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.  It is what you might call an excursion steamer of the air.  It can take several people and our good Caumartin has come in it for Lieutenant Wharton and Lieutenant Carstairs.  So! he has an order for them written by the brave Captain Colton of the Strangers.  Produce the order, Monsieur Caumartin.”

The aviator took a note from a pocket in his jacket and handed it to Lord James Ivor, who announced that it was in truth such an order.

“You’re to be delivered to the Strangers F.O.B.,” said John.

“What’s F.O.B.?” exclaimed Carstairs.

“It’s a shipping term of my country,” replied John.  “It means Free on Board, and you’ll arrive among the Strangers without charge.”

“But,” said Carstairs, looking dubiously at the big, ugly machine, “automobiles are my specialty!”

“And the wireless is mine!” said Wharton in the same doubting tone.

“Oh, it’s easy,” said John lightly.  “Easiest thing in the world.  You have nothing to do but sit still and look calm and wise.  If you’re attacked by a Zeppelin, throw bombs—­no doubt Caumartin has them on board—­but if a flock of Taubes assail you use your automatics.  I congratulate you both on making your first flight under such auspices, with two armies of a million men each, more or less, looking at you, and with the chance to dodge the shells from four or five thousand cannon.”

“Your trouble, Scott, is talking too much,” said Wharton, “because you went up in the air when you had no other way to go, you think you’re a bird.”

“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.