their backs, and watched
the council in the air. They could even hear the distant drumming of
their motors. The machine, out of which John had shot the aviator, had
carried two men, because there it was in the group with the others.

John's old and powerful feeling that he was at the end of one era and at
the beginning of another, involving many new forces, returned with
increased strength. To be besieged by enemies overhead was one of them,
and, for the present at least, he saw no way of escape from the grove.

The sun was now in the zenith. The clouds, having gone away, made a
clean sweep of it. There was not a fleck of dusk in the burning blue of
the sky. The aeroplanes were outlined against it, as clearly as if they
had been pictures in oil on canvas. The sun, great and golden, poured
down fire, but it did not reach the three in the thicket.

"I wish I knew what those fellows were planning," said Carstairs. "At
least they give us a rest, while they arrange for our destruction."

"But we're not destroyed yet, and you don't think it either, Carstairs,"
said Wharton. "Whatever I've said against you Britishers, I've never
said you lacked courage."

"And if you had said it I'd have known that you didn't mean it."

Then the two shook hands in silence. Wharton closed his eyes and
pretended to be asleep.

"What are they doing, John?" he asked presently.

"Still in council. A plane heavier than the others, evidently the one
that has the machine gun is in the center. I judge therefore that it
also carries the commander of the fleet."

"Acute reasoning. Wake me up when they seem to be starting anything.
Meanwhile I can't be bothered, because a few aeroplanes choose to use
our heavens."

He stretched himself, and breathed deeply and peacefully. But John knew
well enough that he was not asleep. His rifle lay by his side, where it
could be snatched up in a moment, and now and then his eyes opened to
watch through the bushes the foe circling aloft. Carstairs also lay down
bye and bye, but John remained sitting, the thick boughs of a bush
covering him.

"Something has happened," he announced after awhile. "One of the planes,
the smallest, I think is flying away toward the east."

The others sat up. The aeroplane, high in air, was going at tremendous
speed. The others remained over the grove, swinging about lazily in
circles, but too high for the rifles.

"Now, Carstairs," said Wharton, "you English pretend to omnisci