"Well what do you suppose he's going to do?" exclaimed Earl after Jacques and Captain Le Blanc had disappeared.
"He's going flying, I suppose," said Dubois.
"Say," cried Earl enviously, "I wish we were."
"That's the best part of the service all right," said Leon. "Jacques and I were in it together once and I know what I'm talking about."
"Why did you ever leave it?" inquired Dubois.
"I don't know," said Leon. "We thought it would be more exciting with the infantry and so we got transferred."
"Flying's not as safe as it was at the beginning of the war," remarked Dubois.
"I know it isn't," said Leon. "There are ten times as many machines now as there were then and ten times as many flyers. Then again, scouting over trenches is much more dangerous than over the open country. Here you are fired at constantly by the anti-aircraft guns and you meet so many more machines; they're all concentrated in one spot."
"Just the same I'd like to try it," exclaimed Earl eagerly. "Do you suppose that if Jacques is given a machine he could take us along as observers?"
"No such luck I'm afraid," laughed Leon grimly. "We may never see him again."
"Let's hope it will not be as bad as that," said Dubois. "Jacques is certainly a fine boy."
"He's a good friend of mine all right," said Leon warmly.
After a time the two brothers and Dubois were relieved from duty and retired to their dug-out for rest and recuperation. They were soon asleep, for the experiences of the past few hours had been exhausting. Heavy and regular breathing soon testified that the other occupants of the underground room were also deep in slumber.
Leon suddenly opened his eyes with the vague impression in his mind that someone was shaking him. He awoke to find himself staring into the flare of a flashlight. Some soldier held it in one hand while with the other he tugged at Leon's sleeve.
The young soldier was awake instantly and on his feet. Men who live in constant danger do not waste any time waking up.
"What is it?" he demanded.
"Come with me," said the man whom Leon recognized as Captain Le Blanc's orderly. "Also bring your brother."
"Wake up, Earl," whispered Leon eagerly in his brother's ear.
A moment later the twins and their guide were making their way along the trenches towards the captain's quarters. It was very dark and difficult to see. Vague, shadowy forms crouching low behind the parapets, however, testified that France's children were still guarding her. Day after day and night after night the constant vigil was kept up; never for one moment did these human machines relax their caution. Everywhere throughout the length of the long battle-line, sharp eyes kept watch.
Winding through the numerous trenches the three soldiers finally came to their destination. A moment's delay and they were ushered into the dug-out which served as Captain Le Blanc's quarters. A short time before, this same shelter had served a corresponding purpose for some German official.
Seated at a table were three men. One of them the brothers immediately recognized as Captain Le Blanc but the other two were strangers. The officer on the captain's right turned to him.
"Are these the two young men of whom you spoke?" he inquired.
Captain Le Blanc turned and glanced questioningly at Jacques who stood nearby. The young Frenchman nodded his head slightly.
"These are the ones, General," said the captain, facing again the man who had questioned him.
"Very good," exclaimed the general, a keen-eyed soldier with white hair and a white mustache. "They are friends of yours I take it?" he remarked to Jacques.
"Yes, sir," replied Jacques with a prompt salute.
"Young men," said the general now addressing Leon and Earl, "I have a mission to be performed; it requires the services of an experienced aviator and we have decided that it is best for him to be accompanied by two men. It is dangerous but it is necessary. We have chosen you three young men from among many and we rely on you to carry the enterprise through to a successful conclusion.
"You will start at dawn; Private Dineau will be the aviator and he will have as aides the brothers Platt. You will be conducted to the machine you are to use and as dawn is not far distant I advise you to prepare yourselves at once. Good luck to you."
He turned away and the three boys, realizing that they were dismissed, immediately withdrew. Captain Le Blanc's orderly followed them.
"I will conduct you to your machine," he announced and set out at once, closely followed by the three young soldiers. Back from the front they walked, proceeding through the winding maze of communicating trenches. Few words were spoken until they emerged from the trenches entirely and came to the open road.
A small motor-car with a chauffeur seated at the wheel stood near the entrance to the trench.
"For us," announced the orderly and straightway climbed aboard.
His companions were not slow to follow his example and a moment later they were whizzing at breakneck speed along the highway.
"Where are we being sent?" demanded Earl, who all this time had been consumed with intense curiosity.
Jacques merely shrugged his shoulders. "I do not know," he said.
"Say," exclaimed Leon suddenly, "what's this driver trying to do; kill us? Personally I'd rather be killed in battle if I must die. An automobile accident seems out of place in war."
