"The proof," urged Frank. "You say you have proof."
"Yah," put in Hans; "you say you haf der broof. Vere id peen?"
"It is here," declared the unfortunate, as he fumbled beneath the straw. "You are my countrymen—you have been kind to me. Alwin Bushnell may never return. It is terrible to think all that treasure may be lost—lost forever!"
"Who is Alwin Bushnell?"
"My partner—the one who was with me when I found the palace."
"Where is he now?"
"Heaven knows! He went for another balloon."
"Another balloon?"
"Yes; it was with the aid of a balloon that we reached the Silver Palace. Without it we could not have crossed the gulf."
"Absurd!" muttered the professor.