ence. So,
tell us at once what that means."

"If anybody had omniscience it would be we British of course, but I
confess, Wharton, that this is beyond me. That aeroplane is certainly
going fast. Now it's as big as my hand, now it's the size of an egg, now
it's a dot and now it's gone."

"Perhaps it's seeking help," said John.

"I don't see why," said Wharton. "Enough are left to hold us in this
grove. Their only difficulty is in getting at us. Even if they brought
more the trees and the foliage would still be here to protect us."

"That's true," admitted John. "Then it may have been damaged by some of
our bullets."

"But it left like a racer. I don't know how these machines are built,
but I'd wager from the way it flew that not a wheel or spring or screw
or rivet in it was damaged."

"The others are evidently waiting for it to come back."

"How do you make out that?"

"Because they merely float about beyond our reach and don't try anything
against us. The day's passing, and if they didn't have some plan
dependent on the machine that left, they'd be at work now trying to
shoot us up."

Carstairs reached over and patted John on the head. "You talk sense,
Scott," he said, "if it weren't for your accent you could pass for an
Englishman."

"Then I'll see that he never changes his accent," said Wharton.

"I think I'll take a nap," said Carstairs, "and I really mean it. The
grass and the bushes were heavy with rain when we came in here, although
we didn't notice it, but the fine sun up there has dried everything now,
and I've a good bed."

He lay very comfortably, with his head on a mound of turf, but he did
not close his eyes. The lids were lowered but nevertheless he watched
the heavens.

"Sorry for those poor horses of ours," he said. "One's killed and the
other two, I suppose, will be scared to death before this thing's over."

"And then we'll have to walk," said Wharton.

"But we'll go on just the same."

"We can buy new horses, at the next village. No more walking for mine
than I can help."

John was intently watching the eastern horizon. He was longing now for
Lannes' powerful glasses. Nevertheless his eyesight was good, the best
of the three, and presently the great pulse in his throat began to leap.
But he did not say anything yet. He wanted to make sure. He waited a
minute and then he said:

"A black dot has reappeared in the eastern sky. It's so tiny you
couldn't see it unless you swept your