. Who wouldsend him? Why, his paper, of course, to discover our real mission. "

"What can we do to head him off?" mused Alan. 

"There are two ways, " suggested Ned, "and we've got to make one ofthem effective. I don't know how he has guessed but he must nothave another guess. And he's seen a good deal. "

"We might have him arrested, " suggested Alan. 

Ned thought awhile. 

"I'll tell you, Alan, " he said finally. "The young men of the pressto-day may write fanciful stories, and they may even 'fake' where itinjures no one, but personally they won't lie. Let's call our trampin here, confront him with his imposture and give him his choice ofwriting nothing or of being drummed out of town. "

"Who'll make him leave town?"

"Marshal Jack Jellup wouldn't need two suggestions on that score. And more, he'd see that the order was obeyed. I don't like to doit, but I think we're justified. He's taking that chance. "

Again the thing was gone over, with arguments for and against, andthen Elmer was hastily dispatched to find Jellup and bring him tothe car. 

"And Buck will lose his helper, " laughed Alan. 

"Better that than a second expedition on our heels, " answered Ned

"Gus!" he called, throwing open a window. "Come in here!"

The tramp soon stood before them. 

"Geel Dis is a swell joint, " were the tramp's first words as withapparent awkwardness he entered the car. 

Ned acted as spokesman. 

"You say you've promised Buck to go with him without knowing whereyou are going?"

"Dat's about de cheese. "

"Well, we are willing. But I may as well tell you that this is asecret expedition. If you go you must promise that you will nottell anyone what you see or hear. "

The tramp's face suddenly took on a peculiar look, but it was goneas quickly. 

"I gives me woid. I won't open me trap to no one. "

"Meaning you won't say anything about it?" smiled Ned inquiringly. 

"Dat's it. Mum's de woid. I won't open me trap. "

"Nor write anything?"

The furtive look came back, this time more pronounced. 

"Me to write! Wit wot? Me new typewriter?"

"That isn't an answer. Do you promise, if we send you with Buck, that you'll neither tell nor write nor make known in any way whatyou learn about what we are doing?"

"Say, look here, boss. Quit yer kiddin'. Me name is Lippe andmebbe I shoot it off a bit too frequent now and then, but you don'tneed to be afeered o' me peachin' to de udder'Bos. '"

"I'm not afraid of that, " continued Ned. "We don't care what youtell all the tramps this side of Kansas City. But we don't want youto print anything more about us in the Comet. "

Hardly a flush came on the tramp's face. There was a quick movementof the lips as if he were about to make protest and then he laughedoutright. 

"Bob Russell, " said Ned, also laughing, "would you like the use ofour bath tub for a few moments?"

"Would I!" laughed the young reporter rubbing his tinted and smokebegrimed hands together as if to wash them. "Well, I guess I would. My hands are up. What's next?"

"Wash up and we'll see, " exclaimed Ned. 

The young reporter was still laughing. "And if it isn't too muchtrouble, " he asked, "would you mind if Buck took his check over tothe depot and got the suit case that it calls for? Then we'll talkbusiness. "

In less than twenty minutes the sun burnt, dirty Gus Lippe had beentransformed into the dapper Bob Russell. When be reappeared infresh linen, outing clothes and a natty straw hat, he was stilllaughing. Approaching the group in the drawing room, where MarshalJack Jellup had now arrived, the young reporter took out his pocketbook and a five dollar bill. 

"I'll pay that back first, " he began; and then noticing one of hiscards he politely handed it to the marshal. It read:

ROBERT RUSSELLKANSAS CITY COMET

"Ye'r a purty fresh kid, " sneered Jellup. 

"At your service, Mr. Officer. "

Jellup had already received an explanation of the whole affair andwas aching to exercise his authority. 

"Ye'r an impostor, " he began, "and ef ye hadn't been caught, ye'dhave taken money on false pretenses. I was onto ye. "

"Oh, now, " interrupted Bob, "at two dollars Mex per day I'd havegiven good value. "

"Mebbe, " retorted the marshal, "but these gentlemen hev come here onparticular business and they came like gentlemen. The officials o'this city hev give their word that there shouldn't be no interferin'with their plans. And thet's what you're a-doin'. Now git!"

Ned broke in:

"One moment, Mr. Marshall"

"Oh, that's all right, Mr. Napier, " exclaimed the reporter, "hedoesn't mean just that. He knows I don't have to leave here so longas I obey the law. "

"Ye don't, don't ye?" retorted the marshal. "Well, there ain't noback east law down here. Our law books mebbe got all burnt up. Andmebbe I happen to be purty much o' the law myself. Ye'll git andgit quick. "

Again Ned interfered. 

"I suppose if we ask you to permit Mr. Russell to stay here he can, "he asked. 

"Well, I reckon that would be so. Ef ye ask it I reckon I'll haveto, " he replied surlily. 

Ned and Alan held a brief consultation. 

"We have decided to ask the authorities to permit you to remain hereon one condition. "

The, intelligent face of Bob took on a quizzical air as he waited tohear the condition. 

"That is, " went on Ned, "that you give us your word that you willnot make known anything you have seen here, or of our plans so faras you may know them. "

Bob's answer was immediate. 

"I can't do that, " he said, "I was sent here to do just that thing, and as quickly and as fully as I can. You ought to understand, anddo, I think, that I have a duty to perform. I've taken the troubleto come all the way out here to get a story. I've got it and ofcourse I'm going to use it. I should be false to my duty, to myemployers and to myself if I promised not to do this. "

"But you don't know our story. "

"And I'm sorry. But I should have known it all if I had had alittle better luck. "

"Then you won't promise?"

"Decidedly not. "

The boys showed that they were as stubborn as he. 

"Then we'll see that you learn no more, " Alan exclaimed angrily. 

Bob smiled. "You can't take away what I already know, and it willtake a pretty long story to tell all I am going to guess from what Ihave seen. "

As he spoke his eyes were on Major Honeywell's chart of the TunitChas Mountains, which had carelessly been left lying on the tablewhere it had been in use during breakfast in the last explanationsto Elmer. 

Ned's face reddened in new anger. He did not resent what the youngreporter was doing; he even realized that he might do the same thinghimself; but he was chagrined to find himself caught in such asimple manner. That was a big piece of additional information forRussell to have, and Ned knew it. Hard as the thing was to do hewould at least put the young man out of the way of furtherdiscoveries. 

"All right, " he exclaimed, "we've tried to do the fair and decentthing, and if you want to be stubborn Marshal Jellup can do as helikes. "

"Git!"

It was the marshal who spoke and he did so as if it were a pleasure. 

"I'll take the Limited west to Gallup at noon, " said Russell, "if Ican stop it and catch the eastbound train there to-night. "

"Then ye'll flag it along the road, " shouted Jellup, "fur ye'll getout o' here on foot and in a hurry. "

"On foot?" exclaimed Russell in surprise. 

"That's what I said an' ye heerd me. "

Russell looked in appeal at the two boys. 

Ned was mad, and mad all over. 

"You are so quick to have your own way, " he said, "you can't blameus. "

"All right, " was the cheery response, "it'll lend a bit of localcolor to the story. Goodbye, boys. And good luck to you. I'll seeyou when you come back. "

"Remember, " said Alan relenting a trifle, "we'll let you stay untilwe leave if you'll promise to write nothing. "

Bob laughed again. 

"What good would that do me? No experience means anything to methat I can't turn into copy. And as for walking--I'd walk from hereto Kansas City or crawl before I'd lie down on my shop like that. "

"Come on, kid, get busy, " exclaimed Jellup again. "An' when yestart, don't bother about lingerin', because I'll be hangin' aroundand I'm good with this at some distance. "

As he spoke he drew a Colt 44 and tapped it. 

"Never fear, Mr. Jellup, " laughed Bob. "I suppose I can express mysuit case to the next town?"

"Ye can't do no business in this city, d'ye hear? Now, come on. "

"Say, partner, " interrupted Bob with his usual good humor, "if youwill let me take a snap of you I'll make you celebrated. 'Famousgun man' of New Mexico. It'll be great. "

In another moment the nettled marshal had Bob by the shoulder andwas whirling him out of the car. On the steps he threw the suitcase onto the sandy plain and then pushed the reporter roughly downthe steps. Ned and Alan stood, with flushed faces, watching thereporter pick up his hat and suit case. Then young Russell made aremark they could not hear and the marshal's revolver flashed in theair. They could see the boy's face grow pale at last, but as hestraightened up the two men disappeared around the freight house. 

Like a flash Ned was on the ground and after the marshal and hisvictim. Alan and Buck came running in the rear, for the alert Bucksaw that something was in the air. It was early day and only astraggler or two was in sight at the depot. The sun, alreadymounting high, foretold a day of depressing heat. The steel linesof the railway stretched interminably eastward toward the first stopforty miles away. 

Bob Russell, pale but defiant, stood in the middle of the track, hisheavy suit case in his hand. 

Suddenly there was the crack of a revolver and the dust flew aboutthe young reporter's feet. 

"Jist as a sample!" roared the angered Jellup. "The next one'll behigher up. " And his trembling finger pointed down the hot sandytrack. 

There was nothing more to be done. The pale-faced but nervyreporter turned toward the east and started slowly down the track. 

Ned ran forward. 

"Russell!" he shouted, "Russell!"

As the reporter paused and turned, hearing his name, there was asecond report of the marshal's revolver and Russell's suit case flewfrom his hand, ripped and torn ragged by a forty-four bullet. 

The smoke of the explosion puffed upward and, where it had been, themarshal saw Ned Napier's automatic magazine revolver under his nose. 

The boy was white with indignation. The possible serious resultsthat might come to him and his plans meant nothing in his anger atsuch a dastardly act. 

"It isn't a Colt, " he said with dry lips, "but, if you make anothermove like that it's got ten shots and they come out all together. "

CHAPTER XIII

QUICK JUSTICE IN THE WEST

Jack Jellup, marshal and "bad man, " was never more surprised in hislife. But Jack was no fool, and something in Ned Napier's eyes madethe westerner conclude instantly that he had unexpectedly andunquestionably "barked up the wrong tree. " For a few moments themarshal and the young aeronaut stood facing each other and thenJellup sneered:

"Do you reckon you'd better run this town?"

"No, nor you, " quietly answered Ned, "and if that's the way you aregoing to do it you can settle with me right now. I'm going to standon my rights. "

He was conscious that Russell had hurried back and was behind him. Another second and there was a sharp click. Both Jellup and Nedturned to see the nervy young reporter with the torn suit case openon the ground at his feet. A snap shot camera was in his hand. Hisface was white, but there was a trace of his usual smile on it. Nedwanted to laugh too, but the situation was too serious. 

"I've got you both, " said Bob, a little nervously, "and if it's agood one I've got a dandy--'shooting up the town or the bad mancovered'--"

Had it not been for Ned's lightning-like action these might havebeen Bob's last words. Jellup's pistol had flashed once more, butas it dew into position Ned's own weapon rose with it under Jellup'sright hand and the marshal's shot passed over Bob's head. BeforeJellup and Ned could recover themselves Bob's camera was on theground and the reporter had his own revolver, which he had grabbedquickly from the suit case. 

In the center of this group now stood, unarmed, Alan Hope and oldBuck. Almost at the same time a dozen men, attracted by the melee, had also intervened and had taken charge of the three excitedcombatants. 

Pushing the crowd right and left appeared the stalwart form of MayorCurt Bradley, weaponless, but with the stem face of one who givesorders that cannot be ignored. 

"Put 'em up, every one of you, " he exclaimed; "do ye hear? Put 'emup. "

"Ye'r both under arrest, " shouted Jellup to Ned and Bob. 

There was a quick explanation and then Mayor Bradley, still verystem of face, ordered everybody across the street to his officeabove the drug store. Men seemed to spring out of the ground, andthe room was instantly packed to suffocation. Marshal Jellup made aformal charge against the two boys of "resisting and interferingwith an officer" and then each told his story. The decision wasimmediate. Mayor Bradley ordered that both boys be released and thecourt be instantly cleared. 

Jellup made his way noisily toward the door, his face white withrage. Apparently a number present were his friends and cronies, forthe looks of sympathy that he got turned into open murmurs ofdissent. 

Mayor Bradley was on his feet at once. 

"What's the matter?" he began incisively. "Is there some one herewho wants to appeal from my decision?"

The hubbub subsided but there wag no response. 

"The time to make any complaint about my decision is right now andto me, " went on the tall Bradley, looking over those in the room. 

But no one apparently cared to take up Jellup's cause. When thespectators had gone the Mayor, who had sternly watched the slow exitof the last loiterer, turned to the boys. 

"I thank you, Mr. Bradley, " exclaimed Ned earnestly. 

"And I want to thank both of you, " quickly added Bob Russell, takingthe hand of each. "I'm the cause of this and I'm sorry. I guessyou saved my life twice, " he added, wringing Ned's hand. "If ithadn't been for you the Comet certainly would never have heard fromme again. I guess that, puts all my obligation up to you. "

"No, " said Ned, "I can't let you say that. You have your own dutyjust as I have mine. We'll go over to the car and wait for the twoo'clock Limited. Then you are at liberty to go and write your storyand do its you like. "

"He don't have to leave, " interrupted the Mayor; "this is a freetown and it's going to be an orderly one. "

"And I'm not going to, " broke in Bob. "You've got yourself in amuss over me and some of these soreheads may try to make you moretrouble. If you'll let me, I'll stay to the end and if it comes toa mix-up I'm going to be right there with you. "

Mayor Bradley smiled and old Buck slapped the reporter on the back. 

"But how about the story you say you are going to write about us, "asked Alan. 

"There wouldn't have been any story if it hadn't been for Mr. Napier, " replied Bob. "And there isn't going to be one until hetells me to write it. It's up to him. "

Ned was looking out of the window at the curious loungers standingin the street. He was thinking of the work yet to be done and ofall the difficulties that the discomfited marshal might put in hisway. It wasn't a "picnic proposition. " He didn't fear for himself, but the thought of his expensive and delicate outfit and of howeasily it might be irreparably injured was not reassuring. 

"Russell, " he said finally, "I think we need you. If you care tostay with us we'll be glad to have you. It isn't because I don'twant to be bluffed by Jellup, but because you are game. If you'llgo with Buck and Elmer, I'll try to make it worth your while--sometime--and you shall be the historian of this expedition--when thetime comes to write its story. "

Am hour later the delayed overland expedition was on its way towardthe desert. There had been a quick shopping expedition in thestores of Clarkeville and Bob Russell, in a new hat and boots andvarious other articles of clothing, most of them too large for him, sat proudly on the driver's seat of the second wagon. Around hiswaist was a new cartridge belt and holster carrying Ned's gift, a 44revolver--"for game or rattlesnakes, " as the boys expressed it, butthe weapon was not concealed when the little cavalcade traversed themain street of the town, and if Jellup was an onlooker Ned felt surethat the outwitted marshal would think twice before again molestingthe expedition. 

"All set, " laughed Bob, as the final farewells had been said, and heheld up his camera, "now for the real thing. "

Ned and Alan were now alone. To tell the truth, the excitement ofthe morning had been rather trying for them, but if it left them atrifle nervous they soon forgot their apprehension in making thelast of the transfer. There was now another reason for abandoningthe car. With headquarters established in the corral they would benear the balloon and its equipment, and if Jellup should permit hisill will to develop into some overt act, they would be in a positionmore easily to protect themselves. For that reason a number oftheir "greaser" assistants were taken to the car before noon and thehydrogen cask was loaded on the small wagon and carefully freightedto the corral. Then followed the remainder of the provisions andthe personal belongings of the boys. Early in the afternoon thePlacida was closed and turned over to the railway agent. 

CHAPTER XIV

BUILDING AN AIR SHIP

When Ned announced to Alan that they would at once unpack and testthe motor--"for we might as well stop if the engine isn't right, " ashe put it--all thoughts of the troubles of the early day vanished. And the motor certainly was a beauty. Though some expert hadrecommended the French motor, Ned had preferred to use one made inAmerica, not only because he had been able to get it quicker butbecause he believed it as good as the foreign make. 

The engine had eight air-cooled cylinders, in two sets of four, placed at an angle of ninety degrees to each other. The crank casewas of aluminum and the shaft of vanadium steel, hollow, andspecially treated to insure toughness. All the studs or bolts wereof the same steel. Complete, with balance wheel, it weighed twohundred pounds. The ignition was accomplished by six dry batteriesand a single-wire vibrating coil. It was rated at fifty horsepower. 

So exactly had the preliminary work been done at the factory that intwo hours the boys were able to have the engine bolted to thesection of the car where it was to be used, and before evening theradiator tubes and pump of the cooling system were also in place. Temporary connections were set up and the sparking wires attached, and then the reservoir was filled with gasoline. A little jar asthe wheel was turned, then a couple of sharp explosions, and theengine fell to its work as if it had been running for weeks. 

Ned shut it off after a moment's critical inspection. 

"Let her flicker!" pleaded Alan. "We've waited so long for a realone that I like to hear her buzz. "

"We'll let her buzz when we can use the buzz, " laughed Ned. "Gasoline is gasoline, you know. "

Night did not stop the work of the eager lads. As soon as they hadeaten a light meal, Ned and Alan, with a couple of lanterns and ahalf dozen of candles, began to adjust the sections of the car. These, seven in number, when joined, were 54. 12 feet in length. TheAmerican spruce frame and the aluminum joints were all intact. Thiswork finished the day. 

Blankets on the rough floor were good enough for the explorers thatnight. The luxury of the Placida's mattresses and fresh sheets wasmissed, as was Elmer's skill as a chef when it was time forbreakfast the next morning. The boys were not so indifferent aboutthis meal as they had been about that of the evening before. Theyhad no stove, but they took the time to arrange a regular camp in acomer of the corral. A little fire was soon burning, at which theymade coffee and toasted some bacon. This, with hardtack and somepreserved fruit, they thought was enough, for they were determinednot to disturb the carefully packed provisions that were to becarried in the balloon. 

"Have you had enough?" asked Ned as the last piece of scorched bacondisappeared. 

"Enough?" answered Alan. "A regular banquet!"

 Just then there was a loud thump on the closed door of the barn. 

"The hands are arriving, " explained Ned, and he hastened to open thedoor. 

A few of the workmen were there, but the knocking had been done by apleasant faced woman--apparently a Mexican. A black shawl coveredher head and one arm. It was Mrs. Bourke, Buck's wife. 

"I thought, " she said smiling, "hungry. "

Without further words she threw back the shawl and revealed a smalltin pail. The appetizing odor made Ned's mouth water. In thebottom of the bucket were frijoles, or boiled and fried Mexicanblack beans cooked in pepper, and on top of these were a half dozensmoking hot tortillas or corn cakes. 

"Mrs. Buck, " exclaimed Alan, "you have saved our lives!"

All recollection of his recent banquet seemed to have disappeared, and so did Mrs. Bourke's bucket of beans and cakes, in double-quickorder. The reward was a bright silver dollar for the thoughtfulwoman and a contract that she should come three times a day andprepare the boys' meals. It would have been easier to have gone toBuck's home, only a short distance away, but the boys were nowdetermined to stay in the corral, or leave it only one at a time. However, they soon developed a taste for Mrs. Bourke's peculiar hotwholesome dishes and these, with what provisions they had on hand, were a fair substitute for Elmer's cooking. 

The frijoles having been disposed of, Ned at once went out, and wasfortunate in finding a load of rough lumber and a sort of jack-carpenter. With the help of the boys a four foot-high series of"horses" or frames was set up in the center of the corral. This wasfor the car to rest on while it was being assembled. It waselevated so that the propeller and aeroplanes and rudder could allbe tested after being set up. The propeller, 11. 48 feet in length, revolved in bearings four feet above the bottom of the car. 

After noonday refreshment the middle section of the car, to whichthe engine was already attached, was carefully lifted into placewith the aid of the workmen, and then the laborers were paid off anddismissed--all except the watchmen. From now on there was nothingthat the boys could not do themselves, and they wanted to beundisturbed and alone. The putting together of the car was a treatof which they had long dreamed and they were happy in their work. 

The remaining sections were easily laid on 'the "horses" and thencame the bolts and the bracing with piano wire. When broughttogether the fifty-four foot long skeleton was in shape much like acigar. The main frame was six feet high, tapering to five feet ateach end. In depth the dimensions were the same. The engine restedon the floor of the middle section and was accessible in all itsparts from that compartment. An elevation of the floor in theforward part of this section made it possible for one to stand highenough to have an outlook in all directions through openings in ahooded elevation that projected above the top of the section. 

