e settled back comfortably in a big chair. The office was warm, and Blake knew now he had been doing a day's work.
"We will just take it as it comes," Colonel Boynton explained. "I can't for the life of me figure why the craft was spying around here. What are they looking for? We haven't any big secrets the whole world doesn't know.
"Of course he may not return. But if he does I want you to go up and give him the once over. I can trust you to note every significant detail.
"You saw no wings. If it is a dirigible, let's know something of their power and how they can throw themselves up into the air the way you described. Watch for anything that may serve to identify it and its probable place of manufacture—any peculiarity of marking or design or construction that may give us a lead. Then return and report."
Blake nodded his understanding of what was wanted, but his mind was on further contingencies: he wanted definite instructions.
"And," he asked; "if they attack—what then? Is their fire to be returned?"
"If they make one single false move," said Colonel Boynton savagely, "give them everything you've got. And the 91st Squadron will be off the ground to support you at the first sign of trouble. We don't want to start anything, nor appear to do so. But, by the gods, Blake, this fellow means trouble eventually as sure as you're a flyer, and we won't wait for him to ask for it twice."
