Mike was to remain on guard until midnight, when Jimmie was to
relieve him. Then Pedro went out in the city to listen to such talk
of the strange airship as was floating about the streets. He was
back in a couple of hours with the information that the airship had
not landed in the city, and that it had never been seen there
before.

"It seems to me," Ned said after the Indian ceased speaking, "that
now is our time. We ought to be a long way from Lima before dawn."

"The other fellow'll see us!" Leroy objected.

"We'll have to chance that," Ned replied. "We needn't have any
lights you know, and the motors make very little noise. Get your
traps ready, boys!"

It was arranged that Pedro was to remain, under pay, in Lima,
storing up such information as he could secure against the day of
the return of the Nelson. Mike was to remain with him, of course,
as there would be no room on the Nelson for him. The young man when
told of the plans, objected strenuously to being left, but was
finally consoled by the promise that the aeroplane would be sent
back after him when opportunity offered.

It was after midnight when all the arrangements were made and the
boys passed out of their rooms into the hotel lobby. At that hour
they thought the driver of the other aeroplane would be likely to be
sleeping. At the very door of the hotel they came upon Mr. Thomas
Q. Collins! He strolled up as Ned stepped into the doorway and
extended his hand. Ned took it, gave it a perfunctory grasp, and