CHAPTER I
“WHO ARE YOU”
The movements of the pursued craft, which Professor Dean described as signals, continued for only a short time and then once more the pursued rose to a great altitude. The “Royal Dean” tenaciously followed.
“I thought we were going back to earth, but now it seems that we are heaven-bound,” remarked the Professor.
“Whether they make for heaven or the other place, we’ll follow them as long as there is a follow left in us,” answered Mortimer grimly.
For some twenty miles the mysterious craft kept its way, then, still at the same altitude, suddenly described a great semicircle, and laid a course due south.
“What are they up to now?” questioned Mortimer.
“Blessed if I know,” replied the Professor. “It looks very much as if we were going back the way we came.”
“Curious!” commented Mortimer. “I suppose we can only follow and await developments.”
“That’s all,” assented the Professor.
The opinion expressed by Professor Dean that they were returning over practically the same course proved to be correct. Back they went for some twenty miles, and then the pursued began to descend, followed, of course, by their obstinate pursuers.