The Dreadnought of the Air

s of two men in the act of springing upon him. At this uncalled-for o

his hands and knees. His comrade, within an ace of tripping over the other's prostrate body, t

emanded Dacres angrily. "I'm no

had given the order for the attack. "A

anding on his guard. "There a

and with the utmost willingness. Now, the aggressive natu

nal boxing attitude he heard other foots

lly well got to be brought before the governor. It may be all right for you or it may not

Perhaps I am on the pater's preserves. It will be rather

aloud, "I'll come quietly;

replied the leader of the party in a mollif

illegal arrest

it isn't our pigeon. You can argue that o

behind him, while the spokesman kept in the rear. In this order, and like an es

n as short and as evenly as a cricket pitch, while at equal distances were five lofty wooden sheds, their fronts level with the surroun

the house before--?" whisp

No, we can't, by Ju

a moment the truth flashed across Dacres' mind. The mysterious airship was returning to its

of the men. "This is a mess. I'll have so

n bounded across the open space. Dacres' r

ck," he

, although inwardly consumed with ex

must," said the

nded respect. "I will take the risk. I am perfectly aware that this is the secret hiding-place of

red the man. "We guessed as much. I w

"Remember, I'm giving no trouble, as I promised. An

soner. The rest of his companions had to hasten to assist in the berthing of the airship. To appe

distinguish any details of her construction. She showed no lights, nor was there a suspended platform visible. H

escaping air, and, as he watched, Dacres saw the midship section of the huge envelope drop slowly out of line. Held by the ropes it sank gently to the gr

Only the bow and stern portion now remained, till, smoothly as if they were glidi

ions of the airship were of considerable dimensions. The extremities almos

s were very much like those already housed, except for the pointed bow and a long cy

s to be seen. The whole fabric seemed to be r

ew, and nearly thirty men were holding on to the guide ropes. Again cam

of the air was securely housed in the sheds erected for its reception. T

al of the men crossed the green and ap

announced the fellow who

the captive's face. It struck Dacres that this was taking rather a mean advan

, as he switched off the light. "This gentleman is not one of our

sir--" beg

y remediable at present. Excuse me," he continued addressing himself to Dacres, "but the zeal of my man rath

see what his questioner was like, but judging

s. The situation appealed to him, and the more he could prolong his stay on the forbidden g

est dwelling," continued the unknown. "

d not quite determine. He cared still less, for here, apparently, was

men, the stranger took hold of Dacres

his way. It is rat

d this evening," said Dacres, but the remark dre

crowded with dense undergrowth. The darkness under the foliage was intense, and without his companions guiding arm Dacres must have collided with the tree trunks

hrough the wood. This the stranger followed for about a hundred

way was evidently a carriage-drive, and must lead somewhere. But without hesitation he complied with

he door of a long rambling house. "We have not the convenience of

ly realize that the speaker was one and the same as the daring airman who h

stantially furnished room, and when the lamp was turned up t

son to his body, while the long, tapering fingers indicated an artistic temperament. His face was oval, and of a deep tanned colour, his eyes were grey and evenly set beneath a pair

box gaiters and brown boots. Round his neck was a dark green mu

le matter, Mr.--?" He raised

my name-Bas

we the Colonel a duty call, but I have been so excessively busy of late that I really haven't had time. By the

to dispute that

ual you might, but as far

Whittinghame in town about

-ho

with my friend Dick Shaldon. Whittinghame was then a man of about twenty-two. He had just co

han Whittinghame quietly. "By

not at present feel inclined t

ittinghame, looking his guest full in the fa

d I lost my way. Nearly got stuck in a bog more than once. Eventually I saw a light, and crawling through

y. "They are tough customers and they know their orders. I may as well te

ied Dacres with p

hame's turn to

he had mastered his feelings. "'Pon my soul you are a cool customer. I fully

prevent me from so d

ost s

mpted to escape you would have been laid by the heels in a brace of shakes. You honestly assert that

ut honestly I'm g

rself until there is no further need for concealment, Mr. Dacres. I

red Dacres fervently. "I

lonel D

ot expe

?" asked Whittinghame. "If you do not feel inclined I

onditions," said Dacres without hesitation. "I was once a British

ally. "Let's hear your story-but wait: you must b

er refreshment. He also took the opportunity of consult

be able to get him to let me have a trip with him. Anyway, it's something to occupy my mind,

g silver. On the walls were oil-paintings of country scenes which looked suspiciously like Constable's work. In one corner was a gun rack containing several twelve bores and rook-r

urned followed by a servin

lliamson," said his master. "Y

good

k-change artist, I know." For he recognized the fellow by his voice: he was the

me genially. "Then, if you're not t

e really was. The food was plain but appetizing, the cold

g to the cabinet. "Try that chair; you'll find it fairly comforta

," said Dacres apologetically as h

Dacres felt that his host was watching him nar

nghame suddenly exclaimed, "what do