Page:The world set free.djvu/207

 "But, Pestovitch, why couldn't you do all this without me?"

Pestovitch made no answer for a moment. "I was for leaving the bombs in their place," he said at last, and went to the window. About their conveyance shone a circle of bright light. Pestovitch had a brilliant idea. "I will send my secretary out to make a kind of dispute with the driver. Something that will make them watch up above there. Meanwhile you and I and Peter will go out by the back way and up by the hedges to the farm"

It was worthy of his subtle reputation and it answered passing well.

In ten minutes they were tumbling over the wall of the farmyard, wet, muddy, and breathless, but unobserved. But as they ran towards the barns the king gave vent to something between a groan and a curse, and all about them shone the light—and passed.

But had it passed at once or lingered for just a second?

"They didn't see us," said Peter.

"I don't think they saw us," said the king, and stared as the light went swooping up the mountain side, hung for a second about a hayrick, and then came pouring back.

"Into the barn!" cried the king.