CHAPTER XI.
THE AWAKENING VOLCANO.
Two days later, shortly after sunset, the party camped far in the depths of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
The words of Rodeo, the half-blood, had proved true, for they were pursued by the bandits, but, thanks to the skill of Bushnell, they had been able to give the desperadoes the slip.
"By ther end of another day we oughter be able ter clap our peepers on ther Silver Palace," declared the Westerner.
Professor Scotch was now as eager as any of them to see the wonderful palace, all his doubts having been dispelled by Bushnell's straightforward narrative of the discovery of the place by himself and Jack Burk.
"I wonder what causes that column of smoke we saw rising amid the mountains to the westward to-day?" said Frank.
Bushnell shook his head.
"Thet thar has troubled me some," he admitted. "It seems ter be fair an' squar' in ther direction of ther Silver Palace."
"Maype dose pandits peen aheadt uf us und purn der balace up," suggested Hans, with an air of very great wisdom.