"When these fellows commence to flock together on this coast," he asserted, "you can figure on what Roque meant when he fixed a comeback to get even for that flying raid yesterday on Cuxhaven." The boys had withdrawn to the fireplace, and had an opportunity to exchange comments and conclusions between themselves. "I'd like to take a whirl myself in one of those Zeppelins," was the wish expressed by Henri. "Our flying education has been sadly neglected in that respect," admitted Billy, "but, you know, these dirigibles are among the things made only in Germany, and we're just over, so to speak." As the morning wore away, Zorn made some remark to Capt. Groat that had attracted the latter's attention to the boys lounging at the fireplace. The captain arose from the table and approached Billy and Henri with outstretched hand. "You speak the German?" With the question he bestowed a strenuous grip upon each of the boys. Henri nodded, and Billy confessed by blank look that he did not know the language. "It is easy, the English," politely assured the captain, "and we will talk it together." Billy brightened at this. He was not fond of hearing through an interpreter. "I hear you are the great aviators, and for so young it is wonderful." "Thank you, sir," was Henri's modest acknowledgment. "It is with the Zeppelin I navigate," advised the captain. "You know it not?" "Not much," put in Billy, "though we once dangled on the anchor of one, and another time I fell with a monoplane right across the back of one of your dirigibles." "Yes," remarked Henri, "and if it hadn't been for that, there wouldn't have been any Billy alive to tell about it." The captain showed a disposition to continue his talk during the afternoon with the boys, but a new arrival of evident importance interrupted. This addition to the party was a much older man than the rest, wore a military cloak, and his long, gray mustache curled at the ends in close touch with his ears. As he stood at the end of the big table, now cleared of its cloth, and rested a hand, enveloped in a gauntlet, upon the shining surface, everybody in the room saluted. Over the shoulder of this distinguished guest the boys saw the face of Roque. As if by signal, further increased by the hasty entrance of three additional numbers, the attending company ranged by equal division on each side of the table, and all followed the directing movement of the man at the head of the board in seating themselves. Billy and Henri were the only bystanders, for though Spitznagle had not ventured to flop down upon a bench at the table, he perched himself on a high stool, completely blocking the door leading into the pantry. One of the short men who had first appeared with Capt. Groat produced a capacious wallet, and laid out in orderly array a number of neatly folded papers which had been contained in the leather.