There was a jolt, a bounce and another jolt that jarred the Thunder Bird from nose to tail.
After a dazed interval much briefer than it seemed, Johnny unstrapped himself and climbed out unsteadily.

He looked fearfully at Cliff, but there was no sign of life there.

Cliff's head had merely tilted from the right shoulder to the left shoulder, and rested there.
Uniformed young men came trotting up from all sides.

Two carried rifles, and their browned faces wore a look of grim eagerness, like men looking forward to a fight.

Johnny pushed up his goggles and stared around at them.
"Where's your captain or somebody that's in charge here?
I want to see the foreman of this outfit, and I want to see him quick," he demanded, as the two armed young athletes hustled him between them.