So excited were they by the events of the morning, and so much was there to talk about, that the big dirigible had entirely slipped from their minds till they suddenly were jolted into abrupt recollection by a happening that brought them all to their feet with a shout of alarm.
FROM HIGH IN THE AIR A VOICE HAD HAILED THEM.
They looked up with startled eyes to see hovering directly over them the mysterious dirigible.
Her deck seemed to be supporting several men, some of whom gazed curiously at the boys; but what caught the adventurers' attention, and riveted it, was the sight of several rifles aimed at them.
"Keep still, and we will not shoot," shouted a man who appeared to be in command, "we do not wish to harm you."
"Hum," said Billy, "I don't see what they want to aim those shooting irons at us for, then."
"It would be useless to try to run, I suppose," said the professor.
"It would be dangerous to try it," decided Frank, "those fellows evidently mean to kill us if we try to disobey their orders."
As he spoke the dirigible was brought to the ground by her operators and as she touched the snow several of her crew gave a shout of surprise at the sight of the pile of treasure already excavated by the boys. They started to run toward it; but were checked by a sharp cry from their officer. They obeyed him instantly and marshaled in a motionless line waiting his next command, but he left them and strode through the snow toward the boys.
He was a dapper little brown man, dressed in the uniform of the Mikado's Manchurian troops. A heavy, fur collar encircled his neck and a fur cap was pulled over his ears.