CHAPTER XXV
ESCAPE
A gasp rose from the four boys as they saw Fritz hurl himself over therim of the car. They knew that nothing could be done, yet all threwthemselves toward the Uhlan in the vain hope of rescue.
It needed little exercise of the imagination to picture the result ofFritz's rash act. Too well the boys understood what would happen whenthe soldier fell from such an altitude.
"Good night!" gasped Jimmie, turning a pale face toward his friends.
"How did he do it?" asked Jack, a tremble in his voice.
"He must have been an acrobat of the first water to manage such athing!" declared Harry. "I thought he was as secure as anything."
"Too late now to help him, and we've still got the German aeroplane toreckon with," warned Ned. "Keep a sharp lookout for the fellow!"
"What is the stranger doing now?" asked Jack, pointing to the planethat had appeared from the westward.
"He seems to be heading directly for us," replied Ned. "I wonder if hetakes us to be Germans, trying some trick or other."
"Better take off these German uniforms," advised Jimmie, stripping offhis jacket as he spoke. "I'm going to drop mine overboard!"
As he spoke the lad flung the jacket as far as he could and watched itsdescent with interest. The others were not long in following hisexample.
"I'll tell you what we'll do!" offered Dave. "When we get near enough,shut off the engine so it won't make any noise and we'll all shout'Vive la France!' at him. He'll know then we're not enemies."
"Good idea, but I can't speak French," returned Jimmie.
"Well, then, try something!" urged the lad.
"I don't believe anything at all is necessary," stated Ned as the twocame nearer. "They seem to be after the Germans and not us!"
"What's that place down there?" asked Harry after some time. "It looksto me as if it were a camp of some sort. I see several tents."
"That's an aviation camp just like the one we saw when we came throughFrance and gave General Joffre his fast ride!" declared Jimmie.
"Sure enough!" declared Ned. "They have painted the tops of the wingsthat peculiar color so that they cannot be readily seen from an enemyair craft. That's rather a good idea, too!"
With scarcely a bump the Eagle settled to the earth and was at oncesurrounded by French soldiers, some garbed in the well-known suits andhelmets of aviators, others dressed as ordinary infantrymen, whilestill others wore greasy overalls and jumpers.
The language used was French, and they were at a loss to know whattheir questions meant.
"You'll have to talk United States!" declared Jimmie, rising andholding up a hand for attention. "We can't understand that stuff."
"Ah, so you speak English?" questioned one of the men.
All five boys gathered about their prisoner as he stood beside theEagle.
As the lads looked at the newcomer they saw a short, broad shoulderedman wearing a white moustache. The figure looked strangely familiar.
"Do you recognize that man, Jimmie?" asked Ned.
Jimmie's answer was lost in the roar of exhaust from one of the otheraeroplanes parked nearby. All turned in amazement at the noise. Witha rush the French plane swept by the group and began soaring into theair. One glance showed the lads that Otto was at the levers.
During the brief moment that their attention had been diverted, theUhlan had taken advantage of their preoccupation and had silentlystolen away to the machine whose engine had been left running. Now hewas beyond recall, and in a short time would be again on the easternside of the fighting line, where he would no doubt join his regiment.
Chagrined, the lads looked at each other with crestfallen glances.
As the clamor of the other motor died into a steady drone they turnedto look again at the advancing figure.
"Why, that's General Joffre!" gasped Jimmie. "Hope he don't recognizeus. I feel too cheap for anything!"
"I think I have seen these young men before," he began cordially. "Youare the young men who were of so much assistance to me at one time."
"Thank you, General," replied Ned. "We are glad to see you again."
"And what can I do for you in return for that kindness?" asked thegeneral without going into the details of the event with which those ofour readers who have read the previous volumes of this series arealready familiar. "If there is anything I can do, please command me."
"We'd only like safe conduct to some seaport, sir," answered Ned,"where we can take passage to the United States. We want to get home!"
"That can be arranged, I am sure!" stated the general, heartily. "Butyou must be rather hungry. Will you not step into the tent here andhave some lunch? You can tell me of your adventures while you eat."
There they related to the general and some of his aides the incidentsleading up to their flight of that morning, not omitting to tell oftheir neglect to retain the prisoner they had so strangely brought tocamp.
As they finished, the general said, as he looked at Jimmie:
"And so the Germans are rushing train loads of soldiers to the front,are they? And are they bringing any guns?"
"They're bringing lots of troops," replied Jimmie, "but I didn't seeany big guns. They've got some trains of ammunition on the way."
"Thanks!" acknowledged General Joffre. "That news is important!"
"Great Frozen Hot Boxes!" cried Jimmie, rising. "There I've gone andgiven away a lot of perfectly good information! And all the time Isaid I was going to remain perfectly neutral! Just my luck!"
"But at least," continued the general, "you have your packet and willbe glad to return to your home so that you may carry out the wishes ofyour acquaintance who was responsible for so many of your adventures.Besides, you didn't intend to tell me anything, did you?"
"If you would consider selling your airship we would like to purchaseit," the general said, turning again to Ned. "It appears to be a finemachine and I think we could use it to advantage."
"You are very kind, sir. We will be glad to sell it if you wish."
In a short time, details of the purchase had been arranged and the boyswere on their way toward Havre, where they were to take boat for theUnited States. As they left the camp they gave three rousing cheersfor General Joffre and swung their caps in farewell.
As the camp was left behind, Dave turned to his companions withgrateful thanks for their kindnesses to him.
"Oh, pshaw!" declared Jimmie. "Don't say a word about that! You didas much for us as we did for you. Now we're headed for home againlet's forget all about how we served under the Enemy and how the Forcesescaped!"
"Just the same, I'll have a lot to tell the members of my Patrol when Iget back to Vancouver!" declared Dave, earnestly. "I'm glad I had thechance to meet with the Black Bears and Wolves!"
"And I hope that the next time you meet any of the Bears and Wolves youwon't have to come over here and meet them while they are in the Germanarmy," put in Ned. "Hereafter I'm going to be like Jimmie. I'm goingto be neutral if I have to fight for it!"
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