"
Instantly the nimble scout machine darted upward, at the same time
turning on its tail in such a way as to bring both opponents side by
side with Buck now still higher up. By the time the German had gotten
into a firing position Buck had his Nieuport slanted nose downward and
pointing straight at the enemy. But scarcely had this been done,
before the German was veering off to the left and sliding down, down
with scarcely conceivable rapidity.
Instantly Buck was after him, and for several minutes the two spiraled,
twisted, dove, looped and performed other aerial feats accomplished
only by expert fliers. By this time both were undeceived as to the
skill of their opponents. Each knew that his adversary was worthy of
all the dexterity and strategy the other might employ.
And all this in the dark, as it were. That is, in the dark as darkness
is in the upper air, a sort of transparent twilight, when the mists are
either absent or the light haze is as a gauze curtain stretched between
our eyes and an upper light beyond.
At length the German, no longer clumsy, but most expert, seemed to be
waving something that looked white. Then came a low megaphone call
that made Bangs wonder if his ears were all right. It came in good
United States English.
"Hullo, you!" it began. "Let's rest a bit and have a pow-wow!"
Buck could still hardly believe that he really heard, and he hesitated.
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