This hood was of a waterproof silk, coated with powdered aluminum, that metal being used because of its semi-incombustibility. Thissilk also covered the sides of the central compartment, making awind-, rain- and waterproof cabin. The lookout windows on all foursides were covered with isinglass. The bottom of the framework ofthe car forward and aft of the engine compartment had a ladder-likeflooring of spruce, inserted more for strengthening the car than forservice. But on top of the car, reaching from end to end, was acontinuous runway two feet wide which could be used in hurriedlyvisiting either propeller or rudder. This runway was protected byguide ropes of Italian hemp running through posts extended upwardfrom the sides of the car. The top of the engine compartment wascompletely floored, making a platform 6 x 6. 12 feet square. Thiswas surrounded by a protecting network, and Alan named it the"bridge. "

A light rope-ladder extended into the engine cabin from an openingin the roof, making the top floor space or bridge and the upperrunways quickly accessible. The gasoline reservoir, just forward ofthe engine, was connected with the bridge by a copper supply pipe. The extra supply of gasoline was to be carried on the bridge in theopen air, and lashed to the netting instead of being stored inpermanent reservoirs as is the usual practice. This was in orderthat the empty vessels might be thrown overboard when it wasnecessary to lighten the balloon. 

The other sections of the car were each 8 feet long and decreasingin height from 6 feet next the cabin to 5 feet at the end of thecar. In the two sections just forward of the cabin and in the twojust aft provision had been made for attaching the eight liquidhydrogen casks--four at each end. As this liquid was reconvertedinto gas the light sheet-iron casings might likewise be castoverboard to lighten the balloon. As needed, the liquid hydrogenjars, coated with mercury, were to be taken from their casings andcarried to the bridge where the reconverter was located. 

Aft of the engine cabin was the store room for water and provisions. The grooves and rods for the counterweights and equilibrium adjusterran in the middle of the upper footway and the propeller shaftrested on the bottom of the forward section of the car. 

At ten o'clock that evening all the work on the car was finishedexcept the buckling on of the aluminum silk sides and the hanging ofthe propeller, the rudder and the aeroplane sides. It was as longand as hard a day's work as either of the boys had ever done. Theywere dead tired, but happy, and after a sousing wash-up they gotinto their pajamas and, throwing their blankets on the floor of thelittle office, were soon fast asleep. 

CHAPTER XV

HOW JACK JELLUP LOST AN ARM

In spite of his fatigue Ned did not sleep soundly. It had beenthreatening a thunder storm all evening and the increasingoppressiveness of the air made the young, aeronaut wakeful. Thelong whistle and jarring stop of the midnight local train finallyfully aroused him. In the west the thunder was rumbling and greatsheets of heat lightning promised a storm in a short time. Afterslipping out into the corral and seeing that the waterproof silksides of the car were securely buttoned around the engine Nedreturned and again tried to go to sleep. 

But his restlessness continued. In his early sleep he had had avivid dream about the wagon expedition. In this he thought thatMarshal Jack Jellup had followed Elmer, Bob and Buck and set fire tothe wagons while his friends were asleep in camp. It was a reliefto awaken and find that the flash of light was lightning and not, ashe had imagined in his dream, an explosion of the gasoline carriedin Buck's big wagon. He lay awake awhile regretting the quarrelwith Jellup, and then he sank into a doze again. 

But his active brain would not rest. Again he fell into a dream. This time the picture was very real. The big balloon had beenfinished and launched. A thrill ran through him as he felt themonster craft poise and waver and then slowly rise above the corral. He could hear the cheers of those gathered about. But in the midstof them be heard the sudden crack of a revolver. Jack Jellup hadput a bullet through the silken bulk of the bag. The coldperspiration broke out on Ned's forehead. 

The dream was so real that he thought he could hear the tauntingvoice of Jellup. In feverish excitement Ned sprang upright, to finda pair of strong arms clasped about him. He did not cry out. Awave of cold fear seemed to benumb his tongue and brain. He knewthis was no dream. 

Forced onto his back, his face and eyes partly covered by theshoulders of his sudden captor, Ned's returning consciousness madehim aware that there was a dim light in the office. 

"It's Jellup, Ned, " exclaimed in a whisper a sudden voice which Nedinstantly recognized as Alan's. 

"No more from you, " exclaimed a rough voice in quick reply. "Here'sthe rope, Domingo. "

The man on top of Ned knew his business. Almost before the boyrealized what was being done his hands and feet were caught indexterous knots and he was helpless. 

"Now, " continued the other voice, "let's have a few minutes' talk. "

Ned's assailant had arisen, and for the first time the boy couldlook about. In the center of the room, with a sputtering candle inhis hand, stood the revengeful Jellup. His companion Ned at onceremembered as one of the noisy court room spectators of the daybefore. Between the two, clad in his pajamas and similarly bound, was poor Alan. 

"Ye can stand or set, jist as ye like, " began Jellup. "Me and medeputy hev made this little visit to ye fur a purpose. The citizensof this town is tired of yer carryin's on and they've just delegatedme to ascertain what it all means. We got a purty good idee. "

"Well, what is your idea?" interrupted Ned, slowly regaining hiscomposure and his natural defiance. 

"My idee is that ye don't need no flyin' machine anywhar except togit away quick and what we want to know is what air ye goin' to takewith you when ye fly away?"

"Nothing that doesn't belong to us, " answered Ned, "if that is whatyou mean. "

"Ye ain't, eh? I suppose ye don't know that thar's enough cow moneyin our bank to be worth stealin'?"

Both Ned and Alan looked at each other astounded. 

"You don't think we look like safe robbers, do you?" began Alan. 

"Ye look just slick enough fur that and more, " retorted the marshalwho had placed the candle on the table and roughly pulled Ned to hisfeet. "But I didn't come here to argy. Ye began by vilatin' thelaw and ye didn't come the way down here for no fun. Ef that ain'tyer game, and we don't put it above ye, what's yer lay?"

"There's only one answer, " said Ned. "None of your business. "

The marshal shoved Ned nearer the table. 

"Mebbe ye want to apologize fur that little bluff of yersyesterday--"

"No, " said Ned, "but I'll accept yours. "

Jellup's right hand was on his revolver. 

"I ain't hyar to make no threats, " he exclaimed, "and ye don't needto be afeered that I'm going to shoot ye. But I've got just oneother little proposition. Ef ye don't cotton to that, why, tharain't agoin' to be no Fourth o' July balloon ascension around hyar. "

Ned straightened up. 

"Your proposition can't be a fair one or you wouldn't come like athief at this time of night--"

Jellup's pistol flashed in the air but fell back again as themarshal's left hand shot upward and struck Ned full in the face. Even as the tears sprang into the bound boys eyes and pain and angerflushed his pallid face, the cowardly Jellup fell backward andstumbled to the floor. Alan, standing just behind the man, had shothis knees forward, striking Jellup's legs in the hollow of hisknees, and, thrown off his balance, the westerner lay sprawling onthe floor. Before the marshal's confederate could interfere, Alan, tightly as he was bound, had flung himself on top of Jellup and withall the power he could throw into the act had butted his head intothe marshal's face. 

Am oath and a cry of pain indicated how true the stroke had been. Both Ned and the companion of Jellup sprang forward at the same timeand the four fell in a silent distorted heap. But the encounter wasunequal. In another moment both boys were lying side by side on thefloor and their captors stood over them. Even in the half light ofthe little room both boys could see the blood-smeared cheek of themarshal. 

Jellup's hand was on Domingo's arm holding him back from furtherattack on the helpless boys and the marshal was restraining hisanger as a snake withholds its venom until it strikes. 

"Purty good, " sneered the marshal, "and the funny thing is ye hain'tgot a bullet through ye fur it. But my business ain't with deadones. Onct more, air ye goin' to say what ye'r a plannin' to do?"

"Since it doesn't concern you in the least, " said Ned, slowly, "no. "

Jellup was silent a moment. 

"Fur kids ye seem to have plenty o' money. Ye'r purty freespenders. I'll give ye one more chance. Ef ye've got a thousanddollars handy fur a kind of a bond as it were I guess that'll sorto' protect us. "

"You mean for bribery?" exclaimed Alan. 

"No, just instead of stealing, " angrily added Ned. "We haven't athousand dollars and if we had you couldn't get a cent of it. Andto save you some trouble I'll say that what we have is in yourbank. "

Another half-uttered oath sounded on Jellup's lips. 

"In thet case, " retorted the marshal, "we'll jest show you that wemean business. That's a lie about the bank. Produce or take theconsequences. "

"Help yourself, " replied Ned, "if you think we are lying. "

"I ain't no pickpocket, " retorted Jellup, "this is official. I tellye it's a bond and this is yer last chanct to make good. "

The boys remained silent. 

But Jellup's companion was already busy. Leaving the marshal tostand guard over the boys he made a quick search of their clothing. But Ned was not so used to money as to be careless in the handlingof it and the six hundred dollars that he had in gold was in a beltcarefully concealed in the top of the liquid hydrogen crate, which, for safety, had been stored in a corner of the room. 

When the silent Domingo threw down the working garments of the boyshe took up the candle and began a tour of the room. The big blackliquid hydrogen crate attracted his attention and he approached it. The red "Explosive--no fire" letters of warning apparently meantnothing to him, but Jellup halted him with a sharp warning, followedby a few words in Mexican. Domingo handed the candle to Jellup andthe latter stepped toward the box. 

"That means what it says, " exclaimed Ned quickly and sharply. 

The crate stood as it had been carried from Washington with the topon and the connecting hose extended upward through a hole made inthe low roof in order that the slowly accumulating reconverted gasmight escape in safety. 

"Mebbe, " said Jellup, "mebbe yes and mebbe no. I guess they ain'tnothin' agoin' to explode that ain't set afire. "

Ned noticed with satisfaction that the lid was properly locked. Jellup noticed it too. Without a word, he turned and easily foundNed's keys. Again he approached the crate, looking over the keys. 

"Jellup, " exclaimed Ned in alarm, "there's gas in that box, and ifyou go near it with a light you'll blow us all up. "

"Gas, eh?" answered the eager Jellup. "Don't run no sich bluffs onme. "

"I warn you, " cried Ned as the man approached the box, "it's takingyour life in your hands. "

Something in the tone of Ned's voice must have alarmed Jellup, forhe paused. Then he retreated a few steps and handed the almostburned out candle to the vigilant Domingo. 

"I allow I kin jest hev a look without no light to oblige you. I'vebeen purty curious about this precious package ever since I see it. And ye'r a sight too anxious consarnin' my safety. "

What might really happen Ned did not exactly know. The gasgenerated from the liquid hydrogen was highly inflammable andexplosive when confined. But the evaporation was exceedingly slowand the exhaust hose should easily carry the forming gas in safetyto the air. But even a small accumulation might be in the partlydepleted bulbs or the top of the crate and a fire would certainlyensue even if there was no violent explosion. And besides, justbeneath the lid was their money--the cash Ned had secured for theirfurther expenses and the return home. 

"We are anxious for all of us, " explained Alan. 

"And mebbe anxious fur something else, " sneered the marshal. "Ireckon a peek in the dark ain't agoin' to hurt no one--an' it mayhelp some. "

"Drop on your face, Alan, " whispered Ned, "and lie flat. "

It was the only precaution they could take. Both felt that alltheir plans might end in a moment. But Ned could not resistwatching--even though his face was close to the floor. He sawJellup examine each key, guess the right one at once and then insertit in the lock. Yet, despite his assumed bravado, it was apparentthat the man had considerable apprehension. For, before he turnedthe lock, he motioned to Domingo to retire further with the candle. 

Finally, as if summoning his courage, the avaricious marshal snappedthe key, threw back the catches on each end of the crate and thenslowly and gingerly and at arm's length began to lift the lid. Withthe top an inch ajar he paused, waited a moment or two, and thenbegan sniffing as if searching for an odor. 

Ned saw him. 

"It doesn't smell, " he explained quickly, "but it's there. Lookout!"

"Don't smell!" retorted Jellup. "Gas as don't smell? Well, that'sagoin' some, I guess. "

Nevertheless, he had dropped the lid. 

But as quickly recovering himself he reached forward again and witha quick motion threw the top up and sprang back. 

To Ned's relief nothing happened. Either the light was too far awayor the gas had all been removed by the hose. But this relief wasquickly succeeded by another alarm. There had been no explosion, but their financial means were now at the mercy of two thieves, andhe and his churn, bound and helpless, were powerless to protecteither themselves or their funds. There was nothing to be done butto grin and bear it. For Ned's new leather money belt, containingsix hundred dollars in gold was stretched out conspicuously and atfull length on top of one of the two rows of glass bulbs in thecase. 

"Lyin', as I thought, " exclaimed Jellup. "Gimme' the light, Domingo. " And the chuckle that followed almost instantly wasindication enough that he had discovered the boys' small fortune. 

"Dangerous, eh!" he laughed. "Now, we'll see if the city gits itsbond. "

Then he paused as if a thought had entered his head. 

"But, jest to keep the record clean, I reckon ye'd better give it tome yerself, young 'un. Jack Jellup ain't no burglar. Loosen himup, Domingo. And fur fear ye might need persuadin' jest take a peekat this, " and he drew his revolver. 

When Ned had been liberated, Jellup pointed to the money belt. 

"Jest be good enough to hand me whatever's in that, " he exclaimed, "without no hesitation. Then we'll have a little talk about whatelse is agoin' to happen. "

It was hard to surrender so easily but the risk of attacking twoarmed men single-handed was great. Ned walked slowly toward thecrate. 

"Get busy, " ordered Jellup; "we've got other business yit to talkof. "

Ned had a sudden impulse. The thing flashed on him and taking holdof the belt in the middle he lifted it until the two ends were justover an open-mouthed bulb of hydrogen, and then as if by accidentdropped the belt into the jar. The clear, watery liquid splashedand the belt disappeared. 

"Water, " shouted the eager Jellup, "Jist plain water. " And as Nedsprang back the gold-fevered marshal sprang forward and plunged hishand into the liquid. 

He did not immediately know that his hand was in the depth of aliquid whose temperature was 423 degrees below zero. But the thinfilm of gas that instantly formed and protected his naked fleshdissipated in a moment and then one benumbing, paralyzing shockswept over Jack Jellup's body. 

With a cry wrung from him by pain such as few mortals have everexperienced and survived, the stricken man fell unconscious to thefloor--his arm frozen as solid as crystallized steel. 

CHAPTER XVI

READY TO "LET GO ALL"

In the confusion that followed the sudden extinction of the candle, while Ned was freeing Alan and Jack Jellup was uttering heartrendinggroans, the marshal's confederate lost his nerve and made hisescape. When a lantern had been procured, immediate attention wasgiven to the stricken man. 

Ned hastened to secure a bucket of water. Wrapping the corner of ablanket about the handle of a tin dipper he ladled out a spoonful ofthe liquid hydrogen and, although the numbing chill ran through hisfingers and up his arm, he managed to pour the hydrogen into thecontents of the bucket. 

The pail of lukewarm water became almost instantly a cake of solidice. As Ned dropped the tin dipper to the hard adobe floor it flewinto a hundred pieces. The inconceivable cold had crystallized themetal until the slightest shock was sufficient to break it intopieces. 

At the sound of the crashing tin Ned instantly thought of the beltof gold yet in the hydrogen jar. But a human being was in pain, andhe gave his first attention to the suffering marshal. He had madethe ice to use in drawing the frost out of Jellup's frozen arm. Ina few moments he had mashed a portion of the ice into small bits, and using a blanket to make a pack, he soon had Jellup's rigid armencased in the fine ice. This he applied for the same reason thatsnow and ice water are applied to frozen ears and noses. But histreatment was of no avail. 

The rain was now falling steadily and it was dark, but Ned foundthat it was nearly day--a little after four o'clock. Jellup'ssuffering was so extreme that the boys had given him a hypodermicinsertion of morphine, using their "snake-bite" outfit, and in a fewminutes the man's ravings ceased and he quieted into a deep sleep. 

While awaiting this, attention was given the gold. Feeling free toapproach the now open jars with a light it was seen that a portionof, the belt protruded above the liquid. A cord with a sailor slipknot was lowered over the extended bit of leather, drawn taut with ajerk and the belt was slowly lifted out. A folded blanket had beenplaced on the floor to receive it. As Ned expected, the leathercrumbled and broke like glass as the belt fell on the soft blanket. 

"If you want change for a twenty-dollar gold piece just tap one ofthose with a stick. " said Ned, laughing and pointing to the goldpieces scattered among the broken fragments of the belt. 

"Not I, " exclaimed Alan, "not after what happened to the tindipper. "

Leaving Alan to watch over the unconscious Jellup and the frozengold, Ned dressed himself, and in spite of the rain hastened out inthe just perceptible dawn to carry out a plan he and Alan had agreedupon. An hour later, with the assistance of Mayor Bradley, themarshal, now somewhat easier, was placed in a bed in his own home. Unless the silent Mexican told it no soul in all Clarkeville otherthan Mayor Bradley and the air ship boys knew why Jellup was absentfrom his haunts and his post of duty that day. Nor did many of themever know, when Jellup reappeared on the streets after weeks ofsuffering, how he had been injured. They only knew that his rightarm was gone and that he was no longer marshal. 

The rain ceased with the coming of the day. 

"If we don't get away pretty soon, " suggested Alan, as Ned wasgetting into dry clothing preparatory to tackling another of Mrs. Buck's meals, "this thing will be getting on my nerves. "

"Well, " answered Ned philosophically, "there is mighty little worthhaving in this world that isn't hard to get. "

If all went well that day the boys hoped to be ready to make theirdeparture that night or the next morning. Therefore they went towork with a vim. Both felt more comfortable when, after findingthat the gold coins had returned to their normal condition, they hadagain concealed them. The propeller, rudder and aeroplane guideswere now put in place and tested. 

As the engine, with a speed of 1, 400 revolutions but geared down to800, began to turn the shaft and the twelve-foot propeller began torevolve, Ned swung his hat in the air. Without a break the speedincreased to 500, 600, and then 700 revolutions a minute. 

"Shut her off, " exclaimed Alan joyously, as the white arms flewround and round and the air shot backwards on both sides of the longcar. At 750 revolutions the car was rocking and lurching as if itwould soar birdlike into the air. At 800 the powerful pullingpropeller began to overcome the rigidity of the framework on whichthe car rested and as Alan caught and held the car, fearful that itwas about to fly away under the propeller power alone, Ned shut offthe engine. 

The next instant the two boys, with clasped hands, were doing anIndian war dance in their glee. 

It was not long until the rudder wires and the aeroplane shafts hadbeen attached to their proper guide wheels in the lookout or pilotportion of the engine cabin. Then came the preparation of theballoon bag itself. Here again Ned showed what he had accomplishedin the six weeks he had spent in the East. 

Clearing a space near the generating tanks, they placed the onehundred sand bags, weighing forty pounds each, in parallel rows. These sacks, with convenient loops on each for attaching the riggingof the bag as it was being filled, had already been prepared by the"greaser" laborers, but the placing of the two tons of dead weightwas not a joke, and the boys regretted that they had not kept a fewmen around. But by noon this was done, and then the greatwaterproof fiber trunk containing the silk bag was rolled outbetween the retaining bags. The boys could not carry it, as theballoon itself weighed seven hundred and twenty pounds, but theyimprovised rollers and with many a laughing "yo he ho" finallyaccomplished the task. 

The bag had been made by one of the leading aeronautical engineersof America, whose factory, strangely enough, was in one of the smallinland towns of New York State. In a spirit of humor themanufactory had been termed the "Balloon Farm, " and so famous was itthat Ned had even planned to spend a part of his summer vacationvisiting it. When Major Honeywell gave him the opportunity, Ned wasat once determined to utilize every advanced idea of the skilledowner, whatever the cost. 

The result was a machine-varnished and, as nearly as such a thingwas possible, hydrogen gas-proof bag. In the construction of thisthe experienced manufacturer and engineer, who was no other thanProfessor Carl E. Meyers, the hero of hundreds of ascents, had useda new machine which applied simultaneously to both sides of the bagfabric several thin films of elastic varnish. The bag itselfconsisted of two layers of Japan silk between which was a layer ofrubber, all being sewed together and then vulcanized. 

But the balloon trunk was not opened at once. The pipe to conveythe gas from the cooler and purifying tank had been brought infour-foot lengths of light wood, cemented and shellacked. Eightlengths of these were laid to the center of the cleared place andthen the joints were wound with binding cement tape. When thesethings had been satisfactorily adjusted it was mid-afternoon. Everything now seemed ready for the filling up of the generatingtanks, the inflation, the flight, and "good-bye. "

Therefore, a final consultation was held. Wind tests conducted eachday had shown the prevailing breezes favorable, or at least notagainst the aeronauts. The inflation would require approximatelyten hours. If begun at once this would make the departure possibleabout midnight. This was not undesirable as the absence of the hotsouthwestern sun would make the gas easier to control. But anotherthing had to be taken into consideration. Only four days hadelapsed since Elmer and Bob and Buck had started. Were they yet atthe rendezvous?

