Glancing over his shoulder, Chester was the first to discover that they were followed. At the same moment that he perceived the pursuing machine there came a shot from the enemy.
There was no need for Chester to cry out to Hal. The sound of the shot told the latter of their danger, and he immediately threw the speed lever over as far as it would go.
The machine bounded forward.
But the pursuer also came on faster than before; and, while it was apparent that he was not lessening the distance between the two craft, he nevertheless was still in range, and his rifle continued to crack. However, neither the machine nor its three occupants were struck.
Chester took a snap shot at the other craft with his revolver, but the bullet fell short. While the enemy could pepper them at will with his rifle, a bullet from the lad’s revolver could not reach him.
Hal heard the sound of Chester’s revolver, and called out:
“Did you hit him?”
“No!” Chester shouted back, “he’s too far behind. But he’ll get us in a minute if we don’t do something.” To himself he added: “If I only had a rifle!”
“You be ready with your revolver,” Hal called to his friend, “and I’ll soon fix that. It’s our only chance.”
Abruptly he slackened the speed of the machine, and swiftly the enemy came on. So suddenly had Hal acted that the man at the wheel of the pursuing machine could not act promptly enough, and was within range of Chester’s revolver before he could slow down.