ains, and all their mountainous chain may
encompass,--yes," curtly spoke the man of hopes, stepping inside the
aerostat to perfect his arrangements for the night.

Waldo took greater pleasure in viewing the mountain lion towards whose
destruction he had so liberally contributed, but when he spoke of
removing the skin, Bruno objected.

"Why take so much trouble for nothing, Waldo? Even if we could stow the
pelts away on board, they would make a far from agreeable burden. And
if what I fancy lies before us is to come true, the more lightly we
are weighted, the more likely we are to come safely to--well, call it
civilisation, just for a change."

"Then you believe that uncle Phaeton is really in earnest about
exploring this region, Bruno?"

"He most assuredly is. Did you ever know him to speak idly, or to be
otherwise than in earnest, Waldo?"

"Well, of course uncle is all right, but--sometimes--"

A friendly palm slipped over those lips, cutting short the speech which
might perchance have left a sting behind. And yet the worthy professor
had no more enthusiastic acolyte than this same reckless speaking
youngster, when the truth was all told.

Leaving the animals where they had fallen, for the time being, the
brothers passed over to where rested the aeromotor, finding the
professor busily engaged in rigging up a series of fine wires,
completely surrounding the flying-machine, save for one narrow,
gate-like arrangement.

"Beginning to feel as though you could turn in for all night, eh, my
boys?" came his cheery greeting.

"Well, somehow I do feel as though 'the sandman' had been making
his rounds rather earlier than customary," dryly said Waldo, winking
rapidly. "I believe there must have been a bit more wind astir to-day
than common, although neither of you may have noticed the fact."

Professor Featherwit chuckled softly while at work, but neither he nor
Bruno made reply in words. And then, his arrangements perfected save
for closing the circuit, which could only be done after all hands had
entered the air-ship, he spoke to the point:

"Come, boys. You've had a rough bit of experience this day, and there
may be still further trouble in store, here in this unknown land. Better
make sure of a full night's rest, and thus have a reserve fund to draw
upon in case of need."

There was plenty of sound common sense in this adjuration, and, only
taking time to procure a can of fresh water from yonder stream, the two