A week or two later, Burton’s firm received an order from Dr. Micklewright for a water-plane of the best type, with all the latest improvements in canoe floats, and the finest motor on the market. When the machine was ready for delivery, Micklewright paid a visit to the factory. "It’s a regular stunner, old man," said Burton, as he explained its points to his friend. "Well, Teddy, do me the favour to accept it as a birthday present--a little memento of your trip to Ostend." [Illustration: Chapter II Heading] The DEATH’S HEAD HUSSAR I "My compliments, Burton! You brought her down magnificently," said Captain Rolfe. "Not much damage done, I hope?" The airman stooping over the engine grunted. In a moment or two a grimy face was upturned, the tall figure straightened itself, and a crisp voice said ruefully-- "Magneto smashed to smithereens!" He passed round to the side of the machine, and retailed at short intervals the items of a catalogue of damage. "A stay cut! ... Two holes in the upper plane! ... Four in the lower! ... Chips and dents galore! Still, we can fall back on the old wife’s consolation: it might have been worse." "All the same, it’s precious awkward," said Captain Rolfe, putting his finger through a hole in the lower plane. "The Bosches will be here in ten minutes." "Not under twenty. They’ve some difficult country to cross. But, of course, there’s no time to lose. It’s lucky there’s a village close by." Edward Burton, airman, with Captain Rolfe, who accompanied him as observer, had just made an enforced volplané and landed safely after running the gauntlet of German rifles and machine guns. At the moment when he was flattering himself on being out of range, a shell burst close beside the machine, bespattering it with bullets and putting the engine out of action. Rolfe had seen cavalry galloping in their direction. The sudden descent would apprise the enemy of what had happened. Whether in ten minutes or in twenty, there was no doubt that the arrival of the Germans would place the airmen in a tight corner. The first thought of the trooper is for his horse. The airman is concerned for the state of his aeroplane. It was not till long afterwards that Rolfe and Burton discovered that they, too, had not come off unscathed. Luckily it was only Rolfe’s sword-hilt that had been shattered, not his groin; while Burton examined with a wondering curiosity two neat black holes in the loose sleeve of his overalls. It did not occur to either of them that there was at least plenty of time to slip away and hide before the Germans came up. Their instinct was to save the aeroplane--a hopeless proposition, one would have thought.