ce of war has gone glimmering, I'm
afraid."

"Listen to all that shouting," said Merritt.

"Seems to be cheers, as well as these people can cheer, which is not
like the good old United States way," Tubby commented.

"You can see what it means," remarked Rob. "There goes a Belgian biplane
up, to get after the bold German!"

"My stars!" gasped Tubby. "Now we _will_ see a circus! Think of two
rival pilots maneuvering up there among the clouds, and trying to knock
each other out! Whew! But watch him boring up in spirals, would you?
Does the German see him, do you think, and is he beginning to skip out?"

"Nothing like that has happened yet, as far as I can see," admitted Rob.
"There he starts around again, as if meaning to complete his map, no
matter if a dozen Belgian or English airmen come up after him."

"It'll be a fight, then, see if it doesn't!" Tubby affirmed.

"There goes a second aeroplane, and this time a monoplane," Merritt
told them, pointing as he spoke. "Unless I miss my guess, there's an
English aviator in that machine. It doesn't carry the little Belgian
flag the other does, you notice."

"Two against one," muttered the deeply interested Tubby. "Better be
making up your mind to turn tail and run, Mr. Deutschland. The odds are
against you, and, if you should get tumbled out of your seat a mile
high, I'd hate to be under you when you strike the ground."

"They seem to be maneuvering for position," asserted Rob. "Yes, both are
circling around now, and going still higher all the time. Before long
the German will be hidden in that cloud bank, and that's what he's
aiming to have happen."

"I thought I saw something like a little puff of smoke just then!"
declared Merritt, who had exceptionally good eyes, strong almost as
those of an eagle.

"Then they must be bombarding each other!" Tubby ventured to say,
evidently greatly thrilled by the spectacle that could never have been
dreamed of a few generations back.

"It's likely they are using their automatics, and trying to disable each
other," admitted Rob, "though, between us, Merritt, I don't believe the
tiny puff of smoke could be seen away down here, unless you had a strong
glass. Of course, when moving as fast as they do, the chance of making a
shot tell is next door to nix."

"Anyhow, they're chasing the German aeroplane off," Tubby declared.
"That is the main object for the brave Belgians going up there."

The boys had made up their minds while