“You will?” cried Hull, joyously. “Oh, but that’s grand! See here, friend, you know what I’ll do if you fellows get me safely to the American coast?”
“What, now?” questioned Hiram, who liked to hear the odd old mariner talk.
“I’ll give you twenty thousand dollars.”
Our hero said nothing, but Elmer stared hard at the speaker and Hiram nudged him and winked.
“Provided,” continued Jabez Hull—“provided you take my treasure also along in your airship.”
“Your treasure, Mr. Hull?” repeated Dave. “What does it consist of?”
“A keg—yes, friend, probably the most valuable keg in the world. It weighs over fifty pounds, and it’s precious as diamonds. Land me anywhere near to a big city till I realize, and I’ll hand you over twenty thousand dollars in good, solid, hard cash.”
CHAPTER XXIV
THE HOME STRETCH
“Ready for a start,” ordered Dave.