dirt, even with
every chance laid open," Waldo admitted. "Still, it's what uncle Phaeton
would advise, and we can't well do less than follow his will, Bruno."

"Since we broke it so completely by tackling the grizzly," with a brief
laugh.

"That's all right, too. Of course we'd ought to've skulked away like a
couple of egg-sucking curs, but we didn't, and I'm mightily glad of
it, too. For Ixtli--what a name that is to go to bed with every night,
though!--for Ixtli is just about as white as they make 'em, nowadays;
you hear me blow my bazoo?"

And so the long night wore its length along, the brothers taking turns
at keeping watch and ward, but the Aztec slumbering peacefully through
all, looking the least dangerous of all possible captives. And after
this light even the cautious Bruno began to regard him ere the first
stroke of coming dawn could be seen above the eastern hills.

Not being positive just where the air-ship would put in an appearance,
since Professor Featherwit had, perforce, left that question open, to be
decided by circumstances over which he might have no control, each guard
in turn devoted considerable attention to the upper regions, hoping to
glimpse the aerostat, and holding matches in readiness to raise a flare
by way of alighting signal. But it was not until the early dawn that
Bruno caught sight of the air-ship, just skimming the tree-tops, the
better to escape observation by any Indian lookout.

After that the rest came easily enough. A couple of blazing matches held
aloft proved sufficient cue to the professor, and soon thereafter the
flying-machine was safely brought to land, so gently that the slumbers
of the young Aztec were undisturbed.

Bruno gave a hasty word of warning and explanation combined, even
before he extended a welcoming hand towards Mr. Edgecombe, who certainly
appeared all the better for his encounter with people of his own race.

Professor Featherwit took a keen, eager look at the slumbering redskin,
then drew silently back, to whisper in Bruno's ear:

"Guard well your tongue, lad. I have told him nothing, as yet, and we
must consult together before breaking the news. For now we have had no
rest, so I believe we would better lie down for an hour or two."

Mr. Edgecombe appeared to be perfectly willing to do this, and soon the
wearied men were wrapped in blankets and sleeping peacefully.

Long before their lids unclosed, Bruno had an appetising meal in
readiness, alth