mpson saw as he rounded the point of the hil

ment. Where had it come from? What was its mission? Whither was it going? These

He guessed that it was the motor of his own airplane. He had not long to doubt, for in a second the machine came s

he answer came in a series of noisy punct

ning to connect the balloon with the little yellow men who had attacked him, and wi

as this? A man was climbing to the upper rigging of the plane. Now he was standing, balancing himself directly on top. Johnny recognized the slim figure of Pant. Now the plane, with engine dead, drifted toward the cabin of the balloon.

row. The excitement, following hours of fatigue and near star

hat a feat! It made Johnny's head dizzy to think of it. He did not doubt for one moment that Pant would do it. But what could be his purpose? Had the balloon broken loose? Was it drifting free, a derelict? This he could not believe, for the thing had seeme

ith tremendous velocity. But there came a sudden check. It was attached to a parachute. The parac

not realize that once more an object had fallen from the car.

ision, the boy rose and waved his ar

Good old Pant

ne. Before entering this tunnel, they paused to look about them. Ranged about the walls, piled tier on tier, were black cubes of sand and gravel. From these came the glitter of yellow metal. These wer

power of the engine had been supplied by gasoline was shown by a great pile of empty one

pliers and rubbed

But say! These boys sure had some ideas about mining placer gold. A man c

me from a half s

bes of pay dirt piled high on every side. At the end of it all was a low square machine with a buzz-saw

ver one!" s

so," agr

ch the yellow men, in their fright at the machine-gun fire, had deserted in the outer cabin, he perf

was instantly halted. Still filled with terror at the machine-gun fire, the yellow men took to their parachutes. On landing, they m

from the mine and had joined Johnny, who, still prancing about in his ridiculous

bring that giant bird to earth. Th

abin touched the snow and

reasure, but they did find a solitary man. He was a white

you come with me. We've got work ahead of us and a plenty. The Bolshevik band will be here in less

onsciousness and can manage it, carry him to the ship. Otherwi

er from the bank to the water-channel, a quarter of a mile over the ice, was no

d Jarvis when the last case of p

n bringing the injured man to the ship. Imagine his astonishmen

ed, dazed at the

e surroundings gave them

loose and sailed

ght the gleam of a lig

t another moment," he muttered. "And it wo

led his men ba

ight of gold taken in the last three days from Mine No. 2, and twice as much taken from the robber yellow men. Thirty-five per cent of this would do wonders in Vladiv

one of his men, "where's Pant? H

He was not to be found. At last Johnny spied a note

ing your service at this time. But you won't need me down there

od-

AN

man beside him and

red Johnny. "But a

o try to

a b

hnny murmured ag

ul surgeon. A panther tore his right eye out. The surgeon shot the panther and grafted an eye into Pant's empty socket. The fellow claimed he'd se

ecret or two about himself and keep them. Pant had his and kept it. That'