Part 17 (2/2)

objected Mr. Parker.

”Oh, my dear Parker! please be a little more cheerful,” begged Mr.

Damon.

The adventurers followed Tom from the airs.h.i.+p, and all but the young inventor gazed curiously at the interior of the cave. His first thought was for his airs.h.i.+p. He glanced up at the gas-bag, and noted several bad rents in it.

”I hope we can fix them,” Tom thought dubiously.

But the attention of all was suddenly arrested by something that occurred just then. From the dark recess of the cavern there sounded a fearful yell or scream. It was echoed back a thousand-fold by the rocky walls of the cave, Then there dashed past the little group of gold-seekers a dark figure.

”Look out! It's a bear!” shouted Mr. Damon. ”A bear! It's an Eskimo Indian!” yelled Abe Abercrombie, ”an' he's skeered nigh t' death!

Look at him run!”

As they gazed toward the lighted entrance of the cave they saw leaping and running from it an Indian who quickly scudded out into the hail storm.

”An Indian,” exclaimed Tom. ”An Indian in the cave! If there's one, there may be more. I guess we'd better look to our guns. They may attack us!” and he hurried back into the airs.h.i.+p, followed by Ned and the others.

CHAPTER XIV

THE RIVAL AIRs.h.i.+P

Well armed, the adventurers again ventured out into the cave. But they need not have been alarmed so soon, for there were no signs of any more Indians.

”I guess that one was a stray Eskimo who took shelter in here from the storm,” said Abe Abercrombie.

”Are we in the neighborhood of the Alaskan Indians and Eskimos?”

inquired Ned.

”Yes, there are lots of Indians in this region,” answered the old miner, ”but not so many Eskimos. A few come down from th' north, but we'll see more of them, an' fewer of th' pure-blooded Indians as we get nearer th' valley of gold. Though t' my mind th' Indians an'

Eskimos are pretty much alike.”

”Well, if we don't have to defend ourselves from an attack of Indians, suppose we look over the airs.h.i.+p,” proposed Tom.

”It's too dark to see very much,” objected Ned. But this was overcome when Tom started up a dynamo, and brought out a portable search-light which was played upon the superstructure of the RED CLOUD. The gas-bag was the only part of the craft they feared for, as the hailstones could not damage the iron or wooden structure and the planes were made in sections, and in such a manner that rents in them could easily be repaired. So, in fact, could the gas-bag be mended, but it was harder work.

”Well, she's got some bad tears in her,” announced Tom as the light flashed over the big bag. ”Luckily I have plenty of the material, and some cement, so I think we can mend the rents, though it will take some days. Nothing could have been better for us than this cave. We'll stay here until we're ready to go on.”

”Unless the Indians drive us out,” said Abe, in a low tone.

”Why, do you think there is any danger of that?” inquired Tom.

”Well, th' brown-skinned beggars aren't any too friendly,” responded the old miner. ”Th' one that was in here will be sure to tell th'

others of some big spirit that flew into th' cave, an' they'll be crowdin' around here when th' storm's over. It may be we can fight 'em off, though.”

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