“Then why don’t we take one of the machines and go over there?” demanded Jimmie. “That would be fun!”
“That’s just what I came to talk with you about?”
“I’m game for it!” the boy asserted.
“As a matter of fact,” Ben explained as the boys arose and softly approached the Louise, “the only other known way of reaching the fortress is by a long climb which occupies about two days. Of course,” he went on, “the old fellows selected the most desirable position for defence when they built the fort. That is,” he added, “unless we reach it by the air route.”
“The air line,” giggled Jimmie, “is the line we’re patronizing to-night.”
“Of course!” Ben answered. “All previous explorers, it seems, have approached the place on foot, and by the winding ledges and paths leading to it. Now, naturally, the people who are engineering the ghost lights and all that sort of thing there see the fellows coming and get the apparatus out of sight before the visitors arrive.”
“Does Mr. Havens know all about this?” asked Jimmie.
“You’re dense, my son!” whispered Ben. “We’ve come all this way to light down on the fortress in the night-time without giving warning of our approach. That’s why we came here in the flying machines.”
“He thinks Redfern is here?” asked Jimmie.
“He thinks this is a good place to look for him!” was the reply.