He lost no time about getting down the rest of the ladder, and as the airship circled over the schooner he alighted.
Some of the pirates rushed from their coverts, and were about to dash over, board the vessel, and try to capture him, when a deadly volley from the Jove checked their impulse.
Frank hastened down the cabin steps.
He found the room filled with smoke.
“They’ve fired the vessel!” flashed across his mind.
He groped his way around and shouted:
“Leon! Leon!”
But he received no reply.
“The little fellow isn’t here,” he muttered.
These words had scarcely left his lips, though, when he stumbled over a soft object lying on the floor.