The rescuers divested themselves of their disguises, which were saved as souvenirs of the trip.
When matters had somewhat quieted down, Mr. Deering and several of the men prisoners came forward with sacks that seemed quite heavy. They laid them on the cabin table.
“The gold nuggets,” was the answer. “We held on to them during our flight. Now they are yours.”
But Jerry and his chums and friends would not take the gold. They insisted that the men and women who had been saved would need the money to provide the necessaries of life, now that they were to go back to civilization.
This brought up the subject of what was to be their future, and, though Mr. Bell offered to provide for the refugees, they decided they would all rather go to some small town, and there begin life over again.
“Then Rockyford is just the place for you,” suggested Jim Nestor. “You can live there, as well as anywhere else, it’s not far from here, and close to the diggings, so I can sort of keep an eye on you, in case these Indians try to recapture you,” and he chuckled at the idea of the severely punished redmen daring to venture out of their valley. “Tod and I will soon be back at the mine,” went on Nestor.
“That is, if Noddy Nixon hasn’t gotten possession,” remarked Jerry. “I’ve been apprehensive ever since we came away.”
“Oh, we’ll get the best of him yet,” ventured Bob.
After Mr. Deering and his companions had talked the matter over among themselves, they decided to adopt the advice of Jim Nestor, and make their homes in Rockyford. Professor Snodgrass wanted his cousin to come East with him, and aid science in searching for rare bugs.
“No, thank you,” said Mr. Deering. “I’ve seen all I want to of bugs and flying lizards, since I’ve been among the Indians. I wouldn’t even catch a fly now, science or no science.”
The professor sighed, but made no further suggestions. The refugees and their rescuers traveled all that night in the airship, and, though the boys managed to get some sleep, when they were not on watch, the recent captives found so many novelties to take their attention, and were so fraught with wonder at the idea of sailing through the air, that they did not slumber much.
Three days later, flying under fair skies, and before favorable winds, the travelers of the air sighted the mountains that marked the location of Rockyford, and the boys’ gold mine.