He was; Jerry, Ned and the professor drawing the remaining lucky slips. This would leave Tod, Mr. Bell and Bob to defend the airship. The professor was delighted at his success.
“Now I will get the flying lizard!” he cried.
Toward dusk Mr. Deering came back. He seemed ten years younger since hearing the good news, and reported that his friends were eager for the time to come for the rescue.
“I have brought some disguises that you may want to wear, in case any of you plan to come to the Indian village,” said the aged man, producing a bundle which contained suits of very thin skins. “The Indians use these in some of their dances,” he went on, “and there are face masks, false beards and wigs which will change you from whites into redmen very quickly. I have four suits, which I took from the temple.”
“Just the thing!” cried Jerry. “We will put them on when we go to rescue your friends. I was wondering how we could approach unobserved.” The details of the escape were then told to Mr. Deering, and he was instructed to have his friends in waiting at a point he designated near the temple. At the proper time they would be led to the airship, as it was considered best not to have them attempt to reach it unaccompanied by some of the rescuers.
“I’ll not come out here again,” said the aged prisoner, “for some of the Indians are already suspicious. We will expect you to-morrow night, when the feast is at its height.”
It seemed to the adventurers in the airship that the next night would never come, but it did at last, and was ushered in with a rain storm.
“Bur-r-r-r! We’re going to get wet!” complained Ned, as the four were about to set out.
“Don’t kick,” advised Jerry. “It will be all the better for us. The rain will make the feast fires burn dimly.”
“And the flying lizards won’t be able to fly so well,” added the professor, as if the whole expedition was for that object alone.