d. After that I'm not at all so sure as I'd like."

"Then I agree that it's best that we just hit it up for the west."

"Right-o!" cried Jack. "Let's get out of town, as that freight
conductor used to say. And let's be quick about it."

"We'll be in plenty of time if we just jog along easily and save any
undue strain on the machine," advised Ned. "We'd better be on the
lookout for something to eat instead of worrying about speed."

"We can eat some of this canned goods we put aboard back there in
Peremysl," suggested Harry. "I'm getting a little bit hungry now."

"Then don't eat anything until you're good and hungry," Ned put in with
a smile. "We can't tell where we'll be apt to get anything after this
present supply is exhausted."

"Then I won't eat just now," agreed Harry. "I'm not so hungry."

Ned's laugh at the other's reply went far to break the spell of
melancholy that rested upon the group after they had discovered the
loss of their comrades. Truly they needed a bit of cheering, for the
situation was anything but pleasant and hopeful.

"I see a little village off there to the right a piece," said Jack
presently. "We'd better find a favorable landing spot not far from the
town pretty soon, for it's coming on dark and we'll be unable to see
without showing searchlights that would expose ourselves."

"You're right, I believe," Ned said. "We'd better land."

"All right, then," agreed Harry. "Let's come down easy, though."

Under Ned's capable hands the Eagle swooped silently and swiftly toward
the earth. The great machine behaved splendidly in every particular.
All three boys craned their necks eagerly toward the earth as they
descended. With watchful eyes they peered about.

In another five minutes they were standing beside the Eagle, which
rested easily in a grassy spot beneath some tall trees that screened
the lads from the eyes of anyone passing upon the road.

Their flight through the twilight had been apparently unobserved, for
no outcry from the nearby village had reached their ears.

For a few minutes the three lads stood peering anxiously forth from a
screen of bushes that separated them from the highway.

At length Ned signalled his comrades to follow, and cautiously stepped
forth from the copse. The others were close upon this heels.

"Let's go to the village," offered Ned, "and try to find out just where
we are. Then we can know what to do next."

"Go ahead!" agreed Jack a