One end of it was fastened to the air-ship.
The other end landed near the Mexican, and he rushed forward, seized it, and began to climb up.
It was a risky climb, for the ladder swayed with every movement he made while ascending.
He grimly kept on, though.
In a few moments he reached the deck aft.
Here the two men seized him and helped him up.
At the same moment the air-ship turned and dashed up higher into the atmosphere and resumed its journey south-westward.
The extra weight of the Mexican seemed to make but slight difference in the buoyancy of the machine.
He now turned his attention upon the two occupants of the cage, one of whom was Frank Reade, Jr.