“Got to fight,” Jack decided. He headed straight for the nearest enemy, caught him on the side, gave him a burst of fire, then plunged down to go under him. Luck was with him, for he came up behind the other plane. The Zero fled without a shot. Jack did not follow, but again started climbing. “What a pity! Such easy meat!” Stew exclaimed. “No dog fights!” Jack reminded him. “Besides, there are eight more Zeros coming up.” “Let them come!” said Stew. “I’ll drop the belly tank on them.” That was just what he did. When both they and their pursuers were well up in the substratosphere, he let go the empty tank and, with luck, tipped the wing of a fighter, sending him whirling over and over. “Oh!” he breathed ten seconds later as the enemy righted himself. “We get no medals for belly tanks.” As they climbed higher and higher their pursuers one by one dropped back, giving up the race. At last none remained. “Their ships just can’t take it,” Jack explained. “Something freezes up and then they’re sunk.” “Yes, or their propellers find the air too thin,” Stew added. Tilting his plane, Jack drifted slowly downward while Stew reported to the radio cabin of the _Black Bee_. “Great work,” was the commendation they received. “Think you can get down there once more for a check?” “Can we go down again?” he asked Jack. “Down to five thousand,” was the quick reply. “More would be suicide. You can use binoculars.” Down they went once more with the jet plane singing its wild song. Stew had just completed his check at five thousand when Jack warned: “Here they come!” This time he was above the enemy. When he had gained sufficient altitude, he leveled off and soared away. “That’s all,” he exclaimed. “Have to go back for more fuel.” Once again Stew radioed his report, with corrections. Then he settled back with a sigh. “Boy! What a life!” He was at ease, but not for long. CHAPTER XXVIII THE JET PLANE’S LAST BATTLE They met a lone U. S. scout plane from another carrier and dipped a wing in salute. They had covered more than half the way to the task force when, coming from behind a very small cloud, Jack let out a howl: “Torpedo planes in formation, dead ahead!” “Enemy planes?” Stew rubbed his eyes. “Easy. They slipped out of the harbor during our stratosphere battles.” Jack gave his ship the rein. The situation was clear. For many weeks Jap task forces in harbors had been refusing to fight. It had been assumed that they would once again attempt flight. But at least one carrier had sent out its torpedo planes to do battle. “Get on the radio! Quick!” Jack exclaimed. “Not a second to lose!” Almost the next breath Stew was droning into his mike: “Twelve enemy torpedo planes approaching task force at top speed. Should strike soon.”