The object of the expedition had been accomplished, and he did not care to go further. The goat was slung over his shoulders, and he proposed to return to the air-ship.
This, however, was speedily discovered to be not such an easy matter. They had wandered far and somehow lost their bearings.
The region had all a peculiar sameness. It was some while before Barney was able to decide the direction from which they had come.
But the points of the compass were finally settled, and they set out upon the return. But though they journeyed on for an hour, no sign of the air-ship was seen.
Finally they were brought to a halt by a deep chasm, with sides too precipitous to descend. Here they were forced to come to a dismayed halt.
“By whales!” exclaimed Nicodemus Beere, “here’s a pretty how d’ye do! Where are we, Barney? Do ye know?”
“Be me sowl, it’s sthuck I am intoirely,” replied the Celt. “Shure, I thought we was going roight all the while.”
“Well, it’s plain that we were not,” replied the captain. “We must make a back course or we’ll be lost.”
“On me wurrud I belave it’s lost we are already,” declared Barney. “Shure, I don’t know phwere I am.”
Captain Nicodemus was in a most uncomfortable frame of mind. He stormed up and down the ledges excitedly.