"Nothing as yet," I answered. "What puzzles me is—why did they want to bring me here?" Ross chuckled. "He's most likely got some reason," he presently murmured. "I don't suppose Albeury'd fetch you here for your health." Again he focussed his glass. Now the people were gradually drifting. Slowly the crowds began to surge in the direction where the tents stood. Now the tents were filling fast. Once more the band was playing. Everyone seemed happy. Joy and laughter were in the air. Engrossed in the panorama which interested me considerably, all thought of my reasons for being there had for the moment faded from my mind, and—" "Hark!" Ross exclaimed. He remained silent, listening. "What did you hear?" I asked, when half a minute had passed. "Didn't you hear it?" "No. What?" "That buzzing sound. It wasn't a car, I'm certain. I believe it was a—there, listen!" I heard it now, distinctly. Away to our right it sounded, high in the air, apparently; a strange, humming noise. "An aeroplane?" He nodded. Quickly the sound increased in volume. Now we saw that the crowds down in the valley had heard it. They were gazing up in the sky, away to our right. Now they were getting excited. Like ants they hurried about. Out of the tents they swarmed, like bees out of a hive that has been stirred up with a stick. And now out of the house, too, they came hurrying—guests, men and maidservants, hired helpers, everybody. The humming grew louder and louder. "'Scot! What an idea!" "Idea?" I exclaimed. "What do you mean?" "We'd a rumour before leaving town that something unexpected and startling might occur in connection with this affair. This is it, you may depend." Still I was perplexed. "I don't follow your line of thought," I said. "What can an aeroplane have to do with the gang, or they with it? They wouldn't come down in an aeroplane to commit a robbery, surely?" He looked at me, as I thought, pityingly, as though sorry for my lack of imagination, or intelligence, or both. Now everybody was rushing about; all were hurrying in one direction; a few later stragglers still came stumbling out of the house, running as fast as their legs would carry them. The humming sounded just above our heads. Looking up, we suddenly saw the aeroplane. A large biplane, containing two passengers, it passed not thirty feet above us, flying horizontally in a straight line. Now it descended a little way, then slowly began to circle. At that moment we heard a shot, fired somewhere in the woods. "Our signal," Ross murmured. "Are you ready to go?" "Go where?" "You'll see." The aeroplane was descending rapidly. Almost immediately beneath it was gathered a dense crowd. Looking through Ross's glass, I saw one of the passengers waving to the crowd to clear out of the way. A moment later, and the biplane was dashing straight at the people beneath. "Quick! My glass." I handed it to him. Instantly he levelled it in the direction of the house.