Choosing a fairly open space almost at the top of the hill, Tom brought the machine to earth. Then, while Oliphant watched for signs of the pursuing horsemen, Tom stretched himself on his back, with his hands under his head and his cap tilted over his eyes, and settled down to a good hard think. “Don’t go to sleep,” said Oliphant. Tom replied with a grunt. CHAPTER XV—VIEW HALLOO! Oliphant sat with his knees up, looking at his friend, thinking what a cool hand he was. No one could have guessed from Tom’s easy attitude that he was thinking out a problem on which lives depended. As the minutes passed, even Oliphant was deceived. “Not asleep, Dorrell?” Tom grunted, but did not stir. Another minute or two, then he suddenly jumped up. “Well, I think I’ve got it,” he said, and he chuckled. “What is it?” “Come along. I’ll explain as we go.” The two mounted the car; Tom started the ascensional screws; and the airship rose slowly from the hill. When they had left the ground some three hundred feet beneath them they saw, a mile or more distant, the body of horsemen who had set off in pursuit from the Moors’ encampment. The airship was headed in the direction from which they had come, and when they saw it they halted, and waited until it had soared past them; then, having no doubt that it was returning to the hill with the intention of again attempting to rescue the blockaded men, they wheeled round, and galloped in pursuit. The airship was going at only a moderate speed, so that the horsemen were able to keep pace with it. Tom chuckled again, and Oliphant, to whom he had by this time imparted his notion, seemed to find great amusement in the sight. “The beggars little imagine they’re playing our game,” he said. “No, indeed. I wonder what they really are thinking. Probably they fancy something has gone wrong with our works and we can’t go any faster.” “D’you think they’ve got wind of our former breakdown?” “It’s not unlikely. News travels very fast in these countries that haven’t got the telegraph!” When they arrived at the hill of the caves, there appeared to be no change in the situation. A small group of four or five men were squatting on the summit; more than a score were congregated below. All eyes were directed upwards as the airship again came into view, and the men laughed, recognizing how fruitless would be any renewed attempt to rescue the prisoners. They all carried rifles, and evidently intended to use them when the vessel came within range. But it passed too high above their heads, still going very slowly, and, so far from descending towards the cave, sailed on towards the sea. It crossed one of the adjacent hills, then sank a little, so that it was only visible then to the few men who kept watch above. But a minute or two afterwards the occupants of the car, looking round, saw that these men were on their feet, gesticulating with great excitement. “They’ve taken the bait!” cried Oliphant, laughing outright.