There was a note of silence when the Flight-Commander spoke thus, for he did not often express himself like that, though every one knew that the ambition of his life was to meet the German air-fiend on equal terms, and fate had decreed that before very long his wish should be gratified. After this, they all adjourned to the messroom, and, for that evening, and the next, the ferry-pilot was their guest. At dinner that evening, when John Bunny, the jovial, stout, stumpy, chubby-faced waiter at the officers' mess, had cleared away, and cigars were lighted, and chairs drawn to the fire-place, all the talk was about the baby-monoplane. For the time being even the war faded away, except so far as it hinged upon the coming deeds of the new machine. They discussed its merits and its possibilities, its high speed, its wonderful but powerful engine, capable of 200 horse-power and nearly two thousand revolutions a minute. Next morning, as soon as it was light, Dastral was seated in the little nascelle, climbing into the azure. For an hour he tested it, and came down delighted with his new plaything. Again and again he tried it during the next two days, until he was thoroughly at home with it, and could handle it just as well as any other machine he had ever flown. Indeed, the ferry-pilot who watched him was amazed at the antics which the Flight-Commander performed with the trippy little thing. On the third morning after the arrival of the new visitant, the aerodrome was startled by renewed activity on the part of the enemy. Just as dawn was breaking Lieutenant Grenfell, who was again on orderly officer's duty at the aerodrome, was called suddenly to the telephone by the Flight-sergeant in attendance saying: "Advanced Headquarters Ginchy want to speak to you, sir." An instant later he was holding the receiver, and heard Ginchy speak plainly. "Is that Advanced II.Q. Ginchy?" he asked. "Yes. Is that the orderly officer, Contalmaison aerodrome?" "Yes. Anything the matter?" "Enemy 'planes crossing our lines, and coming in your direction," came the laconic answer. "Want you to take necessary action at once." "Right, old fellow. Action shall be taken at once. But I say--hullo, are you still there?" "Yes." "How many enemy 'planes were there?" "Three have crossed over. A very big one, and two fast scouts. The others have all been turned back by our A.A. guns, but they are trying again, I think, as the guns are opening fire upon them once more." "All right. Good bye!" Then, turning to the Flight-Sergeant, the officer said: "Quick, sergeant! Sound the alarm to call up the men, and get the machines out of the hangars ready for action. There is no time to lose. If they are fast machines they will be here in less than five minutes."