“There are so many craft around here,” he said, “that one might be a trailer, or setting a pace, or trying to dazzle and play with us, or half-a-dozen such things.”
“Oh, they’re after us—I feel it—I know it!” declared the passenger anxiously. “How far are they from us, do you think?”
“Perhaps a mile, perhaps two,” answered Hiram grudgingly.
He could catch low mutterings, as though the perturbed passenger were communing with himself. Then the latter poked him on the arm.
“They’re getting nearer, and they’re after us,” he spoke quickly, and with a queer thrill of excitement in his voice. “See here, young fellow, I’ve got no money with me, but I’ve got what is worth money. Give me your name, and I promise you, if you help me to get away from whoever may be after me, I’ll send you something, as soon as I realize, that will pretty nearly make you rich.”
“I wouldn’t take it,” declared the young pilot of the Scout. “You must be up to something bad, talking and acting as you do.”
“Land—land!” suddenly shouted the passenger. “Where you see that rise. Do it, don’t you delay, or I’ll knock you over, and risk running the machine myself!”
The urgency of the speaker was caused through the direct play of the headlight of the Ariel upon them. Dave had gained on the Scout materially within a very few minutes’ time. In truth, Hiram, understanding the situation, had been “playing” with the Scout, purposely deferring direct forward progress, bent on giving the Ariel an opportunity to come up with them. His passenger either discovered or suspected this now.
“No fooling, youngster,” he spoke sternly, and Hiram felt against his shoulder the pressure of the weapon with which the man had previously threatened him. He knew that his passenger was watching him as a cat would a mouse. He could think of no subterfuge to delay matters. Hiram chuckled, however, as he noticed the ever increasing nearness of the Ariel.
“Right over on that hill—where the grove of trees is,” directed his passenger. “We can make it first. No delaying, now! I won’t stand it!”