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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Air Service Boys in the Big Battle, by
+Charles Amory Beach
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Air Service Boys in the Big Battle
+
+Author: Charles Amory Beach
+
+Release Date: September, 2004  [EBook #6458]
+Posting Date: March 23, 2009
+Last Updated: March 15, 2018
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AIR SERVICE BOYS IN THE BIG BATTLE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Sean Pobuda
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AIR SERVICE BOYS IN THE BIG BATTLE
+
+Or SILENCING THE BIG GUNS
+
+
+By Charles Amory Beach
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I. BAD NEWS FROM THE AIR
+
+
+“Well, Tom, how's your head now?”
+
+“How's my head? What do you mean? There's nothing the matter with
+my head,” and the speaker, who wore the uniform of a French aviator,
+glanced up in surprise from the cot on which he was reclining in his
+tent near the airdromes that stretched around a great level field, not
+far from Paris.
+
+“Oh, isn't there?” questioned Jack Parmly, with a smile. “Then I
+beg your pardon for asking, my cabbage! I beg your pardon, Sergeant
+Raymond!”
+
+Tom Raymond, whose, chum had addressed him by the military title, looked
+curiously at his companion, and smiled at the appellation of the term
+cabbage. It was one of the many little tricks picked up by association
+with their French flying comrades, of speaking to a friend by some odd,
+endearing term. It might be cucumber or rose, cabbage or cart wheel--the
+words mattered not, it was the meaning back of them.
+
+“Say, is anything the matter?” went on Tom, as his chum, attired
+like himself', but wearing an old blouse covered with oil and grease,
+continued to smile. “What gave you the notion that my head hurt?”
+
+“I didn't say it hurt. I only asked how it was. The swelling hasn't
+begun to subside in mine yet, and I was wondering if it had in yours.”
+
+“Swelling? Subside? What in the world--”
+
+Jack Parmly brought to a sudden termination the rapid torrent of words
+from the mouth of his churn by silently pointing to a small medal
+fastened to the uniform jacket of his friend. It was the coveted croix
+de guerre.
+
+“Oh, that!” exclaimed Tom.
+
+“Nothing else, my pickled beet!” answered Jack. “Doesn't it make your
+head swell up as if it would burst every time you look at it? Now don't
+say it doesn't, for that's the way it affects me, and I'm sure you're
+not very different. And every time I read the citation that goes with
+the medal--well, I'm just aching for a chance to show it to the folks
+back home, aren't you, Sergeant?”
+
+Tom Raymond started a bit at the second use of the title.
+
+“I see you aren't any more used to it than I am!” exclaimed Jack. “Well,
+it'll be a little time before we stop looking around to see if it isn't
+some one behind us they're talking to. So I thought I'd practice it
+a bit on you. And you can do the same for me. I should think, out of
+common politeness, you'd get up, salute and call me the same.”
+
+“Oh! Now I see what you're driving at,” voiced Tom, as he glanced up
+from a momentary look at his medal to the face of his comrade-in-arms,
+or perhaps in flying would be more appropriate. “The wind's in that
+quarter, is it?”
+
+“No wind at all to speak of,” broke in Jack. “If you'd like to go for a
+fly, and see if we can bag a Boche or two, I'm with you.”
+
+“Against orders, Jack. I'd like to, but we were ordered here for rest
+and observation work; and you know, as well as I do, that obeying orders
+is just as important as sending a member of the Hun Flying Circus down
+where he can't do any more of his grandstand stunts. But I'm hoping the
+time will come when we can climb up back of our machine guns again, and
+do our bit to show that the little old U. S. A. is still on the map.”
+
+“I guess that time'll soon come, Tom, old man. I heard rumors that a
+lot of us were to be sent up nearer the front shortly, and if they don't
+include you and me, there'll be something doing in this camp!”
+
+“That's what I say. So you thought I'd have a swelled head, did you,
+because they gave us the croix de guerre?”
+
+“I confess I had a faint suspicion that way,” admitted Jack. “Both of us
+being advanced to sergeants was a big step, too.”
+
+“It was,” agreed Tom. “I almost wish they hadn't done it, for there are
+lots of others in the escadrille that deserve it fully as much, and some
+more, than we do.”
+
+“That's right. But you can't make these delightful Frenchmen see
+anything the way you want 'em to. Once they get a notion in their heads
+that you've done something for la belle Frame, they're your friends
+for life, kissing you on both cheeks and pinning medals on you wherever
+they'll stick.”
+
+“Well, they mean all right, Jack,” said Tom. “And there aren't any
+braver or more lovable people on the face of the earth than these same
+French. They've done more and suffered more for their country than we
+dream of. And it's only natural that they should say 'much obliged,' in
+their own particular way, to any one they think is helping to free them
+from the Germans.”
+
+“I suppose you're right. But advancing us to sergeants would have been
+enough, without pinning the decorations on us and mentioning us in the
+order of the day, as well as giving us as fine a citation as ever was
+signed by a commanding general. However, it's all in the day's work,
+though when we flew over the German super cannons, and did our bit in
+helping demolish them so they couldn't shell Paris any more, we didn't
+think--or, at least, I didn't--that we'd be sitting here talking about
+it.”
+
+“Me either,” agreed Tom. “But, to get down to brass tacks, what have you
+been doing to get into such a mess? You look like a chauffeur of the
+old days they tell of when they had to climb under the car to see if it
+needed oiling--”
+
+“That's just about what I have been doing,” admitted Jack. “When I heard
+the rumor that our escadrille might get orders to move at any hour, I
+decided that it was up to me to look MY machine over. It didn't make
+that nose dive just the way I wanted it to the last time I was up, and
+I'm not taking any chances. So I've been crawling in and around and
+under it--”
+
+“While I've been lying here I taking it easy!” broke in Tom. “I don't
+call that fair of you, Jack,” and he seemed genuinely hurt.
+
+“Go easy now, my pickled onion!” laughed his chum. “I wasn't going to
+leave you out in the cold. I just came to tell you that you'd better
+stop looking like a moving picture of an airman, and put on some old
+duds to look over your own craft. And here you go and--”
+
+“All right, old ham sandwich!” laughed Tom.
+
+ “I'll forgive you.  I'm going to do the same as you, and tinker
+with my machine. If, as you say, we're likely to be on the job again
+soon, I don't want too take any chances either. Where's that mechanician
+of mine? There was something wrong with my joy stick, he said, the last
+time I came down out of the clouds to take an enforced rest, and I might
+as well start with that, if there's any repairing to be done--”
+
+Tom flung off his uniform jacket, with the two silver wings, denoting
+that he was a full-fledged airman, and sent an orderly to summon his
+chief mechanician, for each aviator had several helpers to run messages
+for him, as well as to see that his machine is in perfect trim.
+
+Experts are needed to see to it that the machine and the aviator are in
+perfect trim, leaving for the airman himself the trying and difficult
+task, sometimes, of flying upside down, while he is making observations
+of the enemy with one eye, and fighting off a Boche with the
+other--ready to kill or be killed.
+
+Sergeants Tom Raymond and Jack Parmly, chums and fellow airmen flying
+for France, started toward the aerodromes where their machines were kept
+when not in use. They were both attired now for hard and not very clean
+work, though the more laborious part would be done by mechanics at their
+orders. Still the lads themselves would leave nothing to chance. Indeed
+no airman does, for in very, truth his He and the success of an army
+may, at times, depend on the strength or weakness of a seemingly
+insignificant bit of wire or the continuity of a small gasoline pipe.
+
+“Well, it'll seem good to get up in the air again,” remarked Jack. “A
+little rest is all right, but too much is more than enough.”
+
+“Right O, my sliced liberty bond!” laughed Tom. “And now--”
+
+Their talk was interrupted by a cheer that broke out in front of a
+recreation house, in reality a YMCA hut, or le Foyer du Soldat as it
+was called. It was where the airmen went when not on duty to read the
+papers, write letters and buy chocolate.
+
+“What's up now?” asked Jack, as he and his chum looked toward the
+cheering squad of aviators and their assistants.
+
+“Give it up. Let's go over and find out.”
+
+They broke into a run as the cheering continued, and then they saw hats
+being thrown into the air and men capering about with every evidence of
+joy.
+
+“We must have won a big battle!” cried Jack.
+
+“Seems so,” agreed Tom. “Hi there! what is it?” he asked in French of a
+fellow aviator.
+
+“What is it? You ask me what? Ah, joy of my life! It is you who ought to
+know first! It is you who should give thanks! Ah!”
+
+“Yes, that's all right, old man,” returned Jack in English. “We'll give
+thanks right as soon as we know what it is; but we aren't mind readers,
+you know, and there are so many things to guess at that there's no use
+in wasting the time. Tell us, like a good chap!” he begged in French,
+for he saw the puzzled look on the face of the aviator Tom had
+addressed.
+
+“It is the best news ever!” was the answer. “The first of your brave
+countrymen have arrived to help us drive the Boche from France! The
+first American Expeditionary Force, to serve under your brave General
+Pershing, has reached the shores of France safely, in spite of the
+U-boats, and are even now marching to show themselves in Paris! Ah, is
+it any wonder that we rejoice? How is it you say in your own delightful
+country? Two cheers and a lion! Ah!”
+
+“Tiger, my dear boy! Tiger!” laughed Jack. “And, while you're about it,
+you might as well make it three cheers and done with it. Not that it
+makes any great amount of difference in this case, but it's just the
+custom, my stuffed olive!”
+
+And then he and Tom were fairly carried off their feet by the rush of
+enthusiastic Frenchmen to congratulate them on the good news, and to
+share it with them.
+
+“Is it really true?” asked Tom. “Has any substantial part of Uncle Sam's
+boys really got here at last?”
+
+He was told that such was the case. The news had just been received
+at the headquarters of the flying squad to which Tom and Jack were
+attached. About ten thousand American soldiers were even then on French
+soil. Their coming had long been waited for, and the arrangements sailed
+in secret, and the news was known in American cities scarcely any sooner
+than it was in France, so careful had the military authorities been
+not to give the lurking German submarines a chance to torpedo the
+transports.
+
+“Is not that glorious news, my friend?” asked the Frenchman who had
+given it to Tom and Jack.
+
+“The best ever!” was the enthusiastic reply. And then Jack, turning
+to his chum, said in a low voice, as the Frenchman hurried back to the
+cheering throng: “You know what this means for us, of course?”
+
+“Rather guess I do!” was the response. “It means we've got to apply for
+a transfer and fight under Pershing!”
+
+“Exactly. Now how are we going to do it?”
+
+“Oh, I fancy it will be all right. Merely a question of detail and
+procedure. They can't object to our wanting to fight among our own
+countrymen, now that enough of them are over here to make a showing. I
+suppose this is the first of the big army that's coming.”
+
+“I imagine so,” agreed Jack. “Hurray! this is something like. There's
+going to be hard fighting. I realize that. But this is the beginning of
+the end, as I see it.”
+
+“That's what! Now, instead of tinkering over our machines, let's see the
+commandant and---”
+
+Jack motioned to his chum to cease talking. Then he pointed up to the
+sky. There was a little speck against the blue, a speck that became
+larger as the two Americans watched.
+
+“One of our fliers coming bark,” remarked Tom in a low voice.
+
+“I hope he brings more good news,” returned Jack.
+
+The approaching airman came rapidly nearer, and then the throngs that
+had gathered about the headquarters building to discuss the news of the
+arrival of the first American forces turned to watch the return of the
+flier.
+
+“It's Du Boise,” remarked Tom, naming an intrepid French fighter. He was
+one of the “aces,” and had more than a score of Boche machines to
+his credit. “He must have been out 'on his own,' looking for a stray
+German.”
+
+“Yes, he and Leroy went out together,” assented Jack. “But I don't see
+Harry's machine,” and anxiously he scanned the heavens.
+
+Harry Leroy was, like Tom and Jack, an American aviator who had lately
+joined the force in which the two friends had rendered such valiant
+service. Tom and Jack had known him on the other side--had, in fact,
+first met and become friendly with him at a flying school in Virginia.
+Leroy had suffered a slight accident which had put him out of the flying
+service for a year, but he had persisted, had finally been accepted, and
+was welcomed to France by his chums who had preceded him.
+
+“I hope nothing has happened to Harry,” murmured Tom; “but I don't see
+him, and it's queer Du Boise would come back without him.”
+
+“Maybe he had to--for gasoline or something,” suggested Jack.
+
+“I hope it isn't any worse than that,” went on Tom. But his voice did
+not carry conviction.
+
+The French aviator landed, and as he climbed out of his machine, helped
+by orderlies and others who rushed up, he was seen to stagger.
+
+“Are you hurt?” asked Tom, hurrying up.
+
+“A mere scratch-nothing, thank you,” was the answer.
+
+“Where's Harry Leroy?” Jack asked. “Did you have to leave him?”
+
+“Ah, monsieur, I bring you bad news from the air,” was the answer. “We
+were attacked by seven Boche machines. We each got one, and then--well,
+they got me--but what matters that? It is a mere nothing.”
+
+“What of Harry?” persisted Tom.
+
+“Ah, it is of him I would speak. He is--he fell inside the enemy lines;
+and I had to come back for help. My petrol gave out, and I--“'
+
+And then, pressing his hands over his breast, the brave airman staggered
+and fell, as a stream of blood issued from beneath his jacket.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II. A GIRL'S APPEAL
+
+
+At once half a score of hands reached out to render aid to the stricken
+airman, whose blood was staining the ground where he had fallen.
+
+Tom, seeing that his fellow aviator was more desperately wounded than
+the brave man had admitted, at once summoned stretcher-bearers, and he
+was carried to the hospital. Then all anxiously awaited the report of
+the surgeons, who quickly prepared to render aid to the fighter of the
+air.
+
+“How is he?” asked Jack, as he and Tom, lingering near the hospital, saw
+one of the doctors emerge.
+
+“He is doing very nicely,” was the answer, given in French, for the two
+boys of the air spoke this language now with ease, if not always with
+absolute correctness.
+
+“Then he isn't badly hurt?” asked Jack.
+
+“No. The wound in his chest was only a flesh one, but it bled
+considerably. Two bullets from an aircraft machine gun struck ribs, and
+glanced off from them, but tore the flesh badly. The bleeding was held
+in check by the pressure DU Boise exerted on the wounds underneath
+his jacket, but at last he grew faint from loss of blood, and then the
+stream welled out. With rest and care he will be all right in a few
+days.”
+
+“How soon could we talk with him?” asked Tom.
+
+“Talk with him?” asked the surgeon. “Is that necessary? He is doing very
+well, and--”
+
+“Tom means ask him some questions,” explained Jack. “You see, he started
+to tell us about our chum, Harry Leroy, who was out scouting with him.
+Harry was shot down, so Du Boise said, but he didn't get a chance to
+give any particulars, and we thought--”
+
+“It will be a day or so before he will be able to talk to you,” the
+surgeon said. “He is very weak, and must not be disturbed.”
+
+“Well, may we talk with him just as soon as possible?” eagerly asked
+Jack. “We want to find out where it was that Harry went down in his
+machine--out of control very likely--and if we get a chance--”
+
+“We'd like to take it out on those that shot him down!” interrupted
+Torn. “Du Boise must have noticed the machines that fought him and
+Harry, and if we could get any idea of the Boches who were in them--”
+
+“I see,” and the surgeon bowed and smiled approval of their idea. “You
+want revenge. I hope you get it. As soon as we think he is able to
+talk,” and he nodded in the direction of the hospital, “we will let you
+see him. Good luck to you, and confusion to the Huns!”
+
+“Gee, but this is tough luck!” murmured Tom, as he and his chum turned
+away. “Just as we were getting ready to go back into the game, too! Had
+it all fixed up for Harry to fly with us in a sort of a triangle scheme
+to down the Boches, and they have to go and plump him off the map. Well,
+it is tough!”
+
+“Yes, sort of takes the fun out of the good news we heard a while ago,”
+ agreed Jack. “I mean about Pershing's boys getting over here to France.
+I hope Harry's only wounded, instead of killed. But if the Huns have him
+a prisoner--good-night!”
+
+“There's only one consolation,” added Tom. “Their airmen are the best of
+the lot Of course that isn't saying much, but they behave a little more
+like human beings than the rest of the Boche gang; and if Harry has
+fallen a prisoner to them he'll get a bit of decent treatment, anyhow.”
+
+“That's so. We'll hope for that. And now let's go on with what we
+started when we saw Du Boise coming back--let's see what chance we have
+of being transferred to an All American escadrille.”
+
+The boys started across the field again toward the headquarters, and,
+nearing it, they saw, in a small motor car, a girl sitting beside the
+military driver. She was a pretty girl, and it needed only one glance to
+show that she was an American.
+
+“Hello!” exclaimed Tom, with a low whistle. “Look who's here!”
+
+“Do you know her?” asked Jack.
+
+“No. Wish I did, though.”
+
+Jack glanced quickly and curiously at his chum.
+
+“Oh, you needn't think you're the only chap that has a drag with the
+girls,” went on Tom. “Just because Bessie Gleason--”
+
+“Cut it out!” exclaimed Jack. “Look, she acts as though she wanted to
+speak to us.”
+
+The military chauffeur had alighted from the machine and was talking
+to one of the French aviation officers. Meanwhile the girl, left to
+herself, was looking about the big aviation field, with a look of
+wonder, mixed with alarm and nervousness. She caught sight of Tom and
+Jack, and a smile came to her face, making her, as Tom said afterward,
+the prettiest picture he had seen in a long while.
+
+“You're Americans, aren't you?” began the girl, turning frankly to them.
+“I know you are! And, oh, I'm in such trouble!”
+
+Tom stepped ahead of Jack, who was taking off his cap and bowing.
+
+“Let me have a show for my white alley,” Tom murmured to his chum.
+“You've got one girl.”
+
+“You win,” murmured Jack.
+
+“Yes, we're from the United States,” said Tom. “But it's queer to see
+a girl here--from America or anywhere else. How'd you get through the
+lines, and what can we do for you?”
+
+“I am looking for my brother,” was the answer. “I understood he was
+stationed here, and I managed to get passes to come to see him, but it
+wasn't easy work. I met this officer in his motor car, and he brought
+me along the last stage of the journey. Can you tell me where my brother
+is? His name is Harry Leroy.”
+
+Torn said afterward that he felt as though he had gone into a spinning
+nose dive with a Boche aviator on his tail, while Jack admitted that he
+felt somewhat as he did the time his gasoline pipe was severed by a Hun
+bullet when he was high in the air and several miles behind the enemy's
+lines.
+
+“Your--your brother!” Tom managed to mutter.
+
+“Yes, Harry Leroy. He's from the United States, too. Perhaps you know
+him, as I notice you are both aviators. He told me if I ever got to
+France to come to see him, and he mentioned the names of two young
+men--I have them here somewhere--”
+
+She began to search in the depths of a little leather valise she
+carried, and, at that moment, the military chauffeur who had brought her
+to the aviation field turned to her, and spoke rapidly in French.
+
+She understood the language, as did Tom and Jack, and at the first words
+her face went white. For the chauffeur informed her that her brother,
+Harry Leroy, whom she had come so far to see, was, even then, lying dead
+or wounded within the German lines.
+
+“Oh!” the girl murmured, her fare becoming whiter and more white.
+“Oh--Harry!”
+
+Then she would have fallen from the seat, only Tom leaped forward and
+caught her in his arms.
+
+And while efforts were being made to restore the girl to consciousness,
+may I not take this opportunity of telling my new readers something of
+the previous books of this series, so that they may read this one more
+intelligently?
+
+Torn Raymond and Jack Parmly, as related in the initial volume, “Air
+Service Boys Flying for France; or The Young Heroes of the Lafayette
+Escadrille,” were Virginians. Soon after the great world conflict
+started, they burned with a desire to fight on the side of freedom, and
+it was as aviators that they desired to help.
+
+Accordingly they went to an aviation school in Virginia, under the
+auspices of the Government, and there learned the rudiments of flying.
+Tom's father had invented an aeroplane stabilizer, but, as told in the
+story, the plans and other papers had been stolen by a German spy.
+
+Tom and his chum resolved to get possession of the documents, and they
+kept up the search after they reached France and were made members
+of the Lafayette Escadrille. It was in France that they met Adolph
+Tuessing, the German spy.
+
+The second volume, entitled “Air Service Boys Over the Enemy's Lines;
+or The German Spy's Secret,” takes the two young men through further
+adventures. They had become acquainted on the steamer with a girl named
+Bessie Gleason and her mother. Carl Potzfeldt, a German sailing under
+false colors, claimed to be a friend of Bessie and her mother, but Jack,
+who was more than casually interested in the girl, was suspicious of
+this man. And his suspicions proved correct, for Potzfeldt had planned a
+daring trick.
+
+After some strenuous happenings, in which the Air Service Boys assisted,
+Bessie and her mother were rescued from the clutches of Potzfeldt,
+and went to Paris, Mrs. Gleason engaging in Red Cross work, and Bessie
+helping her as best she could.
+
+ Immediately preceding this present volume is the third, called “Air
+Service Boys Over the Rhine; or Fighting Above the Clouds.”
+
+By this time the United States had entered the great war on the side of
+humanity and democracy.
+
+Then the world was startled by the news that a great German cannon was
+firing on Paris seventy miles away, and consternation reigned for a
+time. Tom and Jack had a hand in silencing the great gun, for it was
+they who discovered where it was hidden. Also in the third volume is
+related how Tom's father, who had disappeared, was found again.
+
+The boys passed through many startling experiences with their usual
+bravery, so that, when the present story opens, they were taking a
+much needed and well-earned rest. Mr. Raymond, having accomplished his
+mission, had returned to the United States.
+
+Then, as we have seen, came the news of the arrival of the first of
+Pershing's forces, and with it came the sad message that Harry Leroy,
+the chum of Torn and Jack, had fallen behind the German lines. And
+whether he was alive now, though wounded, or was another victim of the
+Hun machine guns, could not be told.
+
+“Harry's sister couldn't have come at a worse time,” remarked Tom, as he
+rejoined Jack, having carried the unconscious girl to the same hospital
+where Du Boise lay wounded.
+
+“I should say not!” agreed Jack. “Do you really suppose she's Harry's
+sister?”
+
+“I don't see Any reason to doubt it. She said so, didn't she?”
+
+“Oh, yes, of course. I was just wondering. Say, it's going to be tough
+when she wakes up and realizes what's happened.”
+
+“You bet it is! This has been a tough day all around, and if it wasn't
+for the good news that our boys are in France I'd feel pretty rocky. But
+now we've got all the more incentive to get busy!” exclaimed Tom.
+
+“What do you mean?”
+
+“I mean get our machines in fighting trim. I'm going out and get a few
+Germans to make up for what they did to Harry.”
+
+“You're right! I'm with you! But what about what's her name--I mean
+Harry's sister?”
+
+“I didn't hear her name. Some of the Red Cross nurses are looking after
+her. They promised to let me know when she came to. We can offer to help
+her, I suppose, being, as you might say, neighbors.”
+
+“Sure!” agreed Jack. “I'm with you. But let's go and--”
+
+However they did not go at once, wherever it was that Jack was going to
+propose, for, at that moment, one of the Red Cross nurses attached to
+the aviation hospital came to the door and beckoned to the boys.
+
+“Miss Leroy is conscious now,” was the message. “She wants to see you
+two,” and the nurse smiled at them.
+
+Tom and Jack found Miss Leroy, looking pale, but prettier than ever,
+sitting up in a chair. She leaned forward eagerly as they entered, and,
+holding out her hands, exclaimed:
+
+“They tell me you are my brother's chums! Oh, can you not get me some
+news of him? Can you not let him know that I have come so far to see
+him? I am anxious! Oh, where is he?” and she looked from Tom to Jack,
+and then to Tom again.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III. ANXIOUS WAITING
+
+
+Nellie Leroy--for such the boys learned was her name--broke the silence,
+that was growing tense, by asking:
+
+“Is there any hope? Tell me, do you think there is a chance that my
+brother may be alive?”
+
+“Yes, there is, certainly!” exclaimed Tom quickly, before Jack had an
+opportunity to give, possibly, a less hopeful answer.
+
+“And if he is alive, is there a chance that he may be rescued--that I
+may go to him?” she went on.
+
+“Hardly that,” said Tom, slowly. “It's a wonder you ever got as near to
+the front as this. But as for getting past the German lines--”
+
+“Then what can I do?” asked Nellie Leroy, eagerly. “Oh, tell me
+something that I can do. I'm used to hard work,” she went on. “I've been
+a Red Cross nurse for some time, and I helped in one big explosion of a
+munitions plant in New Jersey before I came over. That's one reason they
+let me come--because I proved that I could do things!” and she did
+look very efficient, in spite of her paleness, in spite of her, seeming
+frailness. There was an indefinable air about her which showed that
+she would carry through whatever she undertook. “I never fainted
+before--never.”
+
+“It's like this,” said Tom, and Jack seemed content, now, to let his
+chum play the chief role. “When one of us goes down in his machine back
+of the enemy's lines, those left over here never really know what has
+happened for a few days.”
+
+“And how do they know then?' she asked.
+
+“The German airmen are more decent than some of the other Hun forces
+we're fighting,” explained Torn. “Generally after they capture one of
+our escadrille members, dead or alive, they fly over our lines a few
+days later and drop a cap, or a glove, or something that belongs to the
+prisoner. Sometimes they attach a note, written by one of their airmen
+or from the prisoner, giving news of his condition.”
+
+“And you think they may do this in my brother's case?” asked Nellie.
+
+“They are very likely to,” assented Tom, and Jack, to whom the girl
+looked for confirmation, nodded, his agreement.
+
+“How long shall we have to wait?” Harry's sister asked.
+
+“There is no telling,” said Tom “Sometimes it's a week before their
+airmen get a chance to fly over our lines. It all depends.”
+
+“On what?”
+
+“On how the battle goes,” answered Tom. “If there is much fighting, and
+many engagements in the air, the Boches don't get a chance to fly over
+and drop tokens of our men they may have shot down. We do the same for
+them, so it's six of one and a half dozen of the other. Often for a week
+we don't get a chance to let them know about prisoners we have, because
+the fighting is so severe.”
+
+“Will it be that way now?” the girl went on.
+
+“Hard to say--we don't have the ordering of battles,” replied Jack. “But
+it's been rather quiet for a few days, and it's likely to continue so.
+If it does one of their men may fly over to-morrow, or the next day, and
+drop something your brother wore--or even a note from him.”
+
+“Oh, I hope they do the last!” she murmured. “If I could have a note
+from him I'd be the happiest girl alive I I'd know, then, that he was
+all right.”
+
+“He may be,” said Tom, trying to be hopeful. “You see Du Boise, who was
+with Harry when the fight took place, is himself wounded, so he can't
+tell us much about it.”
+
+“Yes, they told me that my brother's companion reached here badly
+hurt. He is so brave! I wish they would let me help take care of him. I
+understand a great deal about wounds, and I'm not at all afraid of the
+sight of blood. It was silly of me to faint just now, but--I--I couldn't
+help it. I'd been counting so much on seeing Harry, and when they told
+me he was gone--”
+
+She covered her face with her hands, and endeavored to repress her
+emotion.
+
+“You're not Harry's little sister, are you?” asked Jack, hoping to
+change the current of talk into other and happier channels.
+
+“No; that's Mabel--Mab he calls her. She's younger than I. Did he often
+speak of her?”
+
+“Oh, yes; and you too!” exclaimed Tom, so warmly that Nellie blushed,
+and the damask tint in her hitherto pale cheeks was most becoming.
