John saw as it approached that the aviator sat before the motor and screw, but that the elevating and steering rudders were placed in front of him.

There were three men besides the aviator in the machine.
"A biplane," said John.
"Yes," said Weber, "I recognize the type of the machine.

It's originally a French model." "But in this case, undoubtedly a German imitation.

They've seen our flag, because I can make out one of the men with glasses to his eyes.
They hover about as if in uncertainty.

No wonder they can't make up their minds, because there's the tricolor floating from the top of that tall tree, and not a thing in the world to explain why it's in such a place.