Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/209

204 even though they wrecked the car of what avail would their victory be if in the end they found only an empty reservoir?

Tom could see ahead a short distance. He kept a keen lookout, for after they had stopped the car it would be necessary for them to make a successful landing; and he knew full well what difficulties must then confront him as the pilot. Any sort of accident, and it would be all over with them. Either they would be killed, or at the best find themselves prisoners of the Boches.

Jack now began to get his range better. All the while they were hovering about the height of an ordinary house above the fleeing car, and keeping somewhat in the rear. It was certainly the queerest pursuit that any one could well imagine, and no wonder the man who was trying his best to escape believed his last hour had come.

Then one of the missiles accomplished its work, and a tire went flat.

The car zigzagged worse than ever, and its speed was cut down. The pilot managed to guide the machine, however, and keep it on the road until the speed was very low; and then it wsnt into the ditch with a crash.

The car was a wreck. As to the condition of the driver the air service boys at first knew