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 Dearborn
Street station in Chicago waiting for eight o'clock and the last of
its fortunate passengers. Near the entrance gates, through which
perspiring men and women were hurrying, stood the rear cars of the
train. Within these could be seen joyous passengers locating
themselves and arranging bags and parcels.
In fifteen minutes the long journey of Ned Napier and his chum Alan
Hope to the far southwest was to begin.
At the other end of the big shed, where the cars of the long train
seemed to fade almost out of sight, four persons were anxiously
awaiting the approach of the hour of departure. One of these, the
conductor of the train, consulted his watch, as he had done several
times already, holding it close within the glow of his green-shaded
lantern.
"It's getting pretty close to time, Major Honeywell," he said with
some concern. "You're sure he'll be here?"
The man addressed, who stood leaning lightly on a cane and whose
soft dark hat and clothes indicated his military calling, showed
similar concern, but replied confidently:
"We have nearly fifteen minutes. Young Napier has a reputation for
never failing. I'm sure he'll be here in time."
"Here's the telegram," interrupted young Alan Hope, as he drew a
yellow sheet from his pocket. "It is from Youngstown, Ohio, and
says Ned's train is on time. He left Washington yesterday and if
everything 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 the
conductor. "You'd better have everything ready."
"She's dat, sah," interrupted the fourth person of the group, a
young negro, who, as he spoke, placed his hand on the side door of
the car, and moved it on its easy running bearings.
"You see, there isn't much time left," continued the sympathetic
train official. "We're coupling up." And he nodded toward the
gloom beyond the train shed out of which the big compound locomotive
was already emerging. The military man with the cane became more
apprehensive.
"What shall we do if Ned fails to get here?" he said suddenly after
peering down the long platform toward the busy end of the station.
"Oh, we didn't go into this to fail," cheerily responded the youth
by his side. "If we 'fall down' it won't be on a simple thing like
this. He'll be here. It won't take us but three minutes to
transfer the stuff when it gets here. Never fear. I'll just take
another 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 and
here's de screw-driver outen de box as he done writ us to have ready
and 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 a
shove, and as it ran back on its track a portion of the inside of
the 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 of
the almost endless train, Ned Napier, his friend Alan Hope, and
their servant, Elmer Grissom, were to be the sole passengers on a
most mysterious and, as it proved, most eventful journey. In
railroad parlance the car was what is known as a "club" car. Half
of the interior was bare and unfinished, like the compartment in
which, on special and limited trains, baggage is carried. This part
of the car, now exposed to view, was dimly lighted with one
incandescent bulb. In the half-light it could be seen that the
space was almost wholly filled with tanks, boxes, casks, crates and
bundles, all systematically braced to prevent jarring or smashing.
It was plainly not the luggage of ordinary travelers. Except for a
narrow passageway in the center of the car and a space about five
square next the open door, every inch, to the very ventilators of
the car, was crowded with bound or crated, numbered and tagged
packages. In the open space next the door Alan Hope now appeared.
"Coming yet?" he asked with apparent confidence as he peered
outside.
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 go
back and see about my train. I don't want to make you nervous, but
do you want us to take this car if fails to get here with the
stuff?"
"I suppose there's no need," replied the military man, beginning to
show irritation. "But there's eight minutes yet."
"I know," replied the conductor, "but after we are coupled up and it
is time to leave we can't stop to cut this car out. We've got to
have five minutes for that. At five minutes of eight you'll have to
decide whether it is go or stay. I'm sorry--but you'll have to
decide in a minute or two."
"Decide it now," interrupted Alan from the open car door. "We're
going and he'll be here."
The Major appeared to be in doubt as to the wisdom of this, but
before he could say anything Alan continued:
"Couple up whenever you want to, Mr. Conductor, we'll be ready," and
he sprang out of the car, his face set with determination.
By that time the throbbing engine had silently moved up next the car
and two grimy depot men with smoky torches had swung off the
footboard to make the connections.
