“My idea, exactly,” declared Tom.  “Well, then, I’ll go down at the first place we cross, where we can get gasoline, and then we’ll be in a position to hover in the air for a long time, without descending.”

The airship kept on her way, traveling slowly the remainder of that day, and at dusk, when there was less chance of big crowds seeing them, the Red Cloud was sent down on the outskirts of a large village.  Tom and Mr. Damon went to a supply store, and arranged to have a sufficient quantity of the gasoline taken out to the airship.  It was delivered after dark, and little talk was occasioned by the few who were aware of the presence of the craft.  Then, once more, they went aloft, and Tom sent several wireless messages to Shopton, including one to Miss Nestor.

“Please tell my wife that I am well, and that I have a good appetite,” said Mr. Damon.

Mr. Parker also sent a message to a scientific friend of his, stating that he made some observations among the mountains, of the region in which the airship then was, and that the indications were that a great landslide would soon take place.

“That won’t worry us,” spoke Tom, “for we’ll be far above it.”

“I hope we will be near enough to enable me to observe it, and make some scientific notes,” came from Mr. Parker.  “I am positive that one of these mountain peaks that we saw to-day will disappear in a landslide within a few days.  I have an instrument somewhat like the one that records earthquakes, and it has been acting strangely of late.”

Tom wondered what enjoyment Mr. Parker got out of life, when he was always looking for some calamity to happen, but the scientist seemed to take as much pleasure in his gloomy forebodings now, as he had on Earthquake Island.

They reached the vicinity of Leadville the next day, but took care to keep high above the city, so that the airship could not be observed.  With powerful glasses they examined the mountainous country, looking for the little settlement of Indian Ridge.

“There it is!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, just as dusk was settling down.  I can make out the hotel I stopped at.  Now we can really begin our search.  The next thing is to find the stone head, and then, I think, I will have my bearings.”

“We’ll begin the hunt for that landmark in the morning,” said Tom.

High in the air hovered the Red Cloud.  At that distance above the earth she must have looked like some great bird, and the adventurers thought it unlikely that any one in the vicinity of Leadville would observe them.

The quest for the great mountain peak, that looked like a stone head, was under way.  Back and forth sailed the airship.  Sometimes she was enveloped in fog, and no sight could be had of the earth below.  At other times there were rain storms, which likewise prevented a view.  Mr. Parker was on the lookout for his predicted mountain landslide, but it did not occur, and he was much disappointed.