anted it. In fact that's what I
came over to see you about. I want to thank your father."

"Then you're going?"

"I sure am, Tom! Won't it be great! I hope I can get a little gold
for myself! My folks didn't take very much to the notion of me going
off in an airship, but I told them how often you'd gone on trips,
and come safely back, so they finally gave their consent. When are
you going to start?"

"Oh, in about two weeks. Did I tell you about Andy and the map?"

"No. What trick has he been up to now?"

Thereupon Tom related his suspicions concerning the bully, and also
hinted to Ned of a certain ruse he intended to work on Andy when he
got the chance.

"Well, if you're ready, suppose we go over and see if Andy's airship
will really fly," suggested Ned, after a while. "I'm doubtful
myself, and I'd just like to see him come to grief, after the many
mean things he's done to you."

"Well," spoke Tom slowly, "I don't know as I wish him any bad luck,
but I certainly hope he doesn't use his airship to try to beat us
out in the hunt for the valley of gold."

"Do you think he might?"

"It's possible. But never mind about that now. Come on, we'll go
over to the big meadow."

The two chums walked along together, talking of many things. Tom
told of some communication he had had with Mr. Damon, in which
letters the eccentric man had inquired as to when the trip for
Alaska would be undertaken.

"Then he's going?" asked Ned.

"Oh, yes, it wouldn't seem natural to go without some of Mr. Damon's
blessings. But I think he's going to bring a friend with him."

"Who?"

"Mr. Ralph Parker."

"That gloomy scientist, who is always predicting such terrible
things going to happen?"

"That's the gentleman. You met him once, I believe Mr. Damon says
Mr. Parker wants to do some scientific studying in the far north, so
I've already counted on him as one of our party. Well, perhaps he
won't do so much predicting this trip."

A little later Tom and Ned came to a big open field. They saw quite
a crowd gathered in it, but no sign of an airship.

"Guess Andy hasn't arrived," spoke Tom.

"No; very likely he's found out that something is wrong with his
machine, and he isn't going to risk it."

But almost as Ned spoke, there sounded cries of excitement from the
crowd, and, a little later, something big and white, with many
wing-shaped stretches of canvas sticking out from all sides, was seen
turning into the big meadow from t