“Oh, you’ll get used to that, Stubbs,” spoke up Colonel Anderson.

“Don’t you believe it.  I’ve tried it before and I haven’t become used to it yet.  No, sir.  In the first place, a man has got no business up here.  If he were meant to fly, he’d have wings, like a bird.  I claim it’s tempting Providence to go floating about through space in one of these things.”

“Well, you didn’t seem to hesitate much when we asked you to come,” commented Chester.

“Of course not.  Think I want to be left alone in this benighted land, with a couple of million Austrians likely to swoop down on it at any minute?  I guess not.  The air may not be safe, but it can’t be any worse than I would have been if I were left behind to await the arrival of the invader.  But where are we going?”

“Belgrade,” said Chester briefly.

Anthony Stubbs half started to his feet.

“Great Scott!” he exclaimed, and sank back again.  “Out of the frying pan into the fire.  Say!” and his voice rose a trifle, “What do we want to go to Belgrade for?  What’s the use of sticking our heads into a hornet’s nest?”

“Look here, Mr. Stubbs,” said Hal, again turning in his seat.  “Don’t you want to go to Belgrade with us?  If you don’t, I’ll go down and let you off here.”

He reduced the speed of the craft a trifle.

“No, no.  Never mind,” said Stubbs hurriedly.  “I was just joking.  Of course I want to go to Belgrade.  They tell me that the Germans are just about to come in.  But that won’t make any difference, will it?  No, indeed.  Not to us.  I suppose we are going to be there to welcome them.  I’ll bet they’ll be glad to see us.”

The others smiled, but they made no reply to this outburst.  They had known Stubbs long enough now not to pay much attention to him at times.  And this was one of those times.

Stubbs now turned a bit in his seat and spoke to another figure who was close to him.

“How do you like this kind of travel, Ivan?” he asked.

“I belong on the ground,” was the brief response.

Ivan’s face was a chalky white, but he was sitting tight and saying nothing except when it was absolutely necessary.  Just behind him sat Nikol, and the latter seemed to be in a condition similar to Ivan.  Nor did he make a sound.

Suddenly, as the aeroplane moved swiftly along, there came a loud explosion.  The machine rocked crazily and Hal’s prompt action at the wheel was all that saved the occupants from being pitched head-first into space.  He righted the craft with an effort.

“What’s the matter?” demanded Chester in no little alarm.

“It’s all over now,” mumbled Stubbs with a groan.  “Pray, Ivan.”

The big Cossack seemed to have no doubt that it was all over and while he clung to the side of the machine with both hands, he mumbled strange words in his native tongue.  Apparently he was following Stubbs’ injunction.