+
+“We've seen your picture, and Mab's too,” went on Tom. “Harry keeps them
+just over his cot in the barracks. But I didn't recognize you when I saw
+you a little while ago in the machine. Though I might have, if so many
+things hadn't happened all at once, and made me sort of hazy,” Tom
+explained.
+
+“Then are you and my brother good friends?” asked Nellie.
+
+“The best ever!” exclaimed Tom, and Jack warmly assented. “Not so many
+Americans are in this branch of the escadrille as are in others,” Torn
+went on; “so Harry and Jack and I are a sort of little trio all by
+ourselves. He hardly ever goes up without us, but we are on a rest
+billet; and to-day he went up with Du Boise.”
+
+“If he had only come back!” sighed Nellie. “But there! I mustn't
+complain. Harry wouldn't let me if he were here. We both have to do our
+duty. Now I'm going to see what I can do to help, and not be silly and
+do any more fainting. I hope you'll pardon me,” and she smiled at the
+two boys.
+
+“Of course!” exclaimed Tom, with great emphasis, and again Miss Leroy
+blushed.
+
+“Then, is to wait the only thing we can do?” she asked.
+
+“That's all,” assented Tom. “We may get a message from the clouds any
+day.”
+
+“And, oh! I shall pray that it may be favorable!” murmured the girl.
+“Perhaps I may question this Mr. Du Boise, and learn from him just what
+happened?” she interrogated.
+
+“Yes, we want to talk to him ourselves, as soon as he's able to sit up,”
+ said Jack. “We want to get a shot at the Boche who downed Harry.”
+
+“So you are as fond of Harry as all that! I am glad!” exclaimed his
+sister. “Have you known him long?”
+
+“We knew him slightly before we went to the flying school in
+Virginia with him,” said Tom. “But down there, when we started in at
+'grass-cutting,' and worked our way up, we grew to know him better. Then
+Jack and I got our chance to come over. But Harry had a smash, and he
+had to wait a year.”
+
+“Yes, I know. It almost broke his heart,” said Miss Leroy. “I was away
+at school at the time, which accounts for my not knowing more of you
+boys, since Harry always wrote me, or told me, about his chums. Then,
+when I came back after my graduation, I found that he had sailed for
+France.”
+
+“And maybe we weren't glad to see him!” exclaimed Tom. “It was like
+getting letters from home.”
+
+“Yes, I recall, now, his mentioning that he had met over here some
+students from the Virginia school,” said Miss Leroy. “Well, after Harry
+sailed I was wild to go, but father and mother would not hear of it at
+first. Then, when the war grew worse, and I showed them that I could do
+hard work for the Red Cross, they consented. So I sailed, but I never
+expected to get like this.”
+
+“Oh, well, everything may come out all right,” said Tom, as cheerfully
+as he could. But, in very truth, he was not very hopeful in his heart.
+
+For once an aviator succumbs to the hail of bullets from the German
+machine guns in an aircraft, and his own creature of steel and wings
+goes hurtling down, there is only a scant chance that the disabled
+airman will land alive.
+
+Of course some have done it, and, even with their machines out of
+control and on fire, they have lived through the awful experience. But
+the chances were and are against them.
+
+Harry Leroy had been seen to go down, apparently with his machine out of
+control, after a fusillade of Boche bullets. This much Du Boise had said
+before his collapse. As to what the fallen aviator's real fate was, time
+alone could disclose.
+
+“I can only wait!” sighed Nellie, as the boys took their leave. “The
+days will be anxious ones--days of waiting. I shall help here all I
+can. You'll let me know the moment there is any news--good or bad--won't
+you?” she begged; and her eyes filled with tears.
+
+“We'll bring you the news at once--night or day!” exclaimed Tom,
+vigorously.
+
+As he and Jack walked out of the hospital, the latter remarked:
+
+“You seem to be a favorite there, all right, Tom, my boy. If we weren't
+such good chums I might be a bit jealous.”
+
+“If you feel that way I'll drop Bessie Gleason a note!” suggested Tom,
+quickly.
+
+“Don't!” begged Jack. “I'll be good!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV. TRANSFERRED
+
+
+One glance at the bulletin board, erected just outside their quarters at
+the aerodrome, told Tom and Jack what they were detailed for that day.
+It was the day following the arrival of Nellie Leroy at that particular
+place in France, only to find that her brother was missing--either dead,
+or alive and a prisoner behind the German lines.
+
+“Sergeant Thomas Raymond will report to headquarters at eight o'clock,
+to do patrol work.”
+
+“Sergeant Jack Parmly will report to headquarters at eight o'clock for
+reconnaissance with a photographer, who will be detailed.”
+
+Thus read the bulletin board, and Tom and Jack, looking at it, nodded to
+one another, while Tom remarked:
+
+“Got our work cut out for us all right.”
+
+“Yes,” agreed Jack. “Only I wish I could change places with you. I don't
+like those big, heavy machines.”
+
+But orders are orders, nowhere more so than in the aviation squad, and
+soon the two lads, after a hearty if hasty breakfast, were ready for the
+day's work. They each realized that when the sun set they might either
+be dead, wounded or prisoners. It was a life full of eventualities.
+
+A little later the two young airmen, in common with their comrades, were
+ready. Some were to do patrol work, like Tom--that is fly over and
+along the German lines in small swift, fighting planes, to attack a Hun
+machine, if any showed, and to give notice of any attack, either from
+the air or on the ground. The latter attacks the airmen would observe in
+progress and report to the commanders of infantry or batteries who could
+take steps to meet the attack, or even frustrate it.
+
+Tom was assigned to a speedy Spad machine, one of great power and
+lightness into which he climbed. He was to fly alone, and on his
+machine was a machine gun of the Vickers type, which had to be aimed by
+directing, or pointing, the aeroplane itself at the enemy.
+
+After Tom had given a hasty but careful look at his craft, and had
+assured himself of the accuracy of the report of his mechanician that
+it had oil and petrol, his starter took his place in front of the
+propeller.
+
+“Well, Jack,” called Tom to his chum, across the field, where Jack was
+making his preparations for taking up a photographer in a big two-seated
+machine, “I wish you luck.”
+
+“Same to you, old man. If you see anything of Harry, and he's alive,
+tell him we'll bring him back home as soon as we get a chance.”
+
+“Do you think there is any chance?” asked Tom eagerly. “I wouldn't want
+anything better than to get Harry away from those Boches--and make his
+sister happy.”
+
+“Well, there's a chance, but it's a slim one, I'm afraid,” remarked
+Jack. “We'll talk about it after we get back. Maybe there'll be a
+message from the Huns about him before the day is over.”
+
+“I hope so,” murmured Tom. “If those Huns only act as decently toward us
+as we do toward them, we'll have some news soon.”
+
+For it is true, in a number of instances that the German aviators do
+drop within the allied lines news of any British, French or American
+birdman who is captured or killed inside the German lines.
+
+“All ready?” asked Tom of his helper.
+
+“Switch off, gas on,” was the answer.
+
+Tom made sure that the electrical switch was disconnected. If it was
+left on, in “contact” as it is called, and the mechanician turned the
+propeller blades, there might have been a sudden starting of the engine
+that would have instantly kill the man. But with the switch off there
+could be no ignition in the cylinders.
+
+Slowly the man turned the big blades until each cylinder was sucked full
+of the explosive mixture of gasoline and air.
+
+“Contact!” he cried, and Tom threw over the switch.
+
+Then, stepping once more up to the propeller, the man gave it a pull,
+and quickly released it, jumping back out of harm's way.
+
+With a throbbing roar the engine awoke to life and the propeller spun
+around, a blur of indistinctness. The motor was working sweetly. Toni
+throttled down, assured himself that everything was working well, and
+then, with a wave of his hand toward Jack, began to taxi across the
+field, to head up into the wind. All aeroplanes are started this
+way--directly into the wind, to rise against it and not with it. On and
+on he went and then he began to climb into the air. With him climbed
+other birdmen who were to do patrol and contact work with him, the
+latter being the term used when the airship keeps in contact through
+signaling with infantry or artillery forces on the ground, directing
+their efforts against the enemy.
+
+Having seen Tom on his way, Jack turned to his own machine. As his chum
+had been, Jack was dressed warmly in fur garments, even to his helmet,
+which was fur lined. He had on two pairs of gloves and his eyes were
+protected with heavy goggles. For it is very cold in the upper regions,
+and the swift speed of the machine sends the wind cutting into one's
+face so that it is impossible to see from the eyes unless they are
+protected.
+
+Jack's machine was a two-seater, of a heavy and comparatively safe
+type--that is it was safe as long as it was not shot down by a Hun.
+Jack was to occupy the front seat and act as pilot, while Harris, the
+photographer he was to take up, sat behind him, with camera, map, pencil
+and paper ready at hand for the making of observations.
+
+On either side of the photographer's seat were six loaded drums of
+ammunition for the Lewis gun, for use against the ruthless Hun machines.
+Jack had a fixed Vicker machine weapon for his use.
+
+“Hope I get a chance to use 'em,” said Harris with a grin, as he climbed
+into his seat, patted the loaded drums, and nodded to Jack that he was
+ready.
+
+The same procedure was gone through as in the case of Tom. The man spun
+the propeller, and they were ready to set off. Accompanying them were
+two other reconnaissance planes, and four experienced fighting pilots,
+two of them “aces,” that is men who, alone, had each brought down five
+or more Hun planes. The big planes, used for obtaining news, pictures,
+and maps of the enemy's territory, are always accompanied by fighting
+planes, which look out for the attacking Germans, while the other,
+and less speedy, craft carry the men who are to bring back vital
+information.
+
+“Let her go!” exclaimed Harris to Jack, and the latter nodded to the
+mechanician, who, after the order of “contact,” spun the blades again
+and they were really off, together with the others.
+
+Up and up went Jack, sending his machine aloft in big circles as the
+others were doing. Before him on a support was clamped a map, similar to
+the one supported in front of Harris, and by consulting this Jack knew,
+from the instructions he had received before going up, just what part of
+the enemy's territory he was to cover. He was under the direction of
+the photographer and map-maker, for the two duties were combined in this
+instance.
+
+Up and up they went. There was no talking, for though this is possible
+in an aeroplane when the engine is shut off, such was not now the case.
+But Jack knew his business.
+
+His indicator soon showed them to be up about fourteen thousand feet,
+and below them an artillery duel was in progress. It was a wonderful,
+but terrible sight. Immediately under them, and rather too near
+for comfort, shrapnel was bursting all around. The “Archies,” or
+anti-aircraft guns of the Germans, were trying to reach the French
+planes, and, in addition to the bullets, “woolly bears” and “flaming
+onions” were sent up toward them. These are two types of bursting
+shells, the first so named because when it explodes it does so with a
+cloud of black smoke and a flaming center. I have never been able to
+learn how the “onions” got their name, unless it is from the stench let
+loose by the exploding gases.
+
+Though they were fired at viciously, neither Jack nor his companion was
+hit, and they continued on their way, keeping at a good height, as did
+their associates, until they were well over the front German lines.
+
+Jack noticed that some of the other planes were dropping lower, to give
+their observers a chance to do their work, and, in response to a shove
+in his back from the powerful field glasses carried by Harris, Jack sent
+his machine down to about the nine-thousand-foot level. By a glance at
+the map he could see that they were now over the territory concerning
+which a report was wanted.
+
+They were now under a heavy fire from the German anti-aircraft guns, but
+Jack was too old a hand to let this needlessly worry him. He sent his
+machine slipping from side to side, holding it on a level keel now and
+then, to enable Harris to get the photographs he wanted. In addition,
+the observer was also making a hasty, rough, but serviceable map of what
+he saw.
+
+Jack glanced down, and noted a German supply train puffing its way along
+toward some depot, and he headed toward this to give Harris a chance to
+note whether there were any supplies of ammunition, or anything else,
+that might profitably be bombed later. He also saw several columns of
+German infantry on the march, but as they were not out to make an attack
+now, they had to watch the Huns moving up to the front line trenches,
+there later, doubtless, to give battle.
+
+Back and forth over the German lines flew Jack, Harris meanwhile doing
+important observation work. As Jack went lower he came under a fiercer
+fire of the batteries, until, it became so hot, from the shrapnel
+bursts, that he fain would have turned and made for home. But orders
+were orders, and Harris had not yet indicated that he had enough.
+
+Twisting and turning, to make as poor a mark as possible for the enemy
+guns, Jack sent his machine here and there. The other pilots were doing
+the same. Machine guns were now opening up on them, and once the burst
+of fire came so close that Jack began to “zoom.” That is he sent his
+craft up and down sharply, like the curves and bumps in a roller-coaster
+railway track.
+
+By this time the leading plane gave the signal for the return, and,
+thankful enough that they had not been hit, Jack swung about. But the
+danger was not over. They had yet to pass across the enemy's front line
+trenches, and when Harris signaled Jack to go down low in crossing the
+lad wondered what the order was for. It was merely that the observer
+wanted to see what was going on there so he could report.
+
+They went down to within a mile of the earth, and several times the
+plane was struck by pieces of shrapnel or bullets from machine guns.
+Twice flying bits of metal came uncomfortably close to Jack, but he was
+kept too busy with the management of his machine to more than notice
+them. Harris was working hard at the camera and the maps.
+
+Then, suddenly, came the danger signal from the leading plane, and only
+just in time. Out from the German hangars came several battle machines.
+Harris dropped his pencil and got ready the automatic gun, but it was
+not needed, for, after approaching as though about to attack, the Huns
+suddenly veered off. Later the reason for this became known. A squadron
+of French planes had arisen as swiftly to give battle, and however brave
+the Hun may be when he outnumbers the enemy, he had yet to be known to
+take on a combat against odds.
+
+So Jack and his observer safely reached the aerodrome again, bringing
+back much valuable information.
+
+“Is Tom here yet?” was Jack's first inquiry after he had divested
+himself of his togs and men had rushed to the developing room the camera
+with its precious plates.
+
+“Not yet,” some of his chums told him. “They're having a fight upstairs
+I guess.”
+
+Jack nodded and looked anxiously in the direction in which Tom was last
+seen.
+
+It was an hour before the scouting airplanes came back, and one was so
+badly shot up and its pilot so wounded that it only just managed to get
+over the French lines before almost crashing to earth.
+
+“Are you all right, Tom?” cried Jack, as he rushed up to his chum, when
+he saw the latter getting out of his craft, rather stiff from the cold.
+
+“Yes. They went at me hard--two of 'em but I think I accounted for one,
+unless he went into a spinning nose dive just to fool me.”
+
+“Oh, they'll do that if they get the chance.”
+
+“I know,” assented Tom. “Hello!” he exclaimed as he noticed a splintered
+strut near his head. “That came rather close.”
+
+And indeed it had. For a bullet, or a piece of shrapnel, has plowed a
+furrow in the bit of supporting wood, not two inches away from Tom's
+head, though in the excitement of the fight he had not noticed it.
+
+There had been a fight in the upper air and one of the French machines
+had not come home.
+
+“Another man to await news of,” said the flight lieutenant sadly, when
+the report reached him. “That's two in two days.”
+
+“No news of Leroy yet?” asked Tom and Jack, as they went out of
+headquarters after reporting.
+
+“None, I am sorry to say. It is barely possible that he landed in
+some lonely spot and is still hiding out--if he is not killed. But I
+understand you two young men had something to request of me. I can give
+you some attention now,” went on the commander of their squadron.
+
+“We want to be transferred!” exclaimed Tom. “Now, that Pershing's men
+are here--”
+
+“I understand,” was the answer. “You want to fight with your countrymen.
+Well, I would do the same. I will see if I can get you transferred,
+though I shall much regret losing you.”
+
+He was as good as his word, and a week later, following some strenuous
+fights in the air, Tom and Jack received notice that they could report
+to the first United States air squadron, which was then being formed on
+that part of the front where the first of Pershing's men were brigaded
+with, the French and British armies.
+
+Du Boise, who had brought word back of the fate that had befallen Harry
+Leroy, sent for Tom and Jack when it became known that they were to
+leave.
+
+“Shall I ever see you again?” he asked wistfully.
+
+“To be sure,” was Tom's hearty answer. “We aren't going far away, and
+we'll fly over to see you the first chance we get. Besides, we're going
+to depend on you to give us some information regarding Leroy. If the
+Huns drop any message at all they'll do it at this aerodrome.”
+
+“Yes, I believe you're right,” assented Du Boise, trying not to show the
+pain that racked him. “But it's so long, now, I begin to believe he
+must be dead, and either the Huns don't know it or they aren't going
+to bother to send us word. But I'll let you know as soon as I hear
+anything.”
+
+“Is his sister here yet?” asked Jack, for Tom and he had been too busy
+the last two days, getting ready to shift their quarters, to call on
+Nellie Leroy.
+
+“She has gone back to Paris,” answered Du Boise. “There was no place for
+her here. I can give you her address. I promised to let her know in case
+I got word about her brother.”
+
+“I wish you would give me the address!” exclaimed Tom eagerly, and his
+chum smiled at his show of interest.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V. THE RESOLVE
+
+
+“Well, to-morrow, if all goes well, we'll be with Pershing's boys,”
+ remarked Jack, as he and Tom were sitting in their quarters after
+breakfast, the last day but one they were to spend in the Lafayette
+Escadrille with which they had so long been associated.
+
+“That's so. We'll soon be on the firing line with Uncle Sam,” agreed
+Tom. “Of course we've been with him, in a way, ever since we've been
+fighting, for it's all in the same cause. But there'll be a little more
+satisfaction in being 'on our own,' as the English say.”
+
+“You're right. What's on for to-day?” asked Jack.
+
+“Haven't the least idea. But here comes a messenger now.”
+
+As Tom spoke he glanced from a window and saw an orderly coming toward
+their quarters. The man seemed in a hurry.
+
+“Something's up!” decided Jack. “Maybe they've got word from poor
+Harry.”
+
+ “I'm beginning to give him up,” said Tom.  “If they were going to
+let us have any news of him they'd have done it long ago--the beasts!”
+ and he fairly snarled out the words.
+
+“Still I'm not giving up,” returned Jack. “I can't explain why, but I
+have a feeling that, some day, we'll see Harry Leroy again.”
+
+Tom shook his head.
+
+“I wish I could be as hopeful as you,” he said. “Maybe we'll see him
+again--or his grave. But I want to say, right now, that if ever I have
+a chance at the Hun who shot him down, that Hun Will get no mercy from
+me!”
+
+“Same here!” echoed Jack. “But here comes the orderly.”
+
+The man entered and handed Jack a slip of paper. It was from the
+commander of their squadron, and said, in effect, that though Tom and
+Jack were no longer under his orders, having been duly transferred to
+another sector, yet he would be obliged if they would call on him, at
+his quarters.
+
+“Maybe he has news!” exclaimed Jack, eagerly.
+
+Again Tom shook his head.
+
+“He'd have said so if that was the case,” he remarked as he and his chum
+prepared to report at headquarters, telling the messenger they would
+soon follow him.
+
+“Ah, young gentlemen, I am glad to see, you!” exclaimed the commander,
+and it was as friends that he greeted Tom and Jack and not as military
+subordinates. “Do you want to do me one last favor?”
+
+“A thousand if we can!” exclaimed Jack, for he and Tom had caught
+something of the French enthusiasm of manner, from having associated
+with the brave airmen so long.
+
+“Good! Then I shall feel free to ask. Know then, that I am a little
+short-handed in experienced airmen. The Huns have taken heavy toll of
+us these last few days,” he went on sorrowfully, and Torn and Jack knew
+this to be so, for two aces, as well as some pilots of lesser magnitude,
+had been shot down. But ample revenge had been taken.
+
+“By all rights you are entitled to a holiday before you join your
+new command, under the great Pershing,” went on the flight commander.
+“However, as I need the services of two brave men to do patrol duty,
+I appeal to you. There is a machine gun nest, somewhere in the Boche
+lines, that has been doing terrible execution. If you could find
+the battery, and signal its location, we might destroy it with our
+artillery, and so save many brave lives for France,” he went on. “I do
+not like to ask you--”
+
+“Tell 'em to get out the machines!” interrupted Jack. “We were just
+wishing we could do something to make up for the loss of Harry Leroy,
+and this may give it to us. You haven't heard anything of him, have
+you?” he asked.
+
+The commander shook his head.
+
+“I fear we shall never hear from him,” he said. “Though only yesterday
+we received back some of the effects of one of our men who was shot down
+behind their lines. I can not understand in Leroy's case.”
+
+“Well, we'll make 'em pay a price all right!” declared Tom. “And now
+what about this machine gun nest?”
+
+The commander gave them such information as he had. It was not unusual,
+such work as Tom and Jack were about to undertake. As the officer
+had said, they were practically exempt now that they were about to be
+transferred. But they had volunteered, as he probably knew they would.
+
+Two speedy Spad machines were run out for the use of Tom and Jack, each
+one to have his own, for the work they were to do was dangerous and they
+would have need of speed.
+
+They looked over the machine guns to see that they were in shape for
+quick work, and as the one on the machine Tom selected had congealed
+oil on the mechanism, having lately returned from a high flight, another
+weapon was quickly attached. Nothing receives more care and attention
+at an aerodrome than the motor of the plane and the mechanism of the
+machine gun. The latter are constructed so as to be easily and quickly
+mounted and dismounted, and at the close of each day's flight the guns
+are carefully inspected and cleaned ready for the morrow.
+
+“Locate the machine gun battery if you can,” was the parting request to
+Tom and Jack as they prepared to ascend. “Send back word of the location
+as nearly as you can to our batteries, and the men there will see to the
+rest.”
+
+“We will!” cried the Americans.
+
+Locating a machine gun nest is not as easy as picking out a hostile
+battery of heavier guns, for the former, being smaller, are more easily
+concealed.
+
+But Tom and Jack would, of course, do their best to help out their
+friends, the French. Over toward the German lines they flew, and began
+to scan with eager eyes the ground below them. They could not fly at a
+very great height, as they needed to be low down in order to see, and in
+this position they were a mark for the anti-aircraft guns of the Huns.
+
+They had no sooner got over the enemy trenches, and were peering about
+for the possible location of the machine gun emplacement, when they
+were greeted with bursts of fire. But by skillfully dodging they escaped
+being hit themselves, though their machines were struck. The two chums
+were separated by about a mile, for they wanted to cover as much ground
+as possible.
+
+At last, to his great delight, Tom saw a burst of smoke from a building
+that had been so demolished by shell fire that it seemed nothing could
+now inhabit it. But the truth was soon apparent. The machine gun nest
+was in the cellar, and from there, well hidden, had been doing terrible
+execution on the allied forces. Pausing only to make sure of his
+surmise, Tom began to tap out on his wireless key the location of the
+hidden machine gun nest.
+
+Most of the aeroplanes carry a wireless outfit. An aerial trails after
+them, and the electric impulses, dripping off this, so to speak, reach
+the battery headquarters. Owing to the noise caused by the motor of the
+airship, no message can be sent to the airman in return, and he has to
+depend on signs made on the ground, arrows or circles in white by day
+and lighted signals at night, to make sure that his messages are being
+received and understood.
+
+The Allies, of course, possess maps of every sector of the enemy's
+front, so that by reference to these maps the aircraft observer can send
+back word as to almost the precise location of the battery which it is
+desired to destroy.
+
+Quickly tapping out word where the battery was located, Tom awaited
+developments, circling around the spot in his machine. He was fired at
+from guns on the ground below, but, to his delight, no hostile planes
+rose to give him combat. A glance across the expanse, however, showed
+that Jack was engaging two.
+
+“He's keeping them from me!” thought Tom, and his heart was heavy, for
+he realized that Jack might be killed. However, it was the fortune of
+war. As long as the Hun planes were fighting Jack they would not molest
+him, and he might have time to send word to the French battery that
+would result in the destruction of the Hun machine nest.
+
+There came a burst of fire from the Allied lines he had left, and Tom
+saw a shell land to the left and far beyond the Hun battery hidden in
+the old ruins. He at once sent back a correcting signal.
+
+The more a gun is elevated up to a certain point, the farther it shoots.
+Forty-three degrees is about the maximum elevation. Again, if a gun is
+elevated too high it shoots over instead of directly at the target aimed
+at. It is then necessary to lower the elevation. Tom has seen that the
+guns of the French battery, which were seeking to destroy the machine
+gun nest were shooting beyond the mark. Accordingly they were told to
+depress their muzzles.
+
+This was done, but still the shells fell to the left, and an additional
+correction was necessary. It is comparatively easy to make corrections
+in elevation or depression that will rectify errors in shooting short
+of or beyond a mark. It is not so easy to make the same corrections in
+what, for the sake of simplicity, may be called right or left errors,
+that is horizontal firing. To make these corrections it becomes needful
+to inscribe imaginary circles about the target, in this case the machine
+gun nest.
+
+These circles are named from the letters of the alphabet. For instance,
+a circle drawn three hundred yards around a Hun battery as a center
+might be designated A. The next circle, two hundred yards less in size,
+would be B and so on, down to perhaps five yards, and that is getting
+very close.
+
+The circles are further divided, as a piece of pie is cut, into twelve
+sectors, and numbered from 1 to 12. The last sector is due north, while
+6 would be due south, 3 east, and 9 west, with the other figures for
+northeast, southwest, and so on.
+
+If a shot falls in the fifty-yard circle, indicated by the letter D,
+but to the southwest of the mark, it is necessary to indicate that by
+sending the message “D-7,” which would mean that, speaking according to
+the points of the compass, the missile had fallen within fifty yards of
+the mark, but to the south-southwest of it, and correction must be made
+accordingly.
+
+Tom watched the falling shells. They came nearer and nearer to the
+hidden battery and at last he saw one fall plump where it was needed.
+There was a great puff of smoke, and when it had blown away there was
+only a hole in the ground where the ruins had been hiding the machine
+guns.
+
+Tom's work was done, and he flew off to the aid of Jack, who had
+overcome one Hun, sending his plane crashing to earth. But the other,
+an expert fighter, was pressing him hard until Ton opened up on him with
+his machine gun. Then the German, having no stomach for odds, turned
+tail and flew toward his own lines.
+
+“Good for you, Tom!” yelled Jack, though he knew his chum could not hear
+him because of the noise of the motor.
+
+Together the two lads, who had engaged in their last battle strictly
+with the French, made for their aerodrome, reaching it safely, though,
+as it was learned when Jack dismounted, he had received a slight bullet
+wound in one side from a missile sent by one of the attacking planes.
+But the hurt was only a flesh wound; though, had it gone an inch to one
+side, it would have ended Jack's fighting days.
+
+Hearty and enthusiastic were the congratulations that greeted the
+exploit of Torn in finding the German machine gun nest that had been
+such a menace, nor were the thanks to Jack any less warm, for without
+his help Tom could never have maintained his position, and sent back
+corrections to the battery which brought about the desired result.
+
+“It is a glorious end to your stay with us,” said the commander, with
+shining eyes, as he congratulated them.
+
+There was a little impromptu banquet in the quarters that night, and Tom
+and Jack were bidden God-speed to their new quarters.
+
+“There's only one thing I want to say!” said Jack quietly, as he rose in
+response to a demand that he talk.
+
+“Let us hear it, my slice of bacon!” called a jolly ace.
