"We'll have to take a chance, that's all!" urged Jimmie. "We won't let a little thing like that keep us from trying to make a landing."
"Perhaps not," went on Harry, "but at the same time it is a possibility and must be considered. Besides," he added, "we're not free from that fellow over here on our left yet. He's rising."
"Is he going over us?" asked Ned, anxiously. "I can't get much more speed out of this craft the way we're loaded."
"Yes," replied Harry, training his glasses aloft. "He is trying to pass above us. Perhaps he'll drop a bomb on us."
"That's exactly what he's trying to do!" declared Jack. "What can we do to prevent him? Dave, how about another shot?"
"I'll try," answered the boy, "but I'm not sure. There's considerable vibration here, you know, and I haven't a rest."
Presently he saw that unless he fired soon the other would be out of reach, and taking a chance discharged the rifle. As he had anticipated, the bullet went wild and resulted in no damage. Before he could reload and again take aim the other had passed to a point where the upper planes of the Eagle shut off his view.
"Now they'll be able to bombard us to their own pleasure!" declared Jimmie. "Gee, I wish I could climb up above this top plane and take a little crack at them myself! Can't I get up there?"
"None of that, Jimmie!" ordered Ned. "We have already all the danger we can handle without trying such a stunt as that!"
"All right, then, but it would be well to alter our course a bit."