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 airstudents.
"Yes, it doesn't look very promising," returned his chum.
Jack looked aloft where the sky--or what took its place--was representedby a gray mist that seemed ready to drip water at any moment. It wasa day of "low visibility," and one when air work was almost totallysuspended. This applied to the enemy as well as to the Yankees. For eventhough it is feasible to go up in an aeroplane in fog, or even rain orsnow, 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'sgoggles, making it impossible for him to see more than a plane's lengthahead, if, indeed, he can see that far. Then, too, little, if anything,can be accomplished by going aloft in a storm or fog. No observationsof any account can be made, and the aviator, once he gets aloft, is aslikely to come down behind the German lines as he is to descend safelywithin his own.
That being the case, Tom and Jack, in common with their comrades of theair, had a vacation period. Some of them obtained leave and went to thenearest town, while some put in their time going over their guns andglasses and equipment and machines.
Jack and Tom elected to do the latter. There was one very fast andpowerful Spad which they often used together, taking turns at pilotingit and acting as observer. They thought they might have a chance soon togo over the German lines in this, their favorite craft, so they decidedto put in their spare time seeing that it was in perfect shape, and thatthe two machine guns were ready for action when needed.
"'Would you rather do this than fly, Jack?" asked Tom, as they wentover, in detail, each part of the powerful Spad.
"I should say not! But, after all, one is just as important as theother. I hope we get a good day to-morrow. I'd like to do somethingtoward seeing if we can't get Harry out of the Boche's clutches," and henodded in the direction of the German lines.
"'Tisn't going to be easy doing that," remarked Tom. "I'd ask nothingbetter than to have a hand in getting him away, but I haven't yet beenable 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 sectionwhere he's held--I mean somewhere near the German prison--and if webombed the place enough, and created enough excitement, some of us mightland 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. Onething's sure--we've got to get Harry out, or his sister never will feellike going back home and facing the folks."
"That's right!" agreed Jack. "We've got a double motive for this. ButI'm afraid it's going to be too hard."
"That's what we thought when we rescued Mrs. Gleason from the old castlewhere Potzfeldt had her caged," retorted Tom. "But you made out allright."
"Yes; thanks to your help."
"Well, we'll both work together again," declared Tom. "And now let'stry this Lewis gun. The last time we were up it jammed on me, and yet itworked all right on the ground." So they tested the guns, looked to themotor, and in general made ready for a flight when the weather shouldclear.
This happened two days later, when the fog and mist were blown away andthe blue sky could be seen. In the interim the artillery and infantryon both sides had not been idle, and there had been some desperateengagements, with the brigaded American troops making a new name forthemselves.
"I guess there'll be something doing to-day," remarked Tom, as he andJack tumbled out of bed at the usual early hour. "Clear as a bell," heannounced, after a glance from the window. "Shouldn't wonder but what wewent over their lines to-day."
"And I suppose, by the same token, they'll be coming over ours," andJack nodded to indicate the Germans.
"Let 'em come!" exclaimed Tom. "It takes two sides to make a fight, andthat's what we're here for."
Hardly had the two air service boys finished their breakfast, than anorderly came to tell them the commanding officer wanted them to reportto him. They hurried across the aviation ground, toward the headquartersbuilding, noting on the way that there were signs of unusual activityamong the newer members of the American air forces, as well as among theFrench 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 takesome 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 thecommanding officer, saluting, they quickly learned that they were to goon 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 thathave been playing havoc with our men," he said, as he looked up from atable covered with maps. "They're located somewhere along this front,but they're so well camouflaged that no one has yet been able todiscover them.
"I want you boys to see if you can turn the trick. The guns have killeda lot of our men, as well as the French and English. We've tried to rushthe emplacement, but we can't get a line on where it is for it's wellhidden. I asked permission of the British commanding general to send uptwo American scouts, and he mentioned you boys. Get your orders from themajor, 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 araid on a big scale over the enemy's lines, and you two will thus have abetter chance to carry out your observations unmolested. The Hun planeswill have their hands full attending to our fighters, and they may notattack a single plane off by itself. We'll try to draw them away fromyou.
"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 gotoutside he clapped his chum on the back, crying: "That's the stuff! Goodold C.O. to send us! That's what we've been looking for! Maybe we'llhave time to drop down and shoot some of the Huns that are guardingHarry."
"No chance of that--forget it now," urged Jack. "We'll clean up thislocation trick first, and then think of a plan to get Harry away. Itsounds 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 wasin this that they would try to locate the hidden battery, and, havingreceived detailed instructions from the major in command, the two ladsclimbed into their air plane and started off.
The day was clear and bright, just the sort for aeroplane activity; andit was evident there would be plenty of it, since, even as they beganclimbing, Tom and Jack saw planes from their own aerodrome skirtingahead of and behind them, while, in the distance and over German-heldterritory, were Fokkers and Gothas with the iron cross conspicuouslypainted on each.
Tom and Jack had been given a map of the front, their own and the Germanlines being shown, and the probable location of the hidden Hun batterymarked. This they now studied as they started over the front, Jack beingin front, while Tom sat behind him, to work the swivel Lewis gun.
Their Spad machine was one that could be controlled from either seat, sothat if one rider was disabled the other could take charge. Therewere two guns, one fixed and the other movable, and a good supply ofammunition.
"Well, I guess there'll be some fighting to-day," observed Tom, as Jackshut off the motor for a moment, to see if it would respond readily whenthe throttle was opened again. "They're closing in from both sides."
And indeed the Allied planes were sailing forth to meet a squadron ofthe enemy. But none of the Hun
craft seemed to pay any attention to Tomand Jack. Steadily they flew on until an exclamation from Jack causedTom to look down. He noted that they were over the German lines, andheaded for the probable location of the battery that had been such athorn in the side of the Allies.