The girl stepped through the doorway and was looking upward.
"Take off these ropes!" called Matt. "Let me get out there and see what is going on!"
The girl turned and reentered the hut. Her face wore an expression of the utmost concern.
"No," said she, "I can't release you just now. If dad was to come and find that I'd set you free, he would suspect me at once and that would spoil my plans."
"But what was the cause of that shooting?" persisted Matt.
"There's another air-ship over the island——"
"Another air-ship?" echoed Matt.
"Yes. It must be Jerrold's, although how he ever found out where dad was is more than I know. Dad and the rest were shooting at the air-ship with rifles."
"I'll bet it's somebody who's come looking for me!" exclaimed Matt. "If your father and his gang should kill anybody——"
"They won't," interrupted the girl, confidently; "dad knows better than to do anything of that kind. They'll try to put a bullet or two into the gas-bag of the air-ship and frighten Jerrold away."