ntly dropped from sight.

"The windlass," commanded Jarvis. "Some of you bring it up. We'll pull 'em
down alright, alright! We'll get the bloody, bloomin' 'eathen yet."

A wooden windlass, made for bringing the balloon to earth in case of
storm, was brought forward, while Dave and Jarvis watched for any
indication of further activity on the part of the robbers.

Once the windlass was fastened to the bank by means of ice anchors, the
task of bringing down the balloon was a matter of moments.

Two cowering wretches were found in one corner of the cabin.

"I'm for 'aving an end to 'em at once and immediately," stormed Jarvis.

"No! No!" smiled Dave. "They're just the boys we want. They are going to
tell us why the engine won't go for us."

"And if they do?"

"If they do, we'll leave them the greenhouse, coal mine, heating plant and
all in exchange for that bit of information."

Jarvis seemed quite content with any arrangement which promised to put a
few thousand miles between him and the "bloody, bloomin' 'eathen."

After the wound of the one who had been winged by Dave's automatic had
been dressed, Dave locked himself in the cabin with the yellow men.

It took him three hours to secure the desired information, but in the end
it came.

The wounded Oriental showed him a secret eccentric bearing through which
the crank shaft operated. When this bearing was properly adjusted the
engine worked perfectly, when it was out of adjustment, it would not work
at all.

When Dave had operated the engine for an hour, he sent the prisoners back
to the greenhouse, where they were released. The gold they had stolen was
found hidden away in a locker of the balloon cabin.

In another hour, the balloon, with all on board, gently urged on by the
wind, ably assisted by the now perfect engine, was making good time toward
Vladivostok.

* * * * *

As Johnny Thompson hesitated at the head of the street, listening to the
rat-tat-tat of machine guns, uncertain which way to turn, he heard the
distant thunder of an engine in midair. Gazing away to the north, he saw a
dirigible balloon circling in search of a likely lighting place.

"I wonder which faction that bird belongs to?" he murmured.

If he had but known the truth, a little ray of hope would have pierced the
gloom of his leaden sky, for this balloon was none other than the one he
had seen carry his good friends, Dave and Jarvis, awa