+
+“It's this,” went on Jack. “That I hereby resolve that if we--I mean Tom
+and I--can't rescue our comrade, Harry Leroy, from the Huns--provided
+he's alive--that we'll take a toll of five Germans for him--or as many,
+up to that number, as we can shoot down before they get us. Five German
+fliers is the price of Harry Leroy, who was worth a hundred of them!”
+
+“Bravo! Hurrah! So he was! Death to the Huns!” were the cries.
+
+Torn Raymond sprang to his feet
+
+“What Jack says I say!” he cried. “But I double the toll. If Harry Leroy
+is dead he leaves a sister. You all saw her here! Well, I'll get five
+Huns for her, and that makes ten between Jack and me!”
+
+“Success to you!” cried several.
+
+With this resolve to spur them on, Tom and Jack bade their bravo
+comrades farewell and started for Paris, whence they were to journey to
+the headquarters of General Pershing and his men.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI. IN PARIS
+
+
+Attired in their natty uniforms of the La Fayette Escadrille, which they
+had not discarded, with the double wings showing that they were fully
+qualified pilots and aviators, Jack Parmly and Tom Raymond attracted
+no little attention as, several hours after leaving their places on the
+battle front, they arrived in Paris. They were to have a few days rest
+before joining the newly formed American aviation section which, as yet,
+was hardly ready for active work.
+
+“Well, they're here!” suddenly cried Tom, as he and Jack made their way
+out of the station to seek a modest hotel where they might stay until
+time for them to report.
+
+“Who? Where? I don't see 'em!” exclaimed Jack, as he crowded to the side
+of his chum, murmurs from a group of French persons testifying to the
+esteem in which the American lads were held.
+
+“There!” went on Tom, pointing. “See some of our doughboys! And maybe
+the crowds aren't glad to have 'em here! It's great, I tell you, great!”
+
+As he spoke he pointed to several khaki-clad infantrymen, some of the
+first of the ten thousand Americans lads that were sent over to “take
+the germ out of Germany.” The Americans were rather at a loss, but they
+seemed masters of themselves, and laughed and talked with glee as they
+gazed on the unfamiliar scenes. They, too, were enjoying a holiday
+before being sent on to be billeted with the French or British troops.
+
+“Come on, let's talk to 'em!” cried Tom, enthusiastically. “It's as good
+as a letter from home to see 'em!”
+
+“I thought you meant you saw--er--Bessie and her mother,” returned Jack,
+and there was a little disappointment in his voice.
+
+“Oh, we'll see them soon enough, if they're still in Paris,” said Tom,
+gazing curiously at his chum. “But they don't know we are coming here.”
+
+“Yes, they do,” said Jack, quietly.
+
+“They do? Then you must have written.”
+
+“Of course. Don't you want to see them before we get shipped off to a
+new sector?”
+
+“Why, yes. Just now, though, I'm anxious to hear some good, old United
+States talk. Come on, let's speak to 'em. There's one bunch that seems
+to be in trouble.”
+
+But the trouble was only because some of Pershing's boys--as they were
+generally called wanted to make some purchases at a candy shop and did
+not know enough of the language to make their meaning clear. It was a
+good-natured misunderstanding, and both the French shop-keeper and his
+helper and the doughboys were laughing over it.
+
+“Hello, boys! Glad to see you! Can we help you out?” asked Tom, as he
+and Jack joined the group.
+
+The infantrymen whirled about.
+
+“Well, for the love of the Mason an' Dixon line! is there somebody heah
+who can speak our talk?” cried one lad, his accent unmistakably marking
+him as Southern.
+
+“Guess we can help you out,” said Jack. “We're from God's country, too,”
+ and in an instant the were surrounded and being shaken hands with on all
+sides, while a perfect barrage of questions was fired at them.
+
+Then, when the little misunderstanding at the candy shop had been
+straightened out, Tom and Jack told something of who they were,
+mentioning the fact that they were soon to fight directly under the
+stars and stripes, information which drew whoops of delight from the
+enthusiastic infantrymen.
+
+“But say, friend,” called out one of the new American soldiers, “can you
+sling enough of this lingo to lead us to a place where we can get ham
+and eggs? I mean a real eating place, not just a coffee stand. I've
+been opening my mouth, champing my jaws and rubbing my stomach all day,
+trying to tell these folks that I'm hungry and want a square meal, and
+half the time they think I need a doctor. Lead me to a hash foundry.”
+
+“All right, come on with us!” laughed Tom. “We're going to eat, too. I
+guess we can fix you up.”
+
+The two aviators had been in Paris before and they knew their way about,
+as well as being able to speak the language fairly well. Soon, with
+their new friends from overseas, they were seated in a quiet restaurant,
+where substantial food could be had in spite of war prices. And then it
+was give and take, question and answer, until a group of Parisians that
+had gathered about turned away shaking their heads at their inability to
+understand the strange talk. But they were well aware of the spirit of
+it all, and more than one silently blessed the Americans as among the
+saviors of France.
+
+The wonderful city seemed filled with soldiers of all the Allied
+nations, and most conspicuous, because of recent events, were the
+khaki-clad boys who were soon to fight under Pershing. Having seen that
+the little contingent they had taken under their protection got what
+they wanted, Tom and Jack, bidding them farewell, but promising to see
+them again soon, went to their hotel.
+
+And, their baggage arriving, Jack proceeded to get ready for a bath and
+a general furbishing. He seemed very particular.
+
+“Going out?” asked Tom.
+
+“Why--er--yes. Thought I'd go to call on Bessie Gleason. This is her
+night off duty--hers and her mother's.”
+
+“How do you know?”
+
+“Well--er--she said so. Want to come?”
+
+“Nixy. Two's company and you know what three is.”
+
+“Oh, come on! Mrs. Gleason will be glad to see you.”
+
+“Well, I suppose I might,” assented Tom, who, truth to tell, did not
+relish spending the evening alone.
+
+Bessie and her mother had, of late, been assigned as Red Cross workers
+to a hospital in the environs of Paris, and ant times they could come
+into the city for a rest. They maintained a modest apartment not far
+from the hotel where Tom and Jack had put up, and soon the two lads
+found themselves at the place where their friends lived.
+
+“Oh, I'm so glad you both came!” exclaimed Bessie as she greeted them.
+“We have company and--”
+
+“Company!” exclaimed Jack, drawing back.
+
+“Yes, the dearest, most delightful girl you ever--”
+
+“Girl!” exclaimed Tom.
+
+“Yes. But come on in and meet her. I'm sure you'll both fall in love
+with her.”
+
+Jack was on the point of saying something, but thought better of it,
+and a moment later, to the great surprise of himself and Torn, they were
+facing Nellie Leroy.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII. THE AMERICAN FRONT
+
+
+Tom and Jack bowed. In fact, so great was their surprise at first that
+this was all they could do. Then they stared first at Bessie and then at
+the other girl--the sister of Harry, their chum, who was somewhere, dead
+or alive, behind the German lines.
+
+“Well, aren't you glad to see her?” demanded Bessie. “I thought I'd
+surprise you.”
+
+“You have,” said Jack. “Very much!”
+
+“Glad to see her--why--of course. But--but--how--”
+
+Tom found himself stuttering and stammering, so he stopped, and stared
+so hard at Nellie Leroy that she smiled, though rather sadly, for it
+was plain to be seen her grief over the possible death of her brother
+weighed down on her. And then she went on:
+
+“Well, I'm real--I'm not a dream, Mr. Raymond.”
+
+“So I see--I mean I'm glad to see it--I mean--oh, I don't know what I do
+mean!” he finished desperately. “Did you know she was going to be here?
+Was that the reason you asked me to come?” he inquired of Jack.
+
+“Hadn't the least notion in the world,” answered Jack. “I'm as much
+surprised as you are.”
+
+“Well, we'll take pity on you and tell you all about it,” said Bessie.
+“Mother, here are the boys,” she called; and Mrs. Gleason, who had
+suffered so much since having been saved from the Lusitania and
+afterward rescued by air craft from the lonely castle, came out of her
+room to greet the boys.
+
+They were as glad to see her as she was to meet them again, and for a
+time there was an interchange of talk. Then Mrs. Gleason withdrew to
+leave the young people to themselves.
+
+“Well, go on, tell us all about it!” begged Tom, who could not take his
+eyes off Nellie Leroy. “How did she get here?” and he indicated Harry's
+sister.
+
+“He talks of me as though I were some specimen!” laughed the girl. “But
+go on--tell him, Bessie.”
+
+“Well, it isn't much of a story,” said Bessie Gleason. “Nellie started
+to do Red Cross work, as mother and I are doing, and she was assigned to
+the hospital where we were.”
+
+“This was after I heard the terrible news about poor Harry at your
+escadrille,” Nellie broke in, to say to Tom and Jack. “I--I suppose you
+haven't had any--word?” she faltered.
+
+“Not yet,” Jack answered. “But we may get it any day now--or they may,
+back there,” and he nodded to indicate the air headquarters he and Tom
+had left. “You know we're going to be under Pershing soon,” he added.
+
+“So you wrote me,” said Bessie. “I'm glad, though it's all in the same
+good cause. Well, as I was saying, Nellie came to our hospital-I call it
+ours though I have such a small part in it,” she interjected. “She was
+introduced to us as an American, and of course we made friends at once.”
+
+“No one could help making friends with Bessie and her mother!” exclaimed
+Nellie.
+
+“Don't flatter us too much,” warned Bessie. “Now please don't interrupt
+any more. As I say, Nellie came to us to do her share in helping care
+for the wounded, and, as mother and I found she had settled on no
+regular place in Paris, we asked her to share our rooms. Then we got to
+talking, and of course I found she had met you two boys in her search
+for her brother. After that we were better friends than ever.”
+
+“Glad to know it,” said Tom. “There's nothing like having friends.
+I hadn't any notion that I'd meet any when I started out with him
+tonight,” and he motioned to Jack.
+
+“Well, I like that!” cried Bessie in feigned indignation. “I like to
+know how you class my mother and me?” and she looked at Tom.
+
+“Oh,--er--well, of course--you and your mother, and Jack. But he and
+you--”
+
+“Better swim out before you get into deep water,” advised Jack quickly,
+and he nudged Tom with his foot.
+
+Then the boys had to tell about their final experiences before leaving
+the Lafayette Escadrille with which many trying, as well as many happy,
+hours were associated, and the girls told of their adventures, which
+were not altogether tame.
+
+Since Mrs. Gleason had been freed from the plotting of the spy,
+Potzfeldt, she had lived a happy life--that is as happy as one could
+amid the scenes of war and its attendant horrors. She and Bessie were
+throwing themselves heart and soul into the immortal work of the Red
+Cross, and now Nellie bad joined them.
+
+“It's the only way I can stop thinking about poor Harry,” she said with
+a sigh. “Oh, if I could only hear some good news about him, that I might
+send it to the folks at home. Do you think it will ever come--the good
+news, I mean?” she asked wistfully of Tom.
+
+“All we can do is to hope,” he said. He knew better than to buoy up
+false hopes, for he had seen too much of the terrible side of war. In
+his heart he knew that there was but little chance for Harry Leroy,
+after the latter's aeroplane had been shot down behind the German lines.
+Yet there was that one, slender hope to which all of us cling when it
+seems that everything else is lost.
+
+“He may be a prisoner, and, in that case, there is a chance,” said Tom,
+while Jack and Bessie were conversing on the other side of the room.
+
+“You mean a chance to escape?”
+
+“Hardly that, though it has been done. A few aviators have got away from
+German prison camps. But it's only one chance in many thousand. No, what
+I meant was that--well, it's too small and slim a chance to talk about,
+I'm afraid.”
+
+“Oh, no!” she hastened to assure him. “Do tell me! No chance is too
+small. What do you mean?”
+
+“Well, sometimes rescues have been made,” went on Tom. “They are even
+more rare than escapes, but they have been done. I was thinking that
+perhaps after Jack and I get in with Pershing's boys we might be in some
+big raid on the Hun lines, and then, if we could get any information as
+to your brother's whereabouts, we might plan to rescue him.”
+
+“Oh, do you think you could?”
+
+“I certainly can and will try!” exclaimed Tom, earnestly.
+
+“Oh, will you? Oh, I can't thank you enough!” and she clasped his hand
+in both hers and Tom blushed deeply.
+
+“Please don't count too much on it,” Tom warned Nellie. “It's a
+desperate chance at best, but it's the only one I can see that we can
+take. First of all, though, we've got to get some word as to where Harry
+is.”
+
+“How can you do that?”
+
+“Some of the Hun airmen are almost human, that is compared to the
+other Boche fighters. They may drop a cap of Harry's or a glove, or
+something,” and Tom told of the practice in such cases.
+
+“Oh, if they only will!” sighed Nellie. “But it is almost too much to
+hope.”
+
+And so they talked until late in the evening, when the time came for
+Nellie, Bessie and her mother to report back for their Red Cross work.
+The boys returned to their hotel, promising to write often and to see
+their friends at the next opportunity.
+
+“I won't forget!” said Tom, on parting from Nellie.
+
+“Forget what?” asked Jack, as they were going down the street together.
+
+“I'm going to do my best to rescue her brother,” said Tom, in a low
+voice.
+
+“Good! I'm with you!” declared Jack.
+
+The stay of the two boys in Paris was all too short, but they were
+anxious to get back to their work. They wanted to be fighting under
+their own flag. Not that they had not been doing all they could for
+liberty, but it was different, being with their own countrymen. And so,
+when their leaves of absence were up, they took the train that was to
+drop them at the place assigned, where the newly arrived Americans were
+beginning their training.
+
+“The American front!” cried Tom, as he and Jack reached the headquarters
+of General Pershing and his associate officers. “The American front at
+last!”
+
+“And it's the happiest day of my life that I can fight on it!” cried
+Jack.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII. A BATTLE IN THE AIR
+
+
+Strictly speaking there was at that time no American front. That did
+not come until later, for the American soldiers, as was proper, were
+brigaded with the French and British, to enable our troops, who were
+unused to European war conditions, to become acquainted with the needful
+measures to meet and overcome the brutality of the Huns.
+
+But even with this brigading of the United States' troops with the
+seasoned veterans, which, in plain language, meant a mingling of the
+two forces, there was much that was strictly American among the new
+arrivals.
+
+Not only were the khaki-clad soldiers real Americans to the backbone,
+but their equipment and the supplies that had come over with them in the
+transports were such as might be seen at any army camp in this country,
+as distinguished from a French or a British camp.
+
+“Well, the boys are here all right,” remarked Jack, as he and Tom made
+their way toward the headquarters at which they were to report.
+
+“Yes, and it makes me feel good to see them!” said Tom. “This is the
+beginning of the end of Kaiserism, if I'm any judge.”
+
+“Oh, it isn't going to be so easy as all that,” returned Jack. “We'll
+see some hard fighting. Germany isn't licked yet by any means; but
+those, are the boys that can bring the thing to a finish,” and he
+pointed to a company of the lean, stem, brown figures that were swinging
+along with characteristic stride.
+
+The place at which Tom and Jack had been ordered to report was an
+interior city of France, not far from the port at which the first
+transport from America had arrived. A first glance at the scenes on
+every hand would have given a person not familiar with war a belief
+that hopeless confusion existed. Wagons, carts, mule teams and motor
+trucks-“lorries,” the English call them--were dashing to and fro. Men
+were marching, countermarching, unloading some vehicles, loading others.
+Soldiers were being marched into the interior to be billeted, others
+were being directed to their respective French or English units.
+Officers were shouting commands, and privates were carrying them out to
+the best of their ability.
+
+But though it all seemed chaos, out of it order was coming. There was a
+system, though a civilian would not have understood it.
+
+“Well, let's find out where we're at,” suggested Torn, to his chum.
+
+“Right O, my pickled grapefruit!” agreed Jack with a laugh. “Let's get
+into the game.”
+
+They were about to ask their direction from a non-commissioned officer
+who was directing a squad of men in the unloading of a truck which
+seemed filled with canned goods, when some one said:
+
+“There goes Black Jack now!”
+
+The two air service boys looked, and saw, passing along not far away,
+a tall man, faultlessly attired, who looked “every inch a soldier,” and
+whose square jaw was indicative of his fighting qualities, if the rest
+of his face had not been.
+
+“Is that General Pershing?” asked Tom, in a low voice of the
+non-commissioned officer.
+
+“That's who he is, buddy,” was the smiling answer. “The best man in the
+world for the job, too. Come on there now, you with the red hair. This
+isn't a croquet game. Lay into those cases, and get 'em off some time
+before New Year's. We want to have our Christmas dinner in Berlin,
+remember!”
+
+“So that's Pershing,” commented Jack, as he looked at the American
+commander, who, with his staff officers, was on a trip of inspection.
+“Well, he suits me all right!”
+
+“The next thing for us to do is to find out if we suit him,” remarked
+Tom. “Wonder if he knows we're here?”
+
+“I don't even believe he knows we're alive!” exclaimed Jack, for the
+moment taking Tom's joke quite seriously.
+
+As General Pershing passed on, receiving and returning many salutes, Tom
+and Jack made their inquiries, learned where they were to report, and
+went on their way, longing for the time when they could get into action
+with the American troops.
+
+“Oh, so you're the two aviators from the Lafayette Escadrille,”
+ commented the commanding officer, or the C.O., of the newly formed
+American squadron, as Tom and Jack, drawing themselves up as straight
+as they could, saluted when he looked over their papers and their log
+books. These last are the personal records of aviators in which they
+note the details of each flight made. They are official documents, but
+when a birdman is honorably discharged he may take his log book with
+him.
+
+“We were told to report to you, sir,” said Tom.
+
+“Yes. And I'm glad to see you. We're going to establish a purely
+American air force, but as yet it is in its infancy. I need some
+experienced fliers, and I'm glad you're going to be with us. Of course
+I have a number who have made good records over there,” and he nodded to
+indicate the United States, “But they haven't been under fire yet, and I
+understand you have.”
+
+“Some,” admitted Jack, modestly enough.
+
+“Good! Well, I'm to have some more of our own boys, who are to be
+transferred from the French forces, and some from the Royal Flying
+Corps, so with that as a start I guess we can build up an air service
+that will make Fritz step lively. But we've got to go slow. One thing
+I'm sorry for is that we haven't, as yet, any American planes. We'll
+have to depend on the French and English for them, as we have to, at
+first, for our artillery and shells.”
+
+“We can fly French or British planes,” remarked Tom.
+
+And, as my old readers know, the air service boys had had experience
+with a number of different models.
+
+“We can fly a Gotha if we have to,” said Jack. “One came down back of
+our lines last month, and we patched it up and flew it for practice.”
+
+“I hope you can get some more of that practice,” said the commanding
+officer with a smile.
+
+“But, now that you're here, I'll swear you in and see what the orders
+are regarding you. I'm afraid there won't be much fighting for you at
+first--that is strictly as Americans. I understand our air front, if
+I may use that term, will have to grow out of a nucleus of French and
+English fighters.”
+
+“That's all right, as long as we get the right start,” commented Tom.
+
+It was necessary to swear the boys into the service of the United
+States, even though they were natives of it; since, on entering the
+Lafayette Escadrille, they had been obliged to swear allegiance
+to France. But this was a matter of routine where the Allies were
+concerned, and soon Tom and Jack were back again where they longed to
+be--enrolled among the distinctive fighters of their own country.
+
+They were assigned to barracks, and found themselves among some other
+airmen, many of whom were student fliers from the various aviation camps
+of the United States. Few of these youths had had much practice, though
+some had been to the Canadian schools. And none of them had, as yet,
+fought an enemy in the air.
+
+To aid and instruct them, however, were such fighters as Tom and Jack,
+and some even more experienced from the French, Italian and British
+camps, who had been detailed to help out the United States in the
+emergency.
+
+The next few weeks was an instruction and reconstruction period, with
+Tom and Jack often filling the roles of teachers. They found their
+pupils apt, eager and willing, however, and among them they discovered
+some excellent material. As the commanding officer of the new American
+air forces had said, the planes used were all of English or French make.
+It was too early in the war for America to have sent any over equipped
+with the Liberty motor, though production was under way.
+
+After this period had passed, Tom and Jack, with a squadron of other
+birdmen were sent to a certain section of the front held largely by
+American troops, supported by veteran French and British regiments.
+
+It was the first wholly American aircraft camp established since the
+beginning of the World War, and it was not even yet as wholly American
+as it was destined to be later, for the aviators were, as regards
+veterans, largely French and English. Torn and Jack were, in point of
+service, the ranking American fliers for a time.
+
+There had been several sharp engagements across No Man's Land between
+the mingled French, British and French forces and the Huns, and honors
+were on the side of the former. There had been one or two combats in the
+air, in which Tom and Jack had taken part, when one day word came from
+an observation balloon on the American side that a flock of German
+aircraft was on the way from a camp located a few miles within the Boche
+lines.
+
+There was a harried consultation of the officers, and then orders were
+given for a half score of the Allied machines to get ready. Two veteran
+French aces were to be in command, with Tom and Jack as helpers, and
+some of the American aviators were to go into the battle of the air for
+the first time.
+
+“The Huns are evidently going to try to bomb some of our ammunition
+dumps behind our lines,”' said one officer, speaking to Tom. “It's up to
+you boys to drive 'em back.”
+
+“We'll try, sir,” was the answer. “We owe the Huns something we haven't
+been able to pay off as yet.”
+
+Tom referred to the loss of Harry Leroy. So far no word had been
+received from him, either directly or through the German aviators, as to
+whether he was dead or a prisoner. Letters had passed between Bessie and
+Nellie and Jack and Tom, and the sister of the missing youth begged for
+news.
+
+But there was none to give her.
+
+“Unless we get some to-day,” observed Tom as he and his chum hurried
+toward the hangars where their machines were being made ready for them.
+
+“Get news to-day? What makes you think we shall?” asked Jack.
+
+“Well, we might bring down a Fritzie or two who'd know something about
+poor Harry,” was the answer. “You never can tell.”
+
+“No, that's so,” agreed Jack. “Well, here's hoping we'll have luck.”
+
+By this time there was great excitement in the American aviation
+headquarters. Word of the oncoming Hun planes had spread, and not a
+flier of Pershing's forces but was eager to get into his plane and go
+aloft to give battle. But only the best were selected, and if there were
+heart-burnings of disappointment it could not be helped.
+
+Two classes of planes were to be used, the single seaters for the aces,
+who fought alone, and the double craft, each one of which carried a
+pilot and an observer. In the latter cases the observers were the new
+men, who had yet to receive their baptism of fire above the clouds.
+
+Tom and Jack were each detailed to take up one of the new men, and the
+air service boys were glad to find that, assigned to each of them,
+was the very man he would have picked had he had his choice. They were
+eager, intrepid lads, anxious to do their share in the great adventure.
+
+Quickly the machines were made ready, and quickly the fighters climbed
+into them. The roar of the motors was heard all over the aerodrome, and
+soon the machines began to mount. Up and up they climbed, and none too
+soon, for on reaching elevations averaging ten thousand feet, there was
+seen, over the German lines, a flock of the Hun planes led by two or
+three machines painted a bright red. These were some of the machines
+that had belonged to the celebrated “flying circus,” organized by a
+daring Hun aviator and ace who was killed after he had inflicted great
+damage and loss on the Allied service. He and his men had their machines
+painted red, perhaps on the theory that they would thus inspire terror.
+These were some of the former members of the “circus,” it was evident.
+
+“It's going to be a real fight!” cried Tom, as he headed his machine
+toward one of the red craft. Whether the green man Tom was taking up
+relished this or not, knowing, as he must, the reputation of these red
+aviators, Tom did not stop to consider.
+
+Then, as the two hostile air fleets approached, there began a battle
+of the clouds--a conflict destined to end fatally for more than one
+aviator.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX. THE FALLING GLOVE
+
+
+Numerically the Hun planes, were superior to the American fleet of
+airships that quickly rose to oppose them. That probably accounted
+for fact that the Germans did not turn tail and scurry back beyond the
+protection of their own anti-aircraft guns and batteries. For it was
+seldom, if ever, they went into a fight when the odds were against them.
+
+On came the Fokkers and Gothas, the black iron crosses painted on the
+wings of the machines standing out in bold relief in the clear air. The
+sun glinted on the red craft which were in the lead, and besides Tom,
+who headed for one of these, a French ace darted down from a height to
+engage the red planes.
+
+“See if you can plug him when I put you near enough!” cried Tom to his
+observer, who had the reputation of being a good shot with the Lewis
+gun. Practice with the machine weapons in aeroplanes had been going
+on, for some time among the new American aviators. “Let him have a good
+dose!” cried Tom. “If you miss him, then I'll try!”
+
+Of course Tom had to shut off the engine when he said this, as no voice
+could have been heard above the roaring of the powerful motor. But when
+he had given his companion these instructions and had ascertained, by
+a glance over his shoulder, that the lad understood for he nodded his
+head, Tom again turned on the gasoline, and the propeller, that had been
+revolving by momentum and because of the pressure of air against it,
+took up its speed again.
+
+Straight for the red machine rushed Tom, and a quick glance told him
+that his companion was ready with the gun. The weapon to be worked by
+the latter was mounted so that it could be aimed independently of the
+aeroplane. Tom also had a gun in front of him, but it was fixed and
+could be aimed only by pointing the whole craft. Once this was done Tom
+could operate the weapon with one hand, steering with the other, and, at
+times, with his feet and knees.
+
+There came several sharp pops near Tom's head, and he knew these were
+machine bullets from the Hun aviator's gun, breaking through the tightly
+stretched linen fabric of the wings of his own plane.
+
+“Let him have it before he plugs us!” cried Tom to his companion, though
+of course the latter could not hear a word. An instant later Tom heard
+the Lewis gun behind him firing, and he saw several tracer bullets
+strike the Hun machine. But they were not near the aviator himself, and
+did no material damage.
+
+“Guess he's too nervous to shoot straight,” reasoned Tom. “I'll have to
+try my own gun,” he decided.
+
+Tom noticed that the Hun was climbing up, trying to get into a position
+above the American plane, which is always an advantage. And the air
+service boy knew he must not let this happen. Quickly he shifted the
+rudder and began to climb himself. But he was at a disadvantage as his
+machine carried double, while the red plane had only one man in it, an
+ace beyond a doubt.
+
+“I've got to get him now or never!” thought Tom. Once more he shifted
+his direction, and then, as he had his gun aimed just where he wanted
+it, he pressed the lever and a burst of bullets shot out and fairly
+riddled the red plane. It seemed to stop for an instant in the air, and
+then, quivering, turned and went down in a nose dive, spinning around.
+
+“No fake about that!” mused Tom, as he leaned over and looked down from
+the height. “He's done for!”
+
+And so, the Hun was, for he crashed to the ground behind the American
+lines. The incident did not affect Tom Raymond greatly. It was not his
+first killing. But when he, glanced back toward his companion, he saw
+that the other was shrinking back as if in horror.
+
+“He'll get over that soon enough. All he has to do is to think of what
+the Huns have done--crucifying men and babies--to make his heart hard,”
+ thought Tom.
+
+Whether his companion did this or not, did not disclose itself, but the
+fact remains that when Tom flew off to engage another Hun machine the
+lad back of him rose to the occasion and shot so well that Fritz veered
+off and flew back over his own lines, wounded and with his craft barely
+able to fly.
+
+Not all the American machines fared as well as this, however. Jack was
+in poor luck. The first burst of bullets from the German he engaged
+punctured his gasoline tank, and he was obliged to coast back to his own
+aerodrome to get another machine, if possible. He was also hit once in
+the leg, the wound being painful though not dangerous. He received first
+aid treatment and wanted to get back into the fight, but this was not
+allowed, and he had to watch the battle from the ground.
