rry in response to Jack's query, although
he winced slightly at Ned's reproachful glance, for he knew well the
older lad's aversion to slang.

"Suppose the railroad is over there to the northward," went on Jack.
"In that case, Jimmie and Dave'll be in that direction. Now, by
running over that way we can get nearer to them and at the same time
discover whether that other machine is following us."

"Fine!" declared Ned. "Head to the northward, and if they are after us
we'll quickly find it out. Then we can determine what to do."

Accordingly Jack shifted the levers and the Eagle swung sharply to the
northward. Ned kept the glasses leveled at the following machine in an
effort to discover the movements of its pilot.

Scarcely had the Eagle regained a level keel after the sharp turn
before Ned's exclamation of dismay attracted the attention of his chums.

"They're after us as sure as shooting!" he cried. "They're cutting
across the corner of the angle. That'll give them some advantage. It
won't pay us to try any more dodging if we want to outrun them."

"Sure!" declared Jack. "The pursuer always has the shorter course to
travel if the one running away tries to tack about any."

"In that case it would be best to keep straight ahead and trust to our
speed to carry us away from them," suggested Harry.

"Yes," agreed Jack, "stern chases are always long chases."

"Do you suppose we can give them the slip somehow without using up all
our gasoline?" asked Jack. "I don't want to get too far away from
Jimmie and Dave, either. Can't we work it somehow?"

"If it were only a little lighter," ventured Harry, "we might land
somewhere and argue it out with them from behind a stone wall or
trench."

"That wouldn't be very profitable," Ned argued. "If we should start
anything like that we'd be in all kinds of trouble at once. Our best
plan would, I think, be to cut and run for it to the westward. If
they're after us and mean to catch us, they would try to follow. Even
though this may be an army plane they are using, I believe the Eagle is
capable of outrunning them."

"Then here goes for a fast ride," declared Jack, reaching for the
handle controlling the mixing valve of the carburetor. "I'm going to
slip in a little more air and shove the spark ahead a few notches."

"Hang onto your hat," laughed Harry. "If Jack gets the speed bug
nicely working there won't be much left that isn't tied on!"

"Right you are,"