Night was nearly on us when we had joined Robert again.
"Isn't it about time for the Pearl?" asked Robert.
"The moon will be up about half-past-two," I answered. "Then two of us might go and have a lookout for her."
Taking two-hour watches turn about, we slept till morning. Then Robert and I started, leaving Carlos to keep the watch for Duran. Crossing the west end of Crow Bay, we made landing at the end of the trail that led from the sea side, and by half-past-four of the morning came to Twin Hills.
On the peak of that hill which stood nearest the beach, we came upon a figure stretched on the ground, sleeping peacefully. It was Ray Reid. It was good to see the dear lad.
I shook him gently.
"Don't, Wayne," he said. "You'll shake the gas out of the balloon. We've got to make the other side of the mountain—that's where the gold mine is."
He was either dreaming or pretending. I lifted him by the shoulders. "Ray! We're here," I said.
"Not yet," he returned. "It's not—" And then he opened his eyes.
"What the Sam—" he began. And he gazed on Robert and myself, wonderingly.