"He's going some all right, isn't he?" cried Earl. "I'd like it th——"
His words were suddenly cut short. The driver swung the car sharply to the right to avoid a huge shell-hole blown in the middle of the highway; he did not slacken his speed one bit, however. Earl was thrown off the seat violently and found himself on the floor of the car; Jacques landed there beside him at the same time.
"This is pretty bad," exclaimed Earl. "I agree with you, Leon; he ought to stop it."
"But he won't," announced Jacques. "They all go like this."
"Well, I'll certainly be glad when it's over," said Earl grimly. "I can't get up onto the seat again."
"Don't try," advised Jacques. "We'll soon be there."
"If we're not all dead," murmured Earl.
Presently, however, the speed slackened and the machine came to a stop. An aviation field with hangars all around appeared some half mile distant.
"Here we are," announced the orderly, stepping from the car.
"How fast were we going there, Leon?" inquired Earl as they hastened to follow their guide.
"Seventy miles an hour," said Leon. "Did you like it?"
"I didnot," said Earl warmly. "That's too fast for me."
"Wait until we get into our aeroplane," warned Jacques. "We'll travel a hundred miles an hour easily."
"There are no shell-holes in the air anyway," said Earl. "We can't be wrecked that way as we nearly were back there on the road."
"Don't you believe it," exclaimed Jacques. "When they begin firing at us from the German trenches you'll find there are plenty of shell-holes in the air all right."
"By the way, haven't you any idea where we're going?"
"None at all. All I know is that this orderly is instructed to take us somewhere over here where we'll get our orders."
"Who was that man who talked to us?" asked Leon. "They called him 'general.'"
"That was General Petain," said Jacques. "Didn't you know him?"
"I never saw him before. Was that really he?"
General Petain was the man made famous by his splendid defense of Verdun and he was a popular hero with the soldiers.
"Who was the third man?" asked Earl.
"I don't know who he was."
The first faint streaks of dawn were just beginning to color the eastern sky as the little party stopped in front of a vine-covered cottage, just to one side of the aviation field.
"Here I leave you," announced their guide. "You are to report to Major Villier." He immediately turned on his heel and walked away.
Jacques led the way inside. The young soldiers were evidently expected for they were led without delay into the presence of an officer seated under a lamp, intently studying a map. He looked up as the three boys entered the room.
"Which one of you is Private Dineau?" he inquired.
"I am," announced Jacques stepping forward.
"Good," exclaimed the major. "Here are dispatches which you are to deliver to Colonel Erhard. He is in command at the village of Flambeau in the Vosges Mountains. The dispatches are important and should reach him at the earliest possible moment." As he spoke he handed a small packet to Jacques.
"Your aeroplane is waiting for you," he continued. "It will contain everything you will have need of and I wish you a good trip and a safe return, I would suggest that your two aides who look so very much alike go and see that everything is in readiness. Meanwhile I will point out Flambeau to you on the map and the best route for you to follow."
The major smiled at the two brothers who immediately departed, and guided by a soldier hastened across the aviation field to the spot where a big armored monoplane was just being trundled out of its hangar. A machine-gun was mounted on board and several bombs were also to be carried.
"Here are coats for you," said one of the men as the two brothers approached the machine. "You will find it cold up among the clouds today."
"How about food?" inquired Earl. He was always particular about that.
"Two days' rations for three men," said the soldier. "That is more than you'll need if all goes well but it's a good plan to be prepared."
"I think so too," agreed Earl. "What horsepower is this machine?"
"One hundred."
"Whew!" whistled Earl. "She ought to be able to make time."
"She can," said the soldier confidently. "Just wait until young Dineau gets hold of her. He'll make her sail; he's a wonder, that boy. It's a shame he ever got out of the aviation corps."
"He was good all right, wasn't he?" demanded Leon.
"Good?" exclaimed the man. "I should say he was good. Why I'll bet that if he had stuck to the flying corps he'd have bagged a dozen Boche machines by this time."
"He's reckless though," said Leon.
"Not reckless, but daring," insisted the soldier. "He doesn't know fear."
"Here he comes now," observed Earl.
A few moments later Jacques was in the driver's seat and Leon and Earl had taken their places on board. Every boy was dressed in a heavy coat and an aviator's hood, with protection for the ears and face; warm gloves were on their hands, for it promised to be biting cold in the high air that day.
The top rim of the sun was just appearing over the edge of the trees as Jacques pressed the button which set the self-starter whirring. The engine roared and the pilot listened intently for any sound of defect to come to his well-trained ear. An aviator must know by the sound just what is wrong with his motor; there is no chance to search for the cause of the trouble when you are a mile or two above ground.
