n an amused auditor of the colloquy between
Captain Bolitho and his lieutenant, was a man of intuitions.

"There are no aeroplanes on this coast except the two with the Reds,"
he said. "Mr. Smith, you have now reported yourself for duty. Our
single aeroplane has broken down; we must impress yours for public
service. I will not ask you what you have seen; but you will at once
follow the strange aeroplane, and endeavour to find out the position
and course of the enemy's fleet."

In less than a minute Smith was in the air; in ten minutes he had
overtaken the Red aeroplane, flying high as he approached, and
hovering over his late pursuer, who made vain efforts to rise above
him. The immense engine power of the _Puck_ gave her as great an
advantage over her rival in soaring as in horizontal speed. By the
rules of the manoeuvres the Red aeroplane was out of action as soon as
the _Puck_ rose vertically above her. Wasting no further time, Smith
continued his course, and in half-an-hour sighted the Red squadron,
noted its strength and course, and in another half-hour was back on
the deck of the _Imperturbable_.

"I found the enemy, sir, about ninety miles S.S.E., eight battleships
and about a dozen scouts. Their course was west."

The admiral made a rapid calculation.

"By Jove!" he said, "they will catch Pomeroy before we join him. But
there's time yet. We can warn Pomeroy to meet us twenty miles
north-east of the spot previously arranged. I think, Captain Bolitho,
we may perhaps overlook Mr. Smith's little irregularity in joining if
he gives us a full account of his--er--experiences, after dinner
to-night."

"And the Reds, sir?"

"Before dinner, one or the other of us will be out of action. Whether
Reds or Blues, we shall have leisure to hear how Mr. Smith went round
the world in seven days."

POSTSCRIPT

The following extracts from the Press, neatly pasted in Kate Smith's
scrap book, have a certain historical and romantic interest for the
persons concerned, directly or indirectly, in the incidents of the
foregoing narrative.

(_From Our Own Correspondent_.)

CONSTANTINOPLE, Friday.

The appearance of an aeroplane this morning caused a
considerable sensation. It descended in the old archery
ground of the Sultans, to the terror of the juvenile
population that now uses the Ok Meidan as a common
playground. It contained two passengers