The Air Ship Boys : Or, the Quest of the Aztec Treasure

he precious freight of the Placida. By noon the five casks for generating hydrogen, the cooling and purifying box, and the lead pipe and other equipment, had been transferred to the old hor

cally two chests, for it was a large one containing both wood and iron-working tools. With it rode th

ly away. But by night a foundation had been leveled in a corner of the yard and the five barrel-l

ck, who had just made his last trip with the iron

aughed Ned,

atter was a mystery to every one in the town, e

our hundred pounds. It was a delicate job and not unattended with danger in case of a cask breaking. The boys began to rea

e of the work of sliding a heavy carboy of acid from the wagon a stranger st

iedly, when the stranger said: "

iliarity. Then he realized that the language of the m

and where a

st tramp. Wot's dew name? I lost me card case. Me nom de plumb is Kid, Calif

w Mexico," answe

ress is dat. Wot'

re patched, and those parts of his face and hands that could be s

pen to be here?

nd de brakeman on de fast freight wouldn't take me chec

ouldn't car

city give me coin an

d not," la

a sort of cheery humor. "But, say, boss, ye couldn't stake

you something to eat." And writing a message to Elmer the tramp was soon hurrying to the car for a m

the new hand l

ed him over

your rea

t out, Gustave Lippe. How'

he young man lo

as another out here. But I didn'

t's long jumps and hard ones.

u can work for us as long as

till me two dollars per wil

ter arrange to

ow me some work. Me trunk was checked t'roo

on in cleaning up a bit," suggested Ned. "Here's fi

Gus, the tramp. But h

on beer and whisky and

fted un

ed clothes and can get them here," continued Ned, "I

ve," the man said, "ain't

d the tramp slowly and apparently reluctantl

, Ned?" asked Alan as th

I think," c

e acid soon drove the tramp

ins of the western horizon. On the car steps, Ned turned and pointed to the north. Far away the dusky gray of the plains deepened into darker and

lan, "the Tunit Ch

boys stood and gazed in silence until the last glow had die

r's field of work. This was preferably to be at the junction of the Amarilla and Chusco rivers, and that point lay just eighty-five miles to the north. Between Clarkeville and that spot th

had long since been decided that Elmer was to have charge of this secondary expedition. And since it was Elmer who would have to condu

ola gits dar I'll be dar. And ain't no Indians nor rat

edition ended in failure or success. As the boys had already planned that Buck should furnish the w

the good supper over which he had been laboring, "but I does jes n

?" exclaimed, Ned. "Even 'greaser' cooks are better than having nothing t

hen you get dar dar'll be a good meal waitin' you and when you

s laugh

there. You'll certainly have enough. But don't you bother a

es," exclaimed El

as he disposed of the last of a generou

ys had a delicate job before them. Inquiry had quickly shown them that Buck's twenty-five years on the old Santa

there seemed nothing more to be said, Buck smothered the still glowing e

do we

ney of uncertain length; that the general direction should be north; that

ad commented, "and tha

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 sent south

rather light

gging his shoulders, "ye jest want to keep yer bearin's

elper. Both parties to the contract were satisfied and after Buck's fresh cigarette disappea