+
+The fight was fast and stubborn, and in the end the American forces won,
+for at a signal from the remaining red plane, which seemed to bear a
+charmed existence, as it did not appear to be hit, the others remaining
+of the Hun forces, turned tail and scooted back to safety.
+
+But they had left a toll of five machines sent crashing to earth, four
+of them each containing two men. The leading French ace was killed, a
+severe loss to the Allied forces, and three of the American machines
+were damaged and their operators severely wounded, though with a chance
+of recovery. By American machines is meant those assigned for use to
+Pershing's forces, though the craft used up to that time were of French
+or English make. The real American machines came into use a little
+later.
+
+“Well, I think we can call it one to our credit,” said Tom, as he
+rejoined Jack after the battle.
+
+“Yes. But you had all the luck!” complained his chum. “It went against
+me, and the lad I took up. It--”
+
+“Never mind; it'll be your turn next,” replied Tom, consolingly.
+
+And so the new American aviators received their baptism of fire, and, to
+their credit, longed for more.
+
+More credit was really due the American forces than would be indicated
+by the mere citation of the losses inflicted on the German side in this
+first air battle. For many of the American fighters were “green,” while
+not one of the Huns, as was learned later, but what had several Allied
+machines to his score. And so there was rejoicing in General Pershing's
+camp, even though it was mingled with sorrow at the losses inflicted.
+
+Busy days followed, Tom and Jack were in the air much of the time. And
+when they were not flying they were delivering talks to new students,
+who were constantly arriving. They found time once to run into Paris on
+their day of leave, to see Bessie and Nellie, and they went on a little
+picnic together, which was as jolly as such an affair could be in the
+midst of the terrible war. Nellie had received no word of her missing
+brother, and Jack and Tom had no encouragement for her.
+
+Then came more hard work at camp, and another battle of the air in
+which the American forces more than equaled matters, for they fairly
+demolished a German plane squadron, sending ten of the machines crashing
+to earth and the others back over the Hun lines, more or less damaged.
+That was a great day. And, as a sort of reward for their work, Tom and
+Jack were given three days' leave. At first they thought to spend them
+in Paris, but, learning that neither Bessie nor her mother nor Nellie
+could leave their Red Cross work to join them, the two lads made other
+arrangements.
+
+“Let's go back and see the fellows in the Lafayette Escadrille,”
+ suggested Tom.
+
+“All right,” agreed Jack.
+
+And thither they went.
+
+That they were welcomed need not be said. It was comparatively quiet on
+this sector just then, though there had, a few days before, been a great
+battle with victory perching on the Allied banners. The air conflicts,
+too, had been desperate, and many a brave man of the French, English
+or American fliers had met his death. But toll had been taken of the
+Boches--ample toll, too.
+
+The first inquiry Tom and Jack had made on their arrival at their former
+aerodrome had been for news of Harry Leroy, but none had been received.
+
+It was when Tom and Jack were about to conclude their visit to their
+former comrades of the air that an incident occurred which made a great
+change in their lives. One sunny afternoon there suddenly appeared, a
+mere speck in the blue, a single aeroplane.
+
+“Some one of your men must have gone a long way over Heinie's lines,”
+ remarked Jack to one of the French officers.
+
+“He is not one of our men. Either they were all back long ago or they
+will not come back until after the war--if ever. That is a Hun machine.”
+
+“What is he doing--challenging to single combat?” asked Tom, as the lone
+plane came on steadily.
+
+“No,” answered the officer, after a look through his glasses. “I think
+he brings some messages. We sent some to the Germans yesterday, and I
+think this is a return courtesy. We will wait and see.”
+
+Nearer and nearer came the German plane. Soon it was circling around the
+French camp. Hundreds came out to watch, for now the object of the lone
+aviator was apparent. He contemplated no raid. It was to drop news of
+captured, or dead, Allied airmen.
+
+Then, as Tom, and the others watched, a little package was seen to
+fall from the hovering aeroplane. It landed on the roof of one of the
+hangars, bounced off and was picked up by an orderly, who presented it
+to the commanding officer.
+
+Quickly and eagerly it was opened. It contained some personal belongings
+of Allied airmen who had been missing for the past week. Some of them,
+the message from the German lines said, had been killed by their falls
+after being shot down, and it was stated that they had been decently
+buried. Others were wounded and in hospitals.
+
+“No word from Harry,” said Tom, sadly, as the last of the relics from
+the dead and the living were gone over.
+
+“Well, I guess we may as well give him up,” added Jack. “But we can
+avenge him. That's all we have left, now.”
+
+“Yes,” agreed Tom. “If we only--?”
+
+A cry from some of those watching the German plane interrupted him. The
+two air service boys looked up. Another small object was falling. It
+landed with a thud, almost at the feet of Tom and Jack, and the latter
+picked it up.
+
+It was an aviator's glove; and as Jack held it up a note dropped
+out. Quickly it was read, and the import of it was given to all in a
+simultaneous shout of joy from Tom and Jack.
+
+“It's word from Harry Leroy! Word from Harry at last!”
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X. STUNTS
+
+
+Truly enough, word had come from the missing aviator, or, if not
+directly from him, at least from his captors. The German airmen, falling
+in with the chivalry which had been initiated by the French and English,
+and later followed by the Americans, had seen fit to inform the comrades
+of the captured man of his whereabouts.
+
+“Where is he? What happened to him?” asked several, as all crowded
+around Tom and Jack to hear the news.
+
+Jack, reading the note, told them. The missive was written in very good
+English, though in a German hand. It stated that Harry Leroy had been
+shot down in his plane while over the German lines, and had fallen in a
+lonely spot, wounded.
+
+The wound was not serious, it was stated, and the prisoner was doing
+as well as could be expected, but he would remain in the hands of his
+captors until the end of the war. The reason his whereabouts was not
+mentioned before was that the Germans did not know they had one of the
+Allied aviators in their midst.
+
+Leroy had not only fallen in a lonely spot, but he was made unconscious
+by his fall and injuries, and when he recovered he was lying near his
+almost demolished plane.
+
+He managed to get out his log book and other confidential papers, and
+set fire to them and the plane with the gasoline that still remained in
+the tank. He destroyed them so they might not fall into the hands of the
+Germans, a fate he knew would be his own shortly.
+
+But Harry Leroy was not doomed to instant capture. The blaze caused by
+his burning aeroplane attracted the attention of a peasant, who had not
+been deported when the enemy overran his country, for the young aviator
+had fallen in a spot well back of the front lines. This French peasant
+took Harry to his little farm and hid him in the barn. There the man,
+his wife, and his granddaughters, looked after the injured aviator,
+feeding him and binding up his hurts. It was a great risk they took,
+and Harry Leroy knew it as well as they. But for nearly two weeks he
+remained hidden, and this probably saved his life, for he got better
+treatment at the farmhouse than he would, as an enemy, have received in
+a German hospital.
+
+But such good luck could not last. Suspicion that Americans were hidden
+in the Frenchman's barn began to spread through the country, and rather
+than bring discovery on his friends, Leroy left the barn one night.
+
+He had a desperate hope that he might reach his own lines, as he was now
+pretty well recovered from his 'Injuries, but it was not to be. He was
+captured by a German patrol. But by his quick action Harry Leroy had
+removed suspicion from the farmer, which was exactly what he wished to
+do.
+
+The Germans, rejoicing over their capture, took the young aviator to the
+nearest prison camp, and there he was put in custody, together with some
+unfortunate French and English. The tide of war had turned against Harry
+Leroy.
+
+So it came about that, some time after he had been posted as missing and
+when it was surely thought that he was dead, Harry Leroy was found to be
+among the living, though a prisoner.
+
+“This will be great news for his sister!” exclaimed Jack, as the note
+dropped by the German airman was read over and over again.
+
+“Yes, she'll be delighted,” agreed Tom. “We must hurry back and tell
+her.”
+
+“And that isn't all,” went on Jack. “We must try to figure out a way to
+rescue Harry.”
+
+“You can't do that,” declared a French ace, one with whom the air
+service boys had often flown.
+
+“Why not?” asked Tom.
+
+“It's out of the question,” was the answer. “There has never been a
+rescue yet from behind the German lines. Or, if there has been, it's
+like a blue moon.”
+
+“Well, we can try,” declared Jack, and Tom nodded his head in agreement.
+
+“Don't count too much on it,” added another of their friends. “Harry may
+not even be where this note says he is.”
+
+“Do you mean that the Germans would say what isn't so?” asked Tom.
+
+“Of course! Naturally!” was the answer. “But even if they did not in
+this case, even if they have truly said where Leroy is, he may be moved
+at any time--sent to some other prison, or made to work in the mines or
+at perhaps something far worse.”
+
+Tom and Jack realized that this might be so, and they felt that there
+was no easy task ahead of them in trying to rescue their chum from the
+hands of the Germans. But they were not youths who gave up easily.
+
+“May we keep this note?” asked Tom, as he and Jack got ready to depart.
+Having fallen on the camp of the escadrille with which they were
+formerly quartered, it was, strictly speaking, the property of the
+airmen there. But having been told how much the sister of the prisoner
+would appreciate it, the commanding officer gave permission for Tom and
+Jack to take the glove and note with them.
+
+“Let us know if you rescue him, Comrades!” called the Frenchmen to the
+two lads, as they started back for their own camp.
+
+“We will,” was the answer.
+
+Nellie Leroy's joy in the news that her brother was alive was tempered
+by the fact that he was a German prisoner.
+
+“But we're going to get him!” declared Tom even though he realized, as
+he said it, that it with almost a forlorn hope.
+
+“You are so good,” murmured the girl.
+
+Jack and Tom spent a few happy hours in Paris, with Nellie and
+Bessie--the last of their leave--and then, bidding the girls and Mrs.
+Gleason farewell, they reported back to the American aerodrome, where
+the young airmen were cordially welcomed.
+
+There they found much to do, and events followed one another so rapidly
+at this stage of the World War that Tom and Jack, after their return,
+had little time for anything but flying and teaching others what they
+knew of air work. They had no opportunity to do anything toward the
+rescue of Harry Leroy; and, indeed, they were at a loss how to proceed.
+They were just hoping that something would transpire to give them a
+starting point.
+
+“We'll have to leave it to luck for a while,” said Torn.
+
+“Or fate,” added Jack.
+
+“Well, fate plays no small part in an airman's life,” returned Tom.
+“While we are no more superstitions than any other soldiers, yet there
+are few airmen who do not carry some sort of mascot or good-luck piece.
+You know that, Jack.”
+
+And even the casual reader of the exploits of the aviators must have
+been impressed with the fact that often the merest incident--or accident
+is responsible for life or death.
+
+Death often passes within hair's breadth of the intrepid fliers, and
+some of them do not know it until after they have made a landing and
+have seen the bullet holes in their machine--holes that indicate how
+close the missiles have passed to them.
+
+So, in a way, both Tom and Jack believed in luck, and they both believed
+that this same luck might point out to them a way of rescuing Harry
+Leroy.
+
+Meanwhile they were kept busy. After the big battle in the air matters
+were quiet for a time on their sector of the front. The arrival of new
+fliers from America made it necessary to instruct them, and to this Tom,
+Jack and other veterans were detailed.
+
+Then began a series of what Jack called “stunts.” In order to inspire
+the new pupils with confidence, the older flying men--not always older
+in years--would go aloft in their single planes and do all sorts of
+trick flying. Some of the pupils--the more daring, of course--wished to
+imitate these, but of course they were not allowed.
+
+The pupils were first allowed merely to go with an experienced man.
+This, of course, they had done at the flying schools in the United
+States, and had flown alone. But they had to start all over again when
+on French soil, for here they were exposed, any time, to an attack from
+a Hun plane.
+
+After they had, it was thought, got sufficient experience to undertake
+these trick features by themselves, they were allowed to make trial
+flights, but not over the enemy lines.
+
+Tom and Jack gave the best that was in them to these enthusiastic
+pupils, and there was much good material.
+
+“What are you going to do to-day, Jack?” asked Tom one morning, as they
+went out after breakfast to get into their “busses,” as they dubbed
+their machines.
+
+“Oh, got orders to do some spiral and somersault stunts for the benefit
+of some huns.” (“Hun,” used in this connection, not referring to the
+Germans. “Hun” is the slang term for student aviators, tacked on them by
+more experienced fliers.)
+
+“Same here. Good little bunch of huns in camp now.”
+
+Tom nodded in agreement, and the two were soon preparing to climb aloft.
+
+With a watching group of eager young men on the ground below, in company
+with an instructor who would point out the way certain feats were done,
+Torn and Jack began climbing. Presently they were fairly tumbling about
+like pigeons, seeming to fall, but quickly straightening out on a level
+keel and coming to the ground almost as lightly as feathers.
+
+“A good landing is essential if one would become a good airman,” stated
+the instructor. “In fact I may say it is the hardest half of the game.
+For it is comparatively easy to leave the earth. It is the coming back
+that is difficult, like the Irishman who said it wasn't the fall that
+hurts, it was the stopping.”
+
+“Give 'em a bit of zooming now,” the instructor said to Tom and Jack.
+“The boys may have to use that any time they're up and a Boche comes at
+them.”
+
+“Zooming,” he went on to the pupils, “is rising and falling in a series
+of abrupt curves like those in a roller-coaster railway. It is a very
+useful stunt to be master of, for it enables one to rise quickly when
+confronting a field barrier, or to get out of range of a Hun machine
+gun.”
+
+Tom undertook this feature of the instruction, as Jack signaled that his
+aeroplane was out of gasoline, and soon the former was rolling across
+the aviation field, seemingly straight toward a row of tall trees.
+
+“He'll hit 'em sure!” cried one student.
+
+“Watch him,” ordered the instructor.
+
+With a quick pull on the lever that controlled the rudder, Tom sent
+himself aloft, but not before a curious thing happened.
+
+On the ground where it had been dropped was a tunic, or airman's
+fur-lined jacket. As Tom's machine “zoomed,” the tail skid caught this
+jacket and took it aloft.
+
+Tom did not seem to be aware of this, though he must have felt that his
+machine was a bit sluggish in the climbs. However, he went through with
+his performance, doing some beautiful “zooming,” and then, as he was
+flying high and getting ready to do a spiral nose dive, the tunic
+detached itself from his skid and fell.
+
+Just at this moment Jack came out from the hangar and, looking aloft and
+noting Tom's machine, saw the falling jacket. His heart turned sick
+and faint, for, unaware of what had happened, he thought his chum had
+tumbled out while at a great height. For the tunic, turning over and
+over as it sailed earthward, did resemble a falling body.
+
+“Oh, Tom! Tom! How did it happen?” murmured Jack.
+
+The others, laughing, told him that it was nothing serious, but Jack
+looked a bit worried until the empty jacket fell on the grass and, a
+little later, Tom himself came down smiling from aloft, all unaware of
+the excitement he had caused.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI. OVER THE LINES
+
+
+“Well, I guess we stay downstairs, to-day,” remarked Tom to Jack,
+the day following their exhibition flights for the benefit of the air
+students.
+
+“Yes, it doesn't look very promising,” returned his chum.
+
+Jack looked aloft where the sky--or what took its place--was represented
+by a gray mist that seemed ready to drip water at any moment. It was
+a day of “low visibility,” and one when air work was almost totally
+suspended. This applied to the enemy as well as to the Yankees. For even
+though it is feasible to go up in an aeroplane in fog, or even rain or
+snow, it is not always safe to come down again in like conditions.
+
+There is nothing worse than rain, snow or fog for clouding an aviator's
+goggles, making it impossible for him to see more than a plane's length
+ahead, if, indeed, he can see that far. Then, too, little, if anything,
+can be accomplished by going aloft in a storm or fog. No observations
+of any account can be made, and the aviator, once he gets aloft, is as
+likely to come down behind the German lines as he is to descend safely
+within his own.
+
+That being the case, Tom and Jack, in common with their comrades of the
+air, had a vacation period. Some of them obtained leave and went to the
+nearest town, while some put in their time going over their guns and
+glasses and equipment and machines.
+
+Jack and Tom elected to do the latter. There was one very fast and
+powerful Spad which they often used together, taking turns at piloting
+it and acting as observer. They thought they might have a chance soon to
+go over the German lines in this, their favorite craft, so they decided
+to put in their spare time seeing that it was in perfect shape, and that
+the two machine guns were ready for action when needed.
+
+“'Would you rather do this than fly, Jack?” asked Tom, as they went
+over, in detail, each part of the powerful Spad.
+
+“I should say not! But, after all, one is just as important as the
+other. I hope we get a good day to-morrow. I'd like to do something
+toward seeing if we can't get Harry out of the Boche's clutches,” and he
+nodded in the direction of the German lines.
+
+“'Tisn't going to be easy doing that,” remarked Tom. “I'd ask nothing
+better than to have a hand in getting him away, but I haven't yet been
+able to figure out a shadow of a plan. Have you?”
+
+“The only thing, I can think of is to organize a big raid on the section
+where he's held--I mean somewhere near the German prison--and if we
+bombed the place enough, and created enough excitement, some of us might
+land and get Harry and any others that might be with him.”
+
+Tom shook his head.
+
+“That'd be a pretty risky way of doing it,” he said.
+
+“Can you think of a better?” Jack demanded quickly.
+
+“Not off hand,” came the reply. “We've got to stew over it a bit. One
+thing's sure--we've got to get Harry out, or his sister never will feel
+like going back home and facing the folks.”
+
+“That's right!” agreed Jack. “We've got a double motive for this. But
+I'm afraid it's going to be too hard.”
+
+“That's what we thought when we rescued Mrs. Gleason from the old castle
+where Potzfeldt had her caged,” retorted Tom. “But you made out all
+right.”
+
+“Yes; thanks to your help.”
+
+“Well, we'll both work together again,” declared Tom. “And now let's
+try this Lewis gun. The last time we were up it jammed on me, and yet it
+worked all right on the ground.” So they tested the guns, looked to the
+motor, and in general made ready for a flight when the weather should
+clear.
+
+This happened two days later, when the fog and mist were blown away and
+the blue sky could be seen. In the interim the artillery and infantry
+on both sides had not been idle, and there had been some desperate
+engagements, with the brigaded American troops making a new name for
+themselves.
+
+“I guess there'll be something doing to-day,” remarked Tom, as he and
+Jack tumbled out of bed at the usual early hour. “Clear as a bell,” he
+announced, after a glance from the window. “Shouldn't wonder but what we
+went over their lines to-day.”
+
+“And I suppose, by the same token, they'll be coming over ours,” and
+Jack nodded to indicate the Germans.
+
+“Let 'em come!” exclaimed Tom. “It takes two sides to make a fight, and
+that's what we're here for.”
+
+Hardly had the two air service boys finished their breakfast, than an
+orderly came to tell them the commanding officer wanted them to report
+to him. They hurried across the aviation ground, toward the headquarters
+building, noting on the way that there were signs of unusual activity
+among the newer members of the American air forces, as well as among the
+French and British veterans.
+
+“Must be going to make a raid,” observed Jack.
+
+“Something like that--yes,” assented Tom.
+
+“Hope we're in on it, and the commanding officer doesn't have us take
+some huns up to show 'em what makes the wheels go around,” went on Jack.
+“Of course that's part of the game, but we've done our share.”
+
+However, they need have felt no fear, for when they stood before the
+commanding officer, saluting, they quickly learned that they were to go
+on a special mission that day--in fact as soon as they could get ready.
+
+“I want you two to see if you can discover a battery of small guns that
+have been playing havoc with our men,” he said, as he looked up from a
+table covered with maps. “They're located somewhere along this front,
+but they're so well camouflaged that no one has yet been able to
+discover them.
+
+“I want you boys to see if you can turn the trick. The guns have killed
+a lot of our men, as well as the French and English. We've tried to rush
+the emplacement, but we can't get a line on where it is for it's well
+hidden. I asked permission of the British commanding general to send up
+two American scouts, and he mentioned you boys. Get your orders from the
+major, and good luck to you.”
+
+“Do you want us to go together or separately?” asked Tom.
+
+“Together--in a double plane. I might say that we are going to try a
+raid on a big scale over the enemy's lines, and you two will thus have a
+better chance to carry out your observations unmolested. The Hun planes
+will have their hands full attending to our fighters, and they may not
+attack a single plane off by itself. We'll try to draw them away from
+you.
+
+“At the same time I might point out that there is nothing sure in this,
+and that you may have to fight also,” concluded the commanding officer,
+as he waved a dismissal.
+
+“Oh, were ready for anything,” announced Tom. And as he and Jack got
+outside he clapped his chum on the back, crying: “That's the stuff! Good
+old C.O. to send us! That's what we've been looking for! Maybe we'll
+have time to drop down and shoot some of the Huns that are guarding
+Harry.”
+
+“No chance of that--forget it now,” urged Jack. “We'll clean up this
+location trick first, and then think of a plan to get Harry away. It
+sounds hard to say it, but it's all we can do. Orders are orders.”
+
+They were glad they had made ready the speedy Spad plane, for it was
+in this that they would try to locate the hidden battery, and, having
+received detailed instructions from the major in command, the two lads
+climbed into their air plane and started off.
+
+The day was clear and bright, just the sort for aeroplane activity; and
+it was evident there would be plenty of it, since, even as they began
+climbing, Tom and Jack saw planes from their own aerodrome skirting
+ahead of and behind them, while, in the distance and over German-held
+territory, were Fokkers and Gothas with the iron cross conspicuously
+painted on each.
+
+Tom and Jack had been given a map of the front, their own and the German
+lines being shown, and the probable location of the hidden Hun battery
+marked. This they now studied as they started over the front, Jack being
+in front, while Tom sat behind him, to work the swivel Lewis gun.
+
+Their Spad machine was one that could be controlled from either seat, so
+that if one rider was disabled the other could take charge. There
+were two guns, one fixed and the other movable, and a good supply of
+ammunition.
+
+“Well, I guess there'll be some fighting to-day,” observed Tom, as Jack
+shut off the motor for a moment, to see if it would respond readily when
+the throttle was opened again. “They're closing in from both sides.”
+
+And indeed the Allied planes were sailing forth to meet a squadron of
+the enemy. But none of the Hun craft seemed to pay any attention to Tom
+and Jack. Steadily they flew on until an exclamation from Jack caused
+Tom to look down. He noted that they were over the German lines, and
+headed for the probable location of the battery that had been such a
+thorn in the side of the Allies.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII. A PERFECT SHOT
+
+
+The plane in which Tom and Jack had gone aloft to make observations
+which, it was hoped, would result in the discovery of the hidden
+battery, was a special machine. While very powerful and swift and
+equipped for air-fighting, it was also one that had been used by one of
+the French photographers and his pilot. The photographer, was a daring
+man, and had, not long before, gone to his death in fighting three
+Hun planes. But he had peculiar ideas regarding his car, and under his
+orders it had been fitted with a glass floor in the two cockpits, or
+what corresponded to them.
+
+Thus he and his pilot could look down and observe the nature of the
+enemy country over which they were traveling without having to lean
+over, not always a safe act where anti-aircraft guns below are shooting
+up shrapnel.
+
+So as Torn and Jack flew on and on, over the enemy's first and
+succeeding line trenches, they looked down through the glass windows in
+the plane to make their observations. There was a camera attached to
+the plane, and though they could each make use of it, but they were not
+skilled in this work.
+
+It was impossible for them to talk to one another now, as Jack had the
+motor going almost full speed, and the noise it made was deafening, or
+it would have been except for the warm, fur hoods that covered the ears
+of the fliers. They were warmly dressed for they did not know how high
+they might ascend, and it is always cold up above, no matter how hot it
+is on the earth.
+
+Up and up they climbed, and then they flew on and over the enemy lines,
+keeping close lookout for anything unusual below that would indicate
+the presence of the battery. Behind them, and off to one side, a fierce
+aerial battle was going on.
+
+Tom and Jack were eager to get into this and do their share. But they
+had orders to make their observations, and they dared not 'refuse. They
+could tell by looking back every now and then that the affair was going
+well for the Allies, including some of the American airmen, even if the
+Huns outnumbered them.
+
+Back and forth over the German lines swept the glass-bottomed Spad, and
+at a certain point Tom, who was looking down, uttered an exclamation. Of
+course Jack could not hear, but he could feel the punch in the back his
+chum administered a moment later.
+
+Jack turned his head, and saw his chum eagerly pointing downward. A
+moment later he motioned over his left shoulder, pointing backward, as
+though they had just passed over something which would warrant a second
+inspection.
+
+Jack swung the machine about in a big circle, banking sharply, and then,
+as he passed over the ground covered a little while before, he, too,
+looked down, and with sharper glance than he had used at first.
+
+What he saw was the ruins of a small French chateau. It had been under
+heavy fire from the Allied guns, for it had sheltered a German machine
+gun nest, and some accurate shooting on the part of the American gunners
+had demolished it a day or so before.
+
+But what attracted the attention of Tom and Jack was that whereas the
+chateau before the bombardment had stood on a little hill without a
+tree near it, now there was a miniature forest surrounding it. It was
+as though trees and bushes had sprung up in the night. As soon as he
+had seen this, Jack turned to Tom, nodded comprehendingly, and at once
+started back over the American lines. They had no easy time reaching
+them, for by this time the fleet of Hun planes had been defeated by the
+Allies, and had turned tail to run for safety--that is what were left of
+them, several having been shot down, and at no small cost to the French,
+English and American forces.
+
+But the defeat of their airmen seemed to anger the Germans, and they
+opened up with their antiaircraft batteries on the machine in which Tom
+and Jack were flying homeward. “Woolly bears” and “flaming onions,” as
+well as shrapnel, was used against them, and they were in considerable
+danger. Jack had to “zoom” several times to get out of reach of the
+shells.
+
+They finally reached their aerodrome, however, and as soon as they had
+landed and their plane was taken in charge by the mechanics the two lads
+hurried to the commanding officer.
+
+“Well?” he asked sharply, as they saluted. “Did you discover anything?”
+
+“I think so, sir,” returned Tom, for Jack had told his chum to do
+the talking, since the discovery was his. “You remember, sir, the old
+chateau we put out of business the other day?”
+
+“Yes, I recall it. What about it?”
+
+“This: It seems suddenly to have grown a wooded park around it, and
+the trees and bushes don't seem to be as fresh as natural ones ought to
+look.”
+
+“You mean they camouflaged the ruins, and have put another battery in
+the old, chateau?”
+
+“I think so, sir. It wouldn't do any harm to drop a few shells there.
+If it's still a ruin the worst will be that we've wasted a little
+ammunition and may start the German guns up. And if it is what we think
+it is, we may blow up the battery.”
+
+The commander thought for a moment.
+
+“I'll try it!” he suddenly said. “It's worth all it will cost.”
+
+He called an orderly and issued his instructions. Tom and Jack had not
+yet been dismissed, and now the commanding officer turned to them and
+said:
+
+“Since you boys were sharp enough to discover this, I'll let you have a
+front seat at the show which will start soon. Go up and do contact work.
+Let the gunners know when they make a hit.”
+
+The air service boys could not have wished for anything better.
+
+“Once more for our bus!” exclaimed Jack delightedly, when they were
+outside.
+
+Their Spad had been refilled with gasoline, or “petrol,” as it is called
+on the other side, and oil had been put in, while the machine guns had
+been looked to.
+
+“You seem to have spotted it all right, Tom,” went on Jack, just as
+they were about to start, for word came that the American batteries were
+ready.
