Bill had stopped the forward propeller and started the elevator at Gordon’s cry and now the plane had nearly lost its momentum. “Think he’s seen us?” he asked. “Don’t believe so,” Gordon told him. “He hasn’t looked this way.” “Well, keep your eyes on him and don’t lose him,” Bill ordered as he again started the forward propeller. Slowly the plane started forward and in a very few minutes was only a few yards behind the man who was running with the easy swing of the trained athlete. They could see now that he was either Chinese or Japanese and the loose blouse which he wore sagged heavily as if weighted at the bottom. “He’s got the cells all right,” Gordon declared. “See how that blouse hangs.” “No doubt of it,” Rogers agreed. “And we’ve just the same as got him,” Gordon chuckled. “But we want to be careful,” Rogers whispered, for they were now very close. “Some of those fellows are pretty slippery customers.” Just then the man looked up and saw them. CHAPTER VI THE CELLS RECOVERED When the Japanese, for that was the nationality of the man, caught sight of the plane, only a few feet over his head, he gave vent to a startled grunt of mingled surprise and fear and stopped in his tracks. The ground, where he was standing, was not so rough as they had so far encountered and Bill had no trouble in selecting a good landing place only a few feet away. Hardly had the plane struck the earth when Gordon was over the side of the cockpit and after the Jap. “Easy, Gordon,” Rogers called. But Gordon was mad and paid no attention to the warning as he came in front of the man who was standing with a look of incredulity on his face. “Hand ’em over,” Gordon demanded. The Jap held out his hands. “Me no unstand,” he said. “Well, I reckon you’ll understand this,” Gordon snapped as he leaped for the man. But in that he showed poor judgment as he afterward acknowledged. He never did understand just what happened but he did know that hardly had he touched the Jap when he was flying through the air to land on his head and shoulders fully six feet away. Fortunately he struck in a soft spot or he would undoubtedly have been severely injured if not killed outright. As it was he was severely shaken up and for a moment was too dazed to move. “Are you killed, Gordon?” Bill demanded, as he rushed to him. “I——I don’t know,” he stammered. “What was it?” Bill pulled him to his feet and a sigh of relief escaped him as he saw that he could stand. “All right?” he asked. “I——I guess so, but what was it?” Gordon again asked. “Something hit me.” “I’ll say it did,” Bill chuckled as he pointed to the Jap who was now standing with both hands held high above his head, his eyes fixed on an automatic in the hands of Rogers. “I told you to go easy,” the latter grinned as the boys stepped to his side. “I——I didn’t think he——”