Part 19 (1/2)

He picketed the horses, and began ripping open the packs.

Frank turned to Professor Scotch, saying, quietly:

”Bushnell will not go, and I shall stay with him. At the same time, I advise you to go. Take Hans with you, and get away from here. Leave a plain trail, and Bushnell will be able to follow it, if we succeed in reaching the palace and returning alive.”

The professor entreated Frank to change his mind, but the lad was determined, and nothing could alter that determination.

At last Scotch gave up in despair, groaning:

”If you stay, I stay. I am your guardian, but you seem to have things all your own way. If this volcano cooks us all, you will be to blame for it.”

Frank said no word, but went about the task of a.s.sisting Bushnell in the work of inflating the balloon.

The Westerner had a ”gas generator,” which he was getting in order. As soon as this was ready, the balloon was unrolled, spread out, drawn up by means of poles and lines, and then secured to the ground by one stout rope, which was. .h.i.tched about the base of a great bowlder.

Then Bushnell built a fire and set the ”gas generator” at work.

In the meantime the volcano had continued to mutter. At intervals the clouds of smoke parted, and they saw the wonderful Silver Palace standing on a plateau beyond the chasm.

The palace seemed to cast a spell over them all, and they felt the fever of the gold-hunter beginning to burn in their throbbing veins.

It was more than an hour after their arrival that the balloon began to fill with gas and Frank uttered a cheer as he saw the silk bulging like a bladder that is inflated with wind.

”Ha, ha!” laughed Bushnell, wildly. ”In a few minutes we'll go sailin'

over ther gulf, right through ther smoke, ter ther Silver Palace. Ha, ha, ha!”

The man's face was flushed till it was nearly purple, and his eyes were bloodshot. The fever had fastened itself firmly upon him.

More and more did the balloon expand. Bushnell had brought out a folding car, which he securely attached.

”In ten minutes more we'll be ready for the trip!” he shouted.

At that instant a series of wild cries reached their ears, and, turning swiftly, they saw a band of dark-faced men pouring through a fissure in the rocks to the north of them.

”s.h.i.+mminy Gristmas!” cried Hans Dunnerwust, in terror. ”Dot seddles us!”

”Who is it? Who are they?” fluttered the professor.

”They look like bandits,” acknowledged Frank.

”It is Pacheco's band!” cried Bushnell, hastily securing his rifle.

”Ther pizen varmints hev come ten minutes too soon! Ther balloon would take us all over in another ten minutes, but now it won't carry more than two. We must hold ther skunks off till she fills.”

”Right!” shouted Frank Merriwell. ”And we must be ready to go the instant she does fill. We can't hold 'em back long, for we have no shelter here. Professor, Hans, into that car! Get in, I say, and be ready! We'll try to stand the whelps off till the balloon is inflated, but we must be ready to start at any instant.”

Professor Scotch and Hans were hastily bundled into the car.

The bandits hesitated long enough to gather and prepare for the charge, with their chief in the lead. It was plain they saw the treasure-seekers had no shelter, and they meant to close in without delay.