He picked up the parachute, at the end of which was attached a small box. Opening it, the youth found a folded paper.
“Quick!” murmured Bob. “Let’s see what he has to say.”
CHAPTER XXVIII
Almost a Tragedy
RATHER nervously Joe unfolded the paper, hastily read it, and then gave a sigh of relief.
“Nothing wrong,” he told his friends. “Take a look.”
“H’m,” observed Bob. “He only says he’s going to land in a level field about a mile from here, and that he’d better take us up with him from there, instead of waiting till we get to Pasaje. No other place near to land on. Closes by saying everything is all right.”
“So he wants us to go up with him now,” mused Joe. “Doesn’t want to wait till we get to Pasaje. I hate to do that. I don’t like to leave Dr. Rander till we get to the town. It doesn’t seem right to come with him all this distance and then go off and leave him here in the mountains.”
“Don’t worry about me,” said the old explorer quickly. “I have been through these mountains alone many times. I can manage the mules all right. And the town can’t be far away.”