Presently both machines were moving side by side, hardly fifty yards
apart. To come closer at this rate of speed these small scouting
planes maintaining would have caused a mutual air suction that might
cause a collision. This is the real cause of many of the accidents
that befall inexperienced aviators, when out flying, perhaps by
themselves.

The night, of course, was far spent. The fog was lightening
imperceptibly. Their watches betokened that it was nearing three a.m.
Blaine got out his megaphone, for talking at high altitudes is much a
matter of expanded lung power. He began, as usual, with a joke.

"Like to 'a' got you back there!" he shouted. "Where you been?"

"Looking for you mainly. What you going do next?"

"See that line of fire off norwest! We that's where our front and
Johnny Bull's join. Appincourte Bluff seems either to have been turned
or to have turned Fritzy off. Ready for a scrimmage?"

"You ought to know, Lafe!" Bangs laughed easily into the megaphone.
"Ready for most anything."

"Well, our front there is rather weak. Follow me. Don't lose me.
We'll give that infantry a time trying to find out who we are that's
spitting on them from overhead. Catch me?"

"Yep-fire away! Suits me!"

In another few seconds the two machines were flying through the