+
+“Yes, I was looking down through the glass, and when I saw the old
+chateau it struck me that it had suddenly grown a beard. I remembered
+it before, as being on a bare hill. I thought it was funny, and that I
+might be mistaken. But when you agreed with me I knew I was right.”
+
+“Oh, the Huns have brought up trees and bushes to disguise the place all
+right,” declared, Jack. “The only question is whether or not the battery
+is hidden there.”
+
+But there was not long a question about that. Their machine was equipped
+with wireless to signal back the result of the shots, and Jack and
+Tom were soon in position. From the maps used when they had previously
+shelled the place to drive out the German gunners, the American
+artillery forces knew just about where to plant the shells.
+
+There was a burst of fire from the designated battery. Up aloft Jack and
+Tom watched the shell fall. It was a trifle over, and a correction was
+signaled back.
+
+A moment later the second shell--a big one sailed over the German first
+lines, and fell directly on the chateau partly hidden in the woods.
+
+There was a burst of smoke, and with it mingled clouds of dust and
+flying particles. Faintly to Tom and Jack, above the noise of their
+motor, came the sound of a terrific explosion.
+
+There had been a direct hit on the old ruins, as was proved by the fact
+that not only was the German battery put out of commission, but a great
+quantity of ammunition hidden in the trees and bushes was blown up, and
+with it a considerable number of Germans.
+
+And that it was a place well garrisoned was evident to the air service
+boys as they saw a few Huns, who were not killed by the shell and
+resultant explosion of the ammunition dump, running away from the place
+of destruction.
+
+“That was it all right,” said Jack, as he and Tom landed back of their
+own lines.
+
+“Yes, and it couldn't have been hit better. I hope that was the battery
+they wanted put out of business.”
+
+And it was, for no more shells came from that vicinity of the Hun
+positions for a long time. The aeroplane observations had given the very
+information needed, and Tom and Jack were congratulated, not only by
+their comrades, but by the commanding officer himself, which counted for
+a great deal.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII. A DARING SCHEME
+
+
+Tom sat up on his bunk and looked across at Jack, who was just showing
+signs of returning consciousness--that is, he was getting awake. It was
+the morning after the successful discovery of the hidden German battery,
+and since this exploit the two lads had not been required to go on duty.
+
+“What's the matter?” asked Jack, opening his eyes and looking at his
+chum. “Has the mail come in? Any letters?”
+
+“No. I was just thinking,” remarked Tom, and though his eyes were fixed
+on Jack it was clear that his thoughts were somewhere else.
+
+“Thinking, Tom? That's bad business. Have you seen the doctor?”
+
+“Oh, shut off your gas!” ordered Tom. “You're side slipping. First you
+know you'll come down in a tail spin and I'll have to be looking for a
+new partner.”
+
+“It's as serious as all that, is it?” asked Jack, as he began to dress.
+“Well, in that case I withdraw my observation. Go ahead. How's the
+visibility?”
+
+“Low. We won't have to go up to-day, unless it clears.”
+
+“Um. And I was counting on getting a few Huns right after breakfast.
+Well, what's your think about, if you really were indulging in that
+expensive pastime?”
+
+“I was,” said Tom, and he got up and also proceeded to put on his
+clothes. “I was thinking about Harry.”
+
+“Oh!” and Jack's voice was decidedly different. It had lost all its
+flippant tone. “Say, he certainly is in tough luck. I wish we could do
+something for him--and his sister. Doubtless you were thinking of her,
+too,” and a little smile curled his lips.
+
+“Yes, I was thinking of Nellie,” conceded Tom, and he was so bold and
+frank about it that Jack choked back the joke that he was about to make.
+“I was thinking that we haven't done very much to redeem our promise.”
+
+“But how can we?” asked Jack. “We haven't had a chance to do anything to
+rescue Harry. Of course I want to do that as much as you do, but how is
+it to be done? Can you answer me that?”
+
+“We can't do it by just talking,” said Tom. “That's what I've been
+thinking about. A scheme came to me in the night, and I've been waiting
+to tell you about it.”
+
+“Shoot then, my pickled blunderbuss,” returned Jack. “I'm with you to
+the last drop of petrol.”
+
+“Well, I don't know that it's so much,” said Tom. “It's only that we
+ought to get word to Harry, somehow, that we're thinking of him and
+trying to plan some way of rescuing him. We ought to tell him his sister
+is here, too, and, at the same time we might drop him something to smoke
+and a cake or two of chocolate.”
+
+Jack looked at his chum in amazement. Then he burst out with:
+
+“Say, while you're at it why don't you send him a piano, and an
+automobile, too, so he can ride home when he wants to? What do you
+mean--getting word to him? Don't you know that the beastly Huns will
+hold up the mail as they please, and anything else we might send. They
+don't even let the Red Cross packages go through until they get good and
+ready. Talk about your barbarians!”
+
+“Oh, I wasn't thinking of the mail,” replied Tom.
+
+“No? What then?”
+
+“Why, we know where he is held a prisoner--at least we have the name of
+the prison camp, and he may be there unless he's been transferred. Of
+course that's possible, but it's worth taking a chance on.”
+
+“A chance on what?” asked Jack, “You haven't explained yet. What do you
+plan to do?”
+
+“Fly over the place where Harry is held a prisoner and drop down a
+package and some letters to him,” said Tom. “Now wait until you hear
+it all before you say it can't be done!” he went on quickly, for Jack
+seemed about to interrupt.
+
+“If Harry is held where he was first made a prisoner, it's a big place,
+and there are thousands of our captives there, as well as French and
+British. Well, where there are so many they have to have a big stockade
+to pen 'em in, worse luck. And dropping a bomb on a big place is easier
+than dropping one on a small object.”
+
+“Say! Suffering snuffle-boxes!” cried Jack. “You don't mean to drop a
+bomb in Harry's prison, camp, do you? Do you think he might possibly
+escape in the confusion?”
+
+“Nothing like that,” said Tom. “I mean drop a package containing some
+smokes, some chocolate and a letter telling him we haven't forgotten
+him and that we're going to try to rescue him, and for him to be on the
+lookout. That could be done.”
+
+“How?”
+
+“By us flying over the place in our speedy Spad. We needn't make a very
+big package, though the more of something to eat we can give him the
+better, for those Boches starve our men. Let's get a week off--the
+commanding officer will let us go. We can go to our old escadrille and
+make arrangements to start from there. The boys will help us all they
+can.”
+
+“Oh, there's no doubt about that,” assented Jack. “They all liked Harry
+as much as we did. But I can't see that your scheme will succeed. It's a
+risky one.”
+
+“All the more reason why it ought to succeed,” declared Tom. “It's the
+fellows who take chances who get by. Now let's see if we can get a few
+hours off to go to Paris.”
+
+“Go to Paris? What for?”
+
+“To see Nellie Leroy and have her write her brother a letter. It will be
+better to have one come direct from her than for us merely to give him
+news of her in one of our notes.”
+
+“Yes,” agreed Jack, “I guess it would. And I begin to see which way the
+wind blows. You wish to see Nellie.”
+
+“Oh, you make me tired!” exclaimed Tom. “All you can think of is girls!
+I tell you I'm doing this for Harry!”
+
+“And I believe you, old top, and what's more, I'm with you from the word
+go. It's a crazy scheme and a desperate one, but for that very reason it
+may succeed. The only thing is that we may not get permission to carry
+it out.”
+
+“Oh, I don't intend that anyone shall know what our game is,” returned
+Tom. “Of course the authorities would squash it in a minute. No, we'll
+have to keep dark about that. All we need is permission to do a little
+flying 'on our own,' for a while.”
+
+“Suppose they won't let us do that?”
+
+“Oh, I think they will, after what we did yesterday,” said Tom. “Come
+on, let's get ready to go to Paris.”
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV. WILL THEY SUCCEED?
+
+
+The scheme evolved, or, perhaps, dreamed of by Tom Raymond in his
+anxiety to get some word to the captive Harry Leroy worked well at the
+start. When he and Jack asked permission to have half a day off to make
+the trip to Paris it was readily granted. Perhaps it was because of
+their exploit of the day before, when their sharp eyes had discovered
+the camouflaged German battery and brought about its destruction, or
+maybe it was because the day was a misty one,+ when no flying could be
+done.
+
+At any rate, soon after breakfast saw the two boys on their way to the
+wonderful city--wonderful in spite of war and the German “super cannon,”
+ which had itself been destroyed.
+
+Tom and Jack knew that unless their plans were changed, the two girls
+and Mrs. Gleason would be at home in Paris, for they had a holiday once
+in every seven, and it was their custom to come to their lodging for
+a rest from the merciful, though none the less exceedingly trying, Red
+Cross work.
+
+Nor had the boys guessed in vain, for when they presented themselves
+at the Gleason lodging, where Nellie Leroy was also staying, they were
+greeted with exclamations of delight.
+
+“We were just thinking of you,” said Bessie, as she shook hands with
+Jack.
+
+“And so we were of you,” Jack replied, gallantly.
+
+“I thought of it first,” said Tom. “He'll have to give me credit for
+that.”
+
+“Yes,” agreed Jack, “I will. He's got a great scheme,” he added, as Mrs.
+Gleason came in to greet the boys. “Tell 'em, Tom.”
+
+“Is it anything about--oh, have you any news for me about Harry?” asked
+Nellie eagerly.
+
+“Not exactly news from him, but we're going to send some news to him!”
+ exclaimed Tom. “I want you to write him a letter-a real, nice, sisterly
+letter.”
+
+“What good will that do?” asked Nellie. “I've sent him a lot, but I
+can't be sure that he gets them. I don't even know that he is alive.”
+
+“Oh, I think he is,” said Tom, hopefully. “If the German airmen were
+decent enough to let us know he was a prisoner of theirs, they would
+tell us if--if--well, if anything had happened to him.”
+
+“I think,” he went on, “that you, can count on his being alive, though
+he isn't having the best time in the world--none of the Hun prisoners
+do. That's why I thought it would cheer him up to let him know we
+are thinking of him, and if we can send him some smokes, and some
+chocolate.”
+
+“Oh, he is so fond of chocolate!” exclaimed Nellie. “He used to love the
+fudge I made. I wonder if I could send him any of that?”
+
+Tom shook his head.
+
+“It would be better,” he said, “to send only hard chocolate--the kind
+that can stand hard knocks. Fudge is too soft. It would get all mussed
+up with what Jack and I have planned to do to it.”
+
+“What is that?” asked Bessie Gleason. “You haven't told us yet. How are
+you going to get anything to Harry through those horrid German lines?”
+
+“We're not going through the German lines we're going above 'em; in an
+aeroplane. And when we get over the prison camp where Harry is held,
+we're going to drop down a package to him, with the letters, the
+chocolate and other things inside.”
+
+“Oh, that's perfectly wonderful!” exclaimed Bessie. “But will the
+Germans let you do it?”
+
+“Well,” remarked Jack, “they'll probably try to stop us, but we don't
+mind a little thing like that. We're used to it. Of course, as I tell
+Torn, it's a long chance, but it's worth taking. Of course it isn't easy
+to drop any object from a moving aeroplane and have it land at a certain
+spot. We may miss the mark.”
+
+“For that reason I'm going to take several packages,” put in Tom. “If
+one doesn't land another may.”
+
+“But if you do succeed in dropping a package for Harry in the midst of
+the German stockade, won't the guards see it and confiscate it?”
+ asked Mrs. Gleason. “You know they'll be as brutal as they dare to the
+prisoners--though of course,”' she added quickly, as she saw a look of
+pain on Nellie's face, “Harry may be in a half-way decent camp. But,
+even then, won't the Germans keep the package themselves?”
+
+“I've thought of that,” replied Tom. “We've got to take that chance
+also. But I figure that, in the confusion, Harry, or some of his fellow
+prisoners, may pick up the package, or packages, unobserved. Of course
+there's only a slim chance that Harry himself will pick up the bundle.
+But it will be addressed to him, and if any of the French, British, or
+American prisoners get it, they'll see that it goes to Harry all right.”
+
+“Oh, of course,” murmured Mrs. Gleason. “But what was that you said
+about the 'confusion?'”
+
+“That's something different,” said Tom. “I'm counting on dropping a few
+bombs on the German works outside the camp, to--er--well, to sort of
+take their attention off the packages we'll try to drop inside the
+stockade. Of course while we're doing this we may be and probably shall
+be, under fire ourselves. But we've got to take that chance. It's a
+mad scheme, Jack says, and I realize that it is. But we've got to do
+something.”
+
+“Yes,” said Nellie in a low voice, “we must do something. This suspense
+is terrible. Oh, if I only could get word to Harry!”
+
+“You write the letter and I'll take it!” declared Tom.
+
+“And I'll help!” exclaimed Jack.
+
+And then the letters--several of them, for each one wrote a few lines
+and made triplicates of it, since three packages were to be dropped. The
+letters, to begin again, were written and the bundles were made up.
+They contained cigarettes, cakes of hard chocolate, soap and a few other
+little comforts and luxuries that it was certain Harry would be glad to
+get.
+
+The rest of the plan would have to be left to Tom and Jack to work out,
+and, having talked it over with their friends, they found it was time
+for them to start to their station, since their leave was up at eleven
+o'clock that night.
+
+Getting permission for a week's absence was not as easy as securing
+permission to go to Paris. But Tom and Jack waited until after a sharp
+engagement, during which they distinguished themselves by bravery in.
+the air, assisting in bringing down some Hun planes, and then their
+petition was favorably acted on.
+
+Behold them next, as a Frenchman might say, on their way to their former
+squadron, where they were welcomed with open arms. They had to take the
+commanding officer into their confidence, but he offered no objection
+to their scheme. They must go alone, however, and without his official
+knowledge or sanction, since it was not strictly a military matter.
+
+And so Tom and Jack were furnished with the best and speediest machine
+in their former camp, and one bright day, following a hard air battle
+in which the Huns were worsted, they set out to drop the letters and
+packages over the prison camp where Harry Leroy was held.
+
+“Well, how do you feel about it?” asked Jack, as he and his chum stepped
+into their trim machine.
+
+“Not at all afraid, if that's what you mean.”
+
+“No. And you know I didn't. I mean do you think we'll pull it off?”
+
+“I have a sneaking suspicion that we shall.”
+
+“And so have I. It's a desperate chance, but it may succeed. Only if it
+does, and we get Harry's hopes raised for a rescue, how are we going to
+pull that off?”
+
+“That's another story,” remarked Tom. “Another story.”
+
+They mounted into the clear, bright air, and proceeded toward the German
+lines. Would they reach their objective, or would they be shot down, to
+be either killed or made prisoners themselves? Those were questions they
+could not answer. But they hoped for the best.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV. BADLY HIT
+
+
+Before undertaking their kindly though dangerous mission, Tom and Jack
+had carefully studied it from all angles. At first Jack had been frankly
+skeptical, and he said as much to his chum.
+
+“You'll never get over the place where Harry is held a prisoner,”
+ declared Jack. “And, if you do, and start to dropping packages, they'll
+never land within a mile of the place you intend, and Harry'll have the
+joy of seeing some fat German eat his chocolate cake.”
+
+“Well, maybe,” Tom had agreed, “But I'm going to try.”
+
+To this end they had secured the best map possible of the ground in and
+around the prison camp. Its location they knew from the dropped glove of
+the aviator, which contained a note telling about Leroy.
+
+It was not uncommon for Germany to disclose to her enemies the names
+of prisons where certain of the Allies were confined, and this was also
+done by England and France. The prison camps were located far enough
+behind the defense lines to make it impossible for them to be reached
+in the course of ordinary fighting.
+
+Then, too, the airmen of Germany seemed a step above her other fighters
+in that they were more chivalrous. So Tom and Jack felt reasonably
+certain as to Leroy's whereabouts. Of course it was possible that he had
+been moved since the note was written, but on this point they would have
+to take a chance.
+
+To this end they had provided themselves not only with the best maps
+obtainable showing the character of the ground and the nature of the
+defenses around the prison, where Harry and other Allied men were held,
+but inquiries had also been made by those in authority, at the request
+of Tom and Jack, of German prisoners, and from them had come information
+of value about the place.
+
+Of course the two air service boys had no hope of inflicting much damage
+on batteries or works outside the prison. By the dropping of some bombs
+they carried they hoped to distract attention from themselves long
+enough to drop the packages to Leroy. The bombs were a sort of feint.
+
+And now they were on their way, winging a path over their own lines, and
+soon they would be above those of the Hun.
+
+Some of the former comrades of Tom and Jack, having been apprised of
+what the lads were to attempt, had, without waiting for official orders,
+decided to do what they could to help. This took the form of a daring
+challenge to the German airmen to come out and give battle.
+
+After their thorough drubbing of the day before, however, the Boche
+aviators did not seem much inclined to venture forth for another cloud
+fight. But the French and some English fliers who were acting with them,
+laid a sort of trap, which, in a way, aided the two Americans.
+
+A half dozen swift Spads took the air soon after Tom and Jack ascended,
+but instead of flying over the German lines they went in the opposite
+direction, making their way to the west. They got out of sight, and then
+mounted to a great height.
+
+Shortly after this some heavy, double-seated planes set out for the
+German territory as though to make observations or take photographs.
+It was the belief of the French airmen that the Huns would swarm out to
+attack these planes, or else to give battle to the machine in which Tom
+and Jack rode. And, in such an event, the swift Spads would swoop down
+out of a great height and engage in the conflict.
+
+And that is exactly what occurred. Torn and Jack had flown only a little
+way over the trenches of the enemy when they saw some Hun planes coming
+up to meet them. It was in the minds of both lads that they were in for
+a fight, but before they had a chance to sight their guns, some French
+planes of the slow type appeared in their rear.
+
+To these the Huns at once turned their attention, and then the Spads
+swooped down, and there was a sharp engagement in the air, which
+ultimately resulted in victory for the Allied forces, though two of the
+French fliers were wounded.
+
+But the feint had its effect, and attention was drawn away from Tom and
+Jack, who flew on toward the prison camp.
+
+Had their mission been solely to carry words of cheer with some material
+comforts to Harry Leroy, it is doubtful if Tom and Jack would have
+received permission to make the trip. But it was known they were both
+daring aviators and good observers, and it was this latter ability on
+their part which counted in their favor. For it was thought they might
+bring back information concerning matters well back of the German front
+lines, information which would be of service to the Allies.
+
+And in furtherance of this scheme Jack and Tom made maps of the country
+over which they were flying. They had been provided with materials for
+this before leaving.
+
+On and on they flew, changing their height occasionally, and, when they
+were fired at, which was the case not infrequently, they “zoomed” to
+escape the flying shrapnel.
+
+But on the whole, they fared very well, and in a comparatively short
+time they found themselves over the country where, on the maps, was
+marked the location of Harry Leroy's prison camp.
+
+“There it is!” suddenly exclaimed Tom, but of course Jack could not hear
+him. However, a punch in Jack's back served the same purpose, and he
+took his eyes from his instruments long enough to look down. Then a
+confirmatory glance at the map made him agree with Tom. The air service
+boys were directly over the prison camp.
+
+This, like so many other dreary places set up by the Germans, consisted
+of a number of shacks, in barrack fashion, with a central parade, or
+exercise ground. About it all was a barbed wire stockade and, though the
+character of these wires did not show, there were also some carrying a
+deadly electric current.
+
+This was to discourage escapes on the part of prisoners, and it
+succeeded only too well.
+
+But the camp was in plain sight, and in the central space could be seen
+a number of ant-like figures which the boys knew were prisoners.
+
+Whether one of them was Leroy or not, they were unable to say.
+
+But they had reached their objective, and now it was time to act. High
+time, indeed, for below them batteries began sending up shells which
+burst uncomfortably close to them. They were of all varieties, from
+plain shrapnel to “flaming onions” and “woolly bears,” the latter a most
+unpleasant object to meet in mid-air.
+
+For the Germans were taking no chances. They knew the vulnerable
+points of their prison camp lay above, and they had provided a ring of
+anti-aircraft guns to take care of any Allied, machines that might fly
+over the place. Whether any such daring scheme had been tried before or
+not, Tom and Jack could not say.
+
+Of course it was out of the question that any great damage could be done
+in the vicinity of the camp without endangering the inmates, so it was
+not thought, in all likelihood, that any very heavy air raids would have
+to be repelled. But in any case, the Huns were ready for whatever might
+happen.
+
+“Better drop the bombs, hadn't we?” cried Jack to Tom, as he slowed down
+the motor a moment to enable his voice to be heard.
+
+“I guess so--yes. Drop 'em and then shoot over the camp again and let
+the packages fall. It's getting pretty hot here.”
+
+And indeed it was. Guns were shooting at the two daring air service boys
+from all sides of the camp.
+
+In the camp itself great excitement prevailed, for the prisoners knew,
+now, that it was some of their friends flying above them.
+
+There was another danger, too. Not many miles away from the prison camp
+was a German aerodrome, and scenes of activity could now be noticed
+there. The Huns were getting ready to send up a machine--perhaps more
+than one--to attack Tom and Jack.
+
+It was, then, high time they acted, and as Jack again started the
+engine, he guided the machine over a spot where the anti-aircraft guns
+were most active.
+
+“There's a battery there I may put out of business,” he argued.
+
+Flying fast, Jack was soon over the spot, or, rather, not so much over
+it, as in range of it. For when an aeroplane drops a bomb on a given
+objective, it does not do so when directly above, but just before it
+reaches it. The momentum of the plane, going at great speed, carries
+any object dropped from it forward. It is as when a mail pouch is thrown
+from a swiftly moving express train or a bundle of newspapers is tossed
+off. In both instances the man in the train tosses the pouch or his
+bundle before his car gets to the station platform, and the momentum
+does the rest.
+
+It was that way with the bomb Jack released by a touch of his foot on
+the lever in the cockpit of the machine. Down it darted, and, wheeling
+sharply after he had let it go, the lad saw a great puff of smoke
+hovering directly over the spot where, but a moment before, Hun gums had
+been belching at him.
+
+“Good! A sure hit!” cried Tom, but he alone heard his own words. Jack's
+ears were filled with the throb of the motor. He had two more bombs,
+and these were quickly dropped at different points on German territory
+outside the camp.
+
+At the time, aside from the evidences they saw, Jack and Tom were
+not aware of the damage they inflicted, but later they learned it was
+considerable and effective. However, they guessed that they had created
+enough of a diversion to try now to deliver the packages containing the
+letters and other comforts.
+
+Jack swung the machine at a sharp angle over the prison camp, and as
+he cleared the barbed wire fence Tom, who had been given charge of the
+packets, let one go. It fell just outside the barrier, caused by some
+freak of the wind perhaps, and the lad could not keep back a sigh of
+dismay. One of the three precious packages had fallen short of the mark,
+and would doubtless be picked up by some German guard.
+
+But Tom had the satisfaction of seeing the two other bundles fall
+fairly within the prison fence, and there was a rush on the part of the
+unfortunate men to pick them up.
+
+“I only hope Harry's there,” mused Tom. “That's tough luck to wish a
+man, I know,” he reflected, “but I mean I hope he gets the letters and
+things.”
+
+However, he and Jack had done all that lay in their power to make this
+possible, and it was now time to get back to their own lines if they
+could. The place was getting too dangerous for them.
+
+Swinging about in a big circle, and noting that groups of prisoners were
+now gathered about the place where the packets had fallen, Jack sent
+the machine toward that part of France where they had spent so many
+strenuous days.
+
+“They're going to make it lively for us!” cried Jack, as he noted two
+swift German planes mounting into the air. “It's going to be a fight.”
+
+But he and Tom were ready for this. Their Lewis and Vickers guns were in
+position, and they only awaited the approach of the nearest Hun plane to
+unlimber them. They mounted steadily upward to get beyond the range of
+the anti-aircraft batteries and were soon in comparative safety, since
+the Huns, at this particular sector at least, were notoriously bad
+marksmen.
+
+With the German planes, that would be a different story, and Tom and
+Jack soon found this out to their cost.
+
+For one of the Boche machines came on speedily, and much more quickly
+than the boys had believed possible was within range. The German machine
+guns--for it was a double plane--began spitting fire and bullets at
+them. They replied, but did not seem to inflict much damage.
+
+Suddenly Tom saw Jack give a jump, as though in an agony of pain, and
+then the young pilot crumpled up in his seat.
+
+“Badly hit!” exclaimed Tom with a pang at his own heart. “Poor Jack is
+out of it!”
+
+The machine, out of control for a moment, started to go into a nose
+dive, but Tom let go the lever of his machine gun, and took charge of
+the craft, since it was one capable of dual manipulation. Tom now had
+to become the pilot and gunner, too, and he had yet a long way to go to
+reach his own lines, while Jack was huddled, before him, either dead or
+badly wounded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI. JUST IN TIME
+
+
+It was with mingled feelings of alarm and sorrow that Tom Raymond sent
+the speedy Spad aeroplane on its homeward way toward the French lines.
+He was worried, not chiefly about his own safety, but on account of
+Jack; and his sorrow was in the thought that perhaps he had taken his
+last flight with his beloved chum and comrade in arms. He could not see
+where Jack had been hit, but this was because the other lad lay in such
+a huddled position in the cockpit. Jack had slumped from his seat, the
+safety straps alone holding him in position, though he would not have
+fallen out when the machine was upright as it was at present.
+
+“One of those machine gun bullets must have got him,” mused Tom, as he
+started the craft on an upward climb, for it had darted downward when
+Jack's nerveless hands and feet ceased their control. For part of the
+steering in an aeroplane is done by the feet of the pilot, leaving his
+hands free, at times, to fire the machine gun or draw maps.
+
+Tom had a double object in starting to rise. One was to get into a
+better position to make the homeward flight, and another was to have
+a better chance not only to ward off the attack of the Hun planes, of
+which there were now three in the air, but also to return their fire.
+It is the machine that is higher up that stands the best chance in an
+aerial duel, for not only can one maneuver to better advantage, but the
+machine can be aimed more easily with reference to the fixed gun.
+
+In Tom's case he did not have access to this weapon, which was fixed
+on the rim of the cockpit where Jack could, and where he had been
+controlling, it. With Jack out of the fight, through one or more German
+bullets, it was up to Tom to return the fire of the Huns from his swivel
+mounted Lewis gun. He was going to have difficulty in doing this and
+also guiding the craft, but he had had harder problems than this to meet
+since becoming an aviator in the great war, and now he quickly conquered
+his worrying over Jack, and began to look to himself.
+
+He gave one more fleeting glance at the crumpled-up figure of his
+chum, seeking for a sign of life, but he saw none. Then he swung about,
+turning in toward the nearest Hun airman, and not away from him, and
+opened up with the machine gun, using both hands on that for a moment,
+while he steered with his knees.
+
+It was not easy work, and Tom hardly expected to make a direct hit,
+but he must have come uncomfortably close to the Boche, for the latter
+swerved off, and for an instant his plane seemed beyond control. Whether
+this was due to a wound received by the aviator, or to a trick on his
+part was not disclosed to Tom. But the machine darted downward and
+seemed to be content to veer off for a while.
+
+The third plane Tom soon saw was not going to trouble him, as it had not
+speed equal to his own, so that he really had left only one antagonist
+with whom to deal. And this plane, containing two men, with whom he had
+not yet come to close quarters, was racing toward him at great speed.
+
+“I guess there's only one thing to do,” mused Tom, “and that's to run
+for it. I won't stand any show at all with two of them shooting at me,
+while I have to manage the machine and the gun too. If I can beat 'em to
+our lines I'd better do it and run the chance of some of our boys coming
+out to take care of 'em. I'd better get Jack to a doctor as soon as I
+can.”
