“You ’ave a good ’ead, me lad,” approved Jarvis. “’Ere’s ‘opin’ it ’appens that way!”
It did happen that way, and, in due course of time, the three men found themselves on the brow of a low plateau which seemed as deserted as the pyramids of Egypt, and quite as barren of life.
“One thing’s sure,” said Dave. “We’ve got to get the gas back into that old cloth tank and catch a fair wind, or get that engine to working, if we don’t wish to starve.”
“Aye,” said Jarvis.
“There’s a strange pile of rocks up on the ledge there. I’m going for a look at it,” said Dave.
He returned in a few moments, mingled excitement and amusement on his face.
“Jarvis,” he smiled happily, “we’re not so badly off, after all. Here we are right back in old United States of America!”
“United States?” Jarvis stared.
“Says so in this message I found in a brass can. Says—”
Dave broke off suddenly. Something on the crest to the right of them had caught his attention. Grasping his automatic, Dave went skulking away in the shadow of the hill.