"I don't see what difference that makes, " said Alan. "We expect tosail directly north and east of the foothills. If they have notreached their camp they must be nearly there and on the way. We'vegot to locate them with our glasses anyway. Let's start and pickthem up where we find them. "

"True enough, " answered Ned. "The way the engine is working, inthis light favoring wind, we ought to make eighteen miles an houranyway. If we leave at midnight, by five o'clock in the morning wecan be ninety miles north. The only trouble is in the handling ofthe bag. It's going to take at least twenty men to move theinflated bag from the retaining weights to the car and we can't makethe rigging fast in the dark. We'd better begin work at fouro'clock to-morrow morning, as soon as it begins to be light, and getaway about two in the afternoon. I think we'll see our friendsabout seven or just at dark, if we do. "

CHAPTER XVII

AN INTERRUPTED FLIGHT

And so it was arranged. The young aeronauts thus had all afternoonto store provisions, water, gasoline and the instruments. Thealtitude barometer, the recording thermometer, the statoscope andrecording hygrometer, together with the telescopic camera were eachgiven a place on the bridge and lashed to the netting. Thetwenty-five-foot rope-ladder, strong but light, that was to hangbelow the car, and the anchor and drag rope, were attached, the namepennant of white with the word "Cibola" resplendent in blue, "turquoiseblue, " explained Ned--was unfurled on its little staff just abaft thebig propeller, and a new silk American flag was laid out it the sternof the car to be run up on its halyards as soon as the bag was attached. 

Then came the careful transfer of the liquid hydrogen. One at atime the cast iron eases were carried from the building, hoistedaboard the car and lashed in place. Before supper Ned had time togo to the depot and send a telegram to Major Honeywell, who was yetin Chicago. It read:

"Ready for inflation. All O. K. Sail at 2 P. M. To-morrow, August11. "

He then visited "Saloon Row" and arranged for twenty men to reportat four o'clock the next morning. No chances were to be taken thatnight. Dividing the hours up to four A. M. Into two watches, thetwo boys had supper and Ned was soon fast asleep on the floor of thecar "trying it out. "

At the first blush of dawn the corral gates were thrown open and ina short time all the men engaged reported. Some of them were put towork dumping the heavy iron filings into the big oak gas generatorsand Ned and Alan began the delicate work of laying out the bag, bottom side up the thin silken folds of the golden shell were slowlylifted and laid on the ground. When the bottom filling valve hadbeen attached to the wooden gas conduits the mammoth sections of thelong gas receptacle were stretched out on top and then carefullysmoothed until an even inflation was assured. 

This done, the rigging trunk was opened and the seine-like mass ofdelicate hemp cords laid over the bag. No "greasers" were permittedto assist in this. Ned and Alan, in bare feet, laboriously butcarefully drew the silk folds of the bag into the net. When thiswas completed the suspension cords reached out in all directionslike skeleton fingers. In a quarter of an hour these had beenattached to the retaining bags with slip knots and then the boyswere surprised to find that it was already after six o'clock. Attheir best they could not now hope to reach the relief camp beforenine o'clock and after dark. 

Mrs. Buck came with a huge pot of coffee for all, and then followedthe last step. One by one, borne on the shoulders of the curiousworkmen, the dangerous carboys of sulphuric acid were emptied intothe generating tanks. The boys guided each step of the men, explaining the danger, and the work was finally completed withouthitch or accident. 

At the first bubble of gas the boys felt like doing another wardance. But they were "business men" now and had to put on dignityin the face of their employees. In two hours the reaction of thebubbling acid had sent enough hydrogen through the purifier to raisethe bag shoulder-high and everything was going splendidly. The boyshad removed their working clothes and were now in the light but warmcanvas suits and caps they meant to wear in their flight. 

Ned stole away a few minutes and at the bank secured bills to payoff the men. On his way back he stopped to invite Mayor Bradley tolunch with them on the Cibola and to be present at the "let go. " Bynoon the men had been paid and the articles of baggage and toolsthat were to be left behind had been packed, tagged with shippingdirections and turned over to Buck's wife. 

The cigar-like bag, 98. 4 feet long and 17. 4 feet in diameter, whichwas to hold over 65, 000 feet of gas, was now so far inflated that itwas nearly off the ground. Then Mayor Bradley came. With pride theboys bade him climb into the cabin of the Cibola. 

"You won't find anything hot in a balloon, Mr. Mayor, " laughed Ned, "except the reception. Make yourself at home. "

On the bridge of the craft the two boys and their guest hadluncheon. Cold potted chicken and baked beans served on woodenplates with hardtack and water, and sweet chocolate for dessert, wasthe simple meal, but it tasted like a feast. 

"Have you christened the craft yet?" finally asked the Mayor who hadabsorbed some of the enthusiasm of the young aeronauts. 

"That's for you to do, " politely answered Ned. 

The luncheon was hurried to a finish, for the boys could see thatthe bag needed final attention. It had risen higher and higher andwas now swaying and tugging at the suspension ropes. Both boysalighted and at once began straightening the extension ropes. Hereand there where the cordage net was out of place they pulled downthe bag and adjusted the rigging. Finally a little after threeo'clock, the great case had filled out until its smooth glisteningsides resembled the skin of a fat sausage. 

"All ready!" ordered Ned as he shut of the valve of the cooling andpurifying box. "Now, every man bear a hand. "

One at a time the extension cords were untied from the retainingbags, and each of the workmen was given four of the light but stronglines. The Mayor himself passed among the men with sterninjunctions to hold fast. As the last cord was loosed the greattugging bag was held wholly by the scared men. Then, with slow andmeasured steps, the double line of assistants advanced to the carand along each side of it. 

"All steady, " commanded Ned when each man had been placed; "now hangonto her. "

Then he and Alan, springing into the car, began the work of makingit fast to the bag. There was a place marked for each of theextension ropes, and the air ship builders, beginning at each end ofthe car, carefully adjusted and tied the end of each rope to theframe of the ship. As the cords were taken from the attendants themen took hold of the lower framework of the car, and to make doublysure each man was cautioned to throw his entire weight into thework. 

At last the final rope was made fast, and three thousand pounds ofhuman flesh and muscle were holding the tugging balloon. Ned, covered with perspiration, and nervous but happy, was hastilyconnecting the compensating balloon tube with the hand blower on thebridge, and Alan had run astern to tie the new national colors tothe halyards swinging from the end of the bag. 

"Hold on, " cried Ned seeing that Alan was ready to run up the starsand stripes. "Just a moment. Are you all ready, Mr. Mayor?"

"All ready, " came the answer from the town official, as he stood ona box, his hat off and a revolver in his hand. 

"With a western salute I christen this balloon the 'Cibola, '" heexclaimed, and a shot punctuated his speech. "Good luck andgoodbye!"

As the shot sounded Alan's flag ran fluttering upwards. Ned's eyestook one final look fore and aft and then he leaned over the car forthe last words for which all were waiting. 

They were on his lips and the eyes of twenty straining men werefixed on him to hear the command, "Let go. " One nervous attendant, apparently thinking the order had been given, threw up his arms witha shout. 

At that instant there was a second sharp pistol shot, and a quickcry from the street outside the corral. 

"Hold on there, all of you!" shouted Ned. His dream had rushed backto him with a sickening chill. Had some one shot at the toweringbag? "Hold on!" he yelled. 

At that moment there was another shout and Bob Russell, his face redwith the sun and his shirt wet with perspiration, walked into thecorral. In his right hand was gripped a revolver and in his left arepeating rifle. In front of him, and prodded on by Bob's pistol, was the Mexican, Domingo, Jack Jellup's tool and fellow thief. 

CHAPTER XVIII

FREE AND AFLOAT AT LAST

This is what had happened. 

At the time of the rain storm, two days before, Buck and hiscavalcade were in camp on the bank of the dry Chusco, sixty milesnorth of Clarkeville. The experienced scout knew that a watersupply was now assured, and he at once followed prearranged ordersby instructing Bob to return with the smaller wagon. This was a sadblow to the young reporter, but it was a part of his contract and heknew that it was his duty to obey. And with necessity before him, he acted promptly. Emptying the heavy casks, Bob started on theback trail at five the following morning, and by night had madethirty miles with the light wagon. All day he wondered if it mightnot be possible to reach Clarkeville again before the Cibola sailed. 

The next morning, spurred on by the hope that he might do this, hestarted at daybreak. By the middle of the morning he was on the oldwagon trail and making better time. Some time after two o'clock hecame up over the rise of the last foothills and saw, eight milesaway, the glistening shape which he at once knew was the inflatedballoon. He hesitated a moment and then, unhitching the horses, mounted one bareback and began a dash for the town. The animalswere tired and worn, and progress was slow, but it beat walking, andBob urged them on. 

As the young reporter came nearer and the balloon grew more distincthe knew that it would be a close call. From time to time as thewinded horses dropped into a walk Bob wondered why he was makingsuch a race. "I can't go with them, " he argued. But, like thetrained reporter, be decided that no effort was wasted that gave himnew information. And it was something out of the ordinary to seethe most complete balloon ever made start on a mysterious flightinto the wilderness. 

So he spurred up the horses anew. The hot sun reflected from theyellow sands burnt his face and his muscles were sore, but he stuckto it. When half a mile from the town he could see the boys on thebridge of the Cibola. When a quarter of a mile away he decided thathe could beat the horses by going afoot, and, throwing himself tothe ground, he ran onward, knowing that the tired animals wouldfollow. Out of breath he reached the edge of the town and stumbledon toward the corral. 

With head down he plunged forward. Almost at his goal he threw hishead up for breath just in time to notice a kneeling man with arifle at his shoulder. 

"Hey!" yelled Bob with what breath he had. 

Then he saw that the man was aiming directly at the balloon swayingabove the nearby corral fence. He also recognized the man instantlyas one of the sullen court spectators, and Jellup's crony. Therifleman dropped the muzzle of his gun and turned. 

"I guess I am something of a gun man, " explained Bob later to theboys, "for I had that new revolver of mine on the 'greaser' before Iknew what I was doing myself. I didn't even then realize what hewas about to do. But I had the drop on him and when I figured outthat he meant to put a hole in the balloon, why, I just had himright. And here he is. "

Alan looked at Ned. Both boys were puzzled. A few moment's talkwith Russell explained the whole situation. The balloon was readyand the relief expedition was undoubtedly now in camp awaiting them. It needed only the words and they would be off with the inquisitivereporter left safely behind. And yet the word did not come. Nedand Alan stood looking at Bob, and the reporter gazed in turn at thebeautiful straining car. Bob's face was a study. He had now madesome return to Ned for possibly saving his own life, but none of theboys was thinking of that. In Bob's fine young face was the longingof a child. In Ned's and Alan's faces were the traces of boyishsympathy. 

The young aeronauts were very close to each other and all weresilent. Then Alan turned slowly to Ned and with a little quaver inhis voice whispered, "Shall we?"

Ned made no answer. A smile lit up his face and he sprang down thelittle ladder into the engine cabin followed by his chum. Almostinstantly the trap door in the floor of the car dropped down. Amoment later three fifty-pound sacks of ballast tumbled through thedoor to the ground beneath. The bag tugged and strained as Nedreappeared above. 

"Hurry up, Bob, if you're going with us, " he said quietly, leaningover the net of the bridge, "and close the door as you come up. "

Bob hesitated, as if he had not heard aright, but then heunderstood, and with tears in his eyes be sprang forward. There wasa jar and Ned knew the new passenger was aboard. 

"All ready?" he called sharply from the bridge. 

"Aye, aye, captain, " came in a choking but jubilant voice from theinside of the cabin. 

"Stand by, everybody, " sharply ordered Ned. And then, as Bob'sshoulders appeared through the hatchway, the commander of the airship gave a final look about. 

"Let go all, " he cried sharply. "Everybody!"

For a moment only one clinging workman careened the buoyant craftand then, straight up, the Cibola bounded like a rubber ball. 

"Good-bye, all, " came from Ned, cap in hand, as he leaned from thebridge. 

There were cheers from below and the Cibola was at last free andafloat. 

"Sit down here and keep quiet, " sharply ordered Ned as Bob crawledout on deck. Then the commander of the balloon disappeared below. 

There were almost immediately several sharp, muffled explosions, andthen the white propeller began to turn. The balloon was driftingquickly toward the northwest and rising--Bob could see its shadowfollowing on the sandy plain. Then the arms of the propeller turnedfaster and faster and a velvet whirr in the cabin showed that theengine was falling to work. As the propeller blades settled into asteady hum the vibration of the car indicated increased speed. ThisBob could also detect from the more swiftly flying shadow. 

The shadow was also growing smaller, and this meant that the Cibolawas still ascending. Now the shadow paused and turned. Alan hadthrown the rudder over and the balloon had responded instantly. Theaeroplane arms stretched out horizontally on each side of the car. Ned, reappearing, took a quick look at the altitude gauge and againdisappeared. The aeroplane arms dipped in front almost forty-fivedegrees and the current, blown back by the propeller, struck themwith a jar. The craft again responded and slowly took a downwardslant. 

Propeller, rudder and aeroplane being at work, Ned again appeared. 

"Go below, " he ordered sharply, "and bear a hand when needed. "

Bob did so. Alan was on the pilot platform with his hands on thewheel controlling the rudder wires. His eyes were fixed straightahead. 

"See that lever, " he said, jerking his head to the left. 

Bob quickly discovered the aeroplane guider control and sprang toit. 

"Wait for orders, " added Alan. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE FIRST FLIGHT

The balloon was still sliding downwards and swiftly forward. Forseveral minutes the three boys stood in silence. Only the steadywhirr of the engine and a musical humming of vibrating wires couldbe heard. Bob wondered if they were headed earthward again, for hecould see the approaching foothills widening out beneath. At last, when they could not have been over five hundred feet from theground, came the quick order:

"Right the planes. "

Bob was almost caught napping, for he was busy looking through thewindow. But his hands responded instantly, and he almost chokedwith chagrin to find that he had started to throw the lever thewrong way. But his recovery of himself was instant and with adesperate pull he forced the guiding planes back horizontally. Theglide downward stopped and the Cibola shot forward with renewedspeed. 

On the bridge Ned held a fluttering chart before him. 

"How is she heading?" he called to Pilot Alan at the wheel. With aglance at the compass before him Alan promptly responded:

"Nor'nor'east. "

"Make it north by east. "

A quick slight movement and a strain told that the alteration hadbeen made. 

"North by east it is, " sang out Alan. 

"Keep her there, " was the echoing response. 

Bob was thrilled. Every word was to him a joy. Everything hadhappened so quickly that he hardly knew what it all meant, but hewas happy. Even the sudden discipline pleased him and he was gladto be a part of it. The knowledge that a younger boy was giving himorders did not bother him. He had skill in his own line, but he sawand realized that in the Cibola Ned Napier was in charge and meantbusiness. 

For some time then no word was heard. The Cibola, speeding, swiftlyonward, had crossed the low foothills and was pulling herselfthrough the almost breezeless air like a modern liner, five hundredfeet above the ground. She was holding her course beautifully. Then Ned appeared and tested the gas exhaust and oil feed of theengine. 

"Were you ever in a balloon before?" he said when he had finished, turning sharply towards Bob. 

"Never, " answered Bob, glad enough for a chance to say something. 

"Have you any matches?" somewhat sternly asked the commander of theCibola. 

"Sure, " replied Bob reaching in his pocket and finding one. 

"Any more? All of them. "

Surprised, Bob searched his clothes and discovered a few more whichhe obediently handed over to his superior officer. Noting the lookof surprise in the reporter's face Ned laughed. 

"The first rule in a balloon is 'No fire. ' But beginners forget, sometimes; we can't take this chance with you. "

"Take anything I have got, " answered Bob with his old smile, whichhad now been in eclipse for some time, "and if I can speak at last Iwant to say that you boys are white, clean white, through andthrough. Didn't you need that ballast?"

"We may need it badly, " said Ned, laughing. "If it should becomenecessary I suppose you won't mind if we throw you overboard. "

"No, " retorted Bob, "not if it is a little at, a time. But you'rebricks--both of you--if I thank you I'll cry. " The tears were againin his eyes. 

"Well, it wasn't the thing to do, I suppose, " said Ned turning away, "but you looked so hungry to go, and I knew what it meant. So Ithought we'd just give you a little ride up to the camp. "

"Yes, of course, " answered Bob slowly as his hopes fell. "Put meout wherever you like, " he added. 

"You can go up now and have a look around, " said Ned at last, "bothof you. I'll take the wheel. "

The relieved boys scrambled onto the bridge deck. Night was comingon and the mountains to the west were already black. Eveningshadows were lengthening on the sloping plains beneath and a gentle, rising breeze flapped the flag and pennant and swayed the bag abovethem. Beneath, the Chusco wound its half dry course and off to theeast a blue haze, melting into the unending sand, told of a treelessand waterless waste. 

"And there, " exclaimed Alan at last, pointing off to the northwestwhere snow-capped, ragged peaks rose out of a black jumble ofmountains, "are the Tunit Chas and the land of our dreams. To-morrow--"

"One moment, " interrupted Bob quickly. "I think you are forgetting. That is your secret and not mine. "

Alan flushed. "I forgot, " he said with a stammer, "and I thankyou. "

"I can't afford to make you sorry you brought me, " added Bob, "andyou are not going to be. "

There was a little jar. The propeller slackened a trifle, and Alanexplained that Ned had headed the Cibola another point into thefreshening breeze. 

"Steward, " said Ned from below, "it's seven o'clock and I'm hungry. Besides, it's getting pretty dark down here. "

Alan and Bob looked at each other and laughed. 

"That certainly means me, " exclaimed Bob, and both boys clamberedbelow. With Alan's help Bob made his first examination of the storeroom. 

The meal was rather haphazard, as the boys, carried away by theexcitement of their new flight, had neglected to eat when it waslight. But water and hardtack were easily accessible, and Alan, taking the first two cans at hand, found happily that they containedsardines and veal loaf. 

"We'll eat on deck, " suggested Ned, as he set the wheel and hadanother look at the engine, which had not missed a revolution. 

The night that greeted them was magnificent. The moon was not yetup, but the stars were scintillating in the inky sky and the deepsilence of the clouds and desert was about them. Bob gazed as ifspellbound. The charm of the night appealed to him as it did to Nedand Alan; but with it his brain formed phrases--"cloudland bynight, " "a dash to the stars. " The reporter in him was thinking"copy. "

"Hey, there, wake up!" cried practical Ned. 

Bob flew to his task; with a turn he had the veal loaf can open andhad dumped its contents in the wooden plate held by Alan. 

In another moment he would have thrown the empty can overboard butthe watchful Ned, ready for another lesson in aeronautics, caughthis hand. 

"Don't you like the route we are taking?" laughed Ned. 

Bob's face showed he did not understand. 

"The loss of the weight of that can might send us sparing upward athousand feet, " explained Ned dryly, "so don't cast over ballastuntil you get orders. "

Bob shook his head. "Well doesn't that beat all, " he exclaimed. 

As night fell and the air grew heavier, the barometer showed thatthe Cibola had a tendency to rise. The aeroplanes were readjustedand then for an hour the craft sped on untouched. At eight o'clockNed said:

"We haven't traveled over eighteen miles in an hour and we've beenafloat four hours. If we are still over the Chusco and Elmer andBuck are at the appointed place we may be within ten or twelve milesof them. "

"They are going to burn three small camp fires set in a triangle, you remember, " remarked Bob. 

"Therefore, " suggested. Ned, "all keep a sharp lookout. "

At half past eight Ned showed some concern. No lights had beensighted and the reckoning showed that they must be within two orthree miles of the probable location of the camp. Another fifteenminutes went by, and yet no signal fires were seen. They had nowpassed over the junction of the two rivers, if their calculationswere right, and Ned and Alan were in a quandary. 

"It's no use to go on, " commented Ned; "so we'll just make a widecircle and see what we can find. "

It was also useless to look below. In the darkness there was nosight of either river or desert. 

"It we don't pick them up in that way, " continued Ned, "we'lldescend and tie up for the night. "

Both Ned and Alan went below, and with the engine shut down to halfspeed the Cibola was turned on her course in a wide sweep. Bobalone watched with anxious eyes, until he was joined in a short timeby Ned. There was no sound but the soft chug-chug of the engine, and for some time neither spoke. The breeze of the early eveninghad died and there was not a breath of air. Alan in the dark cabinbelow held the wheel and Ned and Bob alone, hanging over the sidenet, watched and listened in vain. 

