Tubby.

"They had their reasons, I suppose," he was told by the patrol leader.
"No matter what they may have been, we're not interested. It's enough
for us to watch what's going to happen from now on."

"I'll be jiggered if the Zeppelin isn't going to have it out with them!"
exclaimed Merritt. "Did you see that little puff of what looked like
smoke? They've got some sort of gun aboard, and mean to try and riddle
the aeroplanes with it!"

"Whew! talk to me about excitement, this has got everything I ever knew
beaten by a mile!" admitted Tubby.

"You notice that both the monoplanes manage to keep pretty far away from
the dirigible," Rob told them. "And see how they bore up in circles all
the while, too, getting higher right along."

"What's the idea of that?" asked Merritt.

"For one thing it'll put them on equal terms with the Zeppelin so that
they can send back shot for shot," explained the other. "But unless I
miss my guess they mean to try a bigger scheme than that, if once they
can get above the airship."

"You mean drop a bomb down on it, don't you, Rob?" Merritt asked.

"Yes. You know these Zeppelins are made in many sections. They say one
could keep afloat even if a dozen of these were smashed. They're along
similar lines as the watertight compartments of steamships. Some auto
tires are made the same way too. But if a bomb was dropped on top of the
gas bag, I reckon the explosion would play hob with the whole business."

They stood there and watched the strange duel in the heavens. The thrill
of that occasion would never be forgotten by any one of the three
scouts. And all the while the guns over beyond the low-lying hills were
beating a terrible tattoo that was like the music of the orchestra when
a play is being performed. That tragedy was there above them, the stage
being the limitless expanse of the heavens.

The Zeppelin maneuvered again and again in order to get in touch with
the wasp-like enemies that constantly darted out of reach. There was
more or less firing going on, the boys could see, even though the
distance and the growl of the German artillery prevented them from
hearing any reports.

"There, I believe they've done it!" shouted Merritt suddenly.

"The Zeppelin is running away, that's sure!" echoed Tubby, "and one of
the aeroplanes seems to be further up, too!"

"Something has happened, because the rear of the dirigible looks as if
it had collapsed," Rob announced. "I wonder how they