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Do not, I command you, allow him to go up alone. We must guard the swine keep him in the formation." Von Zeiglemann went up in his roaring little single-seater and ranged the air behind the German lines, seeking Tam. By sheer luck he was brought down by a chance Archie shell and fell with a sprained ankle in the German support-trenches, facing Armentiers.
It is monstrous!" squeaked the lieutenant. "It is against the rules of war! What shall I do, Herr Captain?" "Go up and find Tam and shoot him," said Zeiglemann dryly. "It is a simple matter." "But but do you think do you believe ?" Zeiglemann nodded. "I think he will keep his word. Do not forget, Herr Lieutenant, that Tam brought down von Müller, the greatest airman that the Fatherland ever knew."
"Sir-r," said Tam solemnly, "I ha'e a grand stunt." He went back to his room and addressed the envelope: "Mr. von Mahl." The next morning when the well-born members of the Ninety-fifth Squadron of the Imperial German Air Service were making their final preparations to ascend, a black speck appeared in the sky. Captain Karl von Zeiglemann fixed the speck with his Zeiss glasses and swore.
"We shall find, Müller, that this visitor is not wholly unconnected with our dear friend von Mahl." "I wish von Mahl had been under that bomb," grumbled his subordinate. "Can't we do something to get rid of him, Herr Captain?" Zeiglemann shook his head. "I have suggested it and had a rap over the knuckles for my pains. The fellow is getting us a very bad name."
Five minutes later his orderly came to the group of which Zeiglemann was the center and handed him a small linen parachute and a weighted bag. The squadron-leader was cutting the string which bound the mouth of the bag when a shrill voice said: "Herr Captain, do be careful; there might be a bomb."
"He asked me where I thought he would be safe he is thinking of asking for a transfer to the eastern front," said Zeiglemann's assistant. "And you said " "I told him that the only safe place was a British prison camp." "Please the good God he reaches there," said Zeiglemann piously, "but he will be a fortunate man if he ever lands alive from a fight with Tam.
He laughed his high, shrill little laugh, but nobody uttered a sound. "This is serious, of course, von Mahl," said Zeiglemann soberly. "Although this is your private quarrel, the squadron will do its best to save you." "But, but this is stupid foolishness," said von Mahl as he savagely tore the note into little pieces and flung them down. "I will go after this fellow and kill him.
"Von Müller!" The young man's face went a shade paler. The story of von Müller and his feud with an "English" airman and of the disastrous sequel to that feud, was common knowledge throughout Germany. Walking back to Command Headquarters, von Zeiglemann expressed his private views to his confidant. "If Tam can scare this money-bag back to Frankfurt, he will render us a service."
Von Mahl had arrived at the level of descent when he detached himself from his comrades and sat brooding, his knuckles to his teeth, reviewing his abilities and counting over all the acts of injustice to which he had been subjected. Von Zeiglemann, watching him, ordered him fourteen days' leave, and the young officer accepted the privilege somewhat reluctantly.
"Herr Captain," spluttered the youth, "I do what I think is my duty to my Kaiser and my Fatherland." He saluted religiously. To this there was no reply, as he well knew, and Captain Zeiglemann finished his work in silence. The bag was opened. He put in his hand and took out a letter. "I thought so," he said, looking at the address; "this is for you, von Mahl."
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