Barney lost no time in making the descent, and as the air-ship touched the ground Frank sprang aboard.
Once more the air-ship rose with the young inventor safely aboard.
“Golly fo’ glory, Marse Frank!” cried Pomp, excitedly, “I done fink yo’ had jes’ a narrow escape from being killed!”
“Well, I did,” replied Frank. “But there is no time to lose. We must save Harding!”
But the brigands, it was quickly seen, had disappeared.
They had retreated into the defile, and evidently into the cavern.
Harding had gone from sight.
He was nowhere to be seen.
The last seen of him he had been making for the jungle.
The air-ship cruised around and over the vicinity for over an hour.