CHAPTER XX

FIGHTING INDIANS WITH A SEARCHLIGHT

"Stop her!" It was Ned's voice in quick command. The youngaeronaut, peering over the side of the car of the Cibola into theblack night, had suddenly seen something that prompted the order. It was a distant flash of light. This was followed by an echoingexplosion. The other boys heard the explosion and all instantlyknew that it was a shot from a firearm. Almost before Alan couldshut off the power Ned had disappeared into the cabin to help headthe balloon in the direction of the spurt of fire. The Cibolaslackened speed and they waited, drifting slowly toward the east. Then, suddenly, and almost together came two streaks of fire and twomore explosions. 

"One of them might mean a signal, " said Ned gravely, "but they werenot from the same spot. If it were Elmer he would have the threefires. If it is Elmer and Buck and they can't make a fire and areshooting I am afraid it means trouble. "

"It may mean Indians, " suggested Bob, "and they may have put outtheir fires for safety. "

"They might even be holding off an attack of some kind, " added Alananxiously. 

Just then there was another crack of a firearm now a little nearer. The Cibola was drifting directly toward the sound, but very slowly, and would soon have lost all headway. 

"I don't want to be presumptuous, " said Bob in a low voice, "butcan't we land and find out what the trouble is?"

"We can find out without landing, " replied Alan. 

It was so dark in the cabin that the boys could only dimly see eachother, but Ned was groping about near the silent engine. In amoment he had secured from the ammunition case a storage electriclight, and cautiously shading the lens with his cap he asked Bob tohold it. Then he turned to his chum. 

"I didn't know just how we would use our little drop light, " hebegan; "but it seems that the idea wasn't half bad. There is atribe of Indians not far from here that would steal a horse or cut aman's throat quickly enough--the renegade or Southern Utes. " As hespoke he was digging in a chest extracting various small parcels. "Not even the other Indians have any use for the Utes. And there isonly one thing to do. We must first find out if our friends arebelow. "

With the help of the flashlight Bob could we that Ned held in hishand a large, high candle-power incandescent bulb and was adjustingit in a silver reflector. 

"With an electric light?" exclaimed Bob. 

"Why not?" replied Ned. "And the help of our little dynamo. "

Ned took the flashlight, held it under his coat, and crawled aroundin front of the silent engine. "It's here, " he explained for Bob'sbenefit, "and I am just throwing the gear onto the propeller shaft. "

"Well, if you are afraid to show this little light why aren't youafraid to show a brighter light?" asked the observing reporter. 

Alan answered him. 

"We are only afraid because it might draw an attack from someobserver. Balloonists are never safe from meddlesome persons orworse. But there isn't the same danger if the light isn't on theballoon. "

"Sure, " said Bob. "I understand that. But you can't hold it veryfar away. "

"No, " answered Ned, "that's why we braided two good copper wires inour drag rope. " As he said this he opened the trap door in thefloor of the cabin and feeling about in the dark soon had hold ofthe coiled drag. 

"I guess I'm dull, " began Bob. 

"No, " interrupted Alan, "only you haven't given two or three yearsto figuring out the possibilities of an air ship. "

Ned was attaching the bulb, reflector down, to the end of the rope. 

"That rope is three hundred feet long. A light at the end of it isquite a way from our bag. 

"Oh, I see, " exclaimed Bob at last. "If we find Indians and theyshoot at our searchlight they are pretty sure to miss us. "

"That is the theory, " answered Ned. 

And then the plan in Ned's mind was explained. The engine was to bestarted at quarter speed, which meant that the sound would beimperceptible; and, lying on the floor of the cabin, Ned was todirect the movements of the ship, with Alan at the rudder wheel andBob at the aeroplane guider. 

"A quarter to ten o'clock, " said Ned glancing at his watch as heshut off the concealed flashlight, "and now start her up. "

As Alan started the engine and it began to turn the propeller theycould tell by the light breeze that the car was moving again, butvery slowly. The other boys could also hear Ned delicately payingout the long drag rope. At last it was all out. Then Ned crawledforward again to the dynamo and up to the partly open floor of thecar and whispered that he was ready. The multiple gear was alreadyspeeding the little generator swiftly. 

"Lie down on the floor and watch, " murmured Ned softly, "I'm goingto turn her on. "

Alan and Bob did so. As their two heads filled the open trap in thecabin floor there was a click and then, as if some necromancy hadfocused the sun on a part of the darkened world, a circle of lightseemed to spring out of the desert beneath. Yellow, with here andthere a ragged rock and a sage brush or two, the shadows of therocks and brush black like spilled ink, and the sand glaring back atthem with almost quivering brightness, the circle shot back andforth as the light followed the swinging rope. But no living thingwas in sight. A click and all was black again. 

"Nothing doing, " exclaimed Bob. 

"Wait, " suggested Ned, "persons we couldn't see may have seen them. "

Almost as he spoke there was another quick report. 

"Did you see the flash, Alan?" asked Ned eagerly, for he had beenbusy with the dynamo. 

But Alan was already at the wheel, and again the car swung from itscourse. 

"Wait, " he exclaimed, "turn it on again when I give the word. "

After perhaps two minutes he gave the signal and again Ned flashedthe gleaming bulb. Again the circle sprang apparently out of theblack ground. As the car drifted forward the black blotched goldensand ran the opposite way like a whirling panorama. A coyotesprang, dazed, from a clump of bushes and back again, but that wasall. 

"Give him another chance, " whispered Alan, and the light flashedout. 

"Listen, " exclaimed Bob breathlessly, "wasn't that a cry?"

Another moment and the sound came again. 

"Elmer!" exclaimed the two air ship boys together. 

The Cibola swung instantly at Alan's quick touch. Again the lightflashed. Sand and rock and brush. The brilliant circle of lightshot here and there, but the anxious watchers saw sign of neitherfriend nor foe. Then like a flash the level plain dropped into thesudden slope of a coulee and the darker shadow of water blotted outthe glare of sand. 

"The river, " whispered Ned. "Now watch sharp. "

As the light was blotted out this time Alan swung the wheel again. He knew instantly that they were on the wrong track, as they weregoing east and crossing the Chusco. Elmer and Buck would not crossthe river. The camp was to be on the west side. 

"Follow the river, " ordered Ned quickly; "the west shore. "

In order that the Cibola might be laid on the new course Ned threwon the light switch again. As he did so and the light flashed therewas the sharp crack of a rifle and the light was gone. 

"Turn her on, " exclaimed Alan; "I want to get a line on the riverbed. "

Ned laughed. "I'll need a new bulb first. Some one down belowturned it off. "

"What?" exclaimed the other boys together. 

"Shot out, " calmly retorted Ned. 

CHAPTER XXI

A CORDITE BOMB AND ITS WORK

In a moment the boys were hauling in the rope and Ned was back inthe cabin after a new bulb which he secured and attached in thedark. 

"Now give her a swing, " he said as Bob again lowered the rope. "Itwill make it harder to hit. "

When Bob announced that all the rope was paid out Ned snapped theswitch again. In spite of the gravity of the situation all the boyswere tempted to laugh. A brilliant green glow shot down. Anemerald circle of light flooded the ground beneath. 

"If anyone sees that they'll sure think it's a drug store, "suggested Bob. 

"'Or a sign of the Great Spirit, perhaps, " added Ned soberly, "itmay help us in more ways than one, if Indians are--"

"Look, " hoarsely shouted Alan, "there, over there!"

But his words were superfluous. The three boys saw the same thing. And then as the wide swaying of the bulb swept the gnome-likepicture in green from view Ned threw himself over and shut off theengine. 

Not a hundred feet beneath the brilliant bulb the precipitous bankof the river had again shot into the circle of light. At the veryedge of the cliff stood the big freight wagon. Behind it, betweenthe wagon and the steep river bank, stood two horses. At one endtwo more lay prostrate on the ground. In front a light barrier ofboxes and barrels rose a few feet from the ground. And there, arifle at his shoulder, knelt Elmer Grissom, their friend andservant. Buck was nowhere in sight. 

Their worst fears were realized. 

As the dramatic picture flashed from view each boy knew that it wastime to act. 

"What's to be done?" exclaimed Alan, his voice choking. 

"There can't be many of them, " answered Ned finally, as if thinking, "or they would pushed their attack. If we could locate them therest would be easy. Let Bob take the wheel and try to get over thewagon again; I have an idea. "

The Cibola again answered the rudder and circled, Ned flashing thebulb until the river came beneath them. This required but a fewmoments, but, before the craft had gathered momentum on the wayback, there were four shots almost together about three hundredyards to the right of where they supposed the wagon stood, and aquick reply from the river bank. 

"Our light did it, " exclaimed Alan, "they are rushing thebarricade. "

"Indians don't rush together, if it is Indians, " replied Ned. "Keepon up the bank, Bob. It's risky for Elmer, " he added with a huskyvoice, "but we've got to take chances. "

Again the light flashed. Ned and Alan hurried to the bridge. 

Within its circle and almost together, sealing the seamed and hardbank of the river, were five dark figures. As the powerful lightencircled them the crouching figures sprang backwards. But theywere not quicker than the alert and prepared Ned Napier. A smallround object shot downward from his hands. The glare of flame asthe missile struck true and the thunderous roar that hurled the bigbag of the Cibola sideways told that the cordite bomb had done itswork well. 

Bob was speechless. Ned and Alan were already in hurriedconsultation. They could not count on fortunately finding the otherbesiegers all together, "'and there are at least four more, " saidNed. The rescue of the lone besieged lad was not an easy problem. The boys believed themselves now just above the wagon again, butthey were afraid to draw possible fire to the barricade by showinganother light. 

The hurling of the bomb overboard had shot the Cibola heavenwardlike a bird. Before they realized it the aeronauts had mounted upat least two thousand feet. They then began maneuvering to regaintheir position. But this was not so easy. A flash of the suspendedsearchlight gave them not a trace of their bearings and it wasplainly apparent they would have to use time and patience inrecovering the location of the besieged wagon. Using their bestjudgment, they put the aeroplanes to work, and, circling slowly, theCibola gradually came nearer and nearer to the ground. After tenminutes or more the car gave a sharp bound upward. 

"The drag has touched the ground, " exclaimed Ned. 

The aeroplanes were righted, the engine was stopped, and again theballoon was drifting. There was not a sound to guide the aeronauts. The contact with the ground had broken the bulb and it was notreplaced. For aught the rescuers knew they might be again directlyover the wagon. Not a shot had been fired since the roar of theexplosion, but there was no reason to believe that the yet livingbesiegers had withdrawn. 

"More likely planning a final attack, " suggested Alan. 

Again a council was held. 

"We've got to take the risk, " said Ned at last in desperation; "wecan't do anything up here. "

And then, with Alan's approval, the propeller was set turning again, but so slowly that the big balloon was just moving under control. The aeroplanes were also set to bring the craft nearer the groundand, as a precaution, Bob was sent onto the bridge with an openknife to cut away ballast if sudden ascent were needed. The dragrope had been brought in. There were no means of knowing how nearthe car might be to the earth and the suspense was decidedly trying. 

"I guess I can come a little nearer finding out, " exclaimed Nedfinally to the others in a whisper. 

Alan did not know what he meant, but he resumed his place at thewheel. Ned had disappeared in the dark. 

"Where are you, Ned?" asked Alan anxiously at last. 

The answer came from beneath the car. 

"Only down here, but I'm going lower, " Ned replied, again in awhisper. "Be ready with that ballast. "

A perspiration of fear broke out on Alan's body. He sprang to theopen trap door. 

Just discernible in the darkness was Ned's slowly retreating form. 

He was climbing down the twenty-five-foot rope landing ladder withonly his own strong grip and the spruce rungs to save him fromdeath. 

There was nothing to be said or done. Bob did not know what wasgoing on below, but he knew that he had a task set for him, and inthe long silence that followed while the Cibola settled lower andlower and drifted on and on in the dark he stood, knife in hand, atthe ballast bags. 

CHAPTER XXII

A THRILLING RESCUE IN MID-AIR

Buck, the guide, and Elmer Grissom had reached their appointedrendezvous at two o'clock that afternoon. The hot journey had beentedious and uneventful. Only at the half-breed settlement twentymiles north of Clarkeville had they seen a human being. Therefore, after they had been in camp about an hour, even the vigilant, experienced Buck was startled to observe suddenly a solitaryIndian--his horse as statuesque as himself--watching them from aknoll some two hundred yards distant. 

As the old scout raised both hands in signal of peace the Indianrode forward. The man was not in the Indian panoply of the olddays, except that he wore moccasins and had two bands of red andyellow paint on his broad, dark face. A black wide-brimmed hat, afaded blue shirt and trousers completed his outfit. 

"How?" exclaimed the Indian. 

"Navajo?" answered Buck. 

"Ute!" came the answer. "Where go?"

"Right here, " said Buck good-naturedly, pointing to the ground. 

"Ute land!" retorted the Indian without a trace of expression in hisface. 

"No, " retorted Buck sharply, "not Ute land. Ute land there, "pointing north, "in Colorado. "

"Ute land!" exclaimed the red man again, this time scowling. 

Buck only shook his head. 

Then the Indian suddenly threw himself from his horse, strode to thewagon and threw up the tail curtain. Safely stored therein he sawthe protected tins of gasoline. 

"Whisky?" he exclaimed. 

"No, " laughed Elmer, "not whisky. "

"Whisky, " repeated the stranger turning towards Buck; "drink!"

But Buck shook his head. 

With out another word the Ute walked haughtily to his horse, threwhimself upon it, and, clasping his heels to its sides, rode quicklyaway. 

"I'm sorry, " exclaimed the veteran at last. 

"I had no idea that there were Utes around here. "'

"He doesn't seem dangerous, " commented Elmer. 

"No, " answered Buck, "men who'd cut your throat for a horse neverdo. The chances are he isn't alone. "

Elmer looked up in surprise. 

"We'll just make sure, " exclaimed Buck, making as light of theaffair as possible. "I don't want to lose my horses and you don'twant to lose your freight. We'll make ourselves ready in case ourfriends come back to make us a little visit. "

And as night came on and Elmer helped Buck draw the wagon close tothe river bank, where approach from the rear would be difficult, theboy began to realize what it meant to get away from the telegraphand policemen and law and order. And when the experienced scoutunloaded a portion of their heavier freight and began to build asmall barrier Elmer's usual joviality cooled into silence. Thethree piles of brush and driftwood from the river were laid out somedistance in front of the camp in preparation for the agreed signalfires and then, before the sun went down, the scout and hiscompanion made their camp fire and had supper. 

"What do yo' expec' deyll do?" asked the colored lad at last. 

"Well, you can't tell. Injuns are puzzles. When they steal theysteal in the dark. When they fight they fight at daybreak. "

"What do yo' suggest?"

"To tell the truth, son, " answered Buck, "there ain't much to do butkeep yer eyes open and pop it to the first red horse thief ye seecrawlin' around in the night. "

"Hadn't we better light our signal fires?" asked Elmer. 

"There won't be any signal fires to-night, " replied Buck, slowly, "if you want my advice. It's one thing for a bluffin' Ute to walkup in the daylight when you've got a fair chance to give him as goodas he sends, and its another thing for him to get a bead on you asittin' in the light o' yer camp fire--him in the dark. "

Elmer saw and understood. 

So night fell in silence with Buck and Elmer keyed up and ready tomeet any possible attack. 

Nothing happened until several hours had passed. Neither Elmer norBuck were any the less alert, however. The old scout was pacing upand down in front of the barricade and perhaps a hundred feet fromit. Elmer could just hear his soft footfalls in the sand. Suddenlythese ceased. Almost at the same moment there was the crack ofBuck's rifle, a groan and a moment later the scout was inside thebarricade. 

"I guess I got him all right, " he whispered, "he was makin' too muchnoise. "

This was the shot Ned heard miles away in the Cibola. 

Again for some minutes there was no sound and then, suddenly andfrom the left, came a spit of flame in the dark. Almost beforeElmer heard the explosion Buck's gun had spoken in reply. Bothbullets went wild, but Buck explained that it was necessary to giveshot for shot, "and right at 'em, " said Buck, "as it takes a littleo' the ginger out o' them. "

But the besiegers had undoubtedly widened out. The next signs ofthem were two shots, almost together. Elmer's rifle made quickreply, but, to the boy's surprise, Buck failed to fire in return. The scout had disappeared from his companion's side. Before Elmercould call out he heard a rush at the end of the barricade, and thentwo explosions almost together and not ten feet away. He could notdescribe the sound that followed, but he knew that it meant theconvulsions of human beings in agony. He whispered his companion'sname, but there was no answer--only a gasp. 

In the black darkness the colored boy, revolver in hand, crawledforward. At the end of the barricade Buck's body was lying. As theboy's hand fell on the old man's breast he knew that it was blood hefelt. 

"Buck, " he whispered, "Buck! Is yo' hurt?"

He put his arm under his friend's head. For a moment the unconsciousform yielded and then convulsively straightened. Elmer knew that hiscompanion and protector was dead. 

With strength that he did not know he had Elmer laid Buck's deadbody behind the little wall of freight boxes. 

Then, as if by intuition, he sprang forward and found what hesuspected--the unmoving form of an Indian. Unable to see, Elmerquickly felt over the adjacent ground with his hands and discoveredthe dead Ute's rifle. The revolver was gone. In the same manner herecovered both Buck's rifle and revolver, and then prepared to dohis duty--to protect his employer's goods so long as he could. 

He was scarcely entrenched again, with the three magazine rifleslaid on the barricade before him, when his straining ears heard anew sound. Far away and faint, but meaning only one thing, the softchugging of a motor. The Cibola! There could be no doubt of it. The instant feeling of relief was shattered even as it gave Elmernew courage; to attempt to light the signal fires would probablymean instant death. And without them how would his friends know hisposition or peril? But one thing he could do; and even knowing thatit would mean an answering shot from the skulking horse thieves hedischarged his revolver into the air. 

Then the sound of the motor died away and the long minutes draggedby. When it began again, and more softly, the sound was nearer. Nearer, and nearer it came and then the circle of light fell on thewagon and was gone. "At least they know where I am, " thought Elmerto himself, and settled down courageously for renewed attack, determined to hold out to the last. At this moment came the shotthat put out the Cibola's light. 

The nervy boy had been tempted to abandon the wagon and follow thelight, but his second judgment was against this. "If they can, theboys will come back, " he argued, "and I'll only get out of this whenI have to. "

To Elmer's surprise the attackers had been strangely silent for sometime. With more experience he would have known that this meant evengreater danger, but he only hoped it was due to the distracting andmysterious flying light. Then the sepulchral green light burst outin its funnel-like volume. It was coming back. It flared, wentout, shot over the distant sands again like a searching' eye andthen began moving straight up the river bank towards the wagon. Then came the earth rending explosion. Nor could the besieged boyknow even then that Ned's well-aimed bomb had sent five Utes totheir last sleep. 

When the sound of the explosion had died away and Elmer hadrecovered himself--for the shock had thrown him forward on thebarricade--the whirr of the Cibola's motor was again far away. Butit was directly above him!

As if the attackers had been paralyzed by the explosion, the longinterval continued without a shot. Then suddenly, from the rightand left and front, the real attack began. One shot sounded as asignal, and then from a half circle before him half a dozen bulletstore their way towards the boy and his barricade. Most of them wentwild. Two hit the boxes and half stunned the lone guardian behindthem. The assailants did not know that one of the two white men wasdead, and Elmer, in hopes temporarily to deceive them, fired two ofthe rifles at the same moment. 

But his enemies were closing in; the half circle was growing smallerand the crash of the bullets in the wagon above him and in thebarricade in front told the boy that the end could not be far away. To the right in the direction of the explosion there was a gap inthe fast closing circle. It was folly to delay longer. If escapewere possible, it was in that direction. He would make onedesperate attempt. One shot remained in his rifles. Putting itwhere he thought it would do the most good, and catching up the twoyet full revolvers, the colored boy crawled under the wagon andcrept hastily along the river bank. 

And yet he did not dare to attempt to pass the end of the Indiansemi-circle. It was one chance in a thousand. Throwing himself onthe ground, he waited. "Crack!" It was the rifle of an Indian, notfifty feet away and coming nearer. The stealthy footfalls toldElmer that his foe was heading straight for the river bank and thathe was in the Ute's path. Then he could hear the Indian's deepbreathing. Detection was inevitable. 

One last thing remained to be done--to kill the Indian and make adash forward down the river bank. And he must act before his foediscovered him. Elmer's revolver flashed fire and he saw his foe ofthe red and yellow face bound into the air and then topple forwardwith a cry of anguish. 

The boy turned, but too late. Directly in front he heard the suddenshouts of other Indians. The river at his back! Flight down itscement-like bank was impossible. He might plunge forward and praythat the water was beneath. 

The death cry of the man he had shot and the echoing yells of theIndians behind him had been taken up by others. He knew thedetermined savages were making a final rush. Indian cries seemed tocome from the very ground at his feet. He hesitated no lodger. 

