“Can’t we do something, Mr. King?” inquired the young aviator, in an anxious tone.
“I fear not, Dashaway,” was the reply. “These are desperate men and bound to have their own way. We can only hope that our being free will help our friends somewhere along the line.”
“You come with me,” ordered the outlaw leader, roughly seizing Professor Leblance by the arm and pulling him along. “Keep your eyes on those others,” he added, to his men.
The Frenchman held back with resolute face and force. The outlaw, however, was a great, bulky fellow of enormous strength.
They had proceeded less than twenty feet towards the airship, when a quick word cut the air, clear and startling as a pistol shot.
“Halt!”
CHAPTER XIX
A MYSTERIOUS FRIEND
In an instant of time the whole complexion of affairs had changed. The young aviator and his two companions crouched, staring at the scene before them, which now seemed the stage setting to some intense drama.
“Hello!” gasped the excitable Hiram.
“What does that mean?” echoed Mr. King, in a truly astonished way.