ays."

"That's so," agreed Mr. Damon. "Well, now we're here, what's to be
done? Which way do we start to reach the cave where the diamonds are
manufactured, Mr. Jenks?"

"That I can't say. As you know, I only had a momentary glimpse of this
stone head as they wore taking me along the trail. Then one the men
noticed that the bandage had slipped and he pulled it into place. So I
really can't say which direction to take now, in order to discover the
secret."

"How long after you saw the head before you reached the cave?" asked
Tom. "In that way we may be able to tell how far away it is."

"Well, I should say it was about two or three hours after I saw the
head, before we got to the halting place, and I was carried into the
cave. That would make it several miles from here, for we went in a
wagon."

"Yes, and they might have driven in a round-about way, in order to
deceive you," suggested Mr. Damon. "At best we have but a faint idea
where the diamond cave is, but we must search for it; eh, Tom?"

"Certainly. We'll start right in. And as the airship will be of but
little service to us now, I suggest that we leave it in this valley.
It is very much secluded, and no one will harm it, I think. We can then
start off prospecting, for I have a large portable tent, and we can
carry enough food with us, with what game we can shoot, to enable us to
live. I have a regular camping outfit on board."

"Fine!" cried Mr. Parker, "and that will give me a chance to make some
observations among the mountains, and perhaps I can predict when a
landslide, or an eruption of some dormant volcano, may occur."

"Bless my stars!" cried Mr. Damon. "I don't wish you any bad luck, Mr.
Parker, but I sincerely hope nothing of the sort happens! We had enough
of that on Earthquake Island!"

"One can not halt the forces of nature," said the scientist, solemnly.
"There are many towering peaks around here which may contain old
volcanoes. And I notice the presence of iron ore all about. This must be
a wonderful place in a thunder and lightning storm."

"Why?" asked Tom, curiously.

"Because lightning would be powerfully attracted here by the presence
of the metal. In fact there is evidence that many of the peaks have been
struck by lightning," and the scientist showed curious, livid scars on
the stone faces of the peaks within sight.

"Then this is a good place to stay away from in a storm," observed Mr.
Damon. "However, we won't worry about that