"Send her up as rapidly as possible," shouted the lieutenant. "Keep on going, and turn slowly to the left, so as to make a big circle; that will give me a chance to put in some shots." Alfred knew the manoeuver, the purpose being to bring the two machines into line with each other, and thus enable the lieutenant to get his gun in the range of both machines. "A little down now, and more to the right; there, steady," was the next command. "Br-r-r-r-r" sounded the gun, as the officer turned the crank. "The Taube is going down," cried Ralph excitedly, "and here comes another of the same kind," continued Ralph. "Go straight for the second one," shouted the lieutenant, and Alfred knew that the same trick had to be repeated. But the new arrival did not accept the invitation to fight on the lines that the first machine adopted. Instead, it began to circle about at a safe distance, endeavoring to secure the overhead position. "Follow that bird," said the lieutenant, "and keep going. They will learn something about high flying before they get through with us." The Albatross was not making much headway in the climbing game. On the other hand, the new Taube was an extraordinary flyer. "There is only one man aboard of her," said the lieutenant. "Take the glasses, and see if you can make out her number." Ralph studied the machine for some time. "I am not sure," he said, "but I think it is D 28. No one but the pilot is aboard." "That's good. He can't hit us head on. Trail him or get ahead of him and keep on ascending," said the lieutenant, now preparing his rapid firer with a new charge. The Taube suddenly swerved to the right, and let loose a full charge from his gun. It seemed as though one side of the Seraph had the covering of the planes ripped off, for the hail of bullets tore right through the frame. Alfred shook his head as he cleared away several bits of wreckage. "How high are we?" asked Ralph. "Two thousand six hundred meters," was the reply. The lieutenant had his revenge, however, for their own machine was now creeping up and gradually getting a rear position. This was what he had been aiming for. The stream of shots from the Seraph's gun now began to tell. In one despairing attempt the Taube turned fully half way around and answered, but it was evident that something was wrong with the ship. Suddenly the Seraph darted down. Ralph and the lieutenant looked back in surprise. Alfred's head had dropped to one side, and one arm hung over the side of the chassis. The lieutenant leaned over and caught the elevating rudder, not a moment too soon, and corrected the machine. Ralph leaned over the side of the body, and drew Alfred toward him, as the lieutenant climbed into the aviator's seat. All this took but a moment's time, but meanwhile it was necessary for them to observe the enemy and avoid him. "The Taube is falling," cried out Ralph, "but the Albatross is swinging around."