"Your colleague hasn't had your luck, Burton," said Adams. "It's more than a pity. He had evidently spotted a fresh battery. The Huns will have time to conceal it unless some one else spots it and tips us the wink."
They went outside and scanned the sky. No aeroplane was in sight.
"I think I'd better go up," said Burton. "I'm off duty to-day, but it would be a pity to lose the chance. The new battery must have been visible from where he saw your target. I ought to be able to find it if I go at once."
"A good idea! We might smash it before it gets to work. You'd better 'phone your flight commander. I'll lend you my trench map."
Burton hurried to the telephone room. In a few minutes he returned.
"O.K.," he said, "but I'll have to go alone. My observer's away, and there's no one else handy."
"That's awkward. You can't pilot and work the wireless too."
"Perhaps not, but if I can spot the battery I can return with my observer to-morrow, and then we'll be able to set you to work on it."
"Good! You've seen what we can do."
"Well, not exactly seen; but apparently it wasn't a pigsty this time. Look out for me in an hour or so."