Again Chester and Stubbs clambered into the back seat. "All right?" asked Hal, after he had taken his seat. "All right," said Chester. "Let her go, Hal," cried Stubbs in English. And these words almost caused their undoing. At the sound of the English phrase the German lieutenant, who had been watching the friends embark for their aerial trip, realized in a moment that he had been fooled. The plane was gliding slowly across the ground when he called to his men: "Spies! Shoot them!" Instantly the soldiers threw their rifles to their shoulders and poured a volley after the plane. Then they started after the craft on a dead run. The first volley did no damage beyond arousing Hal’s anger. He berated Stubbs’ carelessness roundly to himself, but not for a moment did he take his mind off the work in hand. Chester and Stubbs ducked instinctively at the sound of the first volley. Then Chester raised his head, and drawing his revolvers, fired at the pursuing Germans. The lad’s efforts were rewarded with cries of anger, and there was one shrill scream. Chester smiled grimly to himself, for he knew that he had accounted for one of the foes. Again and again the Germans fired, and Chester heard the balls glance off the side of the plane. Still the enemy fire had not reached a vital part of the craft and the occupants were untouched. Now Hal touched the elevating lever gently and the plane soared in the air. One more volley the Germans fired after them. Then the three friends were safe. "Stubbs," said Chester, as the plane sped through the air. "I ought to pitch you out of here, and you know it." "By George! Why?" demanded Stubbs, puzzled. "Why?" echoed Chester. "Wasn’t it your fault that we almost got killed just now?" "I don’t see how you make that out," declared the little correspondent. "Didn’t you yell out in English just before we started?" "By George! Did I? I didn’t know it." "You must be losing your mind, Stubbs," declared Chester. "You don’t remember calling out in English, eh?" "No, I don’t," declared Stubbs, "and it’s my opinion you’re blaming me to cover up something you have done yourself." "I’ve a good mind to reach over and pull your nose, Stubbs," said Chester. "If you do you’ll have your own pulled right back again," declared Stubbs angrily. "Say! What’s the matter with you fellows back there?" called Hal over his shoulder. "Don’t you know we’re in enemy territory and that there are thousands of German planes flying around here some place? If you have any arguing to do wait until we get back to our own lines. I’ll be referee then and you can fight all week, if you want to." "Make him let me alone, then," growled Stubbs to himself, but he became silent. The journey was continued without incident. Only once was Hal’s order for silence broken, and then by Chester who, nudging Stubbs, said: "Don’t forget our bet. You owe me a hat."