west,
John?"

"Yes, I was just about to speak of it, and I know the sound, too. It's
one of the big Zeppelins."

"Then it's likely to be much below. I judge from the presence of the
trees that, we must be somewhere near the German outposts."

"I wish that we dared to descend enough to see."

"But we don't dare, Monsieur Jean the Scott. We'd drop into a nest of
hornets."

"Better slow down then. Their scouting planes must be somewhere near."

"Good advice again. Oh, you're learning fast. And meanwhile you're
committing yourself more and more deeply to our cause."

"I've already committed myself deeply enough. I've told you that your
prediction about my joining a British force is true."

"But you'll have to stay with us French until the British come. John, is
it my imagination or do I hear that buzzing below us again?"

"You really hear it, and I do, too. It's a big Zeppelin beyond a doubt,
and therefore we must not be far from a German base. You know they have
to build huge sheds in which to keep the Zeppelins."

"No doubt they have such a station near enough on their side of the
border. But, John, I'm going to have a look at that air-elephant. In all
this thick darkness they'd never know what we are. Are you ready for
it?"

"Ready and anxious."

The _Arrow_ dropped down toward the buzzing sound, which rapidly grew
louder. John had heard that a silencer had been invented for Zeppelins,
but either it was a mistake or they apprehended a hostile presence so
little that they did not care to use it.

He was rapidly becoming inured to extreme danger, but his heart throbbed
nevertheless, and he felt the chill of the high damp air. At the
suggestion of Lannes, who called him the eyes of the ship, he retained
the glasses, and, with them, sought continually to pierce the heavy
masses of cloud. He could not yet see anything, but the heavy buzzing
noise, much like the rattling of a train, increased steadily. The
Zeppelin could not be very far beneath them now.

John felt a sudden rush of wind near him and a dark object swung by.
Lannes swiftly changed their own course, and darted almost at a right
angle in the darkness.

"A Taube?" whispered John.

"Yes, one of the armored kind. Two men were in it, and most likely they
carried rifles. They're on watch despite the night. Maybe they fear some
of our own planes, which must be not many miles in front. Oh, France, is
not sleeping, John! Don't think that! We are not p