They were about to go back to the grove, with one last regretful look at the sky, when an exclamation from Frank brought them to a sudden halt. "There's another one," he cried, pointing to the distant horizon. Even as he spoke a second Zeppelin came plainly into view, following in the wake of the first, but with greatly diminished speed. "Great Scott!" exclaimed Bart, "there must be a fleet of them!" "That one hasn't got off scot free, either," said Frank, his keen eye noting the apparent distress of the giant airship, as it moved uncertainly and unevenly, like a ship laboring in a storm. "By Jove, fellows, I believe it's coming down! Quick! get under the cover of these trees!" Lower and lower, like a bird with a broken wing, the Zeppelin came toward the earth, while the boys watched it in breathless excitement. Whether the Zeppelin could go no further, and sank despite itself, or whether its commander, looking at that broad plateau, and seeing no sign of life upon it, had decided to make a landing, quickly repair his injured machinery, and then rise again to seek refuge behind his own lines, the boys could not tell. But whatever the reason, not many minutes had passed before it became apparent that the airship was coming down, inevitably, right in front of them. The word had been passed quickly all through the woods, and the whole company was on the alert. "Ready for action, men," commanded the lieutenant. With rifles in hand, and all their senses keenly on the alert, the soldiers waited for the coming of their prey. With a perceptible jar the airship struck the ground, and at the same instant her crew swarmed out and dropped over the sides. "Charge!" shouted the American lieutenant, and out from the woods the army boys went with a rush. The astounded Germans were taken so utterly by surprise that they stood for a moment as though paralyzed. Then their commander barked out a sharp order, and two of the men leaped on board and made for the engines. Crack! went the lieutenant's revolver, and as the bullet whistled past the ears of the foremost man both Germans came to a stop. "Forward, men, and surround them, but don't shoot unless you have to," was the next order, and an instant later the German crew were ringed about with rifles whose ominous muzzles threatened to mow them down at the first false move. The German officer had started to draw a pistol, but seeing the uselessness of this, he shoved it back into its holster and shrugged his shoulders. He was trapped. The game was up. He raised his hands in signal of surrender. Another command from the lieutenant, and the crew were disarmed. A certain number of the men were detailed to guard them, and others were placed in charge of the airship. The boys were wild with delight at the rich prize that had fallen so unexpectedly into their hands.