and flame of the conflict.

"Do you go far, Philip?" John asked.

"Forty miles. I could cover the distance quickly in the _Arrow_, but on
such a day as this I can't be sure of finding at once the man for whom
I'm looking. Besides, we may meet German planes. You've your automatic
with you?"

"I'm never without it. I'm ready to help if they come at us. I've been
through so much today that I've become blunted to fear."

"I don't think we'll meet an enemy, but we must be armed and watchful."

John had not yet looked down, but he knew that the _Arrow_ was rising
high. The thunder of the battle died so fast that it became a mere
murmur, and the air was thin, pure and cold. When he felt that the
_Arrow_ had reached its zenith he put the glasses to his eyes and looked
over.

He saw a world spouting fire. Along a tremendous line curved and broken,
thousands of cannon great and small were flashing, and for miles and
miles a continuous coil of whitish smoke marked where the riflemen were
at work. Near the center of the line he saw a vast mass of men advancing
and he spoke of it to Lannes.

"I've seen it already," said the Frenchman. "That's where a great force
of ours is cutting in between the German armies. It's the movement that
has saved France, and the mind that planned it was worth a million men
to us today."

"I can well believe it. Now I see running between the hills a shining
ribbon which I take to be a river."

"That's the Marne. If we can, we'll drive the Germans back across it.
Search the skies that way and see if you can find any of the Taubes."

"I see some black specks which I take to be the German planes, but they
don't grow."

"Which indicates that they're not coming any nearer. They've had enough
of us for the present and it's to their interest too to keep over their
own army now. What do you see beneath us?"

"A great multitude of troops, French, as I can discern the uniform, and
by Jove, Lannes, I can trace far beyond the towers and spires of Paris!"

"I knew you could. It marks how near the Germans have come to the
capital, but they'll come no nearer. The great days of the French have
returned, and we'll surely drive them upon the Marne."

"Suppose we fly a little lower, Lannes. Then we can get a better view of
the field as we go along."

"I'll do as you say, John. I rose so high, because I thought attack here
was less possible, but as no enemy is in sight we'll drop down."

The _Arrow_ san