, and freezing at that, a dark aerodrome and
the ceaseless drum of guns--neither the time, the place nor the ideal
accompaniment to philosophy, you might think. Blackie was as nervous as
a squadron commander may well be who has sent a party on a midnight
stunt, and finds three o'clock marked on the phosphorescent dial of his
watch and not so much as a single machine in sight.

"Literature," said Tam easily, "is a science or a disease very much like
airmanship. 'Tis all notes of excl'mation an' question mairks, with one
full stop an' several semi-comatose crashes--!"

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, shut up, Tam!" said Blackie savagely. "Haven't
you a cigar to fill that gap in your face?"

"Aye," said Tam calmly, "did ye no' smell it? It's one o' young Master
Taunton's Lubricatos an' A'm smokin' it for an endurance test--they're
no' so bad, remembering the inexperience an' youth o' ma wee frien'--"

Blackie turned.

"Tam," he said shortly, "I'm just worried sick about those fellows and I
wish--"

"Oh, them," said Tam in an extravagant tone of surprise, "they're comin'
back, Captain Blackie, sir-r--a' five, one with an engine that's
runnin' no' so sweet--that'll be Mister Gordon's, A'm thinkin'."

Captain Blackie turned to the other incredulously.

"You can hear them?" he asked. "I hear nothing."

"It's the smell of Master Taunton's seegair in your ears," said Tam.
"For the past five minutes A've been listenin' to the gay music of their
tractors, bummin' like the mill hooter on a foggy morn--there they are!"

High in the dark heavens a tiny speck of red light glowed, lingered a
moment and vanished. Then another, then a green that faded to white.

"Thank the Lord!" breathed Blackie. "Light up!"

"There's time," said Tam, "yon 'buses are fifteen thoosand up."

They came roaring and stuttering to earth, five monstrous shapes, and
passed to the hands of their mechanics.

"Tam heard you," said Blackie to the young leader, stripping his gloves
thoughtfully by the side of his machine. "Who had the engine trouble?"

"Gordon," chuckled the youth. "That 'bus is a--"

"Hec, sir!" said Tam and put his hands to his ears.

They had walked across to the commander's office.

"Well--what luck had you?" asked Blackie.

Lieutenant Taunton made a very wry face.

"I rather fancy we got the aerodrome--we saw something burning
beautifully as we turned for home, but Fritz has a new searchlight
installation _and_ something fierce i