Apparently Jacques was satisfied for he throttled the motor down until it merely purred. "All ready?" he demanded.
"Got your dispatches, have you?" asked Leon.
"Yes," said Jacques, feeling of his breast pocket.
"I guess we're off then," cried Leon eagerly. "Let 'er go."
The monoplane began to move forward slowly. The little knot of men gathered around called good-bys as the great mechanical bird ran out across the field. Faster and faster it went; finally Jacques pulled a lever and gracefully and easily it rose from the ground. Up, up, up it soared, swiftly and steadily.
"Say," almost shouted Earl, "this is wonderful. I've never been in an aeroplane before, you know."
"Well you keep your eye out for other machines and for people shooting at us from below," advised Leon. "That's your job and mine."
"It's such a wonderful sensation flying like this," cried Earl. "Just look down below us there. The roads look like white ribbons and the trees like bouquets. Don't the houses seem small?"
Earl was enchanted. Leon and Jacques too, although they were experienced hands at this game, once more felt the thrill of soaring swiftly through space. Jacques particularly was pleased to be in the driver's seat of an aeroplane again; his face plainly showed his keen enjoyment.
Higher and higher they mounted; below them the earth seemed miles away and the buildings and fields appeared to be of toy size. It was cold, however, bitterly cold, and all three of the boys were profoundly thankful for their warm wraps.
"You know it feels as if we were standing still," exclaimed Earl.
"I know it," agreed his brother. "The higher you go the more it seems that way too."
"Yes, sir," cried Earl, "if I didn't know better I should say that we were absolutely stationary and that it was the earth below that moved."
"Isn't the machine steady?"
"Feels as steady as a rock. You know I haven't felt the least bit nervous since we started."
"Why should you?" demanded Leon. "We're a good deal safer here than we are in the trenches."
"I suppose that's true," mused Earl. "You wouldn't think so, though, would you?"
"I don't know. The way the machines are perfected nowadays there is practically no danger from accident and with a good aviator you are as safe as any one can be in war. Of course plenty of machines are destroyed and the pilots and observers killed, but I believe the proportion is smaller than in any other branch of the service."
"Say," called Jacques from the pilot's seat.
"What is it?" demanded Leon.
"I've got a question to ask you. There are two ways of reaching Flambeau and I want your advice as to which to take. One way we can go around back of the firing line and be practically safe all the way."
"Go that way then," exclaimed Leon quickly.
"But," objected Jacques, "that course is much longer."
"Major Villier and General Petain both said that the dispatches should be delivered as soon as possible, didn't they?"
"'At the earliest possible moment,' was the way they expressed it," said Jacques.
"Then," said Leon, "we ought to take the shortest route."
"It crosses the battle line twice," said Jacques. "You know the trenches make a big loop below here and we will have to cut straight across that loop."
"Never mind," exclaimed Leon. "If they said to deliver the dispatches at the earliest possible moment it's for us to take the shortest possible course in order to do that."
"I think so too," agreed Earl. "We'll have to run our chances, that's all."
"There are the trenches below us now," cried Leon suddenly. "See them up ahead there?"
"Sure enough," exclaimed Earl. "Don't they look funny from here? They look just like a series of deep scars running in all directions."
"You can't see the first line trenches yet," said Leon. "You can easily tell them for they'll run exactly parallel to one another and the space in between them will be the only place where you see no trenches. Behind both the French and German first lines there are any number of other trenches running in all directions and all connected. But in between the two front ones there is nothing; 'no-man's land' they call it."
"'Dead-man's land' would be better I should think."
"See them firing," exclaimed Leon suddenly.
"At us?" queried Earl.
"No. You can see those puffs of smoke down below there though; those are bursting shells."
"There are the first line trenches too," said Earl abruptly. "You can tell them easily, can't you, just as you said."
"How high are we, Jacques?" inquired Leon.
The young aviator consulted his indicator. "Two thousand meters," he replied.
"Let's see," said Leon, trying to figure it out in his head, "there are a little over three feet in a meter and that would make two thousand meters about six thousand feet or over. There are five thousand two hundred and forty feet in a mile; that makes us a little over a mile high."
"Can they hit us at this distance?" asked Earl.
"They can, but I hope they don't," said Leon grimly.
"Funny we haven't seen any other machines," remarked Earl.
"Well we're right over the front trenches now and I guess plenty of people see us and are looking at us right this minute."
As he spoke a puff of white smoke suddenly appeared ahead of them but some distance below.
