n, you know," said
Trefusis. "I haven't had a chance of flying before."

"You have now!" added the Flight-Sub.

CHAPTER XXVI

Disabled in Mid-air

Ross climbed agilely into the observer's seat, and, at his flying
companion's suggestion, buckled a broad leather strap round his waist.
At his right hand was the wireless transmitter, together with a pair of
prismatic glasses and map. The latter was held in a transparent
celluloid case, while the glasses were secured by a cord sufficiently
long to enable the observer to use them in any direction. Everything
was attached to the sea-plane so that in the event of the machine
having to "loop the loop" nothing would be lost.

The Sub, who for the present was to act as pilot, took his place in the
forward part of the body. Giving a few preliminary touches to the
mechanism, he announced that everything was in order.

The self-starter was released and the motor fired, causing the twin
propellers to buzz smoothly and powerfully.

Ross waved his hand to his chum as the sea-plane glided away from the
_Capella_, and from that moment his whole attention was centred upon
the work on which he was engaged.

For nearly a hundred yards the sea-plane "taxied", rising lightly over
the waves; then almost imperceptibly it glided upwards with an even
motion. Ross could hardly believe he was flying until he saw the sea
apparently receding from him.

"All right?" asked the Sub through the telephone that formed the only
audible means of communication between pilot and observer. "Not
feeling giddy?"

"Not a bit," replied Ross. Without experiencing the faintest sensation
of vertigo, he found himself able to lean over the side of the chassis
and look down at the scene two thousand feet beneath him.

The sea-plane was rising in a direction diverging obliquely with the
coast. She was, in fact, almost over the line of empty transports that
looked little bigger than a fleet of toy boats. Farther away could be
discerned the _Capella_ and her consorts, moving with apparent slowness
upon a perfectly calm sea, for at that altitude the waves were merged
into a flat surface. Small splashes of white--the spray thrown up by
falling shells--could be seen all around the patrol-vessels, which, in
obedience to a signal, had now taken up a position rather nearer to the
monitors.

Presently the Flight-Sub, having gained the desired altitude, moved the
steering-plane ever so slightly. Quic