back contents forward {{frabfp117.png}} || eagles of the sky || on his part was working under a similar disadvantage, for he really had little in the way of a barricade to intercept the shower to which he was being subjected. Lucky for him he had shown the good sense to stop his advance with considerable distance separating him from the hidden sloop--had they been closer there was not one chance in ten that some damage would not have placed his seaplane out of commission, even though the pilot himself escaped death. Then suddenly a white flag shot up from the sloop's breastworks. Oscar, with the gallantry such as had ever distinguished the air fighters on both sides in those days that tried men's souls, ceased firing. "Give up?" he was bawling, as the rapid-fire guns both became silent, while their hot barrels cooled off a bit. "Not so you could notice it," Perk shouted. "Jest wanted to exchange a few words with you, if you're Oscar Gleeb, an' it's true that you was a live-wire over there in France an' the Argonne--say, is that all to the good, Mister Pilot?" The other did not answer immediately. Plainly he must have been considerably astonished at the queer turn the engagement had taken; and then again possibly he did not exactly [[117]] back contents forward