The rush of sulphurous air almost capsized them. Dacres, tying a handkerchief over his mouth and nose, crawled in. His hands encountered the Mexican's resistless form. With a heave he dragged him into the alley-way. Other hands relieved him of his burden and carried Durango on deck.
"Dead?" asked Gerald Whittinghame.
"Snakes don't die easy," grunted Captain Gotham. "Take him away, boss, and welcome to him."
The unconscious form of Durango was lowered out into the "Quickstep's" whaler. The British officers shook hands with the Yankee skipper as they prepared to go over the side.
"One moment, boss," said the latter. "Guess you know I've got those two Valderians aboard?"
"Yes," assented Vaughan. "Can you give five men a passage to Panama? I'll see that you are not out of pocket by it."
"Five?" queried Captain Gotham.
"Yes, these two Valderians and three men of a Galapagos boat we picked up just now. Will fifty dollars be sufficient?"
"Guess that'll fix 'em up, cap. Send the others along."
Twenty minutes later the airship and the tramp parted company, the "Quickstep" to flounder along at a sedate eight knots, while the "Meteor," with Durango in safe keeping, was speeding aloft at ninety miles an hour, homeward bound at last.