The slope between it and the sea was very rough ground, but it afforded space for starting off, and the moment Rodier had finished his job he swung the aeroplane round and started the engine.  The smith, looking on suspiciously, took this as a signal for departure and rushed forward, clamouring shrilly for the promised payment.  Smith gave him the half-sovereign, then jumped into his place, Rodier running beside the machine as it moved down the slope.

At this moment there was a shout from the village, which swelled into a furious din as the men came rushing from behind the huts, and saw the white men preparing to leave them.  The aeroplane gathered way.  Rodier was on the point of clambering into his place, as he had often done before, by means of the carriage supporting the wheels.  But the machine jolting over the rough ground delayed him.  The yelling crowd rushed down, some hurling spears, and others endeavouring to seize the Frenchman.  He kept his grip on the rail, but another jolt forced him to loosen his hold, the machine suddenly sprang upwards, and Rodier fell backward among his captors.

Smith scarcely realized what had happened until he was many feet in the air; but seeing at a glance over his shoulder that Rodier was left behind, he put the helm over and warped the planes to a perilous degree.  The aeroplane was fifty or sixty yards from the starting place when Smith’s action caused it to swerve like a wounded bird; then it recovered itself, and turning in a narrow circle swept back towards the confused knot of men on the beach.  Smith planed down straight upon them, intending to land and rush to Rodier’s assistance.  But perceiving that the Frenchman was struggling on the ground, with a dozen turbaned figures clustering over him, he steered straight for the middle of the group.  There was a dull thud, and then another, and he felt a harsh jolt as the chassis struck some of the standing men.  Smith had stopped the engine when he turned, and the aeroplane, brought up by this obstruction, sank to the ground, being saved from damage only by the spring attachments of the carriage.

Drawing his revolver, Smith leapt from his seat and dashed towards the group.  Six or eight men lay on the ground, some of them too badly hurt to rise; the rest of the crowd had taken to their heels, and the whole population was in full flight, the children screaming with terror.  In an instant, to Smith’s relief, Rodier sprang to his feet.  Together they turned the machine once more towards the sea.

“Are you hurt, Roddy?” asked Smith.

“Ah, the villains! they have given me a dig or two.  Let us get away from this, mister.  We are getting later and later.”

He jumped into the car; Smith again started the engine; and as the machine rose into the air it was followed by a howl of rage from the baffled Baluchis.  Half-a-dozen slugs pattered about it, piercing several holes in the planes.  Already one of these had been gashed by a spear, which still stuck in it.  But no serious damage had been done, and in a few seconds the aeroplane was flying at full speed over the sea.