“The Moors’ horses must be equally played out, that’s one comfort,” said Tom;—“at least, those that have pursued us all the way, if any have. That’s doubtful: the Moors have probably drawn on every village they have come through.” “I say, did you hear that?” asked Oliphant. It was a shout—apparently from a spur of forest some distance to the right of the line which they had expected the enemy to take. “They’re spreading out! Who’d have thought they’d have kept it up so long?” “Well, you see, they know that one of us is on horseback: that means that the machine won’t carry us all; and in the nature of things they can overtake a rider.” “I can see nothing for it but that Abdul must push on alone,” said Tom. “We can manage to get along slowly, and as long as the machine can keep us afloat at all they can’t catch us. But if they catch sight of Abdul he’s bound to be run down. Abdul, you must go on by yourself. Get to the coast if you can, and swim out to the yacht—can you swim?” “Yes, master.” “Swim to the yacht, then, and tell Mr. Greatorex what has happened. He’ll do all he can to help us if we can only get near enough.” Abdul showed some reluctance to leave the others in difficulties, but he obeyed. He mounted the less exhausted of the horses and set off. “He’ll have a chance,” remarked Tom, as he disappeared. “When the Moors see us in the air again they will suppose that Abdul is keeping pace with us as before.” “It’s nearly six o’clock; it’ll be dark soon.” “Yes, that gives him another chance—if they don’t sight him.” At this moment he observed a score of horsemen emerging at a rapid pace from the forest whence the shout had come. They were about half a mile away. Catching sight of the airship, they gave utterance to loud cries of triumph, and somewhat changed their direction. Tom at once caused the airship to rise, and by the time the Moors arrived at the spot where it had rested it was high above their heads and out of harm’s way. The Moors immediately began to scour the neighbourhood for signs of Abdul. Tom steered slightly to the left of the direction in which the lad had gone, in order still further to delude the pursuers. Not long afterwards a much larger band of riders galloped up from the direction in which the airship had come, and when they joined the former party, it was seen that they numbered at least sixty in all. “We’re rousing the whole country,” said Tom with a return to his wonted cheerful manner. “If it goes on like this there’ll be thousands by the time we reach the coast.” “Shall we reach it, d’you think?” “I can’t tell. The engines are good for a few miles; how many I don’t know.” “Vere am I?” said Schwab, awaking. “Ach! I remember. Do ve soon arrive at ze yacht?” “We probably shan’t arrive at all,” replied Tom. “One of the engines is failing.”