om the void and the whistle of death,
Clouds that snapped blackly beneath him, above and beside,
Watch him, serene and uncaring--holding your breath,
Fearing his peril and all that may come of his pride.

Now he was swooped to the world like a bird to his nest,
Now is the drone of his coming the roaring of hell,
Now with a splutter and crash are the engines at rest--
All's well!

E. W.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I THE CASE OF LASKY 1
II PUPPIES OF THE PACK 21
III THE COMING OF MUELLER 40
IV THE STRAFING OF MUELLER 58
V ANNIE--THE GUN 76
VI THE LAW-BREAKER AND FRIGHTFULNESS 100
VII THE MAN BEHIND THE CIRCUS 130
VIII A QUESTION OF RANK 157
IX A REPRISAL RAID 191
X THE LAST LOAD 220

TAM O' THE SCOOTS

CHAPTER I

THE CASE OF LASKY

Lieutenant Bridgeman went out over the German line and "strafed" a
depot. He stayed a while to locate a new gun position and was caught
between three strong batteries of Archies.

"Reports?" said the wing commander. "Well, Bridgeman isn't back and Tam
said he saw him nose-dive behind the German trenches."

So the report was made to Headquarters and Headquarters sent forward a
long account of air flights for publication in the day's communique,
adding, "One of our machines did not return."

"But, A' doot if he's killit," said Tam; "he flattened oot before he
reached airth an' flew aroond a bit. Wi' ye no ask Mr. Lasky, sir-r,
he's just in?"

Mr. Lasky was a bright-faced lad who, in ordinary circumstances, might
have been looking forward to his leaving-book from Eton, but now had to
his credit divers bombed dumps and three enemy airmen.

He met the brown-faced, red-haired, awkwardly built youth whom all the
Flying Corps called "Tam."

"Ah, Tam," said Lasky reproachfully, "I was looking for you--I wanted
you badly."

Tam chuckled.

"A' thocht so," he said, "but A' wis not so far frae the aerodrome when
yon feller chased you--"

"I was chasing him!" said the indignant Lasky.

"Oh, ay?" repli