Then, suddenly, and almost together came two streaks of fire and two
more explosions.
"One of them might mean a signal," said Ned gravely, "but they were
not from the same spot. If it were Elmer he would have the three
fires. If it is Elmer and Buck and they can't make a fire and are
shooting I am afraid it means trouble."
"It may mean Indians," suggested Bob, "and they may have put out
their fires for safety."
"They might even be holding off an attack of some kind," added Alan
anxiously.
Just then there was another crack of a firearm now a little nearer.
The Cibola was drifting directly toward the sound, but very slowly,
and would soon have lost all headway.
"I don't want to be presumptuous," said Bob in a low voice, "but
can't we land and find out what the trouble is?"
"We can find out without landing," replied Alan.
It was so dark in the cabin that the boys could only dimly see each
other, but Ned was groping about near the silent engine. In a
moment he had secured from the ammunition case a storage electric
light, and cautiously shading the lens with his cap he asked Bob to
hold it.
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