"They're firing at us," exclaimed Jacques.
"Shall we drop a bomb on them?" cried Earl eagerly. "We want them to know that we're alive, you know."
"Don't do it," cautioned Jacques. "It would probably be wasted here."
"There's another shot," cried Leon. "Behind us this time."
"Let's hope their aim continues as poor as that," said Jacques. "We want to get those dispatches to Colonel Erhard at Flambeau before anything happens to us."
"We'll be over hostile territory all the way, won't we?" asked Earl.
"We will," replied Jacques, "and we'll be fired at all the way too. If they should send a couple of machines up after us we might have to run for it."
"I don't know where we'd run to," said Leon grimly.
"Nor I," admitted Jacques. "Let's hope that we can out-distance any machines that start to chase us."
"Do you think this machine is faster than the German ones?" asked Earl.
"Faster than most of them," replied Jacques. "Probably not as speedy as those newfokkersthough; they go like the wind, but they are too light and I doubt if one of them could do us a great deal of harm."
They passed over many towns and hamlets; the green fields of France lay spread out beneath them like some soft green carpet. It all appeared very beautiful and peaceful now that they were some miles back of the firing line. An occasional puff of smoke around them, however, showed that they still traversed hostile territory; at least it was land held by the invader.
Once a German machine rose from its hangar far below and set out in pursuit of the speeding monoplane; it was quickly out-distanced, however, and soon abandoned the chase. Without any special incident the three young friends progressed until far ahead of them they could make out the faint outlines of the Vosges.
"There are the mountains," cried Jacques.
"Sure enough," exclaimed Earl. "Well we've had a pretty easy trip of it, haven't we? It has been a regular pleasure jaunt."
"We're not there yet," warned Leon.
Closer and closer they came to the mountains. Presently it was possible to make out the different summits, all of them wrapped in a blue haze.
"Do you know where Flambeau is, Jacques?" queried Earl.
"I do."
"We'll have to cross the firing line again, won't we?"
"Yes; pretty soon now too, I think."
"Do you know where it runs here?" asked Leon. "If it should follow the top of some of these mountains we'd have to ascend much higher than we are now to be out of range, wouldn't we?"
"We certainly would. Keep your eyes open and see if you can see any signs of trenches; we ought to be pretty close now."
The foothills were below them now. The wooded slopes were cut and gashed by gullies and ravines and now and then a fertile valley appeared. The hills grew in size rapidly, however, and it was not long before the mountains themselves were underneath them. Once or twice a cloud wrapped them in its damp folds and it was with a feeling of relief when they emerged into the sunlight again.
"Whew, it's cold," exclaimed Leon slapping his hands together.
"My hands are cold too," said Jacques. "You have the best of me though for I can't warm them the way you are doing."
"Please don't try," laughed Earl. "I'd rather that you should have cold hands than we should all go spinning down to earth."
"Well I'll—" Jacques began when Leon suddenly interrupted him.
"There are the trenches," he exclaimed. "See them? They run right across that valley."
"That's right," agreed Jacques. "Let's see; we must be fairly close to our destination by now." He consulted his map.
"I hope so," exclaimed Earl. "I'm cold and hungry."
"Right over that next summit," said Jacques. "If our luck only holds out a few minutes longer we're all right."
They crossed the firing line which appeared very far away in the distant valley. They passed over the summit of the mountain Jacques had indicated and far below them they saw a tiny hamlet; a white church with its pointed steeple stood in the center of the little cluster of houses.
"There's Flambeau," announced Jacques.
"Good," cried Earl. "Where do we land? In that big field behind the church?"
"That seems to be the only place, doesn't it?"
"As far as I can see it is," remarked Leon.
"All right," said Jacques. "Here we go."
The monoplane dipped and began to descend in great circles. The young pilot shut off the motor and in silence, except for the noise of the air rushing through the wings, it swooped downward.
Earl did not enjoy this as much as he had the previous flying. As they came nearer and nearer to earth he could see the trees and fields rushing past beneath them and the sensation of speed was very great. He felt slightly nauseated and clung tightly to the sides of his seat.
Jacques was most skillful, however. He maneuvered the monoplane until they were directly over the field where they intended to make a landing. Then he suddenly shot downward until they were but a few yards above the ground; suddenly he straightened out the machine and they came to earth gracefully and without a jar. The monoplane ran along the ground for a short distance and came to a stop.
A squad of soldiers in the blue uniform of France came hurrying forward to greet the aviators.
"Is this Flambeau?" demanded Jacques of the corporal.
