“It wouldn’t be safe,” declared Jerry. “The Indians might get it and decipher it. We’ll have to take our chances at notifying them suddenly.”
After it grew dark the same mysterious lights were observed that had puzzled the travelers the first night. The adventurers decided to wait until the flickering gleams died away before venturing on a descent.
It was nearly three o’clock before this time came, and then Jerry, who had been on the watch, awakened the others. The airship was in readiness for a quick and silent move. The restraining ropes were cast off, and it rose high in the air. Then, running the motor at half-speed, to reduce the noise, Jerry guided the craft over the valley. The searchlight was brought into play to locate the landing place. There was a certain risk in this, but it could not be avoided, and it was hoped that the gleams from the big lantern would be taken for the flashing of some of the Indians’ own signal fires.
Lower and lower sank the _Comet_, into the mysterious valley. Lower and lower, until, with no alarm having been sounded by the Indians, it came to rest in the secluded and wildly desolate spot that had been picked out that day. In the darkness it landed, and Ned opened the gas valve so that there would be no necessity for fastening the ship to the earth.
“Well, here we are,” said Bob in a low voice, as he tried to penetrate the darkness. “And land sakes! how sleepy I am. I had a good rest, too, but it seems as if I’d been awake two nights.”
“I’m sleepy, too,” admitted Jerry; while as for Ned, no sooner had he finished helping Jerry make a landing than he tumbled into his bunk and was snoring.
“What’s that funny smell?” asked Jim Nestor, sniffing the air. “Don’t you notice it, Tod?”
“I do notice something peculiar,” replied the old miner. “But I’m too sleepy to care. I’m going to turn in.”
“I guess we’d all better do that,” added Jerry, stifling a yawn. “I don’t know when I’ve been so sleepy. I s’pose it’s on account of having been up so much nights lately.”
Professor Snodgrass, who had been peering about in the darkness, sniffing vigorously on various sides of the airship, suddenly entered the cabin. The sight that met his eyes was a curious one. Stretched out on the bunks were all the members of the party save himself. Everyone was either asleep or preparing to slumber. The bald-headed scientist once more breathed the peculiar odor on the night air, then he cried out: