lder Wilmshurst lingered over
the sights--not with the idea of firing at a wreath of smoke, but to
test his ability to "pull off" gently. To his surprise he found that
the throbbing pain in his left shoulder had little or no effect upon
his steadiness of aim. Provided Fritz showed himself the subaltern
felt almost certain of scoring an "inner" if not a "bull."

In a quarter of an hour the puffs of smoke ceased. Wilmshurst had a
mental vision of the Hun knocking out the ashes on the heel of his boot
and placing the pipe away in his pocket.

"Now he'll be moving," thought Dudley.

His surmise proved correct, for first the upper part of the head and
then the face and shoulders of a man appeared above a ridge of ground.

Wilmshurst stirred neither hand nor foot, lest in spite of the screen
afforded by the bush his movements might be noticed by the alert scout.

Followed a few long-drawn moments of suspense as the scout made a
careful survey by means of his field-glasses. Apparently satisfied he
replaced the binoculars and carrying his rifle at the trail prepared to
descend the knoll.

Deliberately and cautiously Wilmshurst glanced along the sights of his
rifle. He would wait, he decided, until Fritz was some distance from
his lair. It would give him a chance to get in a couple of shots if
the first perchance should miss.

With his body from the waist upwards showing clearly against the
copper-hued clouds the Hun offered a splendid target.

Gently the subaltern's finger crept to the trigger. In his interest in
his foe he forgot the stinging, throbbing pain. The rifle, supported
by the fork of the tree, was as steady as a rock.

Just as Wilmshurst was about to press the trigger a lurid blinding
flash seemed to leap from the ground immediately on his front. With
the echoes of an appalling crash that shook the solid earth ringing in
his ears Dudley found himself gazing blankly ahead but seeing nothing.
Dazzled by the sudden intensity of light, deafened by the concussion,
he was conscious of a vile, sulphurous odour assailing his nostrils.

Gradually the mist decreased until he was able to see with comparative
ease. His first thought was for his rifle; he was agreeably surprised
to find that it was intact, for it seemed marvellous that the lightning
had missed the steel barrel.

Then he looked in the direction of his enemy. The Hun was lying prone,
his head pillowed on his arm. The other, curiously enough