Part 27 (2/2)

”Will it be safe to remain all night?” asked Mr. Borious, with a glance about the desolate country.

”We have plenty of food,” replied Tom, ”and a good place to stay, in the car of the glider. I don't believe we'll be attacked.”

”No, not here,” said the elder Petrofsky. ”But we still have to go back across Siberia to escape.”

”We'll do it!” cried Tom. ”Now for the platinum treasure!”

They went forward, and it was no easy work. For the wind still blew with tremendous force though nothing like what it did higher up. And the ground was uneven. They had to cling to each other and it was very evident that no airs.h.i.+p, not even the powerful Falcon, could have reached the place. Only an air glider would answer.

It took them half an hour to get to the opening of the ancient mine, and by that time it was nearly dark. But Tom had thought to bring electric torches, such as he had used in the underground city of gold, and they dispelled the gloom of the small cavern.

”Will you go in?” asked Ivan Petrofsky, when they had come to the place. He looked at Tom.

”Go in? Of course I'll go in!” cried our hero, stepping forward. The others followed. For some time they went on, and saw no traces of the precious metal. Then Ned uttered a cry, as he saw some dull, grayish particles imbedded in the earth walls of the shaft.

”Look!” he cried.

Tom was at his chum's side in a moment

”That's platinum!” cried the young inventor. ”And of the very highest grade! But the lumps are very small.”

”There are larger ones beyond,” said the younger Russian brother.

Forward they pressed, and a moment later coming around a turn in the cavern where some earth had fallen away, evidently recently, Tom could not repress a cry of joy. For there, in plain sight, were many large lumps of the valuable metal, in as pure a state as it is ever found.

For it is always mixed with other metals or chemicals.

”Look at that!” cried Tom. ”Look at that! Lumps as large as an egg!”

and he dug some out with a small pick he had brought along, and stuffed them into his pocket.

”Bless my check book!” cried Mr. Damon, ”and that stuff is as valuable as gold!”

”More so!” cried Tom enthusiastically.

”Oh, here's a whopping big one!” cried Ned. ”I'll bet it weighs ten pounds.”

”More than that!” cried Tom, as he ran over and began digging it out, and they found later that it did. Platinum is usually found in small granules, but there are records of chunks being found weighing twenty pounds while others, the size of pigeons' eggs, are not uncommon.

”Say, this is great!” yelled Ned, discovering another large piece, and digging it out.

”I am glad we could lead you to it,” said the elder Russian brother.

”It is a small return for what you did for us!”

”Nonsense!” cried Tom. ”These must be a king's ransom here. Everybody dig it out! Get all you can.”

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