had to arrange for the proper clothing, and other supplies.
To take apart and ship the balloon was no small task, and then there were the passages to engage on a steamer that would land them at the nearest point to strike into the interior, the question of transportation after reaching Mexico, and many other matters to consider.
But gradually things began to shape themselves and it looked as though the expedition could start for the city of gold in about two weeks after the receipt of the second letter from the missionary.
"I think I'll give the balloon a trial to-morrow," said Tom one night, after a hard day's work. "It's all ready, and it ought to work pretty good. It will be just what we need to sail over some dense jungle and land down on the plain by the great temple."
"Bless my slipers!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I must think up some way of telling my wife that I'm going."
"Haven't you told her yet?" asked Ned.
The ecentric man shook his head.
"I haven't had a good chance," he said, "but I think I'll tell her to-morrow, and promise her one of the gold images. Then she won't mind."
Tom was just a little bit nervous when he got ready for a trial flight in the new dirigible bal-
