Beyond hindrance now, Bryan ran. He ran recklessly, wildly, eagerness driving away his exhaustion, sending an explosive power into his legs.
Behind him voices shouted, a whistle shrilled. Then the sharp blast of a gun split the air.
He left the path and cut across a stretch of grass. A wall of shrubbery rose before him, and he plunged into it without checking speed. Branches lashed at him, tore at him. He fell, heaved himself erect, fought his way clear.
More grass, and then another path, running parallel to the one he had fled. He followed this, and presently the pavilion took form in the gloom. Above it a dark shape circled on huge wings. The giant bird—and it was alone. Bryan could see no other shapes accompanying it.
He was puzzling over the discovery, when a flashlight beam speared at him out of an intersecting path. Shouts followed it, filled with a swift excitement.
"There he is!"
"Stop, you!"
Bryan plunged on. Again a whistle shrilled. Then the running sounds of a group of men came in pursuit.
The pavilion rose before him. He reached the open space around it, halted, swung his bound hands in an urgent gesture at the sky.
"Here I am!" he called, not knowing if his call would be heard. "Here—quick!"