Barney had seen them, and as they answered his signals, he allowed the air-ship to descend as rapidly as possible.
CHAPTER VIII.
A TERRIBLE STORM.
After a hard climb the two adventurers finally succeeded in reaching the air-ship.
As they approached Barney stood at the rail and hailed them.
“Be me sowl! I’m glad to see yez!” he cried; “but phwere on earth did yez come from, anyhow?”
“Golly!” cried Pomp, rushing up and embracing his friend; “I’m jes’ so glad fo’ to see yo’, I’ish, dat I cain’t git over it.”
“Let up wid yer love-makin’, an’ give us some dacint explanation of yure conduct!” cried Barney, with much dignity.
“Yo’ ought to know ‘bout dat yo’se’f, I’ish. Didn’t yo’ see me fall down in dat hole in de ground?”
“Begorra, I did, an’ phweriver did it go to, anyway?”
“It jes’ carried me down into a big cave, whar I found Marse Harding, an’ we managed to fin’ our way out aftah a long time, chile. Dat am de way ob it.”