rewarded by the sound of retreating
feet.

"So ends round one," said Carnes with a laugh. "I think we win on
points."

"They won't try a direct attack again," replied the lieutenant. "Look
out for a flank attack or from some new weapon. I don't like the way
those bombs failed to explode the other day."

Dr. Bird appeared from the darkness.

"McCready," he said in a voice vibrant with excitement, "we're in luck.
We have come out less than a hundred yards from the point where our
plane came down. It is still there. If the _Denver_ has approached
within shooting range, we will have enough gas to make it. Try to get
your motor going."

"If it isn't completely washed out I'll have it going in a few minutes,
Doctor," cried the pilot. "I'm going down the tunnel and get those
flash-lights those birds dropped when they pulled out. Where's the
girl?"

"She's back by the plane," said the doctor with a chuckle. "She is a
spit-fire, all right. I took her gag off and she tried to bite me. I
couldn't get a word of anything but abuse out of her. Go ahead and get
the lights and I'll show you the plane."

* * * * *

In a few minutes they stood before the ship. It was apparently
uninjured, but the spark was dead. Carnes went back to the tunnel mouth
to guard against surprise while Dr. Bird and McCready labored over the
motor. Despite the best of both of them, no spark could be coaxed from
the coil. As a last resort, Dr. Bird short-circuited the cells with a
screwdriver blade. No answering spark came from the terminals.

"Dead as a mackerel," he remarked. "I guess that ends that hope. Let's
get the machine guns out of her. Well have another attack soon and
they'll be more effective than our pistols."

It was the work of a few minutes to dismount the two Brownings from the
plane. Carrying the two guns, Dr. Bird joined Carnes while McCready
staggered along laden down with belts of ammunition.

"Do you remember that rocky knoll we passed just before we landed?"
asked the lieutenant. "If we can get this stuff there before we are
attacked, we'll have a much better chance than we will in the open."

"Good idea, Lieutenant. Carnes, connect yourself to one of these guns.
I'll fasten the other on my back and carry Feodrovna. We can't leave her
here to Saranoff's tender mercies."

Through the night the little cavalcade made its way. The thunder of guns
from Fort Novadwinskaja kept up and the sky to th