As he turned to the river a sudden and strange wave of cool airstruck down on him from above. Without reasoning he paused. Thatpause saved his life. In that swift moment he heard the low creakof something straining. His eyes pierced the black about him. Wasit a shadow? Something was brushing by him like a great bird asleepon the wing. Then it was on him. 

"Ned?" It was only a whisper but it was enough. 

"Elmer, here, quick!"

Even the whisper had brought an instant shot, but the colored boyhad hurled himself toward the voice and an instant later a strongyoung arm was about the besieged lad. 

It was Ned Napier on the swaying ladder of the Cibola. 

"Cut away, " came the low quick order and before even the nearbybesiegers could locate the sound Bob Russell, high above, hadslashed the lashings of a bag of ballast. The big balloon sprangforward, Elmer dangling in the air, and then settled again to theearth as the desperate colored boy found the last rung of the ladderand clung fast opposite his rescuer. 

"Another, another, " called Ned springing up the fragile length ofthe doubly laden ladder. 

A thud on the ground told where another bag of ballast had fallen. The crash of the fallen fifty-pound bag of sand probably saved theCibola. Shot after shot poured in the direction of the sound, although the Cibola, dragging forward, yet refused to rise. Elmer, at the bottom of the ladder, was helping the car onward in lowbounds by touching the ground with one foot. 

Then the air craft settled again. Elmer's weight was too much. Amad thought came into the boy's brain. The Indians had located thenew invader and yells nearby told that hot pursuit was already beingmade. Then the spit, spit, of new shots showed the risk the boyshad taken. Elmer realized it. Should he hang on and endanger thelives of his friends, or should he let go?

There seemed no time to think, but the boy's hand had alreadyloosened when out of the black came the hot breath of the foremostpursuer. As the savage sprang forward Elmer's free arm gave him ablow full in the face. At the same instant the Cibola sprang upwardlike a bullet. A volley of shots rang out below, but they were toolate. The balloon had saved Elmer's life, and even before the ladhad made his way up the swaying ladder into the cabin it was athousand feet in the air. 

CHATER XXIII

CAMP EAGLE IN THE MOUNTAINS

It seemed too wonderful to be true. But words were proof enoughthat Ned Napier and Alan Hope had found a new use for dirigibleballoons. Faithful Buck's death was more than the loss of acompanion. In the short time the boys had known him he had shownthat under his rough frontier bearing he was a brave and honest man. 

"We can't go back now, " explained Ned, "and we can't afford to landand wait for day. We can't all stay in the Cibola, and those of uswho are landed must be left in a safe place. Our work, " hecontinued turning to Bob, "is in the Tunit Chas Mountains, thirtymiles west of here. It seems as if you had to know it. We'll gothere to-night and land, if we can, on some isolated and inaccessibleplateau. We'll make that our new relief camp and you and Elmer musttake charge of it. To-morrow Alan and I will return in the Cibola toour abandoned wagon, bury Buck and bring away such of our stores asmay be left. It's going to be a great loss, for I suppose theIndians have stolen everything. If the gasoline is gone it will cutshort our work in the mountains. "

"I don't think it will be lost, " said Elmer, quietly. "We tried tosave it. We rolled it into the river. "

"But it will float away, " exclaimed Alan. 

"Unless de tins caught on in de drift in de bend jes' below, "answered Elmer. "I seen four ob de eight tins dar befo' dark. "

"That's what I call genius, " exclaimed Ned. "Elmer, you're a brick!And now our course is due east at half speed. By daybreak we'll beover the Tunit Chas. Until then, the rest of you turn in. I'll runthe ship. "

Fifteen minutes later, despite the nerve-racking experiences of themomentous day, Alan, Bob and Elmer were wrapped in their blanketsand sound asleep on the bridge deck of the Cibola. 

The night passed slowly, but Captain Ned stood the long trick at thewheel, happy and content. To feel the Cibola, the product of hisyouthful genius, at last moving forward in obedience to hisslightest touch drove all thought of fatigue and sleep from him. 

But, above all, the early light of the coming day was to reveal tohim a sight of the land of his hopes. There, before him, were theTunit Chas; peaks and chasms of unsolved mystery wherein thecenturies had held close their secret. Many trials had blocked hisway. Was he now about to reap the reward of his labors? Did thehidden city of Cibola lie somewhere below him? Or were the Palaceof the Pueblos and the Turquoise Temple but empty myths?

The young aeronaut's present plans were simple enough. The Cibolahad now been afloat twelve hours and nearly half her gasoline wasexhausted. More than once in the night Ned had noticed that theballoon was settling lower and he had been forced to maintain hislevel by casting over ballast. It was apparent that they werealready losing gas. 

In boyish impulse and sympathy they had made Bob Russell, the youngreporter, a third and unexpected passenger, and accident had forcedthem to add Elmer Grissom, their colored friend and servant. Andthese extra occupants of the car must be landed at the earliestopportunity. 

This became imperative now because, the relief and supply station onthe Chusco river having been destroyed, the Cibola must add enoughballast and gasoline to make its exploring tour in the mountains inone journey. The original plan had been to make quick dashes tothe camp on the Chusco for gasoline and then return to themountains. To provide for this new weight the two new passengersand a good portion of the air ship's stores must be landed. And themost feasible plan seemed to be to set up a new emergency camp inthe heart of the mountains. 

Many things might happen to the now perfectly working balloon. And, even if cast away in the mountains, it was no part of Ned and Alan'splan to cease searching for the temple of treasure until direnecessity drove them from it. In case wreck and privation came itwould be comforting to know that somewhere in the same wildernessfood and friends awaited them. 

The first glow of the sun painted for the ever watchful pilot apicture beyond the possibilities of brush and canvas. Here andthere out of the blackness below sprang rosy points, the sun-tintedpeaks of the Tunit Chas. Down the mountain sides, like rivers ofsilver pink, fell the sun's light. Then the valleys began to openout of the chasm of night-dark canyons wrought in the wilderness ofthe mountain sides. Here and there, oases left by the devastatinghand of time, rose high plateaus, tree-crowned and verdant. Andthen, higher up among the white peaks, sentinel-like, stood gianttables whose brown tops and precipitous sides told of inaccessibleand arid wastes. "And somewhere, " said Ned to himself, "in thisTitanic chaos lies the object of our search. "

Starting at half speed, Ned had soon reduced the engine to quarterspeed. When he aroused his sleeping companions Wilson's peak, theirchief landmark, was just in sight far behind. His calculationsplaced the present location of the Cibola thirty miles from theChusco river and just over the eastern Tunit Chas Mountains. 

"All hands turn to, " shouted Ned cheerily, "and stand by to make alanding. "

There was a scramble, a rubbing of yet sleepy eyes and then anoutburst of admiring wonder. The Cibola had sailed over two brokenridges enclosing an irregular, broken valley and was now lookingdown on a shelf-like plateau abutting on the second ridge and westof it. On three sides the plateau dropped precipitately into alower rock-strewn, valley. On its eastern side it joined the stillhigher ridge. A pine forest crowned the top of the shelf-likemountain side and then ran up to the higher slopes until the carpetof green faded into the brown wastes of the timber line. In thevery center of the wilderness of trees glistened a little lake ofmountain water. From it the silver thread of a rivulet wormed itsway for a mile or more among the trees and then trickled over theside of the cliff in a vapory waterfall. 

Ned had swung the Cibola into a wide curve and the balloon and carwere soon directly over the mountain creek. He threw the aeroplaneguides downward and the slowly moving car drifted lower until it wasbut four hundred feet above the water and the overhanging pines. Then, following the water course beneath, the air ship floated backinto the woods and the little lake widened out beneath them. Twodeer, at the water's edge, stood unalarmed. On the south of thelake a grassy opening indicated Ned's destination. 

"Here, " he explained, "we can make a safe landing. It is an idealplace for a camp, with plenty of firewood and water. "

"And meat, too, " interrupted Alan, pointing to the deer. 

"Venison and bear meat too, no doubt, " laughed Ned. 

From the top of a dead pine tree an eagle rose and soared lazilyaway. 

"It's like the camping out places you read about, " exclaimed Bob. "That eagle nest completes the picture. "

"It does, " interrupted Ned, "and I hope you won't forget thepicture. That high, barren tree is your landmark. Some day you mayneed it. Remember; from the valley below your camp can be found bylocating the little waterfall on the cliff. From the timber lineabove you will know it when you see the eagle's nest. And now letgo the anchor. We have no gas to spare, and can't afford to openthe valve. "

To make a landing in a balloon without throwing open a valve andwasting precious gas is almost impossible. The craft could only bekept near the ground by keeping it in motion or by causing thepropeller fans to depress currents of air on the aeroplanes. Therefore, as soon as the engine stopped, the Cibola would mounthigher. But resourceful Ned had long since thought out thisproblem. 

The engine's speed was reduced and the anchor was quickly lowereduntil it caught hard and fast in a strong pine tree. The contactshook the fragile car and sent the bag bounding, but when it wasseen that the iron had fixed itself firmly three of the boys, pulling on the anchor rope, gradually drew the great buoyant cardown until it floated just above the tree top. To drag it lowerwas, impossible, for one sharp branch might injure the bag beyondrepair. 

When the ship was safely anchored just above the tree, thetwenty-five foot landing ladder was lowered and Ned himself made hisway down its fragile rungs into the tree. . 

"Hold on tight, " he continued, "I'm getting off. "

As he did so and found footing in the tree branches the Cibolatugged to free itself, as if, overjoyed to be rid of Ned's onehundred and forty-five pounds of weight. As soon as the youngcommander was safely on the ground he ordered the other boys to payout the anchor rope and again the Cibola rose in the air. 

"Now, " ordered Ned, "start your engine and head the car over theopening. "

While Ned stood below directing, with hands to his mouth, trumpet-wise, the Cibola strained at her anchor rope and then, obeying her rudder, moved directly over the open space, her nosepointing skyward at an angle of forty-five degrees. 

"Hold her, " yelled Ned, "and haul back. "

The boys again strained at the taut anchor rope until the car stoodjust clear of the trees and some two hundred feet in the air. 

"Now lower your drag rope and an empty ballast bag, " called Ned. 

While this was being done the navigator of the Cibola was busycarrying chunks of broken rock from the margin of the little lake, and in a short time the boys above were hauling away on the rope andlifting aboard new ballast. With each bag of it the Cibola sanklower and lower, until finally, when it was almost balanced in theair, Ned easily drew the balloon to the ground. 

But the landing was not yet finished. Not a passenger in the craftcould step ashore until Ned had added more stone. But when enoughof this had been lifted up to the hands above, and Elmer couldalight, the two willing workers on the ground soon made it possiblefor the other boys to spring overboard. Then the four of themloaded enough more rock on the bridge to take the place of thestores to be landed. 

There were not many things that could be left: water, and half theprovisions and, preserved goods; a few cooking utensils; blankets, an extra compass, two revolvers, a hatchet and saw; a light silktent; matches and candles, a medicine case, ammunition, and, to makeway for the gasoline that it was hoped might be recovered, all theextra oil on board--for the reservoirs yet contained an ample supplyto make the trip back to the scene of Elmer's attack. 

At a safe distance from the balloon Elmer had returned to hisfavorite occupation. He got a fire going and while the other boysreplaced the rocks on board with bags of sand from the margin of thelake the colored lad made hot coffee and broiled some bacon. It wasa luxury after the cold, dry food of the long night. 

"When you come back this evening, " exclaimed Bob jovially, "I'll tryto have a juicy venison steak. "

"An' hot biscuits, " chimed in Elmer. 

"And a good bed of balsam boughs, " added Bob, "and a fine camp fire, and we can sit wound it and talk it all over. "

"And if we don't get back to-night you'd better have your camp fireanyway, " said Ned, "Ain't you goin' to git back to-night?" ruefully interrupted Elmer, as he poured the smoking coffee. 

"You never know what you are going to do in a balloon, " answered Ned. "If we can we will. If we can't we won't. If we are not backto-night we may not be here for several days. We've got work aheadnow, and plenty of it. "

"We'll be here when you come, " replied Bob earnestly, with a smokingbit of bacon in his fingers, "whenever that is. "

"No, " replied Ned, "if we are not here in six days you must makeyour way out to civilization. You have food enough but you can'twait longer than that. As for directions, all I can say is thatfrom this ridge back of us you can see across the half desert valleyto the higher range of mountains. Should you cross the valleybearing almost due east and be able to get over or through thatsecond ridge you will be able to see the top of Mount Wilson, thirtymiles further east. From Mount Wilson it is fifteen miles southeastto the camp Elmer made. There you should pick up the trail ofBuck's wagon back to the railroad eighty-five miles south. "

Bob's eyes opened. 

"Is it as bad as that?" he said half laughing. "We'll certainlyhave to get busy if the Cibola breaks down. "

"Or, " went on Ned, "any strewn in the valley below here flowsfinally into the San Juan River to the north. If you can make yourway to this river and then succeed in following its banks eastwarduntil you reach the plains, some time or other you'll find afrontier settlement. "

"Or Utes, " interrupted Alan. 

"Gib me de mountain road, " exclaimed Elmer quickly. "Nomo'Utesfo'me!"

"Yes, " added Ned, "that's the trouble. The route to the San Juan isnot only through a barren, broken mountain region, but it gets youfinally right into the Southern Ute reservation. And, remember, too, that this is Navajo land. Your safety with them, should you bediscovered, will be in diplomacy. And now good-bye--until we meetagain. "

"And if we don't, " replied Bob, huskily, taking the hands of the twoboys in turn, "I just want to say again that you boys have done forme what I can't forget and what I can't repay. I don't know why youare here, and I don't want to know. What I've seen will never berevealed, when I get back to Kansas City and the Comet, until youtell me I am free to tell it. And you'd know what that means to meif you knew what a cracking good yarn my experience has given mealready. Good-bye and good luck!"

Ned and Alan clambered aboard; the rocks were cast overboard, and asthe Cibola shot skyward the boys could hear Elmer calling:

"Member, boys--we all'll be at Camp Eagle an' supper will beawaitin'. "

CHAPTER XXIV

A GRAVE IN THE DESERT

But Ned and Alan did not eat with their friends that night, nor forsome days to come. And when they saw each other again one ofElmer's juicy venison steaks would have seemed to all of them thesweetest morsel ever eaten by man. 

Ned only waited to help inflate the balloonet in the big balloonwith the little hand blower for the Cibola showed quite perceptiblythe loss of gas after her twenty hours of inflation. Then, thecourse having been laid, he left the wheel and engine to Alan's careand turned in for his long needed rest. 

Alan had determined on a record flight. He allowed the Cibola torise higher than it had yet flown, about 5, 000 feet, and thensetting the aeroplanes on a slight incline he headed the car on adown slant for Mount Wilson's just visible peak, thirty miles away. 

There was no economy in half speed, for time and the utilization oftheir gas were more precious than gasoline. "We can always floatwithout gasoline, " the boys had said to themselves, "but we can'tmove without gas. " Therefore the Cibola was soon at its maximum andthe enthusiastic Alan knew that Ned would have a short sleep. 

In an hour and twenty-one minutes the swift dirigible was abreast ofthe peak of Mount Wilson, and then, without slackening speed, Alanaltered her course southeast toward the scene of the previousnight's hair-raising experience. Long before he reached the placehe was able to make the juncture of the two rivers his landmark, andthe ship pointed her course as straight as a railroad train. Afterthirty minutes sailing from Mount Wilson, Buck's rendezvous could bemade out, three miles beyond. 

One glance told the whole sad story. Two dead horses alone markedthe spot where their freight wagon had stood. Alan aroused Ned, andas the Cibola sailed low over the place the boys saw that thethieving Utes had gone--with the wagon, horses, freight and theirdead companions. 

Poor Buck's body was lying where the brave escort had fallen. 

"We can't make two landings, " suggested Ned. "We'll find thegasoline and then come back and bury our friend. "

Disappointed, although they had really in their hearts expectednothing less, the young navigators turned the Cibola and sailedslowly down the river in the hope that the gasoline would be foundwhere Elmer had described it as lying. 

They were as richly rewarded here as they had been previouslydisappointed. The drift, a tangled jumble of small mountain wood, had caught and preserved seven of their eight tins of gasoline. 

It was now noon, and broiling hot, but luncheon was not thought ofand the difficult work of recovering the heavy packages was begun. This presented a new difficulty, for again the boys were determinednot to lose any gas in making a landing. 

The drift was too light to hold their anchor although two trials atthis were made. Not a bush or tree was to be found nearby. Indespair at last, Alan was about to suggest opening the valve--for itwas imperative that they secure the gasoline--when Ned turned thebow of the craft down stream. 

"Perhaps we can find anchorage further down, " he explained. 

"But if will be pretty hard work carrying these tins, " Alan began. 

"They floated where they are, didn't they?" smiled Ned. "What's thematter with letting them float a little further?"

His hope was realized. But the solution was fully a mile away. Ona sandy bar, half buried in the sand, the stout end of a cottonwoodtrunk, the flotsam of some extraordinary freshet, had come intoview. The experience of the morning was repeated, but on a smallerscale, for here were no dangerous tree limbs to threaten theirdelicate silken bag. After two trials and much pulling and haulingthe car of the Cibola was tied fast to the snag, half over theshallow water and half over the sand. 

Then, naked as when they were born, and suffering not a little fromthe pitiless sun, the boys started afresh. Alan made his way backup the river and began to prod out the stranded tin casks. All weresoon bobbing along in the slow current, with Alan behind them like alumber driver of the northwest dislodging logs left in the shallows. Ned below soon had all of them in shallow water. 

By means of a coil of the drag rope, looped in turn about the tinsof recovered fuel, Ned lifting below and Alan pulling above soontransferred the gasoline to the bobbing Cibola. As each caskascended, a portion of the extra ballast was dumped overboard. 

Then, dressing themselves and improvising what tools they could, theboys made their way sorrowfully to the scene of the previous night'stragedy. Buck's body was carefully removed and decently buried. Amound of boulders was made over the grave to designate the spot, andwith the hope that some day they might return and suitably mark thedesert tomb the boys took a mournful farewell. 

CHAPTER XXV

BARTERING STORES A MILE IN THE AIR

"And now, " said Alan, "it's ho, for Camp Eagle and our search atlast. "

"I don't know about all that sentiment, " answered Ned, thoughtfully. "I've been--"

But he was interrupted. The boys, aboard the Cibola again, werejust about to cast off when Alan cut short Ned's remark with anexclamation. 

"Isn't that a balloon?" he exclaimed pointing to an orange-likeobject high in the heavens toward the west. 

Ned caught up the binoculars and had a quick look at the rapidlymoving ball which was rushing toward them from over the distantTunit Chas Mountains. 

"No question about it, " answered Ned, handing Alan the glasses; "aballoon, and a big one. "

"And out here, too!" commented Alan in surprise. "I guess the worldis pretty small after all. "

"Everything ready?" asked Ned eagerly. And then as the retainingrope was untied from the frame of the car and slipped down and outfrom under the cottonwood snag the Cibola shot upward. 

"I have an idea, " continued Ned, "and please don't object until youthink it over. Let's make a little social call on the stranger!"

"A call!" exclaimed Alan, plainly showing his astonishment; "a callon a balloon five thousand feet in the air?"

"Certainly. We are going that high anyway. And we have the meansof going where we like. If we go up until we strike the same, stratum of air the stranger is moving in we have our propeller andaeroplanes to check and guide ourselves. When it passes we caneasily run alongside!"

"Well, if that isn't the limit!" laughed Alan. "And I suppose we'llexchange greetings and messages like ships long at sea. "

"And, " added Ned, "we can send some word to Major Honeywell. Youcan see our fast flying friend isn't going to stop around here. "

The Cibola was rising fast and the two air craft were coming closerand closer. As the dirigible reached the altitude at which the freeballoon was sailing Ned put the aeroplane in operation, stopped theascent of the Cibola and then, sweeping his own car into the samedirection with the other balloon he reversed the propeller and heldhis own craft against the breeze until the stranger swept by. 

Then, throwing on the propeller again at full speed, Ned made theCibola bound after the other craft, and in a few minutes, aided bythe favoring wind, they were within hailing distance. 

Ned was on the bridge, his face flushed with the novelty of therace. A mile above the earth, the two air ships came closer until, as if running on parallel tracks, they were nearly together andabreast. 

"Balloon ahoy!" exclaimed Ned at last and in true maritime style. 

"The Arrow of Los Angeles, bound across the continent, " came thesharp answer. 

"The Cibola from Clarkeville, New Mexico, " called Ned in reply, "exploring. Please report us over Mount Wilson. "

Then the two ships of the sky came closer. The boys could see thatthe Arrow was well equipped for its purpose. Two determined lookingaeronauts were leaning from the heavily laden car. 

"Need anything?" shouted the Arrow cordially. 

