That was a good sign, and pirouetting, not unlike an expert dancer
executing a new turn, he dove aside and came up fairly behind the
nearest Boche. Without hesitation he began to spray the enemy with a
shower of their own bullets. It was indeed lucky the new cartridges
fitted. It was merely one blunder committed by the extra efficient
Germans in converting British weapons to their own use.

Evidently the ammunition dealt out to the Death's Head Squadron was of
the best. It was intentionally so. Another proof of this lay in the
fact that the German plane thus attacked fell sideways, recovered,
plunged half staggering away, while a tiny spark of flame became
visible to Erwin as he sheered aside in the opposite direction and
prepared for a new onset from above by the second plane. So far as he
could see, the other plane was making for Blaine's machine that still
flow the Death's Head Flag. Yet it was acting strangely as seen from a
distance by the Boches, who might or might not be posted as to the
strange change of its ownership.

The second plane, rendered more cautious by the fate of the first,
which was now descending a mass of flames, began a series of divings,
wrigglings, and even nose dips, in its efforts to confuse Erwin and
find a good position from which to shower the daring invader with
bullets.

On his own part Orris went through the usual maneuvers customary when
two airmen, both skillful, are seeking the advantage of the other.
Well it was for the young man that his own Bleriot was one of the best
of the up-to-date fighting planes.

Numerous shots were taken on both sides, and in the excitement f or the