"It is," replied the man addressed.
"And Colonel Erhard is here?"
"He is. Do you wish to see him?"
"I have some most important dispatches for him."
"Of course you wish to deliver them to him in person?"
"Yes," said Jacques.
"If you will come with me," said the corporal, "I will conduct you to him at once."
Jacques climbed out of the monoplane and set out across the field with the corporal.
"We'll wait right here for you, Jacques," called Leon, as he and Earl also stepped out of the machine and began to stretch their legs.
"Anglais?" queried one of the soldiers, hearing Leon speak in English.
"Américain," smiled Leon.
"Bon," exclaimed the man. "Parlez-vous Francais?Je ne parle pas l'Anglaise." (Good. Do you speak French? I do not speak English.)
"Un peu" (a little), said Leon and he and his brother did their best to carry on a conversation in French with their new friends.
It seemed that there had been spirited fighting for the last week along that portion of the front. The men were of the opinion that the attacks and counter-attacks thus far had been in the nature of feelers and that both sides were searching for a weak spot in their opponent's line. They all seemed to feel that a general offensive was about to be undertaken and every man was convinced that the dispatches the three young friends had brought were in some way connected with this movement.
The sun was warm in the field and the twin brothers spent a most enjoyable hour talking with their new comrades. Like all the French troops they were talkative, enthusiastic and hospitable. They were eager for news; they were certain that France and her allies would be victorious; they also brought hot coffee and sweet chocolate for the young Americans. They were delighted to think that people from a land so distant should think enough of France to fight for her in her struggle for freedom and justice.
Leon and Earl were particularly interested to learn that large forces of Russian troops were now fighting side by side with their allies on the western front. They had not heard that there were Russian soldiers in France, although such reports had often been freely circulated. A soldier knows little about the war in which he fights; he sees what takes place on the ground in the immediate vicinity of the place where he is located but the general outcome or fortunes of battles he knows nothing about. People at home or in neutral countries know much more about the actual trend of the war than does the soldier who fights its battles.
Finally Jacques went back to the monoplane and preparations for an immediate return were made.
"All ready to go back?" he inquired cheerily.
"Yes," said Leon. "Did you deliver your dispatches all right?"
"Yes, indeed, and now we have nothing to think about except getting back home to thedouzièmeonce more."
"I'd hardly call it home," laughed Earl. "I hope there aren't as many bullets and shells flying around our homes as there are around thedouzième. Home wouldn't be very comfortable under those circumstances."
"Well we'd better start anyway," said Jacques. "All aboard!"
The boys quickly scrambled back to their places. The little group of soldiers they were leaving wished them the best of luck and then the machine started.
"Do you suppose we'll have as easy a trip home as we did coming?" asked Earl as they began to soar higher and higher.
"We can go the long way if you want to," said Jacques.
"What do you think, Leon?" demanded Earl. "Don't you think we might as well take the longer but the safer route on the return trip?"
"I don't see why not," exclaimed Leon. "We can fly just behind the battle-line all the way back. I'd like to see what it looks like."
"So should I," agreed Jacques. "We'll do it then, only we'll have to keep a mile or so behind the front."
"That's all right," exclaimed Earl. "We can see if we're a mile or so high."
They had covered scarcely two miles from the village of Flambeau when Leon suddenly spied another aeroplane.
"Look!" he cried excitedly. "There's another monoplane!"
"Where?" demanded Jacques.
"To your right."
One glance was enough for Jacques. His experienced eye immediately identified the stranger and he turned to his two aides.
"That's a German flier," he remarked. "Get the machine-gun ready."
"What are you going to do?" demanded Earl eagerly.
"Chase him of course," said Jacques.
"Now you fellows will have to do all the work with the machine-gun," exclaimed Jacques as he shifted the course of the big monoplane and started in pursuit of their enemy.
"Leave that to us," cried Leon.
"I'll have to; maneuvering this machine will keep me busy."
Higher and higher Jacques steered the monoplane. His desire was to rise above their opponent if possible and thus take him at a disadvantage.
"Do you suppose he sees us?" demanded Earl.
"Certainly he does," said Leon.
"And he's ready to fight?"
"If he wasn't he'd turn and run."
"How soon shall we open fire?"
"I don't know yet; he's two miles away now, anyway."
Speeding through the sky the two great mechanical birds rushed at each other. With jaw set and a cool calculating eye Jacques sat in the pilot's seat and directed the course of his flier. Earl and Leon held the machine-gun ready for instant action.
"We're almost over the battle-line," announced Earl suddenly. "I can see the trenches below."
