"Did he think he could shoot our flag away with a single bullet from a pistol when a machine gun has just failed?
That's right, turn about and make off as fast as you can, you poor little mono!" The monoplane also curved around the tree, but did not make a series of circles.

Instead, when its prow was turned northward it darted off again in that direction, going even more swiftly than it had come, as if the aviator were ashamed of himself and wished to get away as soon as possible from the scene of his disgrace.

Away and away it flew, dwindling to a black speck and then to nothing.
John's shoulders shook, and Weber, looking at him, was forced to smile too.
"Well, it was funny," he said.

"Our flag is certainly making a stir in the heavens." "I wonder what will come next," said John.

"It's like bait drawing birds of prey." The heavens were now beautifully clear, a vault of blue velvet, against which anything would show.