+
+And abandoning the gun to give all his attention to the motor, Tom
+opened it full and sped on his way. The other machine's occupants saw
+his plan and tried to stop it with a burst of bullets, but the range was
+a little too far for effective work.
+
+“Now for a race!” thought Tom, and that is what it turned out to be.
+Seeing that he was going to try to get away, the Hun plane, which was
+almost as speedy as the one Tom and Jack had started out in, took after
+them. The other German craft was left far in the rear, and the one Tom
+had shot at appeared to be in such difficulties that it was practically
+out of the fight.
+
+Thus the odds, once so greatly against our heroes, were now greatly
+reduced, though not yet equal, since Jack was completely out of the
+game--for how long Tom could only guess, and he seemed to feel cold
+fingers clutching at his heart when he thought of this.
+
+But Tom soon discovered, by a backward glance over his shoulder now and
+then, that his machine, barring accidents, would distance the other, and
+this was what his aim now was. So on and on he sped, watching the German
+occupied French territory unrolling itself below him, coming nearer and
+nearer each minute to his own lines and safety.
+
+Behind them, he and Jack--for the latter had done his share before being
+wounded--had left consternation in the German ranks. The bombs had done
+considerable damage--as was learned later--and the dropping of packages
+within the prison camp was fraught with potential danger to an extent at
+which the Boches could only guess.
+
+On and on sped Tom, sparing time, now and then, to look back at his
+pursuers, who were, it could not be doubted, doing their best to get
+within effective range. And, every now and again, Tom would glance at
+the motionless form of his churn.
+
+But poor Jack never stirred, and Tom was fearing more and more that his
+chum had made his last flight. As for the Hun aviators, after using up
+a drum or so of bullets uselessly, they ceased firing and urged their
+machine on to the uttermost.
+
+But Tom had the start of them, and he was also on a higher level, so
+that the Germans must climb at an oblique angle to reach him.
+
+And, thanks to this, Tom saw that, if nothing else happened, he would
+soon be in comparative safety with the unconscious form of Jack. The
+anti-aircraft batteries were firing in vain, as he was beyond their
+range, and, far away, he could see the lines of the French armies,
+behind which he soon hoped to be.
+
+And then the unexpected happened, or, rather, it had taken place some
+time since, but it was only then brought to Tom's attention. His engine
+began missing, and when he sought for a cause he speedily found it.
+Nearly all the gasoline had leaked out of the main tank. As he knew
+that there had been plenty for the return flight, there was but one
+explanation of this. A Hun bullet had pierced the petrol reservoir,
+letting the precious fluid leak away.
+
+“Now if the auxiliary tank has any in it, I'm fairly all right,” thought
+Tom. “If it hasn't, I'm all in.”
+
+His worst fears were confirmed, for the auxiliary tank had suffered a
+like fate with the main one. Both were pierced. There were only a few
+drops left, besides those even then being vaporized in the carburetor.
+
+With despair in his heart, Tom looked back. If the Hun plane chose to
+rush him now all would be over with him and Jack. He had only enough
+fuel for another thousand meters or so, and then he must volplane.
+
+He saw a burst of flame and smoke from the enemy plane, and realized
+that he was being shot at again. But the distance was still too far for
+effective aim.
+
+And then, to his joy, Tom saw the pursuer turn and start back toward the
+German territory. The firing had been a last, desperate attempt to end
+his career, and it had failed. Either the Huns were almost out of petrol
+themselves, or they did not relish getting too close to the French
+lines.
+
+“And now, if I can volplane down the rest of the way, I'll be in a fair
+position to save myself,” mused Tom, as he made a calculation of the
+distance he had yet to go. It was far, but he was at a good height and
+believed he could do it.
+
+Suddenly his engine stopped, as though with a sigh of regret that it
+could no longer serve him, and Tom knew that volplaning alone would save
+him now. He was still over the enemy country, and had his plight been
+guessed at by the Germans, undoubtedly they would have sent a machine up
+to attack him. But they were in ignorance.
+
+There was nothing to do but drift along. Gravity alone urged the craft
+on. As he swept over the German trenches Tom was greeted with a burst of
+shrapnel, and he was now low enough to be vulnerable to this. But luck
+was with him, and though the plane was hit several times he thought he
+was unharmed. But in this he was wrong. He received a glancing wound
+in one leg, but in the excitement he did not notice it, and it was not
+until he had landed that he saw the blood, and knew what had happened.
+
+On and on, and down and down he volplaned until he was so near his own
+lines, and so low down, that he could hear the burst of cheers from his
+former comrades.
+
+Then he aimed his craft for a level, grassy place to make a landing,
+and as he came to a gradual stop, and was surrounded by a score of eager
+aviators, he cried out, as soon as he could speak, “I'm all right! But
+look after Jack! He's hurt!”
+
+A surgeon bent hastily over the huddled form, and with the aid of some
+men lifted it from the cockpit. Jack's legs were covered with blood, and
+when the medical man saw whence it came, then and there he set hastily
+to work to stop the bleeding from a large artery.
+
+“You got back only just in time, my friend,” he said to Tom, as Jack was
+carried to a hospital. “Two minutes more and he would have been bled to
+death.”
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII. A CRASH
+
+
+Not until a day or so later, when Jack was able to sit up in bed and
+greet Tom with rather a pale face, did the latter learn all that had
+happened. And it was a very close call that Jack had had.
+
+As Tom had guessed, it was some of the bullets from the Hun machine gun
+that had stricken down his chum. One had struck him a glancing blow on
+the head, rendering Jack unconscious and sending him down, a crumpled-up
+heap in the cockpit of his machine. Another bullet, coming through
+the machine later, had found lodgment in Jack's leg, cutting part way
+through the wall of one of the larger arteries.
+
+It was certain that this bullet, the one in the leg, came after Jack
+was hit on the head, for that first wound was the only one he remembered
+receiving.
+
+“It was just as though I saw not only stars' but moons, suns, comets,
+rainbows and northern lights all at once,” he explained to his chum.
+
+The bullet in the leg had cut only part way through the wall of an
+artery. At first the tissues held the blood back from spurting out in
+a stream that would soon have carried life with it. But either some
+unconscious motion on Jack's part, or a jarring of the plane, broke the
+half-severed wall, and, just before Tom landed, his chum began to bleed
+dangerously. Then it was the surgeon had made his remark, and acted in
+time to save Jack's life.
+
+“Well, I guess we made good all right,” remarked Jack, as his chum
+visited him in the hospital.
+
+“I reckon so,” was the answer, “though the Huns haven't sent us any love
+letters to say so. But we surely did drop the packages in the prison
+camp, though whether Harry got them or not is another story. But we did
+our part.”
+
+“That's right,” agreed Jack. “Now the next thing is to get busy and
+bring Harry out of there if we can.”
+
+“The next thing for you to do is to keep quiet until that wound in your
+leg heals,” said the doctor, with a smile. “If you don't, you won't do
+any more flying, to say nothing of making any rescues. Be content with
+what you did. The whole camp is talking of your exploit. It was noble!”
+
+“Shucks!” exclaimed Tom, in English, for they had been speaking French
+for the benefit of the surgeon, who was of that nationality.
+
+“Ah, and what may that mean?” he asked.
+
+“I mean it wasn't anything,” translated Tom. “Anybody could have done
+what we did.”
+
+But of this the surgeon had his doubts.
+
+In spite of the dangerous character of his wound, Jack made a quick
+recovery. He was in excellent condition, and the wound was a clean one,
+so, as soon as the walls of the artery had healed, he was able to be
+about, though he was weak from loss of blood. However, that was soon
+made good, and he and Tom, bidding farewell to their late comrades,
+returned to the American lines. They had been obliged to get an
+extension of leave--at least Jack had--though Tom could report back on
+time, and he spent the interim between that and Jack's return to duty,
+serving as instructor to the “huns” of his own camp. They were eager to
+learn, and anxious to do things for themselves.
+
+Before long Jack returned, though he was not assigned to duty, and
+he and Tom visited Paris and told Nellie, Bessie and Mrs. Gleason the
+result of their mission.
+
+“You didn't see Harry, of course?” asked Nellie, negatively, though
+really hoping that the answer would be in the affirmative.
+
+“Oh, no, we couldn't make out any individual prisoner,” said Tom. “There
+was a bunch of 'em--I mean a whole lot--there.”
+
+“Poor fellows!” said Mrs. Gleason kindly, “Let us hope that they will
+soon be released.”
+
+“Tom and I have been trying to hit on some plan to rescue Harry,” put in
+Jack. “And we'd help any others to get away that we could. But is isn't
+going to be easy.”
+
+“Oh, I don't see how you can do it!” exclaimed Nellie. “Of course I
+would give anything in the world to have Harry back with me, but I must
+not ask you to run into needless danger on his account. That would be
+too much. Your lives are needed here to beat back the Huns. Harry may
+live to see the day of victory, and then all will be well.”
+
+“I don't believe in waiting, if anything can be done before that.” Tom
+spoke grimly. “But, as Jack says, it isn't going to be easy,” he went
+on. “However, we haven't given up. The only thing is to hit on some plan
+that's feasible.”
+
+They talked of this, but could arrive at nothing. They were not even
+sure--which made it all the harder to bear--that Harry had received the
+packages dropped in the prison camp at such risk. The only thing that
+could be done was to wait and see if he wrote to his sister or his
+former chums. Letters occasionally did come from German prisoners, but
+they were rare, and could be depended on neither as to time of delivery
+nor as to authenticity of contents.
+
+So it was a case of waiting and hoping.
+
+Jack was not yet permitted to fly, so Tom had to go alone. But he served
+as an instructor, leaving the more dangerous work of patrol, fighting,
+and reconnaissance to others until he was fit to stand the strain of
+flying and of fighting once more.
+
+“Sergeant Raymond, you will take up Martin to-day,” said the flight
+lieutenant to Tom one morning. “Let him manage the plane himself unless
+you see that he is going to get into trouble. And give him a good
+flight.”
+
+“Yes, sir,” answered Tom, as he turned away, after saluting.
+
+He found his pupil, a young American from the Middle West, who was not
+as old as he and Jack, awaiting him impatiently.
+
+“I'm to get my second wing soon, and I want to show that I can manage a
+plane all by myself, even if you're in it,” said the lad, whose name was
+Dick Martin. “They say I can make a solo flight to-morrow if I do well
+to-day.”
+
+“Well, go to it!” exclaimed Tom with a laugh. “I'm willing.”
+
+Soon they were in a double-seater of fairly safe construction--that is,
+it was not freakish nor speedy, and was what was usually used in this
+instructive work.
+
+“I'm going to fly over the town,” declared Martin, naming the French
+city nearest the camp. “Well, mind you keep the required distance up,”
+ cautioned Tom, for there was, a regulation making it necessary for
+the aviators to fly at a certain minimum height above a town in flying
+across it, so that if they developed engine trouble, they could coast
+safely down and land outside the town itself.
+
+“I'll do that,” promised Martin.
+
+But either he forgot this, or he was unable to keep at the required
+height, for he began scaling down when about over the center of
+the place. Tom saw what was happening, and reached over to take the
+controls. But something happened. There was a jam of one of the levers,
+and to his consternation Tom saw the machine going down and heading
+straight for a large greenhouse on the outskirts of the town.
+
+“There's going to be one beautiful crash!” Tom thought, as he worked in
+vain to send the craft up. But it was beyond control.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII. GETTING A ZEPPELIN
+
+
+Dick Martin became frantic when he saw what was about to happen. He
+fairly tore at the various levers and controls, and even increased the
+speed of the motor, but this last only had the effect of sending the
+machine at a faster rate toward the big expanse of glass, which was the
+greenhouse roof.
+
+“Shut it off! Shut off the motor!” cried Tom, but his words could not
+be heard, so he punched Martin in the back, and when that frightened lad
+looked around his teacher made him understand by signs, what was wanted.
+
+With the motor off there was a chance to speak, and Torn cried:
+
+“Head her up! Try to make her rise and we may clear. I can't do a thing
+with the levers back here!”
+
+Martin tried, but his efforts had little effect. For one instant the
+machine rose as though to clear the fragile glass. Then it dived down
+again, straight for the greenhouse roof.
+
+“Guess it's all up with this machine!” thought Tom quickly. He was not
+afraid of being killed. The distance to fall was not enough for that,
+and though he and his fellow aviator might be cut by broken glass, still
+the body of the aeroplane would protect them pretty well from even
+this contingency. But there was sure to be considerable damage to the
+property of a French civilian, and the machine, which was one of the
+best, was pretty certain to be badly broken.
+
+And then there came a terrific crash. The aeroplane settled down by the
+stern, and rose by the bow, so to speak. Then the process was reversed,
+and Tom felt himself being catapulted out of his seat. Only his safety
+strap held him in place. The same thing happened to Dick Martin.
+
+Then there was an ominous calm, and the aeroplane slowly settled down
+to an even keel, held up on the glass-stripped frames of the greenhouse,
+one of the very few in that vicinity, which was considerably in the rear
+of the battle line.
+
+Slowly Tom unbuckled his safety strap and climbed out, making his way to
+the ground by means of stepping on an elevated bed of flowers inside the
+now almost roofless house.
+
+Martin followed him, and as they stood looking at the wreckage they had
+made, or, rather, that had been made through no direct fault of their
+own, the proprietor of the place came out, wearing a long dirt-smudged
+apron.
+
+He raised his hands in horror at the sight that met his gaze, and then
+broke into such a torrent of French that Tom, with all the experience he
+had had of excitable Frenchmen, was unable to comprehend half of it.
+
+The gist was, however, to the effect that a most monstrous and
+unlooked-for calamity had befallen, and the inhabitants of all the
+earth, outside of Germany and her allies, were called on to witness
+that never hid there been such a smash of good glass. In which Torn was
+rather inclined to agree.
+
+“Well, you did something this time all right, Buddie,” Tom remarked to
+Dick Martin.
+
+“Did I--did I do that?” he asked, as though he had been walking in his
+sleep, and was just now awake.
+
+“Well, you and the old bus together,” said Tom. “And we got off lucky at
+that. Didn't I tell you to keep high, if you were going to fly over one
+of the towns?”
+
+“Yes, you did, but I forgot. Anyhow I'd have cleared the place if the
+controls hadn't gone back on us.”
+
+ “I suppose so, but that excuse won't go with the C.O.  It's a bad
+smash.”
+
+By this time quite a crowd had gathered, and Tom was trying to pacify
+the excitable greenhouse owner by promising full reparation in the shape
+of money damages.
+
+How to get the machine down off the roof, where it rested in a mass of
+broken glass and frames, was a problem. Tom tried to organize a wrecking
+party, but the French populace which gathered, much as it admired the
+Americans, was afraid of being cut with the broken glass, or else they
+imagined that the machine might suddenly soar aloft, taking some of them
+with it.
+
+In the end Tom had to leave the plane where it was and hire a motor to
+take him and Martin back to the aerodrome. They were only slightly cut
+by flying glass, nothing to speak of considering the danger in which
+they had been.
+
+The result of the disobedience of orders was that the army officials
+had rather a large bill for damages to settle with the French greenhouse
+proprietor, and Tom and Dick Martin were deprived of their leave
+privileges for a week for disobeying the order to keep at a certain
+height in flying over a town or city.
+
+Had they done that, when the controls jammed, they would have been able
+to glide down into a vacant field, it was demonstrated. The machine was
+badly damaged, though it was not beyond repair.
+
+“And that's the last time I'm ever going to be soft with a Hun, you can
+make up your mind to that,” declared Tom to Jack. “If I'd sat on him
+hard when I saw he was getting too low over the village, it wouldn't
+have happened. But I didn't want him to think I knew it all, and I
+thought I'd take a chance and let him pull his own chestnuts out of the
+fire. But never again!”
+
+“'Tisn't safe,” agreed Jack. He was rapidly improving, so much so that
+he was able to fly the next week, and he and Tom went up together, and
+did some valuable scouting work for the American army.
+
+At times they found opportunity to take short trips to Paris, where they
+saw Nellie and Bessie, and were entertained by Mrs. Gleason. Nellie
+was eager for some word from her brother, but none came. Whether the
+packages dropped by Tom and Jack reached the prisoner was known only to
+the Germans, and they did not tell.
+
+But the daring plan undertaken by the two air service boys was soon
+known a long way up and down the Allied battle line, and more than one
+aviator tried to duplicate it, so that friends or comrades who were
+held by the Huns might receive some comforts, and know they were not
+forgotten. Some of the Allied birdmen paid the penalty of death for
+their daring, but others reported that they had dropped packages within
+the prison camps, though whether those for whom they were intended
+received them or not, was not certain.
+
+“But we aren't going to let it stop there, are we?” asked Tom of
+Jack one day, when they were discussing the feat which had been so
+successful.
+
+“Let it stop where? What do you mean?”
+
+“I mean are we going to do something to get Harry away from the Boche
+nest?”
+
+“I'm with you in anything like that!” exclaimed Jack. “But what can we
+do? How are we going to rescue him?”
+
+“That's what we've got to think out,” declared Tom. “Something has to be
+done.”
+
+But there was no immediate chance to proceed to that desired end because
+of something vital that happened just about then. This was nothing more
+nor less than secret news that filtered into the Allied lines, to the
+effect that a big Zeppelin raid over Paris was planned.
+
+It was not the first of these raids, nor, in all likelihood, would it
+be the last. But this one was novel in that it was said the great German
+airships would sail toward the capital over the American lines, or,
+rather, the lines where the Americans were brigaded with the French
+and English. Doubtless it was to “teach the Americans a lesson,” as the
+German High Command might have put it.
+
+At any rate all leaves of absence for the airmen were canceled, and they
+were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to repel the “Zeps,” as
+they were called, preventing them from getting across the lines to
+Paris.
+
+“And we'll bring down one or two for samples, if we can!” boasted Jack.
+
+“What makes it so sure that they are coming?” asked Tom.
+
+It developed there was nothing sure about it. But the information had
+come from the Allied air secret service, and doubtless had its inception
+when some French or British airman saw scenes of activity near one of
+the Zeppelin headquarters in the German-occupied territory. There were
+certain fairly positive signs.
+
+And, surely enough, a few nights later, the agreed-upon alarm was
+sounded.
+
+“The Zeps are coming!”
+
+Tom and Jack, with others who were detailed to repel the raid, rushed
+from their cats, hastily donned their fur garments, and ran to their
+aeroplanes, which were a “tuned up” and waiting.
+
+“There they are!” cried Torn, as he got into his single-seated plane, an
+example followed on his part by Jack. “Look!”
+
+Jack gazed aloft. There was a riot of fire from the anti-aircraft
+guns of the French and British, but they were firing in vain, for the
+Zeppelins flew high, knowing the danger from the ground batteries.
+
+Sharp, stabbing shafts of light from the powerful electric lanterns shot
+aloft, and now and then one of them would rest for an instant on a great
+silvery cigar-shape--the gas bag of the big German airships that were
+beating their way toward Paris, there to deal death and destruction.
+
+“Come on!” cried Tom, as his mechanician started the motor. “I'm going
+to get a Zep!”
+
+“I'm with you!” yelled Jack, and they soared aloft side by side.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX. ON PATROL
+
+
+Aloft with Tom and Jack were several other fighters, for it was not only
+considered a great honor to bring down a Zeppelin, but it would save
+many lives if one or more of the big gas machines could be prevented
+from dropping bombs on Paris or its environs.
+
+The machines which were used were all of the single type, though
+of different makes and speeds. Each one was equipped with electric
+launching tubes. These were a somewhat new device for use against
+captive Hun balloons and Zeppelins and were installed in many of the
+fighting scout craft of the Americans and Allies.
+
+Between the knees of Toni and Jack, as well as each of the other pilots,
+was a small metal tube. This went completely through the floor of the
+cockpit, so that, had it been large enough to give good vision, one
+could view through it the ground beneath.
+
+In a little rack at the right of each scout were several small bombs of
+various kinds. Some were intended to set on fire whatever they came in
+contact with, being of phosphorus. Others were explosive bombs, pure and
+simple, while some were flares, intended to light up the scene at night
+and make getting a target easier.
+
+Included in the rack of death and destruction was a simple stick; not
+unlike a walking cane, and this seemed so comparatively harmless that an
+uninitiated observer would almost invariably ask its use.
+
+At the lower end of the launching tube, through which the bombs were
+dropped, was a “trip,” or sort of catch, that caught on a trigger
+fastened to each bomb. The trip pulled the trigger, so to speak, and set
+in operation the firing device.
+
+In the early days, though doubtless the defect was afterwards corrected,
+the bombs sometimes stuck in the launching tube, and as they were likely
+to go off in this position at any moment, it was the custom of the
+pilots to push them on their way with the cane if the missiles jammed.
+Hence it was an essential part of each flying machine's armament.
+
+Higher and higher mounted the fighting scouts, with Tom and Jack among
+their number. It was necessary to mount very high in order to get
+above the Zeppelins, as in this position alone was it possible for the
+aeroplanes to fight them to any advantage. The Zeppelins carried many
+machine guns of long range, and for the pigmy planes to attack them on
+the same level, meant destruction to the smaller craft.
+
+There were several German machines in the raid toward Paris, but Tom
+and Jack caught sight of only two. The others were either at too great a
+height to be observed, or else were farther off, lost in the haze.
+
+But the two silver shapes, resembling nothing so much as huge, expensive
+cigars, wrapped in tinfoil, were flying on their way, now and then
+dropping bombs, which exploded with dull, muffled reports--an earnest of
+what they would do when they got over Paris. They were traveling fast,
+under the impulse of their own powerful motors and propellers, and also
+aided by a stiff breeze.
+
+Of course conversation was out of the question among Tom, Jack and the
+other aviators, but they knew the general plan of the fight. They were
+to get above the Zeppelins--as many of them as could--and drop bombs
+on the gas envelope. They were also to attack with machine guns if
+possible, aiming at the rudder controls and machinery. It was the great
+desire of the Allied commanders to have a Zeppelin brought down as
+nearly intact as possible.
+
+Up and up climbed the speedy scout machines, and it was seen that some
+of them would never get in a position to do any damage. The German craft
+were traveling too speedily. But Tom and Jack managed to get to a height
+of about twenty thousand feet, which was above the Zeppelins, though by
+this time the Germans were in advance of them, for they had climbed at
+rather a steep angle. However, they knew their speed was many times that
+of the German machine on a straight course.
+
+On and on they went. Then came a mist which hid the enemy from sight.
+The aviators railed at their luck, and Tom and Jack dropped down a bit,
+hoping to get through the mist. It lay below them like a great, gray
+blanket.
+
+Suddenly they fairly plumped through it, and saw, not far away, the two
+big silver shapes, shining in the searchlights which were now giving
+good illumination. It was a moonlight night, which seemed a favorite for
+a German bombing expedition.
+
+Far below them, and beneath the Zepplins, Tom and Jack could see the
+lights of other aeroplanes, which were flying low to observe lanterns on
+the ground, set in the shape of arrows, to indicate in which direction
+the German craft were traveling. Later, if necessary, these observing
+machines could climb aloft and signal to those higher up.
+
+Nearer and nearer Jack and Tom came to one of the Zeppelins. And now, in
+the semi-darkness, they became aware that they were being fired at by
+a long-range gun on the German craft. The bullets sung about them, but
+though their machines were hit several times, as they learned later,
+they escaped injury.
+
+Now the battle of the air was on in grim and deadly earnest. Several
+scout planes flew at the big Zeppelin like hornets attacking a bear.
+They fired their machine guns, and the Germans replied in kind, but with
+more terrible effect, for two of the Allied planes were shot down. It
+was a sad loss, but it was the fortune of war, or, rather, misfortune,
+for the Zeppelin was not engaged in a fair fight, but seeking to bomb an
+unfortified city.
+
+Now Tom and Jack, though somewhat separated, were close above the
+Zeppelin, and in a position where they could not be fired at. They began
+to drop incendiary bombs through the tubes between their knees.
+
+These bombs were fitted with sharp hooks, so that if they touched
+the gas bag they would cling fast, and burn until they had ignited the
+envelope and the vapor inside. And as they circled about, dropping bomb
+after bomb, the two air service boys saw this happen. Some at least of
+their bombs reached their target.
+
+The great craft, now on fire in several places, was twisting and turning
+like some wounded snake, endeavoring to escape. Tom glanced toward
+the other Zeppelin and saw that this was fairly well surrounded by
+aeroplanes, but was not, as yet, on fire.
+
+The bees had fatally stung one great German bear, and, a little later,
+it crashed to the ground where it was nearly all consumed, and of its
+crew of thirty men, not one was left alive.
+
+The other plane, though greatly damaged by machine gun fire, was not set
+ablaze, but was forced to turn and sail for the German lines again. So
+that two were prevented from bombing Paris.
+
+Well satisfied with what they had accomplished, Torn, Jack and the
+others who had set the Zeppelin on fire, descended. Later they learned,
+by word from Paris, that on of the German machines was shot down over
+that city and some of its crew captured. So that though the Huns did
+considerable damage with their bombs, they paid dearly for that unlawful
+expedition.
+
+This was the beginning of a series of fierce aerial battles between
+the German forces and the Allied airmen, though for a long dine no more
+Zeppelins were seen. Sometimes fortune favored the side on which Tom and
+Jack fought, and again they were forced to retire, leaving some of their
+friends in the hands of the enemy.
+
+Once Tom and Tack, keeping close together doing scout work, were cut off
+from their companions. They had ventured too far over the Hun lines,
+and were in danger of being shot down. But a squadron of airmen from
+Pershing's forces made a sortie and drove the Germans to cover, rescuing
+the two air service boys from an evil fate.
+
+Then followed some weeks of rainy and misty weather, during which there
+was very little air work on either side. But the fight on land went on,
+with attacks and repulses, the Allies continually advancing their lines,
+though ever so little. Slowly but surely they were forcing the Germans
+back.
+
+Now and then there were night raids, and once Tom and Jack, who had not
+flown for a week because of rain, were just back of the lines when a
+captured German patrol was brought in, covered with mud and blood. There
+had been lively fighting.
+
+“I wish we were in on that!” exclaimed Tom. “I'm getting tired of
+sitting around.”'
+
+“So am I!” agreed Jack. “Let's ask if we can't go out on patrol some
+night. It will be better than waiting for it to stop raining.”
+
+To their delight their request was granted, as it had been in a number
+of other cases of airmen. Temporarily they were allowed to go with the
+infantry until the weather cleared.
+
+The two air service boys were in the dugout one night, having served
+their turns at listening post work and general scouting, when an officer
+came in with a slip of paper. He began reading off some names, and when
+he had finished, having mentioned Tom and Jack, he said:
+
+“Prepare for patrol duty at once.”
+
+“Good!” whispered Tom to his chum: “Now there'll be something doing.”
+
+He little guessed what it was to be.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX. CAPTURED
+
+
+Silently, in the darkness of their trenches, the party of which Tom and
+Jack were to be members, prepared to go over the top and penetrate
+the German front line of defense, in the hope of taking prisoners that
+information might be had of them. It was a risky undertaking, but one
+frequently accomplished by the Allies, and it often led to big results.
+
+There were about a score in the patrol, and, to their delight, though
+they rather regretted it later, Tom and Jack were given positions well
+in front, two files removed, in fact, from the lieutenant commanding.
