Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/169

164 observation plane far ahead. The bustling little Nieuport that came rushing to assist them arrived after all was over.

Taken altogether, that day gave Tom Raymond a better insight concerning the duties of an aviation pilot in war-time than all the instruction he had received in a school.

Finally it was noted that another observer had taken the place of the plane from which their signals had been coming. That meant a relief operator had arrived to allow the tired pair a chance to secure much-needed rest.

Tom himself was not sorry to discover that they too were about to give way to another plane that was arising toward them. As it drew closer, and it became possible for the pilots to wave a few signals to each other, Tom saw the observer in the relieving plane make a familiar movement with his hand. Since that was an old signal practiced between Jack and himself he knew who the bundled-up figure in the observer's seat was.

He made no attempt at conversation, because the roar of the motors and other sounds went; to make up a Bedlam of noise and it was next to impossible to make himself heard.

So waving Jack farewell, Tom again turned his attention to the battlefield below him for a last view before they descended to the hangar