And so the matter was settled.
The Spectre sailed away across the arm of the lake and landed upon the summit of a small hill. It would have required several days’ journey for the Dooley gang to have made the circuit around by the shore.
So the aerial voyagers felt safe. But this new development had put a different face upon matters.
However, if the lake should again recede, the air-ship could easily cover the three miles to the mound of gold before the men on foot could.
Frank nor Nicodemus either cared for but a fair share of the treasure. But the unfair and unreasonable conduct of Dooley impelled them to seize the whole of it if they could.
Another day and night passed and yet the lake presented the same smiling and smooth appearance. But that afternoon a curious thing happened.
Barney, who was on deck, noted a curious yellow cloud rising from the west.
It mounted upward rapidly and soon had assumed angry proportions. The sun was hazy and the landscape took on a sickly appearance.
“On my word!” cried Frank, “it looks as if we were going to have another Andean storm.”
“Jericho!” exclaimed Nicodemus, “don’t say that. We had better anchor the air-ship hereabouts if that is true.”