The Air Ship Boys
or
The Quest of the Aztec Treasure

By H. L. Sayler





CHAPTER I

THE DEPARTURE OF THE OVERLAND LIMITED


The Overland Limited, aglow with lights, stood in the Dearborn
Street station in Chicago waiting for eight o'clock and the last of
its fortunate passengers. Near the entrance gates, through which
perspiring men and women were hurrying, stood the rear cars of the
train. Within these could be seen joyous passengers locating
themselves and arranging bags and parcels.

In fifteen minutes the long journey of Ned Napier and his chum Alan
Hope to the far southwest was to begin.

At the other end of the big shed, where the cars of the long train
seemed to fade almost out of sight, four persons were anxiously
awaiting the approach of the hour of departure. One of these, the
conductor of the train, consulted his watch, as he had done several
times already, holding it close within the glow of his green-shaded