what words were being shaped by his lips, while Bruno broke into a
brief-lived laugh, more at that half-sheepish expression than at the
query itself.

"Both boys and girls galore, I expect, Kid; but you needn't borrow
trouble on either score. You can outrun the lads, while as for the
fairer sex,--well, they'll take precious good care to keep well beyond
your reach,--especially if you wear such another fascinating grin as--"

"Oh, you go to thunder, Bruno Gillespie!"

Through all this interchange the air-ship was maintaining a wide sweep,
drawing nearer the forest beneath, if only to keep hidden from the eyes
of the strange people in yonder deep valley. Yet the gaze of Phaeton
Featherwit as a rule kept turned towards that particular point, his eyes
on fire, his lips twitching, his whole demeanour that of one who feels a
discovery of tremendous importance lies just before him.

"Are we going to land, uncle Phaeton?" queried Bruno, taking note of
that preoccupation, which might easily prove dangerous under existing
circumstances.

That question served to recall the professor to more material points,
and, after a keen, sweeping look around, he nodded assent.

"Yes, as soon as I can discover or secure a fair chance. I wish to see
more--I must secure a fairer view of the--of yonder place."

"Will it not be too dangerous, though? Not for us, especially, uncle,
but for the aerostat? Even if these be not the people you imagine--"

"They are past all doubt a remnant of the ancient Aztecs. Yonder lies
the true Lost City, and we are--oh, try to comprehend all that statement
means, my lads! Picture to yourselves what boundless fame and unlimited
credit awaits our report to the outer world! The benighted world! The
besotted world! The--the--"

"While we'll form the upsotted world, or a portion of it, without
something is done,--and that in a howling hurry, too!" fairly spluttered
Waldo, as the again neglected air-ship sped swiftly towards a more
elevated portion of that earth, part of the tall hill-crest which acted
as nature's barricade to yonder by nature depressed valley.

"Time enough, lad, time enough, since we are going to land," coolly
assured the professor, deftly manipulating the steering-gear and still
curying around those tree-crowned hills. "If we are really hunted after,
'twill naturally be in the quarter of our vanishment, while by alighting
around yonder, nearly at right angles with our initial approach, we w