“You bet!” cried Bob and Ned in a breath.
“I’m glad of it,” spoke the former hermit. “I have not yet been able to communicate with my son. I hardly knew what to do, as I wanted to fulfill the mission on which Mr. Loftus started. When I saw your airship I hoped to be able to induce the owners of it to aid me in my quest, but I had no idea I would meet you boys. I imagined your craft was hopelessly smashed.”
“It wasn’t Noddy’s fault that it kept together after the way he handled it,” observed Jerry. “But we soon had it in shape again, after he and Jack Pender ran away. We couldn’t imagine what had happened to you, but it’s all clear now. We’ll start for Lost Valley at once.”
“Hush! Not so loud,” cautioned Mr. Bell. “Few people around here know the story of Deering’s Band. It happened long ago, you see, and now if it was to be known that there was gold in the valley there would be a rush there, men would lose their way and be killed, and no good would result. Or, if they found the valley, and tried to enter, the Indians might kill the few remaining members of the band, to do away with all evidence against themselves. Our best plan will be to go at this quietly. Slip off, go to the valley, and try to effect a rescue. I can show you the way, for Mr. Loftus, before he died, left me a rude map of the locality.”
“That’s a great story,” commented Jim Nestor when Mr. Bell had finished.
“It sure is,” added Sledge Hammer Tod. “I want a chance to handle some of them Indians.”
“You’ll get it,” promised Jerry. “Boys, we must go for the gasolene at once. Then we can slip away after dark, and no one will be the wiser.”
They came out of the cabin. The crowd around the airship was greater than ever, and the boys and other occupants of the craft were overwhelmed with questions. They answered as well as they could, but said nothing of the object of their trip. Mr. Bell remained in the cabin, as he was tired.
In a short time the water, oil and gasolene tanks were refilled, and then supper was served, with Bob, of course, in the rôle of cook.