Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/171

166 was seen, and desperate attempts were made by his comrades to sally out and rescue him.

Three times did this happen, only to have the German guns open on them with telling effect. Dozens of men had fallen solely through their desire to save the gallant air pilot. Twice did Teutons venture forth with the evident intention of making him a prisoner, only to recoil before the blast of deadly machine-gun fire that blazed forth in their faces.

Finally the Germans, as if furious at their losses, turned their machine-guns on the wreckage of the French plane, and fairly riddled both machine and pilot with balls.

Of course Tom easily picked out the big observation Caudron in which, as he knew, Jack was doing duty just then. Once he thought something serious had happened to it when he saw the plane rock violently, as if about to collapse; but it immediately righted again. Tom guessed it was one of those high explosive shells that were still coming periodically from the Teuton rear that had passed so close as to cause the motion.

His heart had jumped into his throat with a sudden fear, lest Jack's initial experience in hovering above a battlefield be also his last Then he felt a wave of relief pass over him when he saw that the danger had passed; for