"In good shape, " answered Ned, "but a little short on provisions. "

"Plenty here, " came quickly from the Arrow, "glad to exchangefifty-pound emergency rations for ballast. "

"All right, " responded Ned, "stand by to make a line fast. "

Alan, at the engine, brought the air ship up as skillfully as apilot might a vessel, and as the two cars almost touched Ned passedthe end of his drag rope, and the occupants of the Arrow with aquick turn made her basket fast to the bridge of the Cibola. Therewere handshakes, mutual congratulations and quick explanations. TheArrow, the property of a wealthy amateur balloonist, was attemptingto sail, from the Pacific to the Atlantic and was, so far, beatingthe best calculation of her owner. In reaching the desired heightthat morning, however, much ballast had been used and thepossibility of a renewed supply was jumped at. 

"These extra provisions were packed with the idea of possibly usingthem as ballast and we don't really need them. And, so, " theyexplained to the boys, "if you do you had better take them and giveus sand. "

The exchange was quickly made, and then, having stored their newfood supply safely on the bridge, they said hasty farewells. 

Ned had scribbled this note on a page from his note book: "MajorBaldwin Honeywell, Annex, Chicago. By courtesy of Balloon Arrow. Bourke, escort, killed by Indians. Search begins at once. Campestablished on plateau, second range Tunit Chas Mountains, thirtymiles due east Wilson's Peak. Greetings. Written 5, 600 feet aboveSan Juan River, New Mexico. Ned Napier and Alan Hope. "

The case of provisions weighed a trifle more than the ballast givenin exchange, and as the line holding the two cars together was castoff the Cibola sank slowly below the level of the Arrow. Then, asthe Cibola's engines began to push the car ahead in a wide turningcircle, Ned called up to the disappearing Arrow:

"Great country, this New Mexico, where you can buy food with sand. Good-bye and success to you!"

The answer was lost in space as the ships parted. 

"And now, " said Ned, after lashing the now case of provisions to thebridge netting, "we've wasted some more precious time. Do you stillthink we had better lose a night at Camp Eagle? We have all thefuel we can carry. "

Alan saw what was in the wind. 

"We have extra provisions, water and gasoline. My own judgment iswe had better make at once for our starting point. "

"I guess you are right, " answered Alan after long thought; "I don'tknow what is to be gained by the trouble of a landing at the camp bythe lake. "

"Nothing but that hot supper, " smiled Ned, "and we'll have to putthat off a few days, I think. "

"All right, " agreed Alan, "set your course and with luck we'll do alittle treasure hunting before dark. "

This being settled, the prow of the Cibola was pointed a little westof northwest, and, dropping to a lower stratum to escape the livelyeastern breeze at the higher altitude, the boys started at lastdirectly for the and arid broken mountains of Northwestern Arizona. 

This region, bordering on the great sand dunes lying beyond theChelly River, was to be the beginning point of their arduous andmomentous search. From that place to a point nearly one hundredmiles to the southeast lay the secret fastnesses of mountain, canyonand mesa wherein, somewhere, according to the Spanish soldier'srecord, was the secret city of a dead race and the treasure that hadbrought Ned and Alan half way across a continent. 

What such a search meant one glance at the monotonous and unendingrock easily told. On foot, only the compass could lead a manforward in such wilderness of abrupt heights and winding chasms. Asthe boys meant to manage it, the attempt had possibilities, but itmight mean days of drifting, of watching, of doubling back and forthover every possible site. And that was now their task. 

So far as they could, Ned and Alan meant to begin at the extremenorthern end of this unknown land and, sailing back and forth fromeast to west, cover every foot of exposed ground with their powerfulglasses. 

Both boys had long since agreed in this conclusion: the "city" meantno more than one large structure similar to but on a larger scalethan those found in the Chaco Canyon at the extreme southern end ofthe Tunit Chas Mountains. This would be indicated now by nothingmore than rectangular lines of wall stones, probably in piles, outlining the shape of the "city" or palace. Prominent among theseruins should be the more elevated temple, the object of theirsearch. And beneath this should be found the underground "khivas"or religious chambers. 

That this "city" was secret or hidden was proof to Ned and Alan andMajor Honeywell that it would not occupy a prominent place such asan exposed plateau or a high level mesa. Only one other locationwas left, the abutting shelf of some canyon. And the youngnavigators had pictured to themselves that, if this should prove tobe the location, the shelf would be so elevated as not to be visiblefrom the front or below and that it would be concealed from above byan extended and overhanging cliff. 

"Look for it as you would look for a bird's nest in the cliff, "suggested Ned. And that was the plan of search. 

It was nearly three o'clock when the boys had bade farewell to theArrow and about half past five when the Cibola sailed over thesecond ridge of the Tunit Chas. But the course was far to the northand there was naturally no sign of the waterfall plateau or CampEagle. For a time they thought of passing over the camp anddropping a message, but this pleasant idea was given up. 

"Although, " as Alan expressed it, "one of Elmer's hot suppers and asoft bed of balsam boughs to-night wouldn't be bad. "

Ned thought of the four nights of hard floor and agreed, but hesaid:

"You'll have to forget soft beds if we're ever going to find Cibola. We'll come down to-night, though, and make a camp of our own with afire and a pot of coffee, and at daybreak we'll be off. "

The boys had taken a light luncheon just after starting on thereturn trip, and now, soaring over the Tunit Chas again, they beganto be anxious for night and supper. 

At seven o'clock the peaks and ridges below them had begun to dropinto foothills and as the great sandy deserts of distant Utah andnearer by Arizona came before their eyes the boys decided that itwas time to anchor for the night. They were sailing over theeastern slope of the last low ranges of hills, barren of trees orvegetation. The aeroplanes being given the proper depression, theCibola shot earthward and then, the propeller coming to a pause, floated gently along above the jumble of rocks. Making fast theanchor in a ragged pile of these the boys soon drew the Cibola tothe ground and lashed her fore and aft to heavy boulders. 

The firm ground felt delicious to the tired boys and they refreshedthemselves with a brisk race over the open space between the rockpiles. Then came Alan's camp fire, a hot supper and preparationsfor a good night's rest. There were no pine needles of balsamboughs, but fatigue made a fine mattress, and it was not long beforethe tired boys, rolled up in their blankets, were fast asleep on thesoft sand. 

"I hope, " said Ned drowsily as they were dropping off to sleep, "that we won't have any Jack Jellups or thieving Utes to-night. Mynerves need rest. "

Then the boys got eight good hours of health and strength givingsleep in the tonic air of the Arizona Mountains. 

CHAPTER XXVI

THE SECRET TUNNEL IN THE MESA

At five o'clock Ned and Alan were astir. With regrets that theywere not at Camp Eagle for a plunge in the cool mountain lake, theyprepared another hot meal, ate it, and boarded the Cibola. 

The balloon had now been inflated thirty-eight hours and wasnoticeably showing the loss of its gas. While the top of the bagwas yet round and firm in the heat of the sun the lower sides hadbecome a trifle flabby as the cool evening had come on. Up to thistime all records for balloon flight had been broken a fact due tothe renewed buoyancy caused each day by the hot, Southwestern Sun. And, exploration in and quick ascent from the canyons before themwould before long call for the use of ballast. The boys agreed thatthe time had arrived to utilize their liquid hydrogen. Theshrinkage that night had been quite perceptible. 

They regretted that but two-thirds of this remained--about elevencubic feet. This when reconverted meant nearly twelve thousandcubic feet of new gas at their present altitude. As the work ofconverting the gas involved care, preparation for it was made beforethe Cibola was cut loose. 

The reconverter, a reduced inversion of the apparatus used in makingliquid air, was made ready. When the muffled explosions and theheat of the tubes told the boys that the reconverter was workingperfectly and pumping new and needed gas into the shrunken Cibola'slong bag, the lashings were loosed and once more the faithfuldirigible mounted skyward. 

With Major Honeywell's map of the region spread out on the deck ofthe bridge and the binoculars in hand Ned began the long anticipatedsearch for the lost city. 

All day the process of turning the liquid hydrogen back into buoyantgas went on. And all day the Cibola wound her devious course overthe peaks and chasms beneath. By night half the hydrogen jars wereempty and Ned and Alan saw the evening close in on them without asign of the object of their search. When darkness stopped furtherwork the balloon was brought to earth and camp made again. 

The following day, as uneventful as the first, gave no indication ofthe secret city. The rest of the liquid hydrogen was transformedinto gas. The sun seemed to enfold the craft in a fiery embrace. When camp was made again that night the Cibola had been afloateighty hours. 

"I think she is good for another forty-eight hours, " said Ned thatnight. "If we find nothing in two more days we'll have our choiceof going out on foot or of quitting in time to pick up Elmer and Boband make a dash to civilization. What do you say?"

"I don't know, " replied Alan, "I'd hate to give up as long as we canfly. I think the boys can care for themselves. Let's stick to it. We have provisions and there is water in some places. "

"Well, " answered Ned, "we'll have two more days time in which todecide. "

The next morning the Cibola showed plainly that her gas was rapidlyescaping. New life was given to the balloon by casting overboardsome empty hydrogen casks. The fourth day broke hotter than ever. In all the wilderness examined by the tired and strained eyes of thesearchers, not a human being had been seen--not even a wanderingNavajo. This day they began the search with renewed vigor, but withthe same monotonous result--miles of hopelessly desert rock and sandbeneath them, with a little vegetation now and then, but so sign ofIndian remains. 

At noon Ned said:

"If we were not in a balloon with a compass and sextant I should saywe were lost. And if Indians ever lived and died hereabouts theycertainly left so signs of their bones. "

By six O'clock, with the sun gratefully low, Alan expresseddiscouragement. 

"To-morrow at this time, " he said, "if we see no indication of theold palace or city or whatever it was--if it ever was--I think I'llvote to try to find Camp Eagle and get out. "

"We'll see to-morrow, " answered Ned stoutly. 

That night at dark, a landing was made on the ledge of a point ofland ending in a rounded cliff pointing south, selected because theplace was open to the breeze and cool. The Cibola had approachedthe height from the west, and the boys believed that the promontoryprojected from yet higher ground beyond. On those portions of thecliff that they could see there was neither shelf nor projection ofany kind. The walls rose almost like cut stone and were apparentlyabout three hundred feet high. As the Cibola was about to descend, Alan, who was taking a last survey from the bridge, called Ned'sattention to the fact that even the far side of the supposedpromontory was separated from the mountains beyond, and that a chasmat least a half mile wide separated the two heights. 

"It's a mesa, " replied Ned with renewed enthusiasm, "and it will bea good thing to look over it to-morrow. These high and almostunapproachable islands of rock were favorite dwelling places for theIndians. "

"But a temple up here wouldn't be a secret very long, " replied Alan. "We've seen this point all afternoon. It's prominent enough. "

"That's so, " answered Ned, "but we are here, so let's make a landingand eat, and dream over it. "

The balloon had now lost so much gas that a landing was easy, and, tired with four days' profitless search and its strain, the youngaeronauts were soon beyond even dreams. 

It was with no small alarm that the boys saw, when they awoke withthe first rays of the sun, that the car of the Cibola, which hadbeen anchored fore and aft to heaped up rocks during the night, wasnow resting on the ground. Gas, was rapidly escaping. But fortunatelythe aeroplanes and propeller had been left properly in a horizontalposition and no damage had been done. 

The boys knew that by throwing over enough ballast and stores theCibola could be made good for one more flight, but that probably itwould be the last. Therefore, the inevitable seemed forced uponthem. They would fortify themselves with a good breakfast, lookover the mesa, make one more circling flight and then attempt tofind Camp Eagle. While Alan made haste to prepare breakfast, Neddetermined first on an examination of the mesa point by daylight. 

The rock had a top area of perhaps forty or fifty acres. It had arolling surface and was coated with a carpet of dusty sand, exceptin the northwest corner. The northern end of the mesa, Ned couldsee, widened and ended in a sharp rise almost wall-like in form. Atthe western end this wall-like elevation turned the corner andextended south a short distance, finally dropping down to thegeneral level of the mesa. In this protected comer grew a strangegrove of gnarled and twisted pines, ill nourished and apparentlyvery old. Between this comer of the mesa and the sharper promontorywhereon the Cibola had come to anchor, was a wide, sandy, barrendepression. 

The narrow portion of the rocky island where the boys had made campdrew in abruptly to make the point that marked the southern end ofthe mesa. Ned turned first toward the point. 

When he had advanced, making his way slightly upward all the time, to where the narrow mesa was not over four hundred feet wide, thelad was astounded to suddenly discover a deep and narrow fissure orchasm. It was dark, with sides as abrupt as the cliffs of the mesa, and too wide to jump across. A cold air was already rising from theopening into the warmer atmosphere above. 

In his astonishment Ned called to his chum. 

"What surprises me, " exclaimed Ned, "is the character of theopening. If it extended from cliff to cliff I should say that thesame freak of nature that made this solitary island of rock alsosplit off this end at some time. But it is closed at each end. "

Alan hastened to the end of the fissure, near the side of the mesa. 

"It looks to me, " he said, "as if it had extended entirely across atsome time and the ends walled up later. "

The boys made a closer examination. 

"You're right, " said Ned when he discovered that each end of therift had been filled with closely fitted rock, "and human hands didit. "

Alan sprang up in excitement. 

"That's the first sign we've had, " he exclaimed. "Do you suppose itmeans anything?"

The edge of the cliff was so abrupt that the boys had to lie down tolook over in safety. 

"It does, " Ned answered. "The reason you can't see that chasm frombelow or from in front is because the face of it is walled up. Andit is walled so skillfully that you can't detect it from even ashort distance. "

"That's to hide something, " quickly replied Alan, "but I don't see--"

Ned was standing on top of the short filled-in portion of the chasm. 

"Look!" he exclaimed, suddenly interrupting his friend. "Thesestones are steps, and, they are worn!"

CHAPTER XXVII

THE TURQUOISE TEMPLE DISCOVERED

In another moment he had sprung forward and was quickly descendinginto the narrow, dark pit, with Alan close behind. A cave-likesmell and a rapidly, cooling air greeted them. They were soon inalmost complete darkness. When the walls had narrowed to but a fewfeet, a thin ribbon of blue sky was all that could be seen above. 

The steps had come to an end. An ascending elevation began just infront of them. This they made out by the light of a match, whichflickered uncertainly in the bad air. Bats dashed against the wallsand every movement was followed by a cloud of dust. 

"Do you feel anything?" suddenly exclaimed Alan. "Seems to me likea current of air on my feet. "

Ned lit another match. 

Before them they again made out an ascending slant such as they hadcome down. But the base of it was hollowed out in the form of asmall cave. As the light went out both boys stooped to look furtherinto this opening. 

"Light!" they exclaimed almost together. 

They were looking through a tunnel made, as they afterward found, inthe base of the filled-in portion of the chasm. Reptiles, bats anddust were forgotten now. Plunging forward on their hands and knees, the two boys advanced without difficulty to the distant mouth of thetunnel. 

It ended abruptly in the face of the mesa cliff, one hundred feetabove the valley below. There was not the slightest ledge below itand the side of the mesa dropped so precipitately that access to thetunnel mouth from without seemed impossible. The possibility of aclimb to that entrance to reach the mesa above was out of thequestion. 

The boys, panting for breath, lay on the floor of the tunnel withtheir heads just out of the opening. 

"Some one has used this place, but how did they ever get up here?"asked Alan. 

"I don't know and I don't care, " said Ned with excitement. "But Ido know that this entrance is concealed. Why, you couldn't even seeit from below--it's so small. And it was made that way for apurpose. That must mean Cibola. Let's get busy. "

There were one hundred and thirty-five steps to mount, and each wasabout a foot and a half high. When Ned and Alan were on top of themesa again they were out of breath and their clothes were white withdust. They were also choked, thirsty and hungry. 

"Eat heartily, " laughed Ned, when they began breakfast over again;"we are going to have a busy day, I hope. "

"What is your theory?"

"That our treasure is right here if it is anywhere, " exclaimed Ned. 

Alan laughed. "The place is barren as a barn floor, " he said; "Idon't see any very large palace or temple hereabouts. "

"I don't either. That's why I'm going to look for it--and lookhard. "

"And our gas slipping away at a lively rate!" interrupted Alanagain. 

"Let it all go, " said Ned. "We know how we can get down within ahundred feet of the ground, anyway. That's some consolation. "'

"First we will make a circuit of the north end, " continued Ned, after breakfast, "and if nothing comes of that--no unseen hollows ornew crevices--we'll try this sandy hollow, even if it is smooth as aplain. "

The circuit of a fifty-acre area requires time and it was an hourbefore the boys had traversed the edge of the precipitous cliff. Atevery few yards they examined the face of the mesa for gaps or shelves, but there seemed hardly a resting place for a bird. 

Tired and hot, the sun being now high above them, the youngaeronauts finally reached the north-eastern corner of the mesawithout finding a sign or suggestion of Indians, or even of animalremains. 

Alan had thrown himself on the ground at this point for a rest, whenwith an exclamation Ned darted from his side. As Alan's eyesfollowed him he saw the cause of the exclamation. From where theystood--directly east from the ancient grove--they could see for thefirst time that the trees stood in a wide double semi-circle, and, directly in the center, perhaps fifteen feet in height, arose acolumn of masonry. It was snow white in color and glistened likeglass. 

There was no question about it. 

The fabled Temple of Turquoise, its deep blue glaze lost in thewhitening sun of three centuries, stood before them. Almostovercome with the emotion of success the two boys stood as iftransfixed. Then cautiously, as if afraid the wonderful pile mightdissolve itself into a dream, they moved forward. 

In this protected corner of the mesa where the winds of ages hadgradually deposited a thin sandy soil, the hand of man had plantedtwo almost complete circles of trees. Therein, and generallyagreeing with the record of the long dead Vasquez, were the plainoutlines of a stone structure. At places, where the walls crossed, and at some of the corners, the masonry yet rose to the height of aman. And again, it fell into long irregular piles of jumbledblocks. Sifted sand filled each corner and crevice. 

In the center of the ruins rose the turquoise column. From this, and in a line with the true east to where the boys stood, extendedan open approach. Almost reverently Ned and Alan advanced up thiswalk. 

It was easily seen that the structure had contained a maze ofrooms--over three hundred, they afterwards discovered--and that thewhite column stood in a hollow square. 

"It's white, " almost whispered Alan. 

"Yes, " answered Ned; "it ought to be blue. "

They were now at the foot of the column. Directly in front stood anopening or door. Bordering this was a framework of brick-likesquares or tiles, black, and ornamented with white figures. 

"Just like pottery, " said Alan, noticing the true geometrical designand the still cruder outlines of animals. 

"Look, " exclaimed Ned, pointing to the top of the door. 

Here, the small tiles were replaced with a large square of blacktile, in the center of which shone a dull yellow radiating design. 

"A symbol of the sun, " explained Alan, "and of gold!" he addedexcitedly. 

"Then it certainly is our secret city, " said Ned. 

As he said this he was busy with his knife, digging at theglistening white bits with which the column was coated. Finally onecame off. It fell into his hand and the back of it came into view. 

The two boys broke out in an exclamation of delight. The protectedportion of the piece was a deep sky blue. 

"The Turquoise Temple!" they both cried together. "Hurrah!"

When night came again Ned and Alan were almost too excited for restor sleep. Nor did they taste food again until the dust of the ruinswarned them temporarily to abandon their search. To walk into atreasure house that the daring adventurers of two races hadoverlooked for three hundred years was enough to turn the heads ofany two boys. 

The "Doorway of the Sun" as Alan called it, led into a chamber aboutfifteen feet square. The walls of this were lined with smooth claysquares of black tile, undecorated. Eight feet above the floor, which was also of clay tile and half buried under sand, rose aceiling of arched stones. There was no opening in this, but stepson the outside of the temple and in the rear led to a chamber above, in the front of which, and also facing the sun, was another openingabout two feet from the floor. In front of this window was a stonebench or altar. The meaning of it the boys did not know. This roomwas barren of either decoration or utensil and it was half full ofthe debris of what had apparently been another arched stone roof. Only the front or eastern side of the structure was coated with theprecious turquoise; the other sides of the column were of plain, fairly well fitted, mortarless stone blocks. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE COLLAPSE OF THE CIBOLA

An opening in the paved court in the rear of the Temple, half filledwith drifted sand, led into a "khiva" or secret religious councilchamber beneath. Herein the young adventurers discovered theirwonderland and the reward for all their labors. 

Hastily returning to the balloon, they procured candles andimprovised scoops out of the sides of the tin emergency ration caseobtained from the Arrow. Major Honeywell had warned the boys thatthe floors of all closed chambers of this sort were covered with theaccumulated dust of ages. 

