The boys pulled the _Comet_ into view when they reached the spot where they had stowed it. The flare from the beacon enabled a full view of the biplane. It seemed as though Jabez Hull would never cease staring at it. He forgot all about his own forlorn situation in asking half a hundred wondering questions as to the machine and what it could do.
When he led the airship boys down the beach and showed them the wreck, it was their turn to become interested. What pleased the young aviators most of all was the discovery of a small portable forge. This the castaway had removed from the ship to assist in building his boat of escape. This, scarcely begun, was lying on the sand.
“Fellows,” said Dave, to his assistants, “this is a great stroke of luck for us. We can repair the machine in a good way, with a forge and tools to help us.”
“Yes, and there’s a whole tank of gasoline aboard the _Flying Scud_,” volunteered Hull.
The boys went back with the castaway to his camp. No one thought of sleeping amid the excitement of the occasion.
“We must get up early in the morning,” said Dave. “We must lose no time in starting on our way.”
“See here,” spoke up the castaway; “I suppose there’s no chance of my thinking of having a show to get away from here with you?”
“We shall certainly try to find a place for you,” replied Dave, promptly.
“You will?” cried Hull, joyously. “Oh, but that’s grand! See here, friend, you know what I’ll do if you fellows get me safely to the American coast?”
“What, now?” questioned Hiram, who liked to hear the odd old mariner talk.
Our hero said nothing, but Elmer stared hard at the speaker and Hiram nudged him and winked.
“Provided,” continued Jabez Hull—“provided you take my treasure also along in your airship.”
“Your treasure, Mr. Hull?” repeated Dave. “What does it consist of?”
“A keg—yes, friend, probably the most valuable keg in the world. It weighs over fifty pounds, and it’s precious as diamonds. Land me anywhere near to a big city till I realize, and I’ll hand you over twenty thousand dollars in good, solid, hard cash.”
It was under new and favorable circumstances that the young pilot of the _Comet_ spoke the words. The lonely island in the South Atlantic was now a mere fading memory, the many leagues traversed by land and sea lost in the past. The _Comet_ and the airship boys were stationed in a field near to a little hostelry on the outskirts of Rio Janeiro.