"Never mind them," exclaimed Leon. "Watch that machine."
"He's smaller than we are," said Earl.
"There are only two men in it too," added Leon.
"Get ready," ordered Jacques suddenly.
As the two machines approached each other Jacques all at once elevated his front plane and the big French flier rose swiftly higher and higher. The opponents were scarcely a half-mile apart now and as the monoplane in which the three young soldiers of France were seated rose above its adversary Leon and Earl opened fire with the machine-gun.
The Germans replied but the aim of each was poor and the two fliers swept past each other unharmed.
"Turn around, Jacques, and go back after him," cried Leon excitedly. "We'll get him next time."
With a wide graceful sweep Jacques turned the big monoplane and advanced again to the attack. The German also had wheeled and once again the two machines approached each other, maneuvering for position.
"Be careful now," warned Jacques. "We can't afford to miss many times for you may be sure he won't."
"Get above him, Jacques," cried Earl. "That's our best chance."
They were high above the summits of the Vosges now: the air was bitterly cold, but the three young aviators did not notice that fact. Neither did they notice that in their maneuvers they had crossed the battle line and were now flying over territory occupied by their foes. Their one object was the German aeroplane and everything else had been forgotten in their desire to accomplish its downfall.
Around and around the two machines flew, each one trying to force its opponent into a position of disadvantage.
"We're faster than he is, Jacques," cried Leon. "Follow him up from behind and go higher than he does."
"I don't believe we can do that," exclaimed Jacques doubtfully.
"Try it," urged Leon eagerly.
"I'll try it."
Jacques skillfully wheeled the machine and describing a great loop, doubled on his course. Meanwhile he rose to greater and greater heights. The earth was now many thousand feet below; even the clouds were beneath them in many instances.
"He's running away," cried Earl suddenly.
"After him, Jacques! After him!" shouted Leon.
The German, perceiving Jacques' purpose had turned and was now fleeing at full speed. No more did he circle and maneuver for position; his course was straightened out and he raced for safety.
"We'll get him," shouted Leon. "We're gaining fast."
Closer and closer they came to their enemy. Little by little the distance between the two racing machines decreased. The three boys leaned forward tensely as if to urge their flier on; Leon and Earl sat ready to open fire with the machine-gun the moment Jacques should give the word.
Suddenly the German machine shot downward; it was a ruse to throw off the pursuer who followed so relentlessly, but it was of no avail. Jacques did the same thing and earthward the big monoplane rushed at breakneck speed.
The German flier turned and started back; Jacques followed. All the time the three boys were gaining on their foe. They were almost within range now and the twin brothers prepared to carry out their part of the task in hand.
"Get ready," warned Jacques when they were only a few hundred yards behind their opponent and some distance above him.
"We're ready," answered Leon quickly.
"Let 'em have it then," cried Jacques.
The sharp rattling fire of the machine-gun answered his words and even the roar of the motor was unheard in the tumult. Below, the Germans could be seen aiming their quick-firers skyward at their French pursuer.
Jacques had been successful in gaining the better position, however, and they had their foe at a distinct disadvantage. Leon and Earl poured a deadly stream of bullets at their adversary. "He's hit," cried Earl suddenly.
"So are we," exclaimed Jacques.
"Where?" demanded Leon in alarm.
"A bullet has cut one of the supports for our wings."
"Is it dangerous?" asked Earl anxiously.
"I'm afraid so; I can't tell yet."
The fire from the German machine had ceased. It floated through the air as though the pilot had lost control and its speed had decreased greatly.
"Give him another volley, Leon," urged Jacques.
They were directly above their opponent now. Pointing the machine-gun straight downward the two brothers sent another hail of bullets whistling towards their foe.
The German machine fluttered for a moment like a wounded bird. Suddenly a blaze appeared from a spot near the gasoline tank; a moment later there was a burst of flame enveloping nearly the whole machine. It reeled drunkenly for a moment and then fell.
Fascinated, the two brothers watched its descent. Like some great flaming meteor it hurtled earthward. Down, down, down it plunged into the distant valley below. A sheet of fire trailed behind until finally it struck the earth with a crash; there was a burst of smoke and with a start the young Americans came to themselves again.
The horror and the awfulness of their opponent's death had had a profound effect upon them and for the moment they had forgotten everything else. Still, this was war and death is part of the game.
Jacques, however, had paid no attention to the fate of the German flier. All he knew was that his own machine was disabled and that he and his companions were in deadly peril.
"What do you think, Jacques?" demanded Leon. "Will that wing hold up?"
