“I couldn’t tell from the glimpses I had of them,” answered the other; “only they have guns, and are in uniform.”
“Of course, I had to go and leave the field glasses hanging in the case with the seaplane,” Billy declared. “M’sieu, would you mind letting me look through those binoculars you have along with you?”
Of course, the obliging Frenchman immediately complied with this request, and as Billy focused the glasses on the trees ahead the others held their breath while waiting to hear the verdict.
“There, I can see figures, all right,” said the observer, “and they’re watching this way in the bargain. Frank, it’s all right, I tell you!”
“Then they’re British soldiers?” asked the other, with a note of relief in his voice.
“Just what they are,” replied Billy. “They must have seen the plane falling back here, and have come to find out whether anyone was hurt. Then those shots over at the old windmill made them hold up, and right now they don’t know what to think. Hadn’t you better signal them, Frank?”
“Right away, Billy.”
Accordingly Frank elevated his handkerchief, and waved it until he received a reassuring signal from someone amidst the trees. After that the little party rose and advanced, Frank advising them to hold up their hands so as to convince the soldiers they had no possible hostile intent.
It was with a feeling of great relief that they found themselves face to face with a British captain, who surveyed them curiously.
“You came down in that big aëroplane with the boat underneath it?” was the first thing he asked.