CHAPTER XXVII
IN DISGUISE
For a moment after the announcement of Mr. Deering about the gold noone spoke. Then Mr. Bell said:
"That is the story told by Loftus, but I feared his mind was wandering."
"No, it is true," went on the professor's cousin. "One of the hutsassigned to us happened to be over a rich deposit of gold. I and someothers discovered it when we were digging a tunnel to escape in theearly days of our captivity. We soon gave up the plan of tunneling outof the valley, and dug for the gold. We found plenty, which we hid, butwe never imagined it would be of any service to us, for we had given uphope of escaping."
"And now you'll soon have a chance to spend some of it," observedNestor with a laugh. "If everything goes well, and I don't see why itshouldn't, you'll soon be in civilization again, with your friends,and can see something of the world."
"To go back into the world again!" cried the old man, with emotion."How strange it sounds to hear those words! We expected to die and beburied in Lost Valley, with never a sight of our friends or relativesagain. Now I have hope!" He paused for an instant, as if overcome byhis thoughts, and then added: "I must hurry back now, or I shall bemissed, as it is getting late. But I will return here the first chanceI get."
Following the aged man's departure several plans were discussed. JimNestor proposed that the attack be made on the Indians while they wereat their services in the temple of the flying lizard.
"If we do that, some of us will have to be on hand to know just whenthat time is," objected Tod. "We'll have to be in the temple, or nearit."
"Exactly," agreed Jim. "That's my idea. You and I can go, watch ourchance, notify the white captives to slip away, and, if necessary,stand off the Indians, for they may catch on, and try to stop therescue. Yes, Tod, you and I will have to go to the temple of the flyinglizard, if there is such an insect."
"Oh, there is!" cried Professor Snodgrass. "I know it. But I must begof you to allow me to be of the party, for it will be my only chance tosecure one of the curious insects. I, also, must go to the temple."
"I'd like to go, too," spoke Ned. "I want to see the curious rites ofthe ceremony."
"Well," remarked Jerry, with a smile, "I guess we all would like togo, but it's hardly possible. I suggest we draw lots for it. Four ofus will go, and the others stay here to defend the ship if necessary.There may be a fight."
"Couldn't you take the airship near enough, make a sudden descent, andpick up the people who could be in waiting?" suggested Mr. Bell.
"I'm afraid not," answered Jerry. "We would have to sail so slowlythat we would lose steerage way, and then, too, if the Indians arecelebrating they'll have many fires, and the airship would showplainly. They would detect us, rush out, and, perhaps, damage the ship,which would be low down. Then we would all be captives together."
"I guess Jerry's right," added Jim Nestor. "We will have to work inthe dark. That is, sneak into the temple, watch our chance, and, whenthe right time comes, which will be when the Indians are so busy theywon't notice us, and then lead the whites to where the airship is.Here is as good a place for it as any. Then we can fly off before theIndians see us. Get the lots ready, Jerry. I hope I'm one to go."
He was; Jerry, Ned and the professor drawing the remaining lucky slips.This would leave Tod, Mr. Bell and Bob to defend the airship. Theprofessor was delighted at his success.
"Now I will get the flying lizard!" he cried.
Toward dusk Mr. Deering came back. He seemed ten years younger sincehearing the good news, and reported that his friends were eager for thetime to come for the rescue.
"I have brought some disguises that you may want to wear, in caseany of you plan to come to the Indian village," said the aged man,producing a bundle which contained suits of very thin skins. "TheIndians use these in some of their dances," he went on, "and there areface masks, false beards and wigs which will change you from whitesinto redmen very quickly. I have four suits, which I took from thetemple."
"Just the thing!" cried Jerry. "We will put them on when we go torescue your friends. I was wondering how we could approach unobserved."The details of the escape were then told to Mr. Deering, and he wasinstructed to have his friends in waiting at a point he designated nearthe temple. At the proper time they would be led to the airship, as itwas considered best not to have them attempt to reach it unaccompaniedby some of the rescuers.
"I'll not come out here again," said the aged prisoner, "for some ofthe Indians are already suspicious. We will expect you to-morrow night,when the feast is at its height."
It seemed to the adventurers in the airship that the next night wouldnever come, but it did at last, and was ushered in with a rain storm.
"Bur-r-r-r! We're going to get wet!" complained Ned, as the four wereabout to set out.
"Don't kick," advised Jerry. "It will be all the better for us. Therain will make the feast fires burn dimly."
"And the flying lizards won't be able to fly so well," added theprofessor, as if the whole expedition was for that object alone.
Sledge Hammer Tod was made a sort of captain of the slender forces leftto guard the airship, and he got out the guns and revolvers, of whichthere were quite a collection, and in which task he was aided by Bob.