+
+“Now I suppose you all understand what you're to do,” said the
+lieutenant as he gathered his little party about him in one of the
+larger dugouts, where a flickering candle gave light. “You'll all
+provide yourselves with wire cutters, hand grenades and pistols. Rifles
+will be in the way. Take your gas masks, of course. No telling when
+Fritz may send over some of those shells. Blacken your faces, as usual.
+A star shell makes a beautiful light on a white countenance, so don't be
+afraid of smudging yourselves. And when we start just try to imagine you
+are Indians, and make no noise. One object is to come in contact with
+some German post, try to hear what's going on from their talk, and make
+some captures if we can. Do you all understand German?”
+
+It developed that they did--at least no one would confess he did not for
+fear of being turned back. But, as it developed, they all had some, if
+slight, acquaintance with the language.
+
+A little period of anxious waiting followed--a sort of zero hour
+effect--until finally the word was received from some source, unknown to
+Tom and Jack, to proceed. The night was black, and there was a mist over
+everything which did not augur for clear weather on the morrow.
+
+“Forward!” whispered the lieutenant, for they were so near the German
+lines that incautious talking was prohibited. Out of their trenches they
+went, Tom and Jack well in front, and close to the leader.
+
+As carefully as might be, though, at that, making noise which the
+members of the patrol thought surely must be heard clear to Berlin, they
+made their way over the shell-torn and uncertain ground in the darkness.
+They went down between their own lines of barbed wire to where an
+opening had been made opposite what was considered a quiet spot in the
+Hun defenses, and then they started across “No Man's Land.”
+
+It was not without mingled feelings that Tom and Jack advanced,
+and, doubtless, their feelings were common to all. There was great
+uncertainty as to the outcome. Death or glory might await them. They
+might all be killed by a single German shell, or they might run into
+a German working party, out to repair the wire cut during the day's
+firing. In the latter case there would be a fight--an even chance,
+perhaps. They might capture or be captured.
+
+On and on they went, treading close together and in single file, making
+little noise. Straight across the desolate stretch of land that lay
+between the two lines of trenches they went, and, when half way, there
+came from the German side a sudden burst of star shells. These are a
+sort of war fireworks that make a brilliant illumination, and the enemy
+was in the habit of sending them up every night at intervals, to reveal
+to his gunners any party of the enemy approaching.
+
+“Down! Down!” hissed the lieutenant. But he need not have uttered
+the command. All had been told what to do, and fell on their faces
+literally--their smoke-blackened faces. In this position they resembled,
+as nearly as might be, some of the dead bodies scattered about, and that
+was their intention.
+
+ Still each one had a nervous fear.  The star shells were very
+brilliant and made No Man's Land almost as bright as when bathed in
+sunshine, a condition that had not prevailed of late. There was no
+guarantee that the Germans would not, in their suspicious hate, turn
+their rifles or machine guns on what they supposed were dead bodies. In
+that case-well, Tom, Jack and the others did not like to think about it.
+
+But the brilliance of the star shells died away, and once more there
+was darkness. The lieutenant cautiously raised his head and in a whisper
+commanded:
+
+“Forward! Is every one all right?”
+
+“My mouth's full of mud and water--otherwise I'm all right,” said some
+one.
+
+“Silence!” commanded the officer.
+
+Once more he led them forward. They reached the first German wire, and
+instantly the cutters were at work. Though the men tried to make no
+noise, it was an impossibility. The wire would send forth metallic
+janglings and tangs as it was cut. But an opening was made, and the
+patrol party filed through. And then, almost immediately, something
+happened.
+
+There was another burst of star shells, but before the Americans had an
+opportunity to throw themselves on their faces, they saw that they were
+confronted by a large body of Germans who had come forward as silently
+as themselves, and, doubtless, on the same sort of errand.
+
+“At 'em, boys! At 'em!” cried the lieutenant. “The Stars and Stripes! At
+'em!”
+
+Instantly pandemonium broke loose. In the glaring light of the star
+shells the two forces rushed forward. There was a burst of pistol fire,
+and then the fight went on in the darkness.
+
+“Where are you, Tom?”' yelled Jack, as he flung a grenade full at a big,
+burly German who was rushing at him with uplifted gun.
+
+“Here!” was the answer, and in the darkness Jack felt his chum collide
+with him so forcefully that both almost went down in a heap. “I jumped
+to get away from a Hun bayonet,” pantingly explained Tom.
+
+Jack's grenade exploded, blowing dirt and small stones in the faces of
+the chums. There were shouts and cries, in English, French and German.
+The American lieutenant tried to rally his men around him, but, as was
+afterward learned, they were attacked by a much larger party of Huns
+than their patrol.
+
+“We must stick together!” cried Jack to Tom. “If we separate we're lost!
+Where are the others?”
+
+“Sam Zalbert was with me a second ago,” answered Tom, naming a lad with
+whom he and Jack had become quite friendly. “But I saw him fall. I don't
+know whether he slipped or was hurt. Look out!” he suddenly shouted.
+
+He saw two Germans rushing at him and Jack, with leveled revolvers.
+There was no time to get another grenade from their pockets, and Tom did
+the next best thing. He made a tackle, football fashion, at the legs of
+the Germans, which he could see very plainly in the light of many star
+shells that were now being sent up.
+
+Almost at the same instant Jack, seeing his chum's intention, followed
+his example, and the two Huns went down in a heap, falling over the
+heads of their antagonists with many a German imprecation. Their weapons
+flew from their hands.
+
+“Come on! This is getting too hot for us!” cried Jack, as he scrambled
+to his feet, followed by Tom. “There'll be a barrage here in a minute.”
+
+This seemed about to happen, for machine guns were spitting fire and
+death all along that section of the German front, and the American and
+French forces were replying. A general engagement might be precipitated
+at any moment.
+
+The American lieutenant tried to rally his men, but it was a hopeless
+task. The Germans had overpowered them. Tom and Jack started to run back
+toward their own lines, having made sure, however, of putting beyond the
+power to fight any more the two Germans who had attacked them.
+
+“Come on!” cried Tom. “We've got to have reinforcements to tackle this
+bunch!”
+
+“I guess so!” agreed Jack.
+
+They turned, not to retreat, but to better their positions, when they
+both ran full into a body of men that seemed to spring up from the very
+ground in the sudden darkness that followed an unusually bright burst of
+star shells.
+
+“What is it? Who are they? What's the matter?” cried Tom.
+
+“Give it up!” answered Jack. “Who are you?” he asked.
+
+Instantly a guttural German voice cried:
+
+“Ah! The American swine! We have them!”
+
+In another moment Tom and Jack felt themselves surrounded by an
+overpowering number.
+
+Hands plucked at them toughly from all sides, and their pistols and few
+remaining grenades were taken from them.
+
+“Turn back with the prisoners!” cried a voice in German.
+
+The two air service boys found themselves being fairly-lifted from their
+feet by the rush of their captors. Where they were going they could not
+see, but they knew what had happened.
+
+They had been captured by the Germans!
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI. THE CLEW
+
+
+For one wild instant Tom and Jack, as they admitted to one another
+afterward, felt an insane desire to attempt to break away from their
+captors, to rush at them, to attack if need be with their bare hands,
+and so invite death in its quickest form. They even hoped that they
+might escape this way rather than live to be taken behind the German
+lines.
+
+It was not only the disgrace of being captured--which really was no
+disgrace considering the overwhelming numbers that attacked them--t it
+was the fear of what they might have to suffer as prisoners.
+
+Tom and Jack, as well as the others, might well regard with horror the
+fate that lay before them. But to escape by even a desperate struggle
+was out of the question. They were surrounded by a ring of Germans,
+several files deep, and each was heavily armed. Then, too, their captors
+were fairly rushing them along over the uneven ground as though fearful
+of pursuit. The air service boys had no chance, nor did any of their
+comrades of the patrol who might be left alive. How many these were, Tom
+and Jack had no means of knowing. They did not see any of their comrades
+near them. There were only the Huns who were bubbling over with coarse
+joy in the delight of having captured two “American pigs,” as they
+brutally boasted.
+
+Stumbling and half falling, Tom and Jack were dragged along. Now and
+then they could see, by means of the star shells, groups of men, some
+near and some farther off. There was firing all along the Hun and Allied
+lines, and as the boys were dragged along the big guns began to thunder.
+What had started as an ordinary night raid might end in a general
+engagement before it was finished.
+
+There seemed to be fierce lighting going on between the several detached
+groups, and the air service boys did not doubt that some word of the
+dispersing and virtual defeat of the party they were with had reached
+their lines, resulting in the sending out of relief parties.
+
+“This sure is tough luck!” murmured Jack to Tom, as they stumbled along
+in the midst of their captors.
+
+“You said it! If our boys would only rush this bunch and get us away.”
+
+“Silence, pigs!” cried a German officer, and with his sword he struck
+at Tom, slightly injuring the lad and causing a hot wave of fierce
+resentment.
+
+“You wouldn't dare do that if I had my hands free, you dirty dog!”
+ rasped out Tom in fairly good German, and he tugged to free his arms
+from the hold of a Hun soldier on either side.
+
+The officer who had struck Tom seemed about to reply, for he surged
+through the ranks of his men over toward the captive, but a command from
+some one, evidently higher in authority halted him, and he marched on,
+muttering.
+
+There was sharp fighting between the Hun sentries and small parties,
+and similar bodies from the American and Allied sides going on along
+the lines now, and both armies were sending up rockets and other
+illuminating devices.
+
+The two Virginia lads felt themselves being hurried forward--or back,
+whichever way you choose to look at it--and whither they were being
+taken they did not know. The taunts of their captors had ceased, though
+the men were talking together in low voices, and suddenly, at something
+one of them said, Tom nudged Jack, beside whom he was walking.
+
+“Did you hear that?” he asked in so low a voice that it was not heard by
+the Hun next him. Or if it was heard, no attention was paid to it, for
+Torn spoke in English. The tramp of the heavy boots of the Huns and the
+rattle of their arms and accoutrements made noise enough, perhaps, to
+cover the sound of his voice.
+
+“Did I hear what?” asked Jack.
+
+“What that chap said. It was something about one of the German prison
+camps having been burned by the prisoners, a lot of whom got away. The
+rest were transferred to a place not far from here. Listen!”
+
+And the Americans listened to the extent of their ability.
+
+Then it was they blessed their lucky stars that they understood enough
+of German to know what was being said, for it was then and there that
+they got a clew to the whereabouts of Harry Leroy, from whom they had
+heard not a word since the dropping of his glove by the German aviator.
+They did not even know whether or not their packages had reached their
+chum.
+
+The talk of the Germans who had captured Tom and Jack was, indeed,
+concerning the burning of one of the prison camps. As the boys learned
+later, the prisoners, unable to stand the terrible treatment, had risen
+and set fire to the place. Many of them perished in the blaze and by the
+fire of German rifles. The others were transferred to a camp nearer the
+battle line as a punishment, it being argued, perhaps, that they might
+be killed by the fire of the guns of their own side.
+
+“And there are some airmen, too, in the new prison camp,” said one of
+the Germans. “Our infantrymen claimed them as their meat, though our
+airmen brought them down. But there was no room for them in the prison
+camp with the other captured aviators, so The Butcher has them in his
+charge.”
+
+Tom and Jack learned later that “The Butcher” was the title bestowed,
+even by his own men, on a certain brutal German colonel who had charge
+of this prison camp.
+
+Then there came to Tom and Jack in the darkness a curious piece of
+information, dropped by casual talk of the Huns. One of them said to
+another:
+
+“One of the transferred airmen tried to bribe me to-day.”
+
+“To bribe you? How and for what?”
+
+“He is an accursed American pig, and when he heard we were opposite some
+of them, he wanted me to throw a note from him over into the American
+lines. He said I would be well paid, and he offered me a piece of gold
+he had hidden in the sole of his shoe.”
+
+“Did you take it?”
+
+“The gold? Of course I did! But I tore up the note he gave me to toss
+into the American lines. First I looked at it, though. It was signed
+with a French name, though the prisoner claimed to be from the United
+States. It was the name Leroy which means, I have been told, the king.
+Ha! I have his gold, and the note is scattered over No Man's Land! But
+I will tell him I sent it into the trenches of his friends. He may have
+more notes and gold!” and the brute chuckled.
+
+Tom and Jack, looked at one another in the darkness. Could it be
+possible that it was their friend Harry Leroy who was so near to them,
+since he had been transferred from a camp far behind the lines?
+
+It seemed so. There were not many American airmen captured, and there
+could hardly be two of this same rather odd name.
+
+“It must be Harry,” murmured Tom.
+
+“I think so,” agreed Jack.
+
+“Silence, American pigs!” commanded man officer.
+
+He raised his sword to strike the lad. But just then occurred an
+interruption so tremendous that all thought of punishing prisoners who
+dared to speak was forgotten.
+
+A big shell rose screaming and moaning from the Allied lines and landed
+not far from the party of Germans which was leading along Tom and Jack.
+It burst with a tremendous noise well inside the Hug defenses, and this
+was followed by a terrific explosion. As the boys learned later the
+shell had landed in the midst of a concealed battery--a stroke of luck,
+and not due to any good aiming on the part of the American gunner--and
+the supply of ammunition had gone up.
+
+There was great commotion behind the German lines, and two or three of
+Tom's and Jack's captors were thrown down by the concussion. The air
+service boys themselves were stunned.
+
+And then there suddenly sounded a ringing American cheer, while a voice,
+coming from a group of soldiers that confronted the German patrol,
+cried:
+
+“Halt! Who's there? Are there any of Uncle Sam's boys?”
+
+“Yes! Yes!” eagerly cried Tom and Jack. “Come on! We're captured by the
+Germans!”
+
+There was another cheer, followed by a roar of rage, and then came a
+rush of feet. Gleaming bayonets glistened in the light of star shells
+and many guns, and the members of the German patrol, finding themselves
+surrounded, threw down their arms and cried:
+
+“Kamerad!”
+
+The fortunes of war had unexpectedly turned, and Tom and Jack had been
+rescued and saved by a party of Pershing's gallant boys.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII. NELLIE'S RESOLVE
+
+
+“What happened?”
+
+“How'd they get you?”
+
+“Are you hurt?”
+
+These were a few of the questions put to Tom and Jack as they were
+surrounded by the rescuing party of their friends, led, it afterward
+developed, by the very lieutenant with whom the two air service boys had
+started in the patrol across No Man's Land.
+
+The German captors had either all surrendered or been killed, and the
+tables were most effectively switched around. At first Tom and Jack were
+too surprised and overwhelmingly grateful to answer.
+
+But they soon understood what had happened. And then they told the story
+of their fight against odds until captured. They said nothing just then
+of the unexpected information that had come to them about Harry Leroy's
+presence in a German camp so comparatively near their own lines. But
+they resolved, at the first opportunity, to make use of the information.
+
+The shooting of the big guns gradually ceased when it was made manifest
+that neither side was ready for a general engagement. The pop-pop of the
+machine weapons, too, died away and the star shells ceased rising.
+
+“Come on you Fritzies--what's left of you,” cried the lieutenant, when
+he had made sure that there were no others of his party whom he could
+rescue.
+
+Then with Tom and Jack the center of a happy, tumultuous throng of their
+own comrades, the trip back to the American lines was begun. It was
+without incident save that on the way a wounded British soldier was
+found lying in a shell hole and carried in, ultimately to recover.
+
+Tom and Jack told what had happened to them, how they had been
+surrounded and led away; and then, came the story of the lieutenant who
+had led the patrol party which had turned defeat into victory with the
+aid of reinforcements which were sent to him.
+
+He had seen his hopes blasted when rushed by the big crowd of the Hun
+patrol, and, though slightly wounded, he realized that absolute defeat
+would come to him and his men unless he could get help. He sent a runner
+back with word to send relief, and then, surrounding himself with what
+few men remained alive and uncaptured, the fight went on.
+
+It was bitter and sanguinary, and at last, with only two men left beside
+him, the lieutenant heard the rush of the relief guard. He was placed
+in charge, as he knew the lay of the land, and the party hurried to and
+fro, wiping up little knots of Germans here and there, until the main
+body encountered the squad having in charge the two air service boys.
+
+“You began to think it was all up with you, didn't you?” asked the
+lieutenant, when they were all once more safely in the dugout.
+
+“We certainly did!” admitted Tom.
+
+“We had visions of watery soup and wheatless bread for the rest of the
+war,” observed Jack.
+
+He and Tom were slightly wounded--mere scratches they dubbed the
+hurts--but they were sent to the rear to be looked over and bandaged, as
+were some of the others who were more severely hurt. There were some who
+could not be sent back--who were left in No Man's Land silent figures
+who would never take part in a battle again. They had paid their price
+toward making the world a better place to live in, and their names were
+on the Honor Roll.
+
+“Well, what do you think about it?” asked Tom of Jack.
+
+“I don't know what to think. It seems hardly possible that Harry can be
+so near to us, and yet we can't do a thing to help him.”
+
+“I'm not so sure about that,” returned Tom. “That's what I want to talk
+about.”
+
+It was a week after the patrol raid, and clear weather had succeeded the
+rain and mist, so that it was possible for the aeroplanes to operate.
+And their services were much needed.
+
+There were preparations going on back of the German lines of which
+General Pershing and the Allied commanders needed to be informed. And
+only the “eyes” of the armies could see them and report--the eyes being
+the aeroplanes.
+
+So it came about that, having been relieved of their temporary transfer
+to the infantry, Tom and Jack were once more with their comrades of the
+air.
+
+“Well, let's think it over, and talk about it when we come down,”
+ suggested Jack. “We've got to go upstairs for our usual tour of duty
+now.”
+
+This would last three hours. They were to do scout work--report any
+unusual activity back of the German lines, or give warning of the
+approach of any hostile aeroplanes. After their tour of duty was ended
+they would have the rest of the day to themselves, provided there was
+no general attack. Of course if, while they were up, they were attacked,
+they must fight.
+
+Each lad had a plane to himself, since the young “huns” had all pretty
+well passed their novitiate, and were now in the regular flying squad.
+Later some other new aviators would report for instruction on the battle
+front.
+
+Up and up climbed Tom and Jack, and eagerly they scanned the German
+lines for any signs of activity. But though there were some Hun planes
+in the air, they did not approach to give battle. Possibly some other
+plans were afoot. Afterward Tom and Jack admitted to one another that
+there was a great temptation to fly over the German trenches to try to
+get a sight of the prison that had been spoken of--the camp where Harry
+Leroy might be held.
+
+But to do this would be in direct violation of their orders, and they
+dared not take any risks. For to do so might involve not only themselves
+in danger, but others as well. And that view of the matter determined
+them. They would have to await their opportunity for rescuing their
+chum--if it could be accomplished.
+
+Their tour of duty aloft that day was without incident. This is not an
+usual condition at times along the long battle front. Men can not go on
+fighting without stop, and there come lulls in even the fiercest battle.
+Flesh and blood can stand only a certain amount of torture, and then
+even the soul rebels.
+
+So Tom and Jack drifted peacefully down to their aerodrome, noting that
+it was being newly camouflaged, for the recent rain had played havoc
+with some of the concealments.
+
+As far as possible both the Germans and the Allies tried to conceal the
+location of their flying camps. The aeroplanes and balloons needed large
+buildings to house them, and such structures made excellent and, of
+course, fair war-marks for bombing parties in aeroplanes hovering aloft.
+So it was the custom to put up trees and bushes or to stretch canvas
+over the aerodromes and paint it to resemble woods and fields in an
+effort to conceal, or camouflage, the depots where the airships were
+stationed. But this work was done by a special detail of men, and with
+it Tom and Jack had nothing to do.
+
+They turned their machines over to the mechanics, who would go carefully
+over them and have the craft in readiness for the next flight. Then,
+being free for several hours, the two young airmen could do as they
+pleased, within certain limits.
+
+“Well, did anything occur to you?” asked Jack, as he and Tom, having
+divested themselves of their heavy fur-lined garments, went to the mess
+hall, which was in an old stable, from which the horses had long since
+been removed.
+
+“You mean a plan to rescue Harry?”
+
+“That's it.”
+
+“No, I'm sorry to say I can't think of a thing,” Tom answered. “I
+thought I would, but I didn't. Have you anything to say?”
+
+“Yes. Let's go to Paris.”
+
+“You mean to see--er--?”
+
+“Yes!” interrupted Jack with a smile. “This is their day off, and we
+might as well have a little enjoyment when we can. From the easy time we
+had to-day we'll have some hard fighting to-morrow. This was too good to
+last. Heinie is up to some mischief, I think.”
+
+“Same here.”
+
+So, having received permission, they went to Paris, and soon found their
+way to the lodgings of Mrs. Gleason, where the air service boys were
+welcomed by Bessie and Nellie.
+
+Of course the first question had to do with the captive Harry, and to
+the delight of Nellie Tom was able to say:
+
+“We have news of him, anyhow.”
+
+“News? You mean he is all right?”
+
+“Well, as all right as he ever can be while the Boches have him, I
+suppose,” was the answer.
+
+“But the news didn't come direct from him. He's in another camp. I'll
+tell you about it.”
+
+Tom and Jack, by turns, related what had happened on the night patrol,
+and explained how they had overheard talk of Harry.
+
+“Then he is nearer than he has been?” asked Nellie.
+
+“Yes,” admitted Tom.
+
+“Won't it be easier to rescue him then?” Bessie queried.
+
+“Well, that doesn't follow,” said Jack. “Of course if we could rescue
+him, we'd have a shorter distance to bring him, to get him inside our
+lines. But it's just as difficult getting beyond the German lines now as
+it was before. Tom and I thought we'd come and talk it over, and see if
+you girls have anything to suggest. We'll do the rescue work if we only
+get a chance, and can find some plan. Have you any?”
+
+He asked that question, though he hardly expected an answer. And both he
+and Tom, as well as Bessie and her mother, were greatly surprised when
+Nellie exclaimed:
+
+“Yes, I have!”
+
+“You have?” cried Tom. “What is it? Tell us, quick!”
+
+“I am going to save my brother by offering myself as a prisoner in his
+place,” said Nellie with quiet resolve. “That's how I'll save him! I'll
+exchange myself for him!”
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII. THE BIG BATTLE
+
+
+Nellie Leroy rose from, the chair where she had been sitting, and stood
+before the little party of her friends, gathered in the little Paris
+apartment where Bessie Gleason and her mother made their home when they
+were not actively engaged in Red Cross work. The sister of the captive
+airman had a quiet but very determined air about her.
+
+“That is what I am going to do,” she said, as no one at first answered
+what had been a dramatic outbreak. “Perhaps you will tell me best how to
+go about it,” and she turned to Tom and Jack. “You know something of the
+German lines, and where I can best go to give myself up.”
+
+“Why--why, you can't go at all!” burst out Tom.
+
+“I can't go?”
+
+“No, of course not. You mean all right, Nellie,” went on the young man,
+“but it simply can't be done. To give yourself up to the Germans would
+mean for yourself not only--Oh, it couldn't be done!” as he thought of
+the cruelty of the Huns, not only to the soldiers of the Allied armies
+but to helpless women and children. “You couldn't give yourself up to
+those brutes!' he cried.
+
+“To save my brother I could,” said Nellie simply. “I would do anything
+for him!”
+
+“I know you would,” murmured Bessie.
+
+“But it would just be throwing yourself away!” exclaimed Jack, coming
+to the help of his chum, who was gazing helplessly at him in this
+new crisis. “Tell her, Mrs. Gleason,” he went on, “that it is utterly
+impossible, even if the army authorities would let her. Even if she
+should give herself up to the Germans, they wouldn't keep any agreement
+they made to exchange her brother. They'd simply keep both of them.”
+
+“Yes, I think they would,” said Mrs. Gleason. “It is out of the
+question, my dear,” and gently she laid her hand on the girl's shoulder.
+“That is very fine and noble of you, but it would be wrong, for it
+would not save your brother, and you would certainly be made a prisoner
+yourself. And of the horrors of the German prison--at least some where
+the infantrymen have been kept, I dare not tell you. I imagine it must
+be better where the airmen are captured,” she went on, for she feared
+that if she painted too black a picture of what Harry might suffer his
+sister would not be held back by anything, and might sacrifice herself
+uselessly.
+
+“But what am I do?” asked Nellie, helplessly. “I want Harry so much! We
+all want him! Oh, isn't there something? Can't you save him?” and she
+held out her hands appealingly to Torn and Jack.
+
+There was a moment of silence, and then Tom burst out with:
+
+“Well, I may as well speak now as later, and I'll tell you what I've
+made up my mind to do. Yes, it's a new plan I've worked out,” he went
+on, as Jack looked at him curiously. “I haven't told even you, old man,
+as it wasn't quite ready yet. But it's a scheme that may succeed, now
+that we know definitely where Harry is, from what the German patrol
+said. He isn't so far away as when we dropped the packages in the prison
+camp, though we don't yet know that he was there at the time we did our
+stunt. However, if this new plan succeeds we may have a chance to find
+out.”
+
+“How?” asked Nellie, eagerly.
+
+“By talking to Harry himself.”
+
+“How are you going to do that?” demanded Bessie.
+
+“What kind of game have you been cooking up behind my back?” asked Jack.
+
+“As desperate as the other, I guess you'll call it,” answered Tom. “But
+something has to be done.”
+
+“Yes, something has to be done,” agreed Jack. “Now what is it?”
+
+Tom arose and went to the door. He opened it, looked carefully up and
+down the hall, evidently to make sure no one was listening, and then
+came back to join the circle of his friends.
+
+“I'm going to speak of something that very few know, as yet,” he said,
+“and I don't want to take any chances of its getting out. There may
+be German spies in Paris, though I guess by this time they're few and
+scattering.
+
+“I'm not going to tell you how I know,” he said, “but I do know that
+soon there is to take place a big battle--that is, it will be big
+for the American forces that are to have part in it. There has been a
+conference among the Allied commanders, and it has been decided that
+it's time to teach the Germans a lesson. They've been despising the
+American troops, as they despised General French's 'contemptible little
+army,' and General Pershing is going to show Fritz that we have a
+soldier or two that can fight.”
+
+“You mean there's to be a big offensive?” asked Jack.
+
+“No, I wouldn't go so far as to call it a general engagement like that.
+It's to be kept within the limits, of the sector where the United States
+troops are at present,” said Tom. “That is where you and I are located,
+Jack, and that, as you know, is almost opposite the prison where Harry
+and the others are confined.”
+
+“I begin to see what you are driving at!” cried Nellie, her eyes
+shining. “But are you sure of this?”
+
+“Yes,” went on Jack, “how did you bear of this when it's supposed to be
+such a secret?”
+
+“It came to me by accident,” said Torn, “and I wouldn't speak of it to
+any one but you. Soon, however, it will be more or less public on our
+side, as it will have to be when we start to get ready. But it's to
+be kept a secret from Fritz as long as possible. It's to be a surprise
+attack, and if it doesn't develop into a big battle it won't be the
+fault of Uncle Sam's boys.”
+
+“Will the air service have any part in it?” asked Jack eagerly, as if
+fearing he might be left out.
+
+“I don't see how they can get along without us,” said Tom. “Not that
+we're the whole works, but it is well established now that an army can't
+fight without the use of aeroplanes, to tell not only what the other
+side is doing, but also how our own guns are shooting. Oh, we'll be in
+it all right!”
+
+“When?” asked Jack.
