aerodrome, and soon the machines began to mount. Up and up they
climbed, and none too soon, for on reaching elevations averaging ten
thousand feet, there was seen, over the German lines, a flock of the
Hun planes led by two or three machines painted a bright red. These
were some of the machines that had belonged to the celebrated
"flying circus," organized by a daring Hun aviator and ace who was
killed after he had inflicted great damage and loss on the Allied
service. He and his men had their machines painted red, perhaps on
the theory that they would thus inspire terror. These were some of
the former members of the circus," it was evident.

"It's going to be a real fight!" cried Tom, as he headed his machine
toward one of the red craft. Whether the green man Tom was taking
up relished this or not, knowing, as he must, the reputation of
these red aviators, Tom did not stop to consider.

Then, as the two hostile air fleets approached, there began a battle
of the clouds--a conflict destined to end fatally for more than one
aviator.




CHAPTER IX

THE FALLING GLOVE


Numerically the Hun planes, were superior to the American fleet of
airships that quickly rose to oppose them. That probably accounted