“All right then,” declared Hal, smiling to himself, for his ruse had worked.  “We’ll go ahead then.”

“Which way?” demanded Chester.

“Back to the Italian lines; and it behooves us to hurry.  There will be a squadron of the enemy after us in a minute.”

“Right,” declared Chester briefly.

But, much as they would have liked it, they were not to get back within the heart of the Italian army for many a long day; and strenuous times were to befall them before they again saw their mothers, and Uncle John, who was to put in many weary days searching for them.

As Hal headed the huge machine southward, a blinding glare caught his eyes.  It cut off his view entirely, and only for the lad’s quick wit, might have ended the lives of all.

But the moment the light blinded him Hal acted.  He knew in an instant from whence it came, and he swerved to the right so quickly as almost to upset the plane; but it was in time to avoid the forward sweep of an enemy plane.

“Wow!” cried Stubbs.  “Don’t throw me out!”

“Keep quiet,” ordered Hal, when he had slowed down a bit, so as to ease his dazzled eyes and gain his bearings.

“What was the matter?” demanded Chester.

“Matter?” echoed Hal.  “You mean to tell me you didn’t see that other airship flash by?”

“I didn’t,” replied Chester.

“Well, I did,” declared Hal.  “We’ll have to get away from here pretty quick.  There’ll be more of them along in a minute.”

He threw over the elevating lever and the craft soared higher into the heavens.  And again Hal turned south.

Once more he caught the flash of a hostile craft in time to avoid being run down.  Again and again it happened.  And at last Hal said: 

“Evidently there is no use trying to get back that way.  They must be on the lookout for us.  What shall we do?”

“Whatever you say,” replied Chester.

“We’ll take a vote on it,” Hal decided.  “I’ll make my suggestion first.”

“All right,” was the reply.

“Then I’ll suggest that we head in some other direction and keep going until we have passed out of the enemy’s territory.”

“Which way?” asked Colonel Anderson.

Hal considered a few minutes before replying.

“Well,” he said finally, “I should say east.”

“What!” exclaimed Chester.  “Right into the heart of Austria?”

“And why not?” Hal wanted to know.  “We’ll be safer there than any place else.  Besides, if we go far enough we’ll eventually land in Greece or perhaps Servia or Montenegro.  They won’t be expecting a foe that far from Italian soil.  What do you say, Colonel Anderson?”

“I’m with you,” was the quiet response.  “I believe that is good reasoning.”

“My only objection,” said Chester, “is that we must get back to Uncle John, and then to Rome, where mother is.”

“True,” replied Hal.  “But mother would a great deal rather have us safe in Greece or Servia, than dead in Italy.”