He had observed two black dots, both of which grew fast
into the shape of aeroplanes. One, he knew, was the _Arrow_. He had
learned to recognize the plane at a vast distance. It was something in
the shape or a trick of motion perhaps, almost like that of a human
being, with which he had become familiar and which he could not mistake.
The other plane, by the side of Lannes' machine, bothered him. It was
much larger than the _Arrow_, but they seemed to be on terms of perfect
friendship, each the consort of the other.
"Lannes is coming," announced John. "He's four or five miles to the
south and he's about a quarter of a mile up, but he has company. Will
you have a look, Lord James?"
Lord James Ivor, taking back his own glasses, studied the two
approaching planes.
"The small one looks like your friend's plane," he said, "and the other,
although much bigger, has only one man in it too. But they fly along
like twins. We'll soon know all about them because they're coming
straight to us. They're descending now into this field."
The _Arrow_ slanted gently to the earth and the larger machine descended
near by. Lannes stepped out of one, and an older man, whom John
recognized as the aviator Caumartin, alighted from the other.
"My friends," said Lannes, cheerily, "here we are again. You see I've
brought with me a friend, Monsieur Caumartin, a brave man, and a great
aviator."
He paused to introduce Caumartin to Wharton and the Englishmen, and then
went on:
"This flying machine in which our friend Caumartin comes is not so swift
and so graceful as the _Arrow_--few aeroplanes are--but it is strong and
it has the capacity.
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