“We’ll find out!” said Frank, as he advanced to the bow.
And there the cause of the mischief was found. This was in the shape of a huge fragment of volcanic rock which had cut its way half through the deck plates, and was so firmly imbedded that it required great strength to dislodge it.
This was only one of the score or more aerolites which had fallen from the sky.
That they might have been hurled aloft from the distant volcano there was a strong likelihood. That no worse damage was done was fortunate.
The air-ship rested safely enough upon the ledge of rock. Frank proceeded at once to repair the injury.
While he was working at the keyboard, Nicodemus and Barney bethought themselves that it was a good opportunity for an exploring tour over the ledges.
So they took their rifles and climbed over the rail. They had descended to an altitude now where the air was not so rare, or there was little danger of the deadly mountain sickness.
They had spied some mountain goats and the captain was anxious to get a shot at them.
So they proceeded some distance down the mountain side until the air-ship was lost to sight. The view at this point was very grand.
Far below there were great slopes of green, alternating with shelving rock. In the vista beyond a mighty green valley extended to the base of other mountains seventy or eighty miles away.