Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/218

Rh had managed to get the contents of the tank into a can that had been thrown out of the car at the time of the collison; and in which it could be readily transported to the airplane.

So they left the man, still grunting and groaning and looking very miserable. Tom concluded he need have no further occasion to harbour ill feeling against such a wretch, who had been so thoroughly repaid for all the mischief he had done in the Raymond family.

The air service boys soon had the gasolene aboard and were ready to start. Jack ran ahead to examine the character of the ground, and reported it excellent. Indeed, once the start had been given to the propellers, and Jack clambered aboard so that the pilot could let go, they trundled over the ground, and tool to the air without difficulty.

Both felt relieved now that they had a chance to fly once more. First of all it was their policy to mount to a high level, where they could hope to pass unnoticed over numerous towns and villages that still lay in the route of the fighting front beyond the border.

Of course everything looked strange to them below. They could make out roads, and lines of rails over which laden trains were passing back and forth; but though Tom had a map of