"I do not think so," replied Jacques soberly. "I think we must land."
"Where are we?"
"Inside the German lines."
"But if we land here we will all be taken prisoners."
"Our lines must be ten miles away," said Jacques. "What can we do?"
"It won't hold us that far you think?" asked Earl anxiously.
"I am sure it won't."
"Can't we try it?"
"It would be foolish," said Jacques firmly. "Unless we land at once that wing may collapse and then we shall go spinning towards the earth just as fast as did those Germans."
"You know best," exclaimed Leon. "I hate to think of being taken to some German prison camp though."
"Perhaps we can make repairs," said Jacques. Carefully he descended, now and then casting an anxious look towards the weakened support. Below was a heavily wooded valley with only an occasional small clearing where a tiny farm appeared.
"Can we land all right?" inquired Earl.
"We can with luck," replied Jacques grimly.
The big monoplane wobbled badly at times and the young aviator had to call upon all of his skill to prevent the machine from capsizing. As they neared the ground the three boys maintained a strict silence and with anxious hearts awaited the outcome.
A wide forest stretched beneath them. The waving tree-tops appeared soft and feathery from above, but the three boys knew that unless they could avoid the trees their doom was sealed. The open space in which Jacques was trying to effect a landing seemed pitifully small.
The young Frenchman was a past master of aviation, however. With the greatest skill he directed the disabled machine until they were directly above the clearing. He shut off the engine, which had been running at only half speed lately; one final short turn and he brought the aeroplane safely to earth.
The landing was in a plowed field and as a result not as smooth as it would have been on the aviation grounds, but they were safe; that was the principal thing.
"Good work, Jacques!" cried Leon enthusiastically.
"We're safe from the air but how about the Germans?" demanded Jacques anxiously.
"Well they won't take us without an argument anyway," exclaimed Leon. He drew his automatic revolver from its case and gazed apprehensively at the little white house which stood in one corner of the clearing.
"See if you can't repair that wing, Jacques," urged Earl. "We may be able to fix it and get back without any trouble at all."
"No Germans are apt to be around here anyway," exclaimed Leon. "Why we are miles and miles behind the front and in the middle of a big forest. We could hide in these woods for weeks and never be discovered."
"German observers have undoubtedly seen our machine descend," said Jacques. "They are probably searching for us already."
"Look there!" cried Earl suddenly.
High in the air above the spot where the three boys were standing appeared an aeroplane.
"A German machine," exclaimed Leon.
"And looking for us," added Jacques grimly.
"Do you suppose he sees us?" asked Earl.
"No doubt of it," said Jacques confidently. "There'll be German soldiers here before you know it."
"Can't you repair the machine?"
"I think I could if I had some wire."
"I'll run over to the house and see if I can't find some."
"There may be Germans living there," objected Jacques. "You'd better be careful."
"He dropped a bomb," suddenly cried Leon who had not once removed his gaze from the flier high above their heads.
A tiny speck appeared under the aeroplane and rapidly approached the earth.
"Lie down," shouted Jacques, immediately suiting his action to the word. The two brothers instantly did likewise.
A moment later there was a sharp explosion. From the sound it was certain that the bomb had struck only a short distance away. A moment after hearing the report, however, the three young soldiers were on their feet.
"Where did it land?" demanded Earl.
"On that barn," exclaimed Leon. "Just look at it."
The roof had been partly blown off the little barn and already the structure was in flames.
"I hope he doesn't try it again," said Earl gazing skyward.
"I guess he won't," said Jacques. "He seems to be flying away."
"Yes," exclaimed Leon. "I suppose he's gone to tell where we are and to send somebody after us."
"If I only had some wire," said Jacques examining the broken support.
"Well I'm going over to see if we can't find something in that house," said Earl firmly. "It's funny there doesn't seem to be anybody around."
"The house must be empty," said Leon. "That bomb and the fire would certainly have brought any one out if the place was occupied."
At that moment, however, the door of the house opened and two men in priest's robes appeared. They glanced once in the direction of the damaged monoplane and then rushed towards the burning barn.
"They can't do much to stop that fire now," remarked Leon grimly. "By the way the barn burns it must be full of hay."
"I'll go speak to them," exclaimed Earl. "They may be able to give us some wire."
"I'd better go, I guess," said Jacques. "As my French is better than yours I can probably talk to them easier than you can."
"That's true," agreed Earl readily. "Why don't we all go?"
"You two stay here and guard this monoplane," exclaimed Jacques. "They may arrive here after us at any minute." He set off at a run across the field.
