"
"So I am at times," laughed John. "A bird without the feathers. Come
now, brace up! Remember that the solid earth is always below you, a long
way below, perhaps, but it's there, and Friend Caumartin is bound to
deliver you soon to your rightful master, Captain Daniel Colton, who
will talk to you like an affectionate but stern parent."
"For Heaven's sake, let's start and get away from this wild Yankee,"
said Carstairs.
"But you won't get away from me," rejoined John. "Lannes and I in the
_Arrow_ will watch over you all the way, and, if we can, rescue you,
should your plane break down."
Caumartin supplied Wharton and Carstairs with suitable coats and caps,
and they took their places unflinchingly in the big plane. Their hearts
may have been beating hard, but they would not let their hands tremble.
"I suppose the _Omnibus_ starts first, Philip, doesn't it?" asked John.
"Yes," replied Lannes, smiling, "and we can overtake it. _Omnibus_ is a
good name for it. We'll call it that. It looks awkward, John, but it's
one of the safest machines built."
Plenty of willing hands gave the _Omnibus_ a lift and then did a like
service for the _Arrow_. As they rose, aviators and passengers alike
waved a farewell to Lord James Ivor, and he and the Englishmen about him
waved back. But the thousands lying on the grass slept heavily on, while
the cannon on their utmost fringe thundered and crashed and the German
cannon crashed and thundered, replying.
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