Page:Germ Growers.djvu/145

140 say just yet, and on the left everything lay still in shadow. We walked in the same direction, quickening our steps a little, the cliff all the while sloping downward slowly. Presently the sun was at a higher level than the ground we walked on, and the number of the shadows greatly increased, and there were very many now on all sides of us. Just then it seemed as if a cloud were passing over us quite near. We looked upward quickly, but there was no cloud, only a great shadow cast, as it would seem, by nothing. In a few seconds it was gone, and presently after we heard the swish—sh—sh right over us of the wing-like paddles, and we could even detect the small regular rattle of the machinery. It was evident that we were being closely guarded, and perhaps we were overheard.

Silently but with one impulse we turned and walked slowly back to the rooms that had been assigned to us.

We refreshed ourselves with food and we had an hour's rest before it was time to keep our appointment with our host. We agreed meanwhile to observe everything very closely and to compare notes at night.

"But," said I, "is it safe for us to separate?"

"Nothing, of course," Jack answered, "is altogether safe, but for a little while I think that we are not in any more danger apart than together."