and
respected by the allied air forces. The ships of his Circus were painted
in whatever gaudy colors proved appealing to the pilots thereof, but the
fuselage of each bore the famous insignia of the Circus--the defiant
German eagle with its blood red feet and talons supported on a scroll
bearing the legend, _Gott Mit Uns_. And indeed it did seem that
this Circus was providentially watched over.

For more than a year the watchword of the French and English had been,
"Get von Herzmann." It was an easy phrase to coin, but extremely
difficult to execute. Many a French and English pilot had gone gunning
for him, but most of these were now in their graves. Those who escaped
were a little less enthusiastic in their next search for this skilled
airman who had run up a total of more than two score victories.

Von Herzmann, in addition to being a skilled pilot, was as elusive as a
ghost. He was here, there, everywhere. Wherever there was a heavy drive
or a sturdy, sullen defensive, there could be found Count von Herzmann.
The Allies, making use of this knowledge, had sent out many bombing
expeditions to blast the nest of this troublesome Circus from the face
of the earth, but their deadly bombs fell upon deserted, decoy hangars.

As is always the case, those who exhibit a certain degree of excellence
find ready help at the hand of admirers who wish them still further
success and acclaim. It was so in von Herzmann's case. The German army
could ill afford to lose one who was so brilliant in his operations and
so firmly established as one of the popular national idols. The German
Intelligence Department gave him all possible assistance, thereby not
only saving his precious neck but furnishing still more glamorous
stories for a populace that was daily becoming more disheartened and
weary with war.

On this morning at Roncheres, von Herzmann was again preparing to shake
another plum into his lap. Military Intelligence had received word late
the previous evening that an American Pursuit Squadron would on the
following morning leave from a 'drome south of Epernay and proceed to a
new base south of La Ferte sous Jouarre. Doubtless they would parallel
the line south of la Chapelle. What could be simpler than to send forth
von Herzmann with the full strength of his justly famous Circus to
intercept these untried Americans? Here was a ripe plum indeed--to be
had for the picking!

Von Herzmann was particularly well pleased. He smiled a