We could soon run freely. Down the ramp, out over the tumbled plain.
Bounding, grotesque, leaping strides. The girls were more agile, more
skillful. They were soon leading us. The Earth shadows of their
figures leaped beside them. The _Planetara_ faded into the distance
behind us. Archimedes stood back there. Ahead, the mountains came
closer.
An hour perhaps. I lost track of time. Occasionally we stopped to
rest. Were we going toward the Grantline camp? Would they see our tiny
waving headlights?
Another interval. Then far ahead of us on the ragged plain, lights
showed! Moving, tiny spots of light! Headlights on helmeted figures!
We ran, monstrously leaping. A group of figures were off there.
Grantline's party? Snap gripped me.
"Grantline! We're safe, Gregg! Safe!"
He took his bulb light from his helmet; we stood in a group while he
waved it. A semaphore signal.
"_Grantline?_"