Produced by Sean Pobuda
The Air Ship Boys
or
The Quest of the Aztec Treasure
By H. L. Sayler
CONTENTS
I THE DEPARTURE OF THE OVERLAND LIMITED II NED'S MEETING WITH MAJOR BALDWIN HONEYWELL III THE RELATION OF MIGUEL VASQUEZ IV THE CONTRACT, AND LIQUID HYDROGEN V A DINNER PARTY ON THE PLACIDA VI BOB RUSSELL OF THE KANSAS CITY COMET VII THE MAKING OF A NEWSPAPER STORY VIII THE HOSPITALITY OF NEW MEXICO IX "CALIFORNY KID" GETS A JOB X AN ERROR IN CALCULATION XI A DISGUISE PENETRATED XII NED TO BOB RUSSELL'S RESCUE XIII QUICK JUSTICE IN THE WEST XIV BUILDING AN AIR SHIP XV HOW JACK JELLUP LOST AN ARM XVI READY TO "LET GO ALL" XVII AN INTERRUPTED FLIGHT XVIII FREE AND AFLOAT AT LAST XIX THE FIRST FLIGHT XX FIGHTING INDIANS WITH A SEARCHLIGHT XXI A CORDITE BOMB AND ITS WORK XXII A THRILLING RESCUE IN MID-AIR XXIII CAMP EAGLE IN THE MOUNTAINS XXIV A GRAVE IN THE DESERT XXV BARTERING STORES A MILE IN THE AIR XXVI THE SECRET TUNNEL IN THE MESA XXVII THE TURQUOISE TEMPLE DISCOVERED XXVIII THE COLLAPSE OF THE CIBOLA XXIX THE GOLDEN EAGLE OF THE AZTECS XXX A QUARTER OF A TON OF TREASURE XXXI AN ADVENTURE WITH THE NAVAJOS XXXII ALAN SUCCUMBS TO EXHAUSTION XXXIII A FORLORN DASH FOR HELP XXXIV THE RESCUE
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 b
ehind 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.