prevent their carrying out their designs.

Nearer and nearer swept the Eagle with her strange purpose. At length
Jimmie's hand was outstretched to grasp the loop of line Dave had so
cunningly fashioned. He started on a run in the same direction the
airship was going, for the purpose of lessening the shock of being
picked up from a standstill by the airship that was still moving at a
good speed. He felt the rope within his hand, and then he heard a shot.

Instantly realizing that their maneuver had been discovered, the lad
knew that the soldiers would endeavor by every means within their power
to frustrate the designs of himself and comrades. Yet he was
determined to make the attempt at escape, desperate though it was.

He felt himself lifted from his feet, and knew that his grasp on the
rope was all that was keeping him from being dashed to earth again.

Another rifle shot rang out, and the boy knew that the Germans were
preparing to concentrate their fire upon himself and comrades.

This time he heard the crash of a bullet as it ripped its way through
one of the wings of the Eagle.

In another instant the lad saw by a quick glance earthward that the
Eagle was not rising rapidly enough to get away from the cluster of
tents toward which it was heading. He knew that Ned was doing all
possible to so manipulate the wings of the monster craft that the tents
would be cleared, and hoped ardently that he might be able to do so.

As the Eagle began a sloping ascent that promised to accomplish the
purpose of its pilot another rifle in the hands of a German soldier
spoke its sharp command and another bullet sped toward the little party.

A clang of lead upon the metal under part of the fuselage told Jimmie,
hanging in midair, that the last marksman had been more successful than
his companions, and he hoped that no damage was done.

His surprise was indeed great to feel a great trembling and shaking of
the rope he grasped. He glanced upward to determine the cause.

His astonishment at observing Dave slipping down the rope was so great
that he nearly loosed his own grip.

Lower and lower came the other boy until he reached the knot of the
loop he had tied for Jimmie's benefit. There he hung a moment. Jimmie
looked toward the earth again and saw that they were nearly over the
tents. Mentally deciding that they would clear the tops, the lad again
glanced aloft to observe the strange boy.

It seemed that coincident