"Hurry now," he said. "You have not much time."
Unmindful of the bullets that were flying overhead, he turned on his heel and walked toward the loyal troops, who, still firing at the mutineers, hurried forward to receive him.
General Herwigs, realizing that to protest further to the chancellor was useless, climbed in the airplane again and took his seat.
"No use arguing with him," he muttered.
Hal smiled slightly and made sure that his spark was set.
"All ready, sir?" he called back over his shoulder.
"All ready," was the reply; "and hurry."
The huge plane slid gently over the ground. Gradually its momentum increased until it was traveling with the speed of an express train. Then Hal touched the elevating lever.
The airplane leaped aloft.
Almost at the same moment, a dozen or more of the mutineers, who were still facing the loyal troops firmly, at command from General Derloff, turned their rifles on the airplane and fired.