The first examination of the "khiva" resulted in disappointment. The immediate impression that the boys received was one of cave-likebarrenness. In the half-light only a gray monotony met the eye. Yet under this ghostlike pall, forms soon began to appear. In thecenter of the chamber stood what was apparently an altar. In spiteof its burden of dust an elevation could be seen about eight incheshigh and seven feet in diameter, on which was a boxlike structureabout three feet square and four feet high. On top of this was adust-covered figure. Beyond, in the deepest gloom, the mouths offour radiating tunnels leading still further into the ground couldbe seen. The roof was supported by irregular round columns, apparently of wood, arranged in two circles. 

Before beginning an exploration of the chamber the boys decided toascertain the depth of the dust covering the floor, into which theyhad already sunk over their shoe tops. This was stifling work, forthe soft powder ran back as fast as it was dug away. A half hour atleast was consumed in reaching the bard surface beneath. Thecoating of dust was nearly three feet deep. 

As Ned climbed out of the little excavation Alan held the candledown. To the astonishment of the boys a beautiful blue sheen mettheir gaze. 

"Turquoise flooring!" shouted Ned. 

It was true. The entire "khiva, " so far as the boys subsequentlyuncovered its floor, was a crude mosaic of the most perfectturquoise, the pieces, varying in size, being laid in a lime-likecement. 

A general survey of the room and its connecting tunnels showed thateach radiating arm led, with about twenty feet of passageway, into asmaller room. In each of these rooms were nine column placed in arectangle. The main chamber was circular in form, forty-eight feetin diameter, and the smaller apartments were twenty-four feetsquare. 

Ned while at work examining the floor, suddenly ceased and rushed toone of the columns. 

"You remember, " he exclaimed, "the Spaniard said these columns wereof gold and silver. "

But in this the ancient record was wrong. The inner six supportswere painted a faded yellow and the second row, twelve in number, was colored red, as the boys discovered later when they brushed andcleaned some of them. Around each of the inner columns, however, there were two metal bands about two inches wide and thirty inchesapart. The lower ones were six feet from the floor. They were ofheavy gold with loops or hooks extending from each side, as iffestoons or connecting bands had once extended from pillar topillar. 

"Not a bad substitute!" exclaimed Ned. 

The second line of twelve columns had similar rings of silver, asthe boys discovered in good time. The movable contents of the roomwere not easily examined, as each object on the floor was buriedunder a mound of heavy, suffocating dust. Bats had made the placean undisturbed refuge, and the repulsive flutter of these creatureswas disconcerting. 

A preliminary examination of the four lateral passages and the roomsat their far end showed that these were probably store rooms, excepting the one on the east side. Here, on shelves, fixed oncolumns or posts similar to the colored supports in the principalchamber, were eight oblong forms. Even the dust and refuse couldnot disguise the nature of these--they were unmistakably mummies, the embalmed bodies of either chiefs or priests. At the head andfoot of each were various dust covered receptacles and utensils. 

The afternoon was too short for the boys to accomplish the removalof anything. 

"I feel like a grave robber, " panted Alan, soberly, as the two boysclambered out into the fresh air, finding, to their surprise, thatit was already night. 

"Well, I don't, " said Ned. "These things are so old that they seemto belong to Time itself. I feel more like a gold miner who has atlast struck a rich vein--and it's our vein. "

But, as so often happens, ill luck came close on good fortune. Thefirst glance of the young aeronauts at the camp and the Cibola wasenough to chill their new happiness. The big gas bag had settled solow that it half concealed the car, which was resting flat on theground. The buoyancy of the air ship was gone. Without more gasthe Cibola could not make another flight. It was a severe blow toNed and Alan; but they met the issue squarely. 

"There is no use in worrying, " said Ned, finally, when they realizedthe exact situation, "and we've got to make the best of it. Besides, " he said, laughing, "we are not ready to go. "

"That's right, " replied Alan, thinking of the yet unexaminedcontents of the Treasure Temple, "and when we are ready I guesswe'll be no worse off than Bob and Elmer. I suppose we can managethe one hundred foot descent some way. "

Ned pointed to the hundreds of yards of net cordage. 

"Right, " exclaimed Alan, "that'll be easy--a rope ladder. "

It was almost dark and the boys were covered with the penetratinggrime of the long undisturbed "khiva. " A meager wash up and supperand rest were in order. But Ned said:

"By morning the Cibola will be in collapse. It is a valuablemachine, and it ought not be left out here on this point unprotectedfrom the seasons. We shall probably never see it again, but whilewe can move it let's tow it over in front of the temple and put thebag and engine and instruments in the protected room. "

It was not a difficult task. With no great effort the car was halfcarried and half dragged down the slope and then to the clearing inthe pine grove where the boys soon made a new camp. To completetheir work the big bag of the balloon was untied from the car anddrawn, half inflated, into the pathway leading to the temple door. Then, with no small regret, the boys opened the escape valve, and ina few minutes the collapsed Cibola was stretched like the cast offskin of a snake along the sandy pathway, ready to be rolled up andcompactly stored away. 

CHAPTER XXIX

THE GOLDEN EAGLE OF THE AZTECS

In the morning the boys went at their task with renewed vigor. Inventory was first taken of the stores and provisions. There wasenough food for about six days, if used with care. Of water therewas a supply apparently for a little longer period. But the chokingdust of the "khiva" made bathing almost a necessity, and, used inthis way, even sparingly, the supply would not last over two days. 

"No more baths until we go down into the valley, " ordered Ned. "Cleanliness would be a comfort, but we'll have to be uncomfortable. "

Permanent camp was made in the cabin of the dirigible. In arrangingthis all the machinery, the engine, the blower, the dynamo, thereconverter and the aeroplanes, the rudder and the propeller wereunmounted, and the smaller articles made ready for storing in thetemple entrance. There were four casks of gasoline left unused. Asthese were being carried to the temple Ned suddenly exclaimed:

"Why not rig up the engine and dynamo and use an electric light downin our cave of Mystery. "

"Good, " answered Alan, "and while we are at it, why not hook up theballoonet blower with the engine and get fresh air?"

The stowing away of the machinery, the packing of the gas bag andthe setting up of the engine and dynamo and blower afforded plentyof work until noon; and then, while the trusty little engine waspumping volumes of good sweet air into the hot, almost suffocatingchamber below ground, the boys had luncheon. 

Then began the real exhumation of the long buried articles in thesecret religious chamber of the almost forgotten race. Asrevelation succeeded revelation in the next two days the paralyzingwonder that first came to Ned and Alan was succeeded by the dullnessof fatigue. At intervals of not more than an hour they came aboveground for fresh air. The absence of water soon converted them intobronze-like human statues. They could feel that their lungs werebecoming clogged with the almost impalpable dust. But theypersevered. The prize was too rich to be abandoned because of merephysical discomfort. 

By means of the wired drag rope the powerful incandescent light wascarried to all the chambers. And one after another, as the blowergave the boys air and helped sweep away the clouds of dust, theremains which had lain buried for over three centuries wereuncovered and brought above ground. 

Of the pottery itself, vases, jars, and religious ceremonialutensils, perfect in shape and displaying ornamentation that wouldhave delighted Major Honeywell, the excavators could take littlenote. After removing the twelve gold hoops or bands from thesupporting columns and twenty similar silver rings from the secondrow of pillars, the boys penetrated the elevation in the center ofthe "khiva. "

As the end of the blower pipe was directed against this squarecolumn, the sediment of centuries disappeared. Then the brilliantlypenetrating glare of the reflected electric light fell on theelevation and both boys burst out in an exclamation of amazement. 

On what had been a ceremonial dais stood the treasure of the secretcity of Cibola--an image of the sacred Golden Eagle of the Aztecs. The revered bird of the Aztecs stood upright, its extended headpeering east. The body of this aboriginal work of art, crude inform, was of massive silver. And to it were attached overlappingplates of gold in the similitude of feathers. The unfolded wingswere also of gold. The head, beak and talons were of gold, and theeyes were two polished bits of quartz. The idol, for such no doubtit was, stood forty inches in height and weighed about three hundredpounds. 

The base on which the precious eagle stood was completely coveredwith the deepest blue turquoise. At its foot and covering the daiswere the crumbled traces of many articles of cloth, feathers, bitsof wood and pottery, and the like, all, no doubt, fragments ofpriestly utensils of worship. The most ornate and best preserved ofthese was a large flat bowl covered on the inside with skillfullycut mother-of-pearl. This was still iridescently beautiful, and themore striking because its milk white exterior was unmarked bydecoration. 

Each mummy, when hauled into the open air and examined, gave morepositive proof of the riches that had been collected in this sacredretreat. The funeral bowls placed at the feet of the bodies variedin form and material. Some of these were of plain black and whitepottery, others were coated with gold, silver, or mother-of-pearl. The bowls apparently had once contained food. In all there weretwo golden bowls, four of silver, one of pearl and one of pottery. 

Each mummy was wound with as much care as was ever bestowed on theEgyptian royal dead. The woven wrappings were coated with pitch andbeneath them were colored cotton cloths, affording proof of a highcivilization. The richest treasures of the dead were thebreastplates and necklaces found on each. These astounded the younginvestigators. 

These plates and beads had been strung on deer sinews, which, nothaving been protected by pitch, were now only lines of dust. But, lying on the breast of each there was invariably a "body scraper, "(as Major Honeywell afterwards termed them) of gold, silver ormother-of-pearl. Mother-of-pearl discs were the commonest neckdecoration. Of these the boys discovered four. 

On three of the bodies were pierced pearl bead necklaces. On themost elaborately wrapped figure, that of a head priest or highchief, came the crowning discovery. This was a necklace of piercedamethysts. And on the breast of this figure was a flat plate ofgold with sixteen radiating points, each of these terminating in alarge luminous unpierced and polished amethyst. 

About the waist of this shriveled figure were the remains of ajeweled belt. The foundation or back of this had dissolved intodust, but careful unwrapping of the cerements revealed the pricelessornamentation. This decoration was of alternating squares ofmother-of-pearl, in each of which glistened a perfect amethyst, andof matchless turquoise squares set with great pearls. 

CHAPTER XXX

A QUARTER OF A TON OF TREASURE

It was impossible for the boys even to venture an estimate on thevalue of the immense mine of turquoise, although they realized thatthe increasing scarcity of the jewel made the beautiful and uniquespecimens everywhere about them worth a great deal of money. Norhad they any idea of the value of the mother-of-pearl bowls, nor ofthe hundreds of beautiful and unique ceremonial and funeral urns andvases. Least of all, could they put even an approximate price onthe amethyst and pearl necklaces. Even their most sanguine hopes ofdiscovering the hidden city of Cibola had not led the adventurers toinvestigate the current prices of precious stones. 

Knowing, however, what the prices of gold and silver were, theycould form some estimate of the worth of this part of the treasure. 

By comparison with the known weights of certain articles in the carthe two boys made the following list of metal pieces discovered:

GOLD POUNDS

Twelve bands. Weight each 2 lbs. I oz. 26Two bowls. Weight each 6 lbs 12Two "body-scrapers. " Weight each 9 oz 1 1/2Wings, head and talons of Sacred Eagle 82Breastplate 3Radiating sun over entrance 12

Total, 136 1/2, or 1, 638 ounces. 

SILVER POUNDS

Twenty-four bands. Weight each I lb. 8 oz 40Four bowls. Weight each 5 lbs 20Four "body-scrapers. " Weight 10 oz.. 3 1/3Body of Sacred Eagle. Weight 218Ninety-six miscellaneous rings, bands, anklets and wristlets, many set with mother-of-pearl and turquoise 16 1/3

Total, 297 2/3, or 3, 580 ounces. 

The market value of these precious metals was easily computed. Thesilver at sixty cents an ounce was worth $2, 148. The more valuablegold, at twenty dollars an ounce, was worth $32, 760. Together, the484 pounds were worth $34, 908. 

"And one-third of that, " said Ned with a smile--almost discerniblebeneath his dust--begrimed face, "is nearly $12, 000. And that is$6, 000 for each of us. "

"But how about the amethysts and pearls?" said Alan. 

"I suppose, " answered Ned, "that they are worth a great deal more, but I don't know. I should think that those that have no holes inthem would be very valuable. "

All this figuring was intensely interesting, but the boys, as therevelation progressed, knew that they were now facing a new problem. They could not possibly carry that gold and silver, to say nothingof even a portion of the exquisite mother-of-pearl bowls or thefinest samples of the turquoise. When, in the end, nearly a quarterof a ton of the metal treasure alone lay in a heap in the corner ofthe temple vestibule they could come to but one conclusion. 

This portion of the treasure would have to be removed at anothertime. 

"It has lain here undisturbed for over three hundred years, " saidNed hopefully, though sadly, "and we'll have to take a chance thatit can be left a while longer. "

Sorrowfully enough Alan agreed. It was to be no easy work gettingout of the wilderness, and food must be carried. That might be moreprecious to them than gold before they saw a railroad again. Theboys agreed to take at noon the next day the exact latitude andlongitude of the mesa. The latitude, on one slip of paper, was tobe carried by one boy and the longitude, on another piece, was to bein the possession of the other. This was a precaution againstaccidental revelation of the treasure mesa. 

The set jewels were removed. There were two hundred and ninety-fourpierced pearls and ninety-eight pierced amethysts. Among the wholegems, eighteen magnificent pearls were extracted from the jeweledbelt. Eighteen unpierced amethysts were also taken from thealternating turquoise squares of the belt and sixteen magnificentamethysts from the gold breastplate. 

It was then that the sewing kit supplied by Alan's sister Mary cameinto service. A small piece of aluminum waterproof silk cabincovering was converted into two flat bags and in these the stones, equally divided, were enclosed and concealed under the clothing andbeneath the right arm of each lad. In addition, each boy took halfof the mother-of-pearl and turquoise belt plates as the finestspecimens of each material. 

"And to show that there is gold too, " suggested Alan, "we might aswell take along, these gold 'scrapers, ' which won't bother us much, "So these two pieces were strung on cords and suspended about thenecks of the young treasure seekers. 

"And to-morrow, " exclaimed Ned joyfully when all this was done, "we'll get down from here and get a bath. "

"Amen, " added Alan earnestly. 

Until it was twelve o'clock, the time to take their observation, theboys spent the next morning in last preparations and makingeverything shipshape. The framework of the car was left intact, butweighted by stones to prevent injury by the wind. Everythingmovable was stored in the entrance room of the temple, includingthree and one-half cans of gasoline. The engine was oiled andcovered with blankets. Underneath the smoothly folded balloon, inthe folds of which dry sand had been liberally sprinkled to preventpossible adhesions of the varnish, lay nearly thirty-five thousanddollars' worth of curiously wrought gold and silver. This was firstcompletely covered with sand. 

The two provision packs for the retreat to civilization had beencarefully arranged. How long the journey might take the, could notestimate. They had decided to their way east, in hope of falling inwith Elmer and Bob, and this meant the crossing of at least twomountain ranges and thirty miles of barren foothills to MountWilson. Then, if they turned south, they would traverse eighty-fivemiles of sandy plain in which water was infrequent. 

Their own provisions were exhausted. What they now depended on wasthe emergency case secured from the Arrow. This supply was intendedto be enough for two men for two weeks. 

"It certainly ought not take us that long, "' complained Alan. "Whynot leave half the supply and take a little gold?"

But Ned was obdurate. He explained that they might fall in with theother boys, and that if they did Elmer and Bob might be wholly outof supplies. 

"We can come back if we get out in good shape, " explained Ned, "andif we don't get out what'll be the use of a back load of gold?"

That settled it. The food packs were made up of the followingsupplies: Flour, 12 lbs; corn meal, 5 lbs; beans, 5 lbs; bacon, 7 1/2lbs; rice, 5 lbs; oatmeal, 2 lbs; baking powder, 1/2 lb; coffee, Ilb; tea, 1/2 lb; sugar, 5 lbs; lard, 2 1/2 lbs; salt, 1/2 lb; pepper, 1/8 lb. Each provision pack weighed twenty-one pounds. In additionthere was an aluminum frying pan, a coffee pot and two aluminumplates. A water canteen, a blanket, a revolver and belt ofammunition and a knife apiece completed the equipment. Alan carriedin addition the "snake bite" case, the compass and small hatchet, and Ned the money belt containing over five hundred dollars in gold. 

The sealed glass tubes of matches were divided between the two boysand then, as it was noon, the sextant that Ned had been so carefulto bring with them was used for the first and last time. Theobservation made and noted, and the record of it divided as planned, Ned and Alan were ready to begin their attempt to make their way outof the rock-bound wilderness. With provisions, water, blanket andarms each lad was carrying about thirty-five pounds. 

"Would you still like a few pounds of Aztec treasure?" laughed Nedas they stood with packs adjusted. 

"I should say not, " retorted Alan; "I'm satisfied. "

The method of lowering themselves from the hole in the face of thecliff to the ground, one hundred feet beneath, had been worked outin detail and the apparatus made in the evenings by the light oftheir camp fire. And early that morning Alan had carried the longrope ladder down the chasm and to the mouth of the tunnel. Now, inaddition to their packs, the two boys carried between them a sectionof one of the pine trees, about six feet long. 

As they stood, ready to leave, Ned raised his cap. 

"Good bye, old Cibola, " he said with moisture in his eyes, "until wemeet again, if ever. "

"If ever?" added Alan quickly with as much gaiety as he couldsummon. "You don't think we'll ever let anyone else lift thatlittle pile?" and he pointed to the well filled entrance room of thetemple. 

"No, " answered Ned, soberly, "if we have as good luck on the land aswe had in the air. "

Ned and Alan meant to reach the earth by means of a rope ladder. This they had constructed from the stout Italian hemp suspensioncords of the Cibola. These ropes, each thirty feet in length, wereknotted and then doubled to insure strength. For the lasttwenty-five feet at the bottom the landing ladder of the balloon wasused. The rungs, two feet apart, were of pine from a felled tree, and were thirty-eight in number. 

For anchorage, the six-foot length of tree was dragged to the mouthof the tunnel and, five feet from the opening, wedged between thefloor and roof of the tunnel, slightly inclined forward. The strainon the bottom would thus only fix the supporting section more firmlyin place. From the bottom of the pine shaft a loop of four of thesuspension cords reached just out of the tunnel opening. To thisloop the top rang of the ladder was tied, with a separatehundred-foot length of cord. After the ladder had been made firmwith a running slip knot the hundred-foot length of cord was droppedto the ground. 

This arrangement had been provided in order that the rope laddermight be removed after the descent. By a jerk of the cord the slipknot would be loosened and the ladder, released, would fall of itsown weight. Another length of rope had been prepared, this onesomewhat over a hundred feet long and also doubled for strength. This was for the lowering of the packs and other articles by one ofthe boys after the other had descended. To insure its free runningand to prevent its wearing through on the edge of the cliff, a sixinch section of the pine tree had been prepared, flattened on oneside and having a wide smooth groove in the top. This, attached toa short length of rope, which was made fast with the ladder loop tothe upright shaft in the tunnel, was fixed on the verge of theopening. 

Finally everything had been arranged and made fast. Each of the twoboys insisted that he should go down first. To solve the dispute, they cast lots and the risk of testing the rope fell to Ned. Slipping off his shoes and socks, which he hung about his neck, hesprang to the ladder. Alan hung over the edge and watched him withapprehension, but Ned, feeling his way carefully, was soon on theground. 

His shout was the signal to begin the work of lowering the packs. And down they came, one after another; provisions, revolvers, blankets, water bottles, and even the money belt, for Ned had madehimself as light as possible for his descent. 

At last it was Alan's turn. The last load had descended, thelowering line had been released, drawn up and stowed away. The slipknot was examined anew and then Alan followed Ned down the slender, fragile swaying rope ladder. When he had reached the ground byNed's side and the strain was over, the boys shook hands jubilantly. 

"--And now, " shouted Ned with a laugh, "last chance! If you want togo back for a new load say so before it is too late. "

Alan, exhausted with the climb, shook his head. 

"Then stand from under, " cried Ned. 

As he jerked the slip knot cord the boys sprang aside and the longladder, wriggling, crashed at their feet. 

The only means of reaching the towering elevation had been removedand the only visible sign of their brief occupancy of the secretmesa had been destroyed. 

CHAPTER XXXI

AN ADVENTURE WITH THE NAVAJOS

Three days later, Ned Napier and Alan Hope, worn and almostexhausted with the steady climb and descent of countless rockyheights, made their camp for the night at the foot of a ruggedslope. Their shoes were torn so that a protection of rags wasnecessary. The hot and pitiless sun had seemingly dried up theirboyish spirits. Silent with fatigue, having plodded steadilyforward since sunrise, they threw themselves on the sand. 

The young adventurers were headed straight for the east. And stillthe last range of mountains was beyond them. Led by the compass, they held to their course, sometimes passing miles out of their pathto avoid some inaccessible mesa, but more often scaling ragged andtiresome heights. 