"Got to know," repeated the sympathetic conductor. "Only five
minutes." He looked at the Major for the final word.
The latter peered down the long almost vacant platform. There was
no one in sight but the late arrivals being helped aboard the cars
in the far end of the station. Then he gave another look of appeal
at his own watch as if in doubt what to say. To send a special car
half way across the continent was no inexpensive project. And to
send it without the person or the precious material that it was
intended seemed not only a waste of money but foolish. Although the
anxious man had both confidence and nerve it could be seen that he
was in a quandary.
"Five minutes," exclaimed the railway official. "Does she go or
stay?"
Before the man could answer, Alan faced him and with a hand on the
Major'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 her
along. 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 final
inspection of his train.
For a moment the three persons left behind stood in silence. There
was a hiss of the engine as it pushed the connecting blocks together
and then those waiting so anxiously could hear the jar of connecting
valves as the brake hose were snapped. Confident as Alan was, it
gave him a sinking feeling. Then, as the swish of tests sounded and
the 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 those
gathered 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's
de screw driver and yar's de screws all ready."
A slowly moving truck had carefully turned the end of the waiting
train and, drawn by two baggage-room employees, was making its way
along the platform. By its side walked a boy--a lad of about
seventeen. One of his hands rested on the truck and his eyes were
carefully fixed on the load it bore. This was a black, iron-bound
case about four feet long, three feet deep and perhaps a yard in
height. On each side in red letters were the words:
"Explosive; no fire." Beneath this ominous legend were two large
iron handles.
When the men drawing the truck quickened their pace the boy spoke to
them sharply and they fell again into a steady walk. For the
curious onlookers through whom the strange little caravan passed the
lad by the side of the truck seemed to have no concern. A traveling
cap was pushed back from his young face and his keen and alert eyes
and the tone of his voice indicated a quality that goes with those
born 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 word
of greeting, but his right hand did not leave the truck. Nor did
his 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 the
truck.
"I've carried it a thousand miles like a baby," laughed Ned. "Rode
with 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 can
sleep to-night. But I'm glad it's here with no one killed and not a
drop spilled."
Advancing leaning heavily on his cane, the military man had hurried
forward, his face radiant.
"Welcome, my boy, and congratulations. But for goodness' sake
hurry," he began hastily.
Ned smiled again. "I think we had better not hurry this," and he
pointed to the truck load. "That's the reason I'm late. I walked
the horses from the Union Depot. You see we can't afford to spill
our 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 of
the truck. Then, as the top of the truck came up flush with the car
door and floor he sprang lightly on the truck and motioned the men
to do likewise. For a moment they hesitated, but being reassured,
Ned and Alan and the truck men lined up on either side of the big
case. Slowly and carefully, with a brawny truck man on each side to
help 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 it
was pushed at once into a space outlined on the floor.
"And about two minutes to spare,"' cried the Major from the platform
jubilantly and thankfully.
"Not quite," laughed Ned, "but it'll be a half a minute and that's
as good as an hour. The screws, Elmer."
The colored boy, who had been busy keeping out of the way, sprang
forward to perform his part of the apparently ticklish job. It was
then seen that each bottom corner of the mysterious box had an iron
flange. 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 for
a bill Ned quickly inserted four screws in the waiting holes and
with a few sharp turns of the screw driver made the case hard and
fast to the floor of the car. Almost as quickly he threw the door
into place and bolted it, and then with Alan hurried out for a last
word 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 and
asked. From now on it is subject to your orders alone. What mine
are 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 I
couldn't have seen my mother again, but please send her this. I
wrote 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 chance
you're giving us."
"Good-bye," said Ned, "if we fail in our work it won't be your
fault, Major."
And then, as the train began to move, the boys stepped aboard, off
at last, after six weeks preparation, in search of the lost Cibola
and the treasure of the Turquoise Temple.