Alexis was astonished.
“Sixty-five miles!” he ejaculated. “Why, it seems as if we were standing still.”
“If we were close enough to the earth you would soon notice the difference,” said Chester.
For another hour they continued on their way without incident, and then Chester discovered the dim outline of a second aircraft trailing them at a distance. It was not gaining, but even when Hal put on more speed, at a word from Chester, he was unable to shake it off.
“Evidently a German,” said Chester. “I suppose he wants to see where we are going.”
For another hour the plane pursued them. Then Chester perceived that there were two instead of one, and that both were creeping up on them.
With a cry to Hal, Chester picked two rifles from the bottom of the car.
“We’ll have to fight them off!” he cried.
Alexis stirred uneasily in his seat.
“I was afraid of it,” he muttered. “Now, what will happen to me when I go hurtling through space to the ground below?”