“And they are?”
“Either to keep on as we are doing, or give it up as a bad job.”
“Give up!” exclaimed Mortimer in a disgusted tone. “I’m unalterably opposed to that. We started out to follow them, and follow them we will until either this air-ship gives out or we overtake them.”
“Or we lose sight of them,” suggested the Professor.
“Or we lose sight of them,” assented Mortimer grudgingly; “but I trust you’ll do your best to avoid that.”
“You may count upon it that I will,” answered the Professor stoutly.
“Besides,” continued Mortimer, “they can’t keep this up forever. They’re making for some point and some time or other they must effect a landing. Then it will become interesting. Hello! what are they up to now?”
“They are descending. See! they are increasing the distance between us, too.”
“If they descend, it will give me a chance to pot them from above,” suggested the Captain, again taking up the rifle.
“It seems awful to fire upon them,” exclaimed the Professor wistfully; “especially as they are not offering us any attack, but are only seeking to escape.”