feeling came. His pulses were still drumming in his ears,
but he heard a louder throbbing above the trees. The angry and
disappointed monsters were hovering there, still seeking their prey.

Bullets pattered on the leaves and twigs, but they went wide. The three
horses shivered in terror, and the one that had been touched on the
flank uttered a shrill neigh of distress. John took the lead.

"The undergrowth is thicker on our right," he said. "We must take our
horse into it. They won't be able to get more than glimpses of us
there."

"Right!" said Carstairs, "I think I can walk that far now. The strength
is coming back into my knees, and I don't think they'll double under me.
I don't mind telling you fellows that I was never before in my life so
scared."

"Your confession is mine too," said Wharton.

They reached the new refuge without harm, although more shots were fired
from the planes. The density of the bushes there was due to a small
stream flowing through the wood, and while the horses were still
exposed, in a measure, they found almost complete cover for themselves.
The three lay down in the thicket and pointed upward the muzzles of
their rifles.

The throbbing and droning over their heads had never ceased, and through
the leaves they saw the armored planes hovering about not far above the
tops of the trees. But the fugitives in their screen of leaf and thicket
had become invisible.

"We'll have to chance it with our horses," whispered Wharton, "but for
ourselves we may be able to give back as good as we send. Scott, are you
a sharpshooter?"

"I'm a pretty good marksman, and I think I could hit one of those things
if it should slow down."

"I suggest," said Carstairs, "that when one of us fires he immediately
move away at least six or eight yards. Then they won't be able to locate
us by the shots."

"Good for you old Britisher," said Wharton, "you do have moments of
intelligence."

"Wharton, I'd like to say as much for you."

Both laughed but the laugh was uneasy and unnatural. It was merely the
force of habit, compelling them to seek some sort of relief through
words.

The planes had come together in a group for a few moments, but afterward
they made a wide separation and flew about swiftly in irregular circles.
John knew that it was meant to disturb the aim of those below, because
the flying men had certainly seen that they carried rifles.

John crouched under a bush, and with the muzzle of hi