Dropping a few hundred feet, and seeing below him a broad expanse of fields, apparently flat, he thought it safe to risk a descent. No lights were visible. A rapid swoop brought the machine into a meadow of long grass ripe for hay, and he came lightly to the ground.
"I make you my compliments," said his companion, as they climbed out of their seats. "It is my first aerial voyage, and I am pretty sure that no one has ever tempted the empyrean under such exciting circumstances. But why did you come down? I hoped we should find ourselves at Ostend."
"I’ll tell you my reason. I don’t know where I am, but we had better camp here till morning, and then explore. Keep a look-out while I glance over the engine; we must be ready to get off again at a moment’s notice."
He switched on the light and made a careful examination of the engine; then, rubbing his dirty hands on the grass, he threw himself down beside his companion.
"You under-estimate the personal equation," returned the other. "I consider myself supremely lucky in having met you. Your daring is as great as your ingenuity, Amory. By the way, I have the advantage of you. I have as many names as the chameleon has colours, but the names given me in baptism were Lewis Granger. Now we’re quits on that score."
"Well, that rather opprobrious term would cover me, I presume. A sensitive person might prefer to call himself a secret agent. What’s in a name?"
"It’s pretty dangerous work, anyhow, and I’m jolly glad you’re out of the Germans’ clutches. You asked why I came down. It’s because I’m a sort of secret agent too."
"Oh, it’s quite involuntary. I happened to overhear a conversation a few hours before I was nabbed. I’ll tell you about it."
"Wait. I have no credentials. Do you think it wise to confide in a stranger?"
"That’s all right," said Kenneth, who had taken an instant liking to the man. "We’re in the same boat. What I overheard was a scheme for blowing up a bridge somewhere in Belgium, and I thought that before going on to England I might put the Belgians up to it."
"That’s worth a few hours’ delay. What you say confirms my own knowledge of the extraordinary minuteness of the German plans. ’Somewhere in Belgium,’ you say. You don’t know where?"