s lifted and gave them a momentary view of that strange golden gleam
which for so long had haunted their dreams.

Once before, many months ago, the two of them had neared the spot on an
ocean craft, but duty to marooned comrades had called them back. Now they
had only themselves to think of, and the City of Gold, if city it be,
would offer to them a haven of refuge.

What wonder that their hearts beat wildly as they caught its gleam and
realized that in a very few moments they would be landing within a quarter
of a mile of that mysterious city, which, according to the natives whom
they had met long ago, did really exist as a place of many people and much
gold.

"Pull the cord! Pull the cord!" shouted Jarvis excitedly. "We're nearin'
shore."

He had spoken the truth. As Dave gripped the cord attached to the gas
valve on the balloon and in his imagination heard the hiss of escaping gas
and felt the drop of the balloon, his thoughts sobered. After all, what
did they know about these strange people? What sort of treatment would
they receive from them? If they landed they might, in less than an hour,
be dead. Might it not be better to allow the balloon to rise and to
attempt a journey back to some Russian town? But instantly he realized
that this gale which was coming would carry them to the heart of
Bolsheviki Russia. What chance would they have there?

"Pull the cord! Pull the cord!" insisted Jarvis.

Mechanically, Dave's hand came down. The hiss of air was followed by the
sagging drop of the car. The die had been cast.

* * * * *

For an hour, after admitting the white man's dog to his secret mine, Pant
sat listening for any sound that might tell of his discovery. After this,
heaving a sigh of relief, he turned at once to the work that lay before
him. He realized that whatever he did must be done soon.

Dragging the newly acquired batteries back to where the others were lined
up along the wall, he attached one of them to the circuit, then threw in
the switch which should set the buzz-saw mining machine into operation. An
angry spit and flare was his only reward.

Nothing daunted, he cut in another battery, then another. As he touched
the switch after attaching the third battery, a loud whirring sound
rewarded him.

"Eureka! I have found it!" he cried, leaping high in air. "Now we win!"

The dog barked loudly at this singular demonstration, but since the
vault-like