+
+“That I can't say,” replied his chum. “But now to get down to the thing
+that concerns us, or rather, Harry. I have a scheme--and you can call it
+wild if you like--that when the battle is going on, you and I, Jack, and
+some other airmen if we can induce them to do it, and I think we can,
+may be able to drop bombs near the prison camp. We'll have to judge our
+distances pretty carefully, or we'll do more harm than good. Then, if
+all goes well, and we can blow down some of the camp walls or fences,
+and if the battle favors our side, we can make a descent on enemy
+territory and rescue Harry and any others that are with him. What do you
+think of that plan?”
+
+“It's wonderful!” exclaimed Nellie, glaring at Tom with a strange, new
+light in her eyes.
+
+“It's very daring,” said Bessie, more calmly.
+
+“It's crazy!” burst out Jack
+
+“I thought you'd say that,” commented Tom calmly, “and I'd have been
+disappointed if you hadn't. And just because it is crazy it may succeed.
+But it's the only thing I can think of. Daring will get you further in
+this war then anything else. You've got to take big chances anyhow, and
+the bigger the better, I say.”
+
+“I'm with you there all right,” agreed Jack. “But to land in hostile
+territory--it hasn't been done ten times since the war began, and have
+the aviator live to get away with it!”
+
+“I know it,” said Tom, quietly. “But this may be the eleventh successful
+time. Now that's my plan for rescuing Harry Leroy. If any of you have a
+better one let's hear it.”
+
+No one answered, and finally Nellie spoke.
+
+“No,” she said, with a shake of her head, “it's very fine and noble
+of you boys, but I can't allow it. If you wouldn't let me give myself
+up--exchange myself for Harry, I can't let you give your lives for him
+this way. It wouldn't be fair. It would be depriving the Allies of two
+valuable fighters, to possibly get back one, and the possibility is so
+slim that--well, it's suicidal!” she exclaimed.
+
+“Not so much so as you think,” said Tom. “I've got it all figured out
+as far as possible. And as for landing in hostile territory, if all goes
+well, and the big battle progresses as Pershing and his aides think it
+will, maybe we won't have to land in hostile territory at all. We may
+drive the Germans back, and then the prison will be within our lines.”
+
+“That's so!” cried Jack. “I didn't think of feat. Tom, old man, maybe
+your scheme isn't as crazy as I thought! Anyhow, I'm in it with you. The
+only thing is--will this big battle take place?”
+
+“'It will unless the Germans decide to surrender between now and the day
+set,” Tom answered grimly, “and I hardly believe they'll do that. It's a
+going to be some fight!”
+
+“Glad of it!” cried Jack. “Now we've got something to live for!” As
+if he and Tom did not risk their lives every day to make life in the
+civilized world something worth living for.
+
+“Well, we must be getting back!” exclaimed Tom, as he looked at his
+watch. “All leaves will be stopped in a few days--just before we start
+preparations for the big battle. If we can we'll see you once more
+before then.”
+
+“And afterward?” inquired Nellie, softly and pleadingly.
+
+“Yes, and afterward, too!” exclaimed Tom. “And we'll bring Harry back
+with us. Now good-bye!”
+
+It was a more solemn farewell than the friends had taken in some time,
+for all felt the impending events, and Tom and Jack talked but little
+during the return trip from Paris to their headquarters.
+
+What Tom had said about the big battle was strictly true. It had been
+decided in high quarters that it was time the newly arrived American
+soldiers showed what they could do. That they could fight fiercely and
+well was not a question, it was only a matter of getting them
+familiar with the different conditions to be met with on the European
+battlefields, against a ruthless foe.
+
+Tom and Jack had a chance for one more hasty, flying visit to Paris, and
+then all leave was withdrawn, and there began in and about the American
+camp such a period of tense and intensive work as bore out what Tom had
+said. The big battle was impending.
+
+Great stores were accumulated of rations and munitions. Great guns were
+brought up into position and skillfully camouflaged. Machine guns in
+great numbers were prepared and a number of aeroplanes were brought from
+other sectors and made ready for the flying fight.
+
+“How are your plans coming on?” asked Jack of Tom, at the close of a day
+when it seemed that every one's nerves were on edge from the strain of
+preparing.
+
+“All right,” was the answer. “I've spoken to a number of the boys, and
+they're with me. You know we're pretty much 'on our own,' when we're
+flying, and I think that we can drop the bombs and make a descent long
+enough to pick up Harry and other refugees if we break open the prison.”
+
+“But suppose we land, stall the engines and the Germans surround us?”
+
+“That mustn't happen,” said Tom. “We won't stall the engines for one
+thing. We'll just have to drop down, and taxi around as well as we can
+until we pick up Harry, or until he sees us. The machines will carry
+three as well as two, and even if we have, by some mischance to go up
+in singles, they'll carry double. But I figured on your being with me.
+Harry knows enough of the game to be on the lookout when he hears the
+bombs drop and sees the planes hovering over him, and he'll tip off the
+others to be ready for a rescue.
+
+“Of course I don't say we can get 'em all, and maybe something will
+happen that we can't get Harry away. But I think we'll teach Fritz a
+lesson, and I think we can break up the prison camp so some of the poor
+fellows can get away. As I said, it's a desperate chance, but one we've
+got to take.”
+
+“And I'm with you!” exclaimed Jack. “And now when does the big battle
+take place?”
+
+He was answered a moment later, for an orderly arrived with instructions
+to the air service boys to report at their hangars at once.
+
+There they were told something of the impending attack--the first public
+mention of it, though more than one had guessed something unusual was in
+the air from the tenseness of the last few days.
+
+The attack was to start at dawn the next morning, preceded by an intense
+artillery fire. It was to be the fiercest rain of shells since the
+Americans had come to the front lines. Then the infantry, supported by
+tanks and aeroplanes, would follow, going over in waves which it was
+hoped would overwhelm the Germans.
+
+That night was a tense one. Suppose the enemy had guessed, or a spy had
+given word of the impending battle? Then success would be jeopardized.
+But the night passed with only the usual exchange of shots and the
+sending up of star shells over No Man's Land.
+
+And so, as the hour of dawn approached, the tense and nervous feeling
+grew. Tom and Jack, with their comrades in their hangars, were dressed
+in their fur garments and ready. Their machines had received the last
+touches from the hands of the mechanics, and each one was well equipped
+with bombs and machine gun ammunition. Tom and Jack were to be allowed
+to go up together in a big double bombing plane.
+
+The night passed. The hour approached. Anxious eyes watched the hands of
+watches slowly revolve.
+
+Then suddenly, as if the very earth had been blasted away from beneath
+them, the batteries of big guns belched forth fire, smoke and shell.
+
+The great battle was on!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV. SILENCING THE GERMAN GUNS
+
+
+Engagements in the World War were on such a vast scale that it was
+difficult for a single observer to give a word picture of them. All he
+could see, stationed behind the lines, was a vast cataclysm of smoke
+and fire, and his ears were deafened by so vast a sound that it was
+comparable to nothing on this earth ever heard before.
+
+An observer in the air was little better off, save for that portion
+directly beneath him, and even that he could not see very much of, on
+account of the smoke and dust. If he looked to the left or the right, or
+backward or forward, he was at the disadvantage of distance.
+
+To him, then, great columns of infantry appeared only as crawling worms,
+and batteries of artillery merely patches of woods whence belched fire
+and smoke. That he must keep high in the air when over the enemy's lines
+went without saying, for he would be fired at if he came too low. So
+then, even an airman's vision was limited when it came to describing a
+great battle.
+
+Of course he always did what he was assigned to do. He kept in contact,
+or in communication, with his own certain batteries, or his infantry
+division, directing the shots of the former and the advance of the
+latter. So, really, he had little time to observe anything save the
+effect of the firing of his own side on a certain limited objective.
+
+As for the soldiers in battle, they are, of course, unable to observe
+anything except that which goes on immediately in their neighborhood.
+The artilleryman fires his gun under the direction of some observer,
+often far away, who telephones to him to lower or elevate his piece, or
+deflect it to the tight or left. The infantryman advances as the barrage
+lifts, and rushes forward according to orders, firing or using his
+bayonet as the case may be, digging in when halted, and waiting for
+another rush forward. The machine gunner and his squad aim to put as
+many of the advancing, retreating, or standing enemy out of the fighting
+as possible, and to save themselves.
+
+The truck men hasten up with loads of ammunition, fortunate if they are
+not sent to their death in the drive. The stretcher bearers look for the
+wounded and hasten back with them.
+
+So, all in all, no single person can observe more than a very small part
+of the great battle. It is really like looking through a microscope
+at some organism, while the whole great body lies beyond the field of
+vision.
+
+Only the general staff-the officers in their headquarters far behind
+the lines, who receive reports as to how this division or corps is
+retreating or advancing--can have any real conception of the big battle,
+and these persons may see it only at a distance.
+
+So the usual process of things in general is reversed, and the person
+farthest removed from the fighting may really see, or rather know, most
+about it.
+
+And so with a storm of shot and shell, manmade thunders and lightnings,
+and bolts of death from the earth below and the air above, the great
+battle opened and advanced.
+
+It progressed just as other battles had progressed. There was a terrific
+artillery preparation, which took the Germans evidently by surprise,
+for the response was long in coming, and then it was not in proportion.
+After the great cannon had done their best to level the big guns on the
+German side, a barrage, or curtain of fire was started, and behind this,
+which was in reality a falling hail of bullets, the Americans and their
+supporting French and British comrades advanced. The curtain of steel
+was to kill or push back the Germans, and to make it safe for the
+Americans to go forward. By elevating the small guns the curtain fell
+farther and farther into the enemy's territory, thus making it possible
+for the Allies to go on farther and farther across No Man's Land.
+
+The infantry rushed forward, fighting and dying nobly in a noble cause.
+Position after position was consolidated as the Germans fell back before
+the rain of shot and shell. It is always this way in an offensive, small
+or large. The first rush of the attacking side, be it German, French,
+British, or American, carries everything before it. It is the counter
+attack that tells. If the attackers are strong enough to hold what they
+gain, well and good. If not--the attack is a failure.
+
+But this one--the first great attack of the Americans--was not destined
+to fail, though once it trembled in the balance.
+
+Tom and Jack, with their companions, had flown aloft, and, taking the
+stations assigned to them, did their part in the battle. As the light
+grew with the break of day, they could see the effect of the American
+big guns. It was devastating. And yet some German batteries lived
+through it. Several times Tom and Jack, by means of their wireless,
+sent back corrections so that the American pieces might be aimed more
+effectively. Below them was a maelstrom--an indescribable chaos of death
+and destruction. They only had glimpses of it--glimpses of a seemingly
+inextricable mixture of men and guns.
+
+And through it all, though they did not for a moment neglect their duty,
+bearing in mind their instructions to keep in contact with the batteries
+they served, Tom Raymond and Jack Parmly were eagerly seeking for a
+sight of the prison where Harry Leroy might be held. At one time after
+they had dropped bombs on some German positions, thereby demolishing
+them, Tom, who was acting as pilot, signaled to his chum that he was
+going far over the enemy's lines to try to locate the prison.
+
+Jack nodded an acquiescence. It was not entirely against orders what
+they were about to do. They might obtain valuable information, and it
+would take only a short time, so speedy was their machine. Then too,
+they had used up all their bombs, and must return for more. Before doing
+this they wished to make an observation.
+
+Luck was with them. They managed to pass over a comparatively quiet
+sector of the lines where the German resistance had been wiped out, and
+where, even as they looked down, Americans were digging in and guns were
+being brought up to support them.
+
+And not many kilometers inside the German positions from this point,
+they sailed over a prison camp. They, knew it in an instant, and felt
+sure it must be the one spoken of by the German who had taken Leroy's
+gold and then betrayed him.
+
+“That's the place!” cried Tom, though of course Jack could not hear him.
+“Now to bomb it and set Harry free!”
+
+But they must return for more ammunition, and this they set about doing.
+They wished they might drop some word to the prisoners confined there,
+stating that help might soon be on its way to them, but they had no
+chance to send this cheering word.
+
+Back they rushed to their own lines, and no sooner had they landed than
+an orderly rushed up to them and instructed them to report immediately
+to their commanding officer.
+
+“Boys, you're just in time!” he cried, all dignity or formality having
+been set aside in the excitement of the great battle.
+
+“What is it?” asked Tom.
+
+“We want you to silence some big German guns--a nasty battery of them
+that's playing havoc with our boys. The artillery hasn't been able to
+locate 'em--probably they're too well camouflaged. And we can't advance
+against 'em. Will you go up and try to put them out of business?”
+
+Of course there could be but one answer to this. Tom and Jack hurried
+off to see to the loading of their machine with bombs--an extra large
+number of very powerful ones being taken.
+
+Once more they were off on their dangerous mission, for it was
+dangerous, since many American planes were brought down by German fire
+that day, and by attacks from other Hun machines.
+
+But Tom and Jack never faltered. Up and up they went, the probable
+location of the guns having been made known to them on the map they
+carried. Up and onward they went. For a time they must forego the chance
+of rescuing their friend.
+
+Straight for the indicated place they went, and just as they reached
+it there came a burst of fire and smoke. It appeared to roll out from
+a little ravine well wooded on both sides, and that accounted for the
+failure of the Americans to locate it. Chance had played into the hands
+of the air service boys.
+
+There was no need of word between Tom and Jack. The former headed the
+plane for the place whence the German guns had fired upon the Americans,
+killing and wounding many.
+
+Over it, for an instant, hovered the aeroplane. Then Jack touched the
+bomb releasing device. Down dropped the powerful explosive.
+
+There was a great upward blast of air which rocked the machine in which
+sat the two aviators. There was a burst of smoke and flame beneath them,
+tongues of fire seeming to reach up as though to pull them down.
+
+Then came a terrific explosion which almost deafened the boys, even
+though their ears were covered with the fur caps, and though their own
+engine made a pandemonium of sound.
+
+The air was filled with flying debris--debris of the German guns and
+men. The bombs dropped by Tom and Jack had accomplished their mission.
+The harassing battery was destroyed. The German guns were silenced.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV. THE RESCUE
+
+
+Tom and Jack circled around slowly over the place where the German
+battery had been. It was now no more--it could work no more havoc to the
+American ranks. It did not need the wireless news to this effect, which
+the aviators sent back, to apprise the Allies of what had happened. They
+had seen the harassing guns blown up.
+
+Now out swarmed the Americans, charging with savage yells over the place
+that had been such a hindrance to their advance. Tom and Jack had done
+their work well.
+
+There was no need for the one to tell the other what was in his mind.
+There were still two of the powerful bombs left, and there was but one
+thought on this matter. They must be used to blow up, if possible,
+the camp near the German prison. Doing that would create havoc and
+consternation enough, the air service boys thought, to drive the captors
+away, and enable Leroy and his fellow prisoners to be saved.
+
+Jack punched Tom in the back and motioned for him to shut off the motor
+a moment so that talking would be possible. Tom did this, and Jack
+cried:
+
+“Shall we take a chance?”
+
+“Yes!” Tom answered in return.
+
+Strictly speaking, having accomplished the mission they were sent out
+on, they should have returned to their base for orders. But the airmen
+were given more liberty of action and decision than any other branch of
+the Allied service.
+
+“Go to it!” cried Jack, and once more Tom started the motor and headed
+the craft for the Hun prison.
+
+Again the air service boys were hovering over the prison camp. They
+could now see that there was much more activity around it than there had
+been before the big battery was destroyed. The fight was coming closer,
+and the Germans evidently knew it. Whether they were trying to arrange
+to take their captives farther back, or merely seeking to escape
+themselves from a trap, was not then evident.
+
+And, having reached a position where they could see below them what
+looked to be a concentration of German guns, perhaps to fire on any
+force that might advance against the prison. Jack let fall one of his
+two remaining bombs.
+
+It swerved to one side, and though it exploded with great force, and
+created havoc and consternation among the Huns, it did not fall where it
+was intended. The second battery was still intact.
+
+“My last shot!” grimly mused Jack, as he looked at the other bomb.
+
+Tom maneuvered the aeroplane until he had it about where he thought
+Jack would want it. The latter pressed the releasing lever and the bomb
+descended. It was the most powerful of the lot, and when it struck and
+exploded it not only demolished the defensive battery, making a hole in
+the place where it had stood, but it tore down part of the prison fence,
+and made such destruction generally that the Germans were stunned.
+
+Instantly, seeing that all had been accomplished that was possible, and
+noting that hovering around him were other Allied airmen who had agreed
+to help in the rescue, Tom sent his craft down. There was a burst of
+shrapnel around him and Jack, but though the latter was grazed by a
+bullet, neither was seriously hurt. A Hun plane darted down out of
+the sky to attack the bold Americans, but quickly it was engaged by a
+supporting Allied craft. However, the Hun was a good fighter, and won
+the battle against this antagonist. But when two other Allied planes
+closed in, that was the last of the enemy. He was sent crashing down to
+satisfy the vengeance in toll for the life of the birdman he had taken.
+
+Now Tom and Jack could see that their plan had worked better than they
+had dared to hope. The boldness of the attack from the air, coupled with
+the advance of the American army, started a panic in the German ranks.
+They began a retreat and the regiments near the prison camp were
+included in the rout.
+
+By this time either some of the prisoners saw that there was a break in
+the cordon around them, or they realized that a great battle was putting
+their guards to flight, for some of them made a rush toward a side where
+there were no Germans, and succeeded in breaking out--no hard task since
+part of the fence was shattered by the explosion.
+
+“Now's our chance,” cried Tom, though of course Jack could not hear
+this. “Harry may be among that bunch, and we want to get him and any
+others we can save.”
+
+He started the aeroplane on its downward path, while Jack, guessing the
+object, got the machine gun ready for action, since there might be a
+squad of Germans ready to give battle on the ground.
+
+Several other planes of the Allies, seeing what was going on, swooped to
+the aid of the two Americans, for there were no other of the Hun craft
+within sight now. All had been sent crashing down, or had drawn off.
+
+On either side of the immediate sector which included the prison camp,
+the battle was still raging fiercely, mostly with success on the side of
+the Americans, though in places they suffered a temporary setback.
+
+In the vicinity of the prison itself wild scenes were now being enacted.
+The prisoners were beginning to rise in force, for they saw freedom
+looming before them. There were fights between them and the guards,
+and terrible happenings took place, for the guards were armed and the
+prisoners were not. But as fast as some of the Germans fell they were
+stripped of their guns and ammunition, and the weapons turned by the
+prisoners against their former captors.
+
+All this while Tom and Jack were descending in their plane. As yet they
+were uncertain whether they were to be able to rescue Leroy or not. They
+could not distinguish him at that height, though from the enthusiastic
+manner in which several of the newly liberated ones waved at the
+on-coming aeroplanes, it would seem that they were of that arm of the
+service, and appreciated what was about to happen.
+
+Nearer and nearer to the ground flew Tom and Jack. And then, to their
+horror, they saw that several Germans had set up two machine guns to
+rake the prison yard, which was still filled with excited captives. The
+Germans were determined that as few as possible of their late captives
+should find freedom.
+
+Tom acted on the instant, by sending the plane in a different direction,
+to enable Jack to use his machine gun. And Jack understood this, for,
+with a shout of defiance, he turned his weapon on the closely packed
+Germans around their machine guns.
+
+For a moment they stood and some even tried to swerve the guns about to
+shatter the dropping aeroplane. But Jack's fire was too fierce. He wiped
+out the nest, and this danger was averted.
+
+A moment later Tom had the machine to earth, and it ran along the uneven
+and shell-torn ground, coming to a rest not far from what had been the
+outer fence of the prison camp. A group of Allied captives, newly freed,
+rushed forward. Tom and Jack, removing their goggles, looked eagerly for
+a sight of Harry Leroy. They did not see him, but they saw that which
+rejoiced them, and this was more aeroplanes coming to their aid, and
+also a column of infantry on the march across a distant valley. The
+stars and stripes were in the van, and at this the rescuers and the
+prisoners set up a cheer. It meant that the Germans were beaten at that
+point.
+
+“Where's Harry Leroy? Is he among the prisoners?” cried Jack to several
+of the liberated ones who crowded around the machine. There would be no
+question now of trying to save some one, a rush by mounting to the air
+with him. The advance of the Americans and the Allies was sufficiently
+strong to hold the prison position wrested from the Germans.
+
+“Was Harry Leroy among you?” asked Tom, of the joy-crazed prisoners.
+Many were Americans, but there were French, Italian, Russian, Belgian
+and British among the motley throng.
+
+Before any one could answer him there was a hoarse shout, and from some
+place where they had been hiding a squad of German soldiers rushed
+at the group of recent prisoners about Tom and Jack. Their guns had
+bayonets fixed, and it was the evident purpose of the Huns to make
+one last rush on the prisoners near the aeroplane to kill as many as
+possible.
+
+The Germans were a sufficiently strong force, and none of these
+prisoners was armed. They began to scatter and run for shelter, and Torn
+and Jack became aware that matters were not to be as easy as they had
+expected.
+
+But fortunately the fixed machine gun on the aeroplane, which was near
+the pilot's seat, pointed straight at the oncoming Huns. With a cry Tom
+sprang to the cockpit and quickly had the weapon spitting bullets at the
+foe. Then Jack saw his chance, and, climbing up to his seat, he swung
+his gun about so that it, too, raked the Germans.
+
+They came on with the desperation and courage of despair, but the steady
+firing was at last too much for them. They broke and ran--what were left
+of them alive--in what was a veritable rout, and this ended the last
+danger for that immediate time and place.
+
+Other aeroplanes dropped down to help consolidate the victory, and the
+explosion of some American shells at a point beyond the prison camp
+told its own story. The artillery had moved up to keep pace with the
+advancing infantry. The big battle had been won by Pershing's men, and
+the air service boys had not only done their share, but they had been
+instrumental in delivering a number of prisoners.
+
+As the last of the Germans fled and Tom and Jack leaned back, well nigh
+exhausted by the strain of the fighting, a voice cried:
+
+“Good work, old scouts! I knew you'd come for me sooner or later. At
+least I hoped you would!”
+
+They turned to see Harry Leroy walking slowly toward them.
+
+Harry Leroy it was, but wounds, illness, and imprisonment had worked a
+terrible change in him. He was but the ghost of his former sturdy self.
+Still it was their chum and the brother of Nellie Leroy, and Tom
+and Jack knew they had kept the promise made to the sister. They had
+effected the rescue which the offensive made possible.
+
+“Hurray!” cried Tom. “It's really you then, old scout!”
+
+“What's left of me--yes. Oh, but it's good to see the flag again!” and
+he pointed to the colors on the aeroplane and on the advancing banners
+of the infantry. “And it's good to see you again! I'd about given up,
+and so had most of us, when we heard the shooting and knew something was
+going on. But how did it happen? How did you get here, and how did you
+know I was here?”
+
+“Go easy!” advised Tom with a grin. “One question at a time. Can you
+ride in our bus? If you can we'll take you back with us. The others will
+be taken care of soon, I fancy, for our boys will soon be in permanent
+occupation here. Will you come back with us?”
+
+“Will I? Say, I'll come if I have to hitch on behind, like a can to a
+dog's tail!” cried Leroy, and, weak and ill-nourished as he was, it was
+evident that the sight of his former comrades had already done him much
+good.
+
+So now that the position was well won by the Americans and the Allies,
+Tom and Jack turned their machine about, wheeled it to a good taking
+off place, and with Harry Leroy as a passenger, though it made the place
+rather crowded, they flew back over the recent battleground, and to
+their own aerodrome, where Harry and some other prisoners, brought
+through the air by other birdmen, were well taken care of.
+
+The great battle was not yet over, for there was fighting up and down
+the line, and in distant sectors. But it was going well for Pershing's
+forces.
+
+“And now,” remarked Harry, when he had had food and had washed and had
+begun to smoke, “tell me all about it.” He was in the quarters assigned
+to Tom Raymond and Jack Parmly, being their guest.
+
+“Well, there isn't an awful lot to tell,” Tom said, modestly enough. “We
+heard you were in trouble, and came after you; that's all. How did you
+like your German boarding house?”
+
+“It was fierce! Terrible! I can't tell you what it means to be free.
+But I'd like to send word to my folks that I'm all right. I suppose they
+have heard I was a prisoner.”
+
+“Yes,” answered Tom. “In fact, you can talk to one of the family soon.
+That is, as soon as you can go to Paris.”
+
+“Talk to a member of the family? Go to Paris? What do you mean?” Harry
+fairly shouted the words.
+
+“Your sister Nellie is staying with friends of ours,” said Tom. “We'll
+take you to her.”
+
+“Nellie here? Great Scott! She said she was coming to the front, but I
+didn't believe her! Say, she is some sister!”
+
+“You said it!” exclaimed Tom, with as great fervor as Harry used.
+
+“Didn't you get the bundles we dropped?” asked Jack. “The notes and the
+packages of chocolate?”
+
+“Not a one,” 'replied Harry. “I was looking for some word, but none
+came, after one of the airmen told me he had dropped my glove. But I
+knew how it was--you didn't get a chance to send any word.”
+
+“Oh, but we did!” cried Tom, and then he told of the dropping of the
+packages.
+
+But, as Leroy related, he had been transferred from that camp a few days
+before.
+
+Two of the packets fell among the prisoners, who, after trying in vain
+to send them to Harry, partook of the good things to eat, which they
+much needed themselves. They were given to the ill prisoners, and the
+notes were carefully hidden away. Some time after the war Harry received
+them, and treasured them greatly as souvenirs.
+
+“But we didn't make any mistake this time,” said Tom. “We have you now.”
+
+“Yes,” agreed Harry with a smile, “you have me now, and mighty glad I am
+of it.”
+
+A few days later, when Harry was better able to travel, he went to see
+Nellie in Paris, a message having been sent soon after the big battle,
+to tell her that he was rescued and as well as could be expected.
+
+“But if it hadn't been for Tom and Jack I don't believe I'd be there
+now,” said Harry to his sister, as he sat in the homelike apartment of
+the Gleasons.
+
+“I know you wouldn't,” said Nellie. “They said they'd rescue you and
+they did. We shall never be able to thank them enough--but we can try!”
+
+She looked at Tom, and he--well, I shall firmly but kindly have to
+insist that what followed is neither your affair nor mine.
+
+And now, though you know it as well as I do, my story has come to an
+end. At least the present chronicle of the doings of the air service
+boys has nothing further to offer. Their further adventures will be
+related in another volume to be entitled: “Air Service Boys Flying for
+Victory.”
+
+But it was not the end of the fighting, and Tom and Jack did not cease
+their efforts. Harry Leroy, too, was eager to get back into the contest
+again, and he did, as soon as he had sufficiently recovered.
+
+He told some of his experiences while a prisoner among the Germans, and
+some things he did not tell. They were better left untold.
+
+However, I should like to close my story with a more pleasant scene than
+that, and so I invite your attention, one beautiful Sunday morning to
+Paris, when the sun was shining and war seemed very far away, though it
+was not. Two couples are going down a street which is gay with flower
+stands. There are two young men and two girls, the young men wear
+the aviation uniforms of the Americans. They walk along, chatting and
+laughing, and, as an aeroplane passes high overhead, its motors droning
+out a song of progress, they all look up.
+
+“That's what we'll be doing to-morrow,” observed Tom Raymond.
+
+“Yes,” agreed Jack Parmly.
+
+“Oh, hush!” laughed one of the girls. “Can't you stay on earth one day?”
+
+And there on earth, in such pleasant company, we will leave the Air
+Service Boys.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Air Service Boys in the Big Battle, by
+Charles Amory Beach
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