by E. J. Craine
CHAPTER VII
THE BATTLE IN THE AIR
The din soon became general, one after another of the American planesjoining in the battle. The German aircraft held off a little, fightingfrom afar, evidently thinking to accomplish their ends without taking toomuch risk. Had they boldly assaulted, doubtless the result would havebeen much more disastrous to both sides.
The big bombers had but one object in view, which was to bomb theimportant target below. To drop an explosive on a certain spot had beenthe most important training of those aboard these craft. They had beencarefully selected from the ranks of the many observers taking servicein the aviation branch of the service; and great things were expectedof them now.
The Huns had concentrated the glare of numerous searchlights on the hubof the squadron's activities, so that the speeding planes could be seendarting hither and thither like bats during an August evening, dartingaround some arc-light in the street.
The flash of the distant guns aboard the planes looked like faintfire-flies in action. No longer was the earth wrapped in