"I confess, young man, that I have enjoyed some lofty travel before I met you, but I am willing to admit that I could not teach you and that partner of yours many new tricks in flying the heavier than air kind of machines." "How about the Zeppelins?" cried Spitznagle, who could no longer suppress a desire to show his knowledge of Roque's prowess as an airman. "Hold your peace, Arnold," advised the secret agent, shaking his finger at the eager champion, "my business compels me to learn a little of everything, and it's all in a day's work, anyway." The boys were satisfied that Roque's renown had not all of it been won on the ground. Spitznagle would have made a good witness to that effect if he had been permitted to speak. While the tall clock in the turn of the winding staircase leading to the upper floor of the old house was whanging the twelve strokes of midnight, Roque and Spitznagle pledged the fatherland with uplifted goblets, and Billy and Henri offered a silent toast to the assured soft beds upstairs. When the early morning brought no disturbance of their inclination for a little longer time to press the pillows, the boys sleepily guessed that Roque, for once, was not in a hurry to dash into new territory. As the sun kept climbing, and still no summons from below, curiosity overruled napping, and the young aviators decided to investigate the cause of this unusual consideration of their comfort. Halfway down the stairway their ears convinced them that the place was not deserted, for a spirited conversation in the language of the country was in progress, accompanied by a clatter of dishes, and the ever present cooking odor of sausage assailed their noses. Besides Spitznagle, shrouded to the rib-line with his flowing apron, were three very short men and an extremely long one. The latter proved to be no other than the giant Zorn. Roque was nowhere to be seen. The heavy host noisily hailed the late comers: "Good morning, sleepyheads, and all this fine food waiting for you, too." Zorn gave his best wide-mouthed grin, and then went on talking, in lower tones, however, to his short companions. Billy and Henri made a substantial breakfast, and in doing so, hardly felt the need of the constant urging of the boss cook. They could not imagine what had become of Roque, and as nobody volunteered to tell them, they concluded not to ask any questions. The boys observed that one of the short men, with a large head wholly out of proportion with his stocky body, commanded much deference from the rest of the party. Henri learned from the drift of the conversation that this determined looking individual was Capt. Groat of Friedrichshaven, the great center of Zeppelin factories, and while the captain was not in uniform he had the manner of rank. Billy was quietly advised by his chum what the talk was about, and wagered that the two strangers were airmen.