he
ever-varying range, the air-craft was well below the bursting-point of
the missiles. Nothing but a direct hit--a most difficult matter--could
harm her now.

At a thousand feet she passed the border-line. Still the Archibalds
barked. Ross could see the Dutch frontier guards bolting for shelter
as the hall of bullets fell on neutral ground. Not until the sea-plane
was well over the boundary did the guns reluctantly cease fire.

The earth appeared to leap up and meet the descending machine. It
looked as if a terrific smash were inevitable. A sea-plane alighting
upon solid ground has a thousand chances against her, for, being
unprovided with landing wheels, she is not adapted to withstand
successfully the impact with the earth.

Cool and collected, the Flight-Sub "flattened her out" to a nicety. At
forty miles an hour the floats struck the ground. For twenty yards the
sea-plane skidded, then with a rending crash the floats and a network
of struts and tension-wires gave way under the abnormal strain. The
next instant Ross found himself sprawling on the sandy soil, the sudden
jerk tearing his securing-belt from its fastenings.

He sat up. A multitude of dazzling lights seemed to flash before his
eyes. He was dimly aware of a tangle of wreckage, out of which a
practically undamaged plane rose at an oblique angle, lumbering the
ground quite twenty yards from where he found himself. Men were
hastening towards the wrecked sea-plane from all directions, but, thank
Heaven, they did not wear the uniform of the Hun.

With his head still whirling, Ross was supported by two Dutch soldiers,
while a third poured a quantity of raw spirits down his throat. Blood
was streaming from a gash on his forehead, and his knees, grazed and
discoloured, were visible through rents in his trousers.

Of what happened during the next quarter of an hour, the midshipman had
but a very hazy idea. The men had laid him on the ground, propping him
against a large stone. He felt horribly sick. The pain across his
chest, caused by the strain upon the leather belt, was acute--far worse
than the wound on his forehead which the kindly soldiers were bathing
with handkerchiefs dipped in water.

The men were talking excitedly. He could not understand what they were
saying. He felt inclined to tell them to shut up. They irritated him
beyond measure; if only they would go away and leave him in peace he
would be deeply grateful.

Suddenly