Suddenly he drew a sharp intake of breath.
"Sighted something, eh ?" demanded the major, already recovered from the snub administered.
"See for yourself, Major, what you make of it! Right in the sun's eye, and off to southward--all along that fantastic, crimson cloud-castle." Bohannan's gaze narrowed through his own glasses.

Bracing his powerful legs against the quivering jar of the aileron, he brushed the horizon into his eager vision.

The glasses steadied.

There, of a truth, black midges had appeared, coming up over the world's rim like a startled covey of quail..