"If that aviator who threw the bomb has landed yet," remarked Leon, "he has undoubtedly telephoned to the post nearest this place and soldiers are probably on their way here already."
"They've got to go through a lot of woods to reach this spot," said Earl. "Perhaps they won't be able to find it."
"Don't you worry about that; they'll come straight here without the least bit of trouble."
"The minute any Germans appear it seems to me the thing for us to do is to take to the woods. We might be able to escape that way."
"Our chance of escape depends on whether Jacques can get any wire or not," said Leon. "I wish he could hurry."
"He'll do his best," remarked Earl. "You may be sure of that."
"What's he doing over there anyway?"
"Talking with the priests as far as I can see," said Earl. "I guess they decided there was no use in trying to save their barn."
"I should say not. It's too bad though and as a matter of fact we are the ones who are really to blame for it."
"How so?"
"Well, if we hadn't landed in this clearing that German flier would not have dropped any bombs down here."
"That's true," agreed Earl. "Where's that priest going?"
He had turned and was walking swiftly towards the house. Jacques stood talking with the other priest for a moment and then he too started in the direction of the dwelling.
"Do you think those priests are French?" asked Earl.
"I don't know; I suppose so though."
"Well if they are they'll help us, won't they?"
"They'd probably like to but I don't know whether they'd dare or not."
"The Germans would do something to them if they were caught aiding us in any way I suppose."
"They certainly would," exclaimed Leon.
"Shoot them?"
"Probably."
Jacques and the priest were now inside the house and it seemed to the two brothers who waited so impatiently that they were gone a very long time. The remaining priest stood and sadly watched the eager flames destroy the barn as if it were made of paper.
At length, however, the door of the house opened once more and Jacques and the priest reappeared.
"What has Jacques under his arm?" demanded Earl.
"I can't see," said Leon.
"It's a roll of wire," cried Earl suddenly. "We'll soon be off now."
"If the Germans don't reach here first we will."
"Don't be so gloomy," Earl protested. "Of course we'll get away."
"It'll be dark soon."
"All the better. They won't be able to see us in the dark."
"And we won't be able to see our way."
"You're an old pessimist," exclaimed Earl lightly. "Good boy, Jacques," he cried as the young Frenchman came within hearing. "I knew you'd fix us up all right."
"We must hurry," panted Jacques, his breath almost gone after his quick trip across the field. "We haven't much time."
"Can't I help?" inquired Earl eagerly.
"No, thanks; I can probably work faster alone."
He set to work immediately and without wasting a moment or making a false move began the work of repairing the weakened support. Meanwhile Earl and Leon kept a sharp lookout on all sides for any sign of their enemies.
"Who were those priests?" asked Earl finally.
"Frenchmen," replied Jacques keeping right on with his work.
"How do they happen to be living here inside the German lines?"
"This place is a sort of monastery or home and they are allowed to stay here for some reason. Every day one or the other of them has to report at the nearest German post though; that is five miles away."
"How do they reach it?" inquired Leon.
"They have a bicycle they use in good weather and in bad they have to walk."
"Is there a good road through the forest?"
"Fairly so, they said."
"That's a pretty tough job, isn't it?" exclaimed Leon. "Still I suppose they'd rather do that than leave their home."
Jacques still toiled earnestly at his task. The sun was fading in the west and the shadows of the forest trees began to lengthen. It would be dark presently.
"How soon can we start?" asked Leon anxiously.
"I don't know," replied Jacques. "In about ten minutes, I hope."
"Well we've been lucky so far not to have been discovered," exclaimed Earl. "I hope our luck keeps up."
"We've been discovered all right," said Leon. "Don't worry about that; they haven't reached here yet, that's all."
"And we certainly hope they won't," muttered Jacques fervently.
With anxious eyes the two brothers scanned the forest edges all around the clearing. The barn still blazed brightly, though now but one wall remained standing; one by one the others had collapsed.
Five minutes more and they would be safe. Jacques was putting the finishing touches on his work and was almost ready to start. He was an excellent and speedy workman but the time spent seemed dreadfully long to his two companions. They stood first on one foot and then on the other. Would he never finish?
"All ready," cried Jacques at last.
"Can we get in?" demanded Earl eagerly.
"Certainly. Jump aboard and I'll join you in a second, just as soon as I get this wire out of our way."
The two brothers needed no second invitation and made haste to do as Jacques had directed them. Earl was just about to climb into his seat with Leon close behind him when there was a rifle shot and a bullet, whistling through the air, passed close above their heads.