However, time was valuable.
Dooley and his men were momentarily nearing the spot. A conflict with them must be avoided.
But Frank first suggested that a thorough search of the vicinity be made.
This was done.
Every suspicious looking sand heap, far and near, was thrown over. No gold was found.
It was speedily seen that the quest was destined to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
It was a reasonable supposition that the ship’s crew had removed the gold, and had started for the shore with it when overtaken by the flood. To find it now, or their bones, would require a long and patient search.
An hour had already slipped by. Dooley and his men could not be far away.
Within a radius of several hundred yards a thorough search was made.
Then distant shouts announced the arrival of Dooley. The aerial voyagers retired aboard the air-ship.
Then they tried in vain to consider the best and most logical move.
“Confound these chaps!” said Frank, angrily; “they are delaying us badly and making it as difficult for themselves to recover the gold as for us!”
“They ought to be given a lesson,” said Nicodemus.
“Ah, but I would have to redden my hands with their blood!” said Frank, “which I do not wish to do.”
“That is true. But how are we going to dispose of them?”
“That is a problem.”
The Dooley gang had now come into view upon a sand hill near. There they halted and regarded the air-ship in
The aerial voyagers every moment expected a shower of bullets.
But to their surprise these did not come. Dooley changed his tactics, very likely upon the cardinal principle that discretion is the better part of valor.
Down from the height came two men carrying a white rag on a gun barrel. One of these was Dooley himself. When within speaking distance, they halted.
“Ahoy the air-ship!” shouted Dooley.
“Ahoy!” replied Nicodemus.
“We want to parley.”
“Spout away!”
There was a moment of silence. Then Dooley resumed:
“I have reconsidered my determination of a few hours ago in regard to the treasure. On the whole I believe a just division no more than fair!”
Nicodemus turned with a gasp to Frank:
“Well, of all assurance,” he exclaimed, “the scoundrel thinks we have the gold, and, of course, is cunning enough to see that this is his only hope of getting any of it.”
“He is a scamp,” said Frank, “evidently he thinks we are soft.”
“But that is his mistake.”
“Rather!”
“What shall I tell him?”
“Let me talk with him.”
Frank went to the rail.
“So you have really changed your mind, Mr. Dooley!” with sarcasm.
“Yes, I was a little hasty,” replied the villain; “I did not consider the matter sufficiently.”
“Well, you probably think you are dealing with fools.”
“Eh?” gasped the villain.
“We have not the slightest idea of adhering to the terms suggested at this late day.”
“What! You are not going to keep all that gold yourself?”
“We have not got it.”
Words cannot depict Dooley’s utter amazement.
“Not got it?” he repeated.
“We have not.”
“Why—who has then?”
“We do not know.”
“Then it is gone?”
“Yes.”
Loud and bitter curses broke from Dooley’s lips. He ran forward almost to the air-ship’s rail.
“Then there has been some treachery at work,” he declared—“some hocus-pocus game. I tell you there is the mound where the gold was——”
He turned suddenly and sprang upon the mound. A glance into the interior satisfied him.
With livid face he descended. He came nearer to the air-ship’s rail.
“Where can that gold have gone?” he asked, huskily; “has some other party been here before us?”
“I cannot answer that question,” replied Frank; “but one thing is certain, the gold is gone. Our theory is that the ship’s crew departed for the shore with it and were overtaken by the tidal wave on the way.”
“In that case the gold is with their bones.”
“Yes.”
A light of hope lit up the villain’s face. He averted his gaze, and continued shrewdly:
“We must search for it.”
“Yes,” replied Frank, “that is the only way. But if we are to be foes all the while——”
“No, no,” cried Dooley, craftily; “we will not fight each other. It shall be agreed that w............