lin and not far away. John saw beneath
them now the huge shape, ploughing along slowly through the heavy bank
of air. It loomed, in the darkness, a form, monstrous and incredible.

"Are we just over the thing, John?" asked Lannes.

"Exactly. Look down and you can see."

"I see."

Then his arm flashed out, and he hurled something downward with all the
concentrated force of hate. There came a stunning crash mingled with
rending and tearing sounds and frightened cries, and then the monstrous
shape was gone. The place where it had hung in the heavens was empty and
silent.

John's heart missed a dozen beats. His jaw fell and he stared at Lannes.

"Yes, I intended it from the first," said Lannes, "and I haven't a
single compunction. I got that bomb, and three others in the Swiss
village when I left you at the inn. I did not tell you of them
because--well, because, I thought it better to keep the secret to
myself. It's war. The men in that Zeppelin came to destroy our towns and
to kill our men."

"I'm not accusing you. I suppose, as you say, it's war. But hadn't we
better get away from here as fast as we can?"

"We're doing it now. While we were talking I was steering the _Arrow_
westward. Hark, do you hear those shots!"

"I hear them. It can't be that they're firing at random in the air, as
they would be more likely to hit one another than a slim and single
little shape like the Arrow."

"They're signaling. Of course they're organized, and they're probably
trying to draw all the planes to one spot, after which they'll spread
out and seek us. But they won't find us. Ah, my sleek Arrow! my lovely
little Arrow, so fast and true! You've done your duty tonight and more!
We've run the gantlet, John! We're through their air fleet, and we've
left a trail of fire! They won't forget this night!"

John sat silent, while Lannes exulted. Meanwhile the Arrow, piercing the
low clouds, rushed westward, unpursued.

CHAPTER VIII

THE FRENCH DEFENSE

They flew on in the darkness, and both remained silent. John at first
had felt resentment against Lannes, but he reflected that this was war,
and it was no worse to kill with a bomb in the air than with a shell on
land. It was hard, however, to convince oneself that destruction and
death were sovereigns in Europe.

After a long time Lannes pointed to the east, where a thin gray was
showing.

"The sun will soon be up," he said, "and it will drive the last cloud
before i