the meadow was out of
sight Harry stopped the engine and got out of the car.

"He may have seen it as he was coming down--the car, I mean," he said. "But
I doubt it. He's got other things to watch. That meadow for one--and all
his levers and his wheel. Guiding an aeroplane in a coast like that down
the air is no easy job."

"Have you ever been up, Harry?"

"Yes, often. I've never driven one myself, but I believe I could if I had
to. I've watched other people handle them so often that I know just about
everything that has to be done."

"That's an English monoplane. I've seen them ever so often," said Dick.
"It's an army machine, I mean. See its number? It's just coming in sight
of us now. Wouldn't I like to fly her though?"

"I'd like to know what it's doing around here," said Harry. "And it seems
funny to me if an English army aviator has started out without enough
petrol in his tank to see him through any flight he might be making. And
wouldn't he have headed for one of his supply stations as soon as he found
he was running short, instead of coming down in country like this?"

Dick stared at him.

"Do you think it's another spy?" he asked.

"I don't think anything about it yet, Dick. But I'm not going to be caught
napping. That's a Bleriot--and the British army flying corps uses Bleriots.
But anyone with the money can buy one and make it look like an English army
'plane. Remember that."

There was no mistake about that monoplane when it was once down. Its pilot
was German; he was unmistakably so. He had been flying very high and when
he landed he was still stiff from cold.

"Petrol!" he cried eagerly, as he saw the two boys. "Where can I get
petrol? Quick! Answer me!"

Harry shot a quick glance at Dick.

"Come on," he said, beneath his breath. "We've got to get him and tie him
up."

The aviator, cramped and stiffened as he was by the intense cold that
prevails in the high levels where he had been flying, was no match for
them. As they sprang at him his face took on the most ludicrous appearance
of utter surprise. Had he suspected that they would attack him he might
have drawn a pistol. As it was, he was helpless before the two boys, both
in the pink of condition and determined to capture him. He made a struggle,
but in two minutes he was lying roped, tied, and utterly helpless. He was
not silent; he breathed the most fearful threats as to what would happen to
them. But neither boy paid any attention to