The coon, the Irishman and the detective obeyed this order by discharging their rifles at the sailors.
Several mournful howls were returned, showing that the bullets had hit their enemies.
Passing on, the Pegasus left the steamer astern and reached the land where the fugitive vanished.
He had gone into a jungle.
It was half a mile in diameter and surrounded by clear ground upon all sides.
If the fugitive were to attempt to escape from it the occupants of the flying machine would not fail to see him.
Frank saw that it would be a difficult task to find the man in the night, so he said to his friends:
“I am going to keep the Pegasus poised above the jungle here until daybreak. In the meantime, if you will keep watch he can’t get away without being seen.”
The rest agreed with this plan.
At that time the engine of the clouds floated but 200 feet above the waving grass.