Eating had now become a matter of form and necessity. There was nolonger the keen joy in making camp. During the three days the boyshad seen no living object except birds, rabbits, many deer and twobears, all of which they had left unmolested in their eagerness topress forward. But at noon on this day Alan, having occasion toglance backwards, was positive that he saw a human head. Whetherwhite man or Indian he could not determine. The incident gave thelads no little, concern, but as no further sign of a human being wasseen that day they finally forgot the matter. 

That night, after making tea and taking a little more pains thanusual with their supper in an effort to revive their spirits as wellas their tired bodies, Ned and Alan spread their blankets at theedge of a pine grove. Almost before it was dark they were bothsound asleep. 

Some hours later Alan awoke with the instant consciousness of anunusual sound. Motionless and straining his ears, he heard deepbreathing just behind him. A new moon was just sinking below thebuttes on the far side of the little valley in which they hadstopped for rest, but under the pines the shadows were deep. Heknew that danger was near and he did not move. In another moment hefelt a soft hand on his waist, as swift and as silent as a snake, and he knew that the hand was extracting his revolver. 

Then, from his half-opened eyes, he saw a figure crouching over hischum just opposite. Some one no doubt was also removing Ned'sweapon. Then there was the pressure of stealthy footsteps on thepine needles and Alan moved his head until he could see twoindistinct forms moving from the shadows of the timber across theopen space to the dying embers of their little fire. There he couldeasily discern five or six figures. He was about to put his hand onNed's face to awaken him gently when he saw the entire group comingdirectly toward their sleeping place. Their movements now revealedplainly that they were Indians. 

With cold beads of perspiration covering his body Alan againpretended sleep. It was now apparent that they had been followed, and, no doubt, by Navajos. Perhaps this was the end of theirtoilsome retreat. With visions of death presenting themselves, hewondered again whether he ought to arouse Ned. Then he realized thefutility of such action. As the moccasined feet drew near Alancould read death in each approaching sound. But at the edge of thetrees there was another pause, and then he knew that the Indians hadscattered. 

Straining every muscle in an effort to breathe naturally, like oneasleep, the boy counted the seconds while he waited for the clutchof a savage hand. And as the moment passed and the attack did notcome he tried to speculate on what the strangers were doing. Aguttural half exclamation soon allowed him a quick breath oftemporary relief. The Indians were only after their supplies. 

The savages had found the half-concealed packs of the two boys. Alan knew this by the location of the sounds that now came to him, and then, as the prowlers withdrew again into the open and the faintmoonlight, it could be seen that they were bearing all thebelongings of the two lads. For perhaps ten minutes Alan laywithout moving and watched the Indians. He could make out that theywere hastily looking over the packs and dividing what yet remainedamong themselves. Then ponies were led to the place of the campfire and the members of the band quickly threw themselves on theiranimals and disappeared into the night. 

Almost paralyzed with the knowledge of what this meant Alan nowsoftly put his hand on Ned's face:

"Are you awake?" came instantly from Ned. 

"Are you?" retorted Alan in surprise. 

"Yes, " whispered Ned, "I saw it all. But I didn't move, because Iwas afraid of arousing you. "

"Here, too, " exclaimed Alan. "Did you feel them take yourrevolver?"

Ned's band flew to his belt. 

"Is yours gone too? I saw them when they came up from the fire. But you did right to keep still. If we had moved I expect we'd havehad our throats cut. "

"That was one of them I saw to-day, " added Alan, "and I guess we'relucky to be alive. "

"Yes, " added Ned rising to his feet, "we are. They are satisfied, Isuppose, to let us starve. "

The prospect was a trying one. If the range behind them was the onethey hoped it was, there was only one more valley between its summitand the outer ridge of the Tunit Chas. If they could reach thisridge they believed they might see Mount Wilson's peak. But eventhat meant another thirty miles to the scene of the attack on Buck'scamp on the banks of the Chusco. And from that place it waseighty-five miles to a railroad and help!

The boys sat in the edge of the pines as the new moon disappeared, leaving them in utter darkness, and tried desperately to encourageeach other. Both had the grit to set themselves stoutly to theapparently hopeless task. Without food or firearms and possiblywithout water, they knew they would find the task gigantic. Butnothing was to be gained by waiting for starvation and death in thewilderness, and their decision was to do what they could, to try thealmost impossible, and if they failed to fail with their facestoward the east. 

"Why not start now?" urged Alan. "Let's use what strength we have. "

But Ned showed him the folly of this. 

"A night's rest will enable us to make better time to-morrow. Andbesides, we can't make headway when we can't follow the compass. "

Retiring a little further into the woods the boys composedthemselves again and before long were once more fast asleep. 

CHAPTER XXXII

ALAN SUCCUMBS TO EXHAUSTION

The boys were up at dawn. Not an article had the marauders left butthe two water canteens which had fortunately been left hanging fromthe low branches of a pine. It was useless to look for more--therewas nothing more to be found. 

"Anyway, " laughed Ned, "it leaves us in light marching order and wecan make better time. I'm glad we had a good supper. "

As no breakfast was in sight the two boys filled the water bottlesat the creek in the valley, and at five o'clock, taking theirbearings due east, Ned and Alan struck upwards through the pinewoods. It was a not unpleasant climb while the boys were fresh, butas the slope grew more precipitous the work began to tell. At oneo'clock the crest was reached. 

"How would you like a piece of broiled bacon, some pancakes and acup of coffee, Ned?" asked Alan as they paused to rest. 

"In the middle of the day and on the top of a mountain I alwaysprefer plain water, " laughed Ned in reply. "Here's to you!"

With a big drink from the lukewarm canteens the boys did not pauselong. 

"To-night, " continued Ned, "we ought to sleep high up in thefoothills over there. "

With that inspiration the sore-footed and jaded lads made good timegoing down the slope. Then another rivulet was encountered, inwhich they bathed and by which they rested a spell. Alan would havebeen glad to pass the night here, but Ned urged him on, and as nightfell again the hungry, exhausted boys found themselves far up on thenew slope. Then they slept again, restlessly and on the rockyground, for they had abandoned their blankets. 

The boys did not wait for daylight. In the half dawn they wereafoot. 

"Take another hitch in your belt, chum, and don't think of thePlacida. " laughed Ned. "We'll make it all right, somehow. "

Stiff in limb, their feet twitching with the pain of blisters, Nedand Alan toiled slowly through the last of the pines and out intothe rocky higher slopes of the range. It was like climbing anupright wall, Alan said, but the pain of going on was less than thedespair of giving up. A little after six o'clock Ned, ahead, pulledhimself breathless to the highest point. 

Alan stopped a little below and waited in anxiety. Before he couldask whether it was the last ridge, Ned's voice broke out into ashout. 

"Come on, old man, we're all right. There's old Wilson, thegrandest mountain peak in the world. Hurrah for Mount Wilson!"

But there was no echo to his exclamation. Poor Alan, succumbing topain and exhaustion, had sunk insensible to the ground. In anothermoment Ned was at his chum's side. Forcing some water betweenAlan's lips and bathing his face with some more of the preciousliquid, Ned soon brought him back to consciousness. Alan sprang upin chagrin, and with tears in his eyes insisted that he had onlystumbled and fallen. But Ned knew the truth. His friend's brighteyes and feverish skin told that his condition was grave. The unseen tears came to Ned's eyes, for it was at least thirtymiles to more water and the plains. And should they even reach theChusco, he could see only death in the desert. 

"You'll feel better in the cool of the woods down there, " said Nedgently, "and maybe we can kill a rabbit. Hurrah, come on, Alan!Brace up. It's all down hill, now. Here's for the woods andbroiled rabbit!"

In a new spurt of life another start was made and the two chums setout down the slope. In one of Ned's hands was a rock. It was to bethe death warrant of any small animal, and his eyes were busyexamining each sheltered rocky nook and bush. Suddenly a feverishhand caught his. 

"Look, " whispered Alan. 

Ned's eyes followed his chum's gaze. 

It was a spiral of thin smoke in the trees below. 

With a shout, Ned sprang forward. Then he turned. Alan wasstanding still. Ned's heart grew cold:

"See the smoke, " Alan was repeating, "see the nice smoke. Maybeit's a house on fire. "

His friend was delirious. Ned flew to his side once more and againhis touch revived the exhausted boy. Almost five days of wanderingand the exhausting toil on the mesa had proved too much for the moredelicate Alan, and Ned realized with sickening horror that thesituation was critical. 

"I'm all right, Ned, " answered Alan when his chum was once more withhim; "just a little lightheaded. But that's all. "

What was to be done? The smoke might be that of a forest fire. Andit might mean Indians. But even an enemy is welcome when starvationand death confronts one. Almost at the end of his own resources, the determined Ned forced himself into a last effort. He used nowords of persuasion, for Alan allowed Ned to take his hand, andthus, silently and slowly, the two moved forward again. Perhapsanother half mile was made between rocks and down gullies and thenAlan exclaimed pitifully:

"It's no use, Ned, I can't, I can't. My feet. " Burying hisfevered face in his hands, the boy wept, partly in pain and partlybecause he knew that he was holding back his chum. 

At such periods Ned Napier was at his best. With kind words hesought to encourage his friend. He used the little water left tobathe Alan's face, and the last of his shirt in binding anew hisfriend's bleeding feet. He tried to joke and speculated on thepossibilities of the smoke beyond them, but it was without avail. Poor Alan could not rise again. The fever of exhaustion was on himand with a last appeal to Ned to leave him the boy threw himself onthe ground and fainted away. 

There was no doubt now as to what was to be done. Unless he couldbring help to his friend in a short time Ned knew it would meandeath. And that meant death for both, for young Napier would neverabandon his friend. Like a drunken man Ned turned and stumbledforward. 

CHAPTER XXXIII

A FORLORN DASH FOR HELP

Am hour later Alan Hope, carried by the faithful Elmer Grissom andthe jovial Bob Russell, was laid gently on a blanket by the firewhose smoke had attracted the attention of the ragged, wornwanderers. Not until the sun had set did the exhausted lad open hiseyes again. But water and food had been forced through his lips andwhen reason came back strength was not far behind. 

Ned sat by his chum's side all day, bathing his face and making himas comfortable as possible; from Elmer's medicine packet. A fewmouthfuls of food had sufficed Ned. But that night, when Alan cameagain to his senses, the four boys held a thanksgiving about acheerful fire and ate together. But it was no banquet. 

What had happened was soon repeated to the weak but happy Alan. Elmer and Bob had waited and watched for ten days, using theirstores sparingly and ready always for the return of Ned and Alan. Two days they had seen the Cibola a speck in the sky far to thewest, and had watched it from the little waterfall on the edge ofthe plateau. Then it disappeared and they never saw it again. Thiswas three days after the boys departed from Camp Eagle. 

Husbanding their provisions as well as they could, they at lastdecided to start on their return to the outside world. 

This was two days before. The tent and the heavier articles werehidden in a cache. Their food had been reduced to a meagerquantity. They had two pounds of bacon, six pounds of flour, twoounces of tea and a little over a pound of beans. In addition theyhad a half dozen bouillon tablets, a little salt, pepper and sugar, and a complete and unopened medicine packet in which were quinine, adhesive plaster, cotton, bandages, morphine, and other needed andcompact drugs. With this light pack each boy had a rifle and arevolver, a few cooking utensils and a blanket. 

Elmer had his own water bottle, and Bob improvised two out of theempty baking powder can and a lard pail. 

Thus equipped, Camp Eagle was abandoned, and led by their compassElmer and Bob had set out bravely for Mount Wilson and the Chusco. But it was with no small regret that they made their way up the longslope behind them and then across the valley beyond. But, fresh andstrong of limb, they pushed forward and with Mount Wilson as alandmark made camp on the second night in the timber on the slope ofthe outer range. 

Never wholly despairing of meeting Ned and Alan again, the two boyswere frugal both of their strength and their stores. The food theycarried would have been sufficient for a healthy man for perhaps aweek. They could not count on reaching civilization again withinthat time, even with good luck. That meant half rations at thebest. But if accidents came and delay even half rations would becut down. So, that night, in camp, there was no feasting. A littletea, and a cake of dough apiece made their supper; and then theyslept. 

In the morning as they were about to breakfast and be off again Bobcaught sight of a deer. A little jerked venison would not comeamiss, he thought, and as the ammunition was plentiful he dartedthrough the woods in pursuit. The fact that Bob was a poor hunterprobably saved Alan's life. He was gone an hour and a half and whenhe returned it was after seven o'clock. 

The two boys had just extinguished their fire and were about toshoulder their packs when a well-known but strained call arrestedthem. 

"Camp ahoy?"

It was their leader, Ned Napier, his cheeks sunken, and his bodyswaying from weakness, but cheery as of old, advancing slowlythrough the trees. 

Food and a night's rest restored Ned's strength. "And now, myfriends, " said he in the morning, "these bandages and a little foodand good companionship have worked wonders. We are all ourselvesagain. But we can't stay here, pleasant--as it is. Alan ought notto travel for another day and then he ought to have some huskyattendant. Bob, you are nominated for that job. Elmer and I willtake a few pinches of tea, the soup tablets, one revolver and arifle and--"

"And what?" exclaimed Alan, suspicious of Ned's suggestion. 

"And, " continued Ned, "We'll just dash on ahead and bring you somehelp. "

"No, siree, " shouted Alan. "Do you think get back to Clarkeville, one hundred and fifteen miles or more, on six soup tablets? And forme? If you think you ought to go, all right. But you'll take halfof the food. "

"Or more, " interrupted Bob, "give us a little flour and salt andsome matches. I reckon I can get a deer before night. "

But Ned convinced them in the end that he was right. He argued thateach mile he and Elmer made in advance was nearer help. Alan mustadvance slowly. 

"All you've got to do, " he explained to Bob and Alan, "is to reachthe Chusco, where Elmer camped, and take care of yourselves forseven or eight days. And we'll be there to help you, unlesssomething happens. You won't have much to eat but you'll have waterand you have ammunition. "

And at seven o'clock that morning they parted. Just before thefarewells Alan called Ned to one side and said:

"Hadn't you better take my bag?" indicating the jewel case under hisarm. 

"Why?" answered Ned. 

"Well, you know we may never see each other again. "

Ned took his chum's hand. 

"Alan, " he said, "we were not born to lose ourselves in the woods, much less to die there. We'll meet again all right. Don't you haveany fears on that point. But if we shouldn't, I won't care foramethysts or pearls. If I don't see you again it'll be because I'mbeyond the need of those things. "

There were handshakes and cheering, good wishes, and the reliefsection was off. 

"Elmer, " said Alan, after the two had been trailing through thetrees Indian fashion some time, "it is daylight at four o'clock anddark at seven--that's fifteen hours. Can you walk two miles anhour?"

"Sho'ly, " smiled Elmer, showing his white teeth. 

"Well, that's thirty miles a day. If we could do that for four dayswe'd be in Clarkeville!"

"Claikeville in fo' days it am den, " echoed Elmer, "or bust. "

"We've got six soup tablets. If we dine on one at ten o'clock inthe morning and one at seven o'clock in the evening we'll haveregular meals for three days. "

"And de las' day we won't need none, we'll be in such a hurry, "added the colored boy, happy again in Ned's company. 

That was the spirit in which the expedition started. Late thatafternoon they emerged from the timber and were on the sandyfoothills where progress was faster. Ned's feet bothered him and hewas in constant pain, but the adhesive plaster and cotton had beenof the greatest help. There was no pause. The first day's schedulehe was determined to make and at about eight o'clock the reliefexpedition gave a shout. The Chusco lay before them. 

A little fire, some tea and bouillon--made in the pan after the teawas consumed--and the two boys found a bed on the soft sand with nocovering but the deep Mexican sky. At dawn they were up and awayafter a bath in the muddy river. Elmer was now the guide and hereadily picked up Buck's old wagon trail. Sharp at ten o'clock ahalt was made for breakfast, bouillon now without tea. Ned, hisface a little more sunken and his legs a little more unsteady thanthe day before, was sitting on the ground resting his burning feet, when Elmer suddenly touched him on the shoulder, set the soup panquickly on the sand and drew his revolver. 

Far down the trail a horseman was approaching. Behind him in thedistance followed a wagon. What did this mean?

"Well, whoever it is, we'll have the soup, " said Ned. 

This consumed, Ned and his friend started forward. 

"If it's good luck we'll meet it sooner this way, " said Ned, "ifit's bad we'll know the worst quicker. "

But it was good luck. The rider soon galloped up and swung his widehat in the air. It was Curt Bradley, the mayor of Clarkeville. 

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE RESCUE

They told Ned afterwards that he keeled over in the sand and fainteddead away, but he always insisted that he didn't faint, that he kneweverything that was going on. Yet he did not hear a word of thelong story told by Elmer. When he roused himself he was lying inthe shade of the big freight wagon and a couple of cowboys weregetting breakfast ready. 

Then Mayor Bradley explained his presence in that mysterious way inwhich bad news always travels friendly Indians had sent him word ofthe attack on Buck's outfit and of the death of the veteranplainsman. This news had just reached Clarkeville and Mayor Bradleyhad at once set out to find the body if possible, and assist thosewho escaped. 

Of course all speed was made toward the foothills and that eveningAlan and Bob, the former only a shadow of the lively youngster whohad left Clarkeville but two weeks before, were found and rescued. That night there was a new camp on the Chusco and meat and hotbread. The only shadow to dim the happiness of the rescued boys wasthe recollection of the murdered Buck. 

The return to Clarkeville was made by easy stages in four days, andeven Alan was nearly his old self when that town was reached. Onenight's rest in real beds, with fresh linen from the baggage theyhad left behind them, and baths, removed the traces of privation andsuffering. There was little more to detain Ned and Alan. 

A telegram was dispatched to Major Honeywell at Kansas City, wherethe boys and their patrons had agreed to meet. Then Ned's toolchest was forwarded by freight to Chicago. In company with MayorBradley Ned and Alan visited Mrs. Bourke, Buck's widow. Retainingenough to cover the costs of transportation to Kansas City he gavethe widow what remained of his funds, nearly five hundred dollars, and all the heavy stores remaining in the corral. 

At midnight of that day four wide-awake and alert boys, neatly cladin summer suits, boarded the local train bound east for Albuquerque. The last hand they shook was that of Mayor Bradley. 

"Mr. Mayor, " said Ned as he parted from his friend, "I'm sorry Ican't tell you why we were here, or what we were doing. But youwere our friend and we'll never forget you. Some day I'm going toshow you how highly we regard you. And some day I hope I'll be ableto tell you what our mission was. "

Three days later the quartette of boys sprang from the Limited inthe Union depot at Kansas City. The parting had come. None of theboys knew what that meant until the last moment. 

"'Ned, " said Bob Russell, once again in the field of his profession, "I've had many a strange assignment in my work and I expect to havemany another, but I'll never have one like this. I've got the storyof my life, but I haven't got yours. If the time ever comes when Ican write it, when you are free to tell it, just remember your bestfriend, Bob Russell, reporter, Kansas City Comet. "

"Bob, " answered Ned wringing his hand, "you have missed a goodstory. I'm sorry. It wasn't because you were not a good reporter. It was just our good luck. But if things work out the way I hope, I'm going to give you something better than a good story. "

"And, " broke in Alan, "just want to say this: if chance ever throwsadventures my way again I hope that the companions I share it withwill always include Bob Russell. "

The details of how Ned and Alan, just one day late, kept theirengagement with major Honeywell and Senor' Oje in the Coates House, and of the almost unbelievable report they made and the richevidence of its genuineness that they submitted do not really belongin an account of the flight of the Cibola. Two things were done atonce, however. A handsome gold watch was purchased and sent toMayor Bradley with the compliments of Ned and Alan, and Senor Ojeforwarded an additional check for a thousand dollars to Buck'swidow. 

The report on the value of the stones carried from the treasuretemple by the two boys was such that Senor Oje gave them his checkfor $25, 000. Out of this each boy contributed part of his sharetoward a sum sufficient to give Elmer a business education. Finallythe two boys bought a draft for a thousand dollars, payable toRobert Russell. With it went this note: "Please accept this as someslight compensation for the story you did not get. "

But in good time Bob Russell did get his story. For, otherwise, this narrative would never have been written. 

How it came about that Bob got his story; how the treasure left inthe Turquoise Temple was finally lifted; how the young aeronauts indoing it battled successfully with a maelstrom in the clouds, weredriven far out over the Pacific, cast away on a derelict and finallymade an escape with their "sneering idol" by aeroplane into thewilds of Mexico, is a later and more remarkable chapter in theadventures of Ned Napier and Alan Hope, to be told in "The Air-ShipBoys Adrift, or Saved by an Aeroplane. "

THE END