"And you've had no further reply till this message came in?" asked the chief.
"No, sir."
"By the way, is her wireless damaged as well as her engine? I didn't notice."
"Yes, sir. The message says: 'Wireless deranged,'" replied the assistant, re-reading from the aerogram.
"Then who the deuce sent the message?"
"Scorpio---- But who Scorpio is I can't make out. It must have been some passing airman, for it cannot have been one of our own patrols."
"Phew! The mystery deepens. Get the patrols out at once, and tell them to take plenty of ammunition with them. It will take a few rounds to scare off those Bedouin fiends if once they get round a carcase where there are such pickings."
"I don't think there's much to worry about in that respect. Those Arabs have a wholesome fear of these air-liners, sir. However, I will get the machines off at once."
CHAPTER XIV
BETRAYED BY THE CAMERA