“Yo’ kin be sure ob dat, sah,” affirmed Pomp. “Neber fear, sah.”
Frank and Barney were quickly on the beach. They walked on until they came upon Nicodemus’s tracks. Then a startling surprise was accorded them.
There were other tracks.
“By Jupiter!” exclaimed the young inventor in amazement, “what does this mean? The captain has fallen in with others and they are civilized also.”
There was nothing to do but to follow the trail. The result was that, after two miles of patient tramping, they came upon the camp of Dooley’s men just as the captain had.
Only they were wiser and kept out of sight.
This was a praiseworthy precaution. Moreover they were directly astonished to see Nicodemus tied to a palm tree. A rascally-looking fellow was just organizing a party of a half dozen armed men.
It looked as if they were going to venture forth upon some daring errand. A startling thought came to Frank.
These men were certainly foes. Their capture of Nicodemus showed that. Was it not their purpose to attack the air-ship?
Frank’s first impulse was to beat a hasty retreat and give them a hot reception. But second thought changed his mind.