Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/211

206 "We'll soon know, for here's the car close at hand!" snapped Tom.

It gave both of them a strange feeling to see the wrecked car at the side of the road, and realize that they were wholly responsible for it. But since coming to the front they had been in contact with so many things associated with war's horrors that the young American aviators had by degrees come to steel their hearts against any display of weakness.

Jack hurried around to the rear. His one thought was to learn whether his fears could be well grounded. If by any ill luck he had managed to hit the tank containing the liquid of which they stood in such need, of what avail would all this chase be?

Tom on his part turned to take a look at the man inside. There would be no time to spare to try to mend his wounds, but something seemed to draw him forward as with invisible cords. Afterwards Tom often asked himself how he could have attempted to struggle against this magnet that was causing him to pay attention to the man, when by rights all his thoughts should have been given to securing what they had come after.

He heard Jack give a yell of delight, and caught the words:

"It's all right, Tom! Never hurt the tank