Frank Merriwell in Mexico: The Search for the Silver Palace — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN MEXICO. were seen to fall, but still the others came|the eyes of any human being behold the marvelous Silver Palace of the Sierra... snarled the} Madre Mountains. ne * x * * * x oe When the balloon has'ascended higher. another current of air was encountered,. ~ Away they a floated over the mountain peaks ang. out: on. ‘‘Lead won’t stop ’em!”’ Westerner. ‘It? H] be hand ter hand in a —jiffy.”? ‘“‘And that means——”? ‘We'll git wiped out.’’ “The balloon——’’ | ‘“Won’t carry more’n two—possibly three. In with ye, boy! You may escape! It don’t make any diffrunce ’bout an old) coon like me.’ ‘Not much will I get in and leave youl cried Frank Merriwell. ‘*We are partners in this expedition, and partners -we’ll stay to the end!"? “But ther others—ther professor an’ ther Dutch boy! They might escape if veneers wns? | hey shall escape!? | Out flashed a knife in Frank ‘Merri-| well’s hand, and, with one sweeping | slash, he severed the strong rope that held; | the tugging, tossing balloon to the earth. | Away shot the balloon, acry of amaze- ment and horror breaking from the lips of the professor and Hans. “Mein gootness!’? gasped the Dutch boy. ‘*Vot vos happened ?’’ ‘*Y’ll tell you,’’ groaned. the professor. ~The balloon could not carry all four of us, and Frank Merriwell, like the noble, generous, hot-headed, foolish boy he is, rcfused to leave Bushnell. At the same time he would not doom us, and he cut the rope, setting the balloon free. He has remained behind to die at Bushnell’s side.” | ‘‘Led me git oudt!’’ sobbed Hans. vant to go pack und die mit him!” | "Tt is too late now. Look—see there! We are directly over the Silver Palace! | What a beautiful——” The professor’s words were interrupted by a frightful rumbling roar that came up from the gulf surrounding the plateau -on which the palace stood. All the way around that gulf a sheet of fame seemed to leap upward through the smoke, and then, paralyzed, helpless, hypnotized by the spectacle, they saw the plateau and the palace sink and disappear into the blackness of a great void. Then, like a black funeral pall, the smoke rolled up about them and shut off their view. But they knew that never again would aa § (pT TN A a Tt I tl IO te ti and the course changed. beyond the great range. At last they came ‘down, made a safe landing, and, to their satisfaction, found. = | themselves within a mile of Huejugilla el... Alto. had left Frank Merriwell to his doom. In Huejugilla el Alto they remained © four days, neither of them seeming to have energy enough to do anything. ~And, on the fourth day, ‘town and stopped at the hotel. Picture the meeting between Frank. and his friends! Hans shed nearly a buck- etful of joyful tears, and Professor Scotch actually swooned from sheer amazement | When the professor reecov-- and delight. ered, he clung to Frank’s hands, saying: COPhis is the happiest moment of my _ life—if I am not dreaming! Frank, my dear boy, I never expected to see you. | again. How did you escape?” ‘“The eruption of the volcano broke he “ “and, by | bandits up,’’ explained Frank; the time they had recovered and were ready to come at us again,- natives, headed by Rodeo, brother, came down on them. battle ensued. The bandits were defeated, many of them slain, among the latter be- ; ing the false Pacheco. And whom do you — fancy the impostor DENS to be, profes- ser??? “T haven't the least idea.’ ‘“‘He was my villainous const; Culros” Merriwell.’? ‘And he is dead ?’’ | Ves, 3% “That isa good thing. He will nok trouble you any more.”’ ‘“‘No, I shall never be troubled by him | again. With Rodeo and the natives was Jack, Burk——” | ‘‘Jack Burk! The man is dead!” They had escaped the most frightful — perils, but Professor Scotch’s heart lay — like lead in his bosom, and Hans Dunner- :“ wust was not to be comforted, for they Frank Merri- 7 well, Al Bushnell, and two others rode into. . a band of . Pacheco’s A terrible | Micboc CO) SS (CO)