ill
have naught to fear from the--the Aztecan clans!"

Clearly the professor had settled in his own mind just what lay before
them, and nothing short of the Lost City of the Aztecs would come
anywhere near satisfying that exalted ideal. And, taking all points into
full consideration, was there anything so very absurd in his method of
reasoning, or of drawing a deduction?

Still, that exaltation did not prevent uncle Phaeton from taking
all essential precautions, and it was only when an especially secure
landing-place was sighted that he really attempted to touch the earth.

Fully one-half of that wide circuit had been made, and as nothing could
be detected to give birth to fears for either self or air-ship, the
aeronauts skilfully landed their vessel with only the slightest of
jars. It was a well-screened location, where naught could be seen of the
flying-machine until close at hand, yet so arranged as to make a hasty
flight a very easy matter should the occasion ever arise.

Not until the landing was effected and all made secure, did Professor
Featherwit speak again. Then it was with gravely earnest speech which
suitably affected his nephews.

"Above all things, my dear lads, bear ever in mind this one fact,--we
are not here to fight. We do not come as conquerors, weapons in hand,
hearts filled with lust of blood. To the contrary, we are on a peaceful
mission, hoping to learn, trusting to enlighten, with malice towards
none, but honest love for all those who may wear the human shape, be
they of our own colour or--or--otherwise."

"That's what's the matter with Hannah's cat!" cheerfully chipped in the
irrepressible Waldo. "I say, uncle Phaeton, is it just a lie-low here
until yonder fellows grow tired of looking for what they can't find,
then a flight on our part; or will we--"

"Have we voyaged so far and seen so much, to rest content with so very
little?" exclaimed the professor, hardly as precise of speech as
under ordinary conditions. "No, no, my lads! Yonder lies the greatest
discovery of the nineteenth century, and we are--Get a hustle on, boys!
The day is waning, and with so much to see, to study, to--Come, I say!"

In spite of his initial attempt to impress his nephews with a due sense
of the heavy responsibilities which rested upon them, Phaeton Featherwit
was far more excited than either one of the brothers. Doubtless he more
nearly appreciated the importance of this wondrous discovery, provided
his n