"Worse and more of it!" murmured Ned in Tom's ear, as they heard the unseen talkers preparing to move away.
"That's right," agreed the young inventor.
They waited a little while, the sound of the retreating footsteps growing fainter, and then, as the lull in the storm still held, Tom and Ned started out of their hiding place.
"We've got to head for the castle and get back our machine," stated Tom.
"Surest thing you know!" agreed Ned.
They were out from under the clump of trees and in the open when a brilliant flash of light came. In the glare, the two young men stood revealed as plain as by day. The lightning glare likewise showed to Tom and Ned three men not far away.
"There they are!" one of the trio yelled, pointing to the two.
"Get 'em!" shouted another.
"Come on!" cried Tom, and he leaped away, followed by his chum.
But they were in unknown territory and, blinded by the flash, could not see where they were going. They reached the edge of a little gully and, before they could recover their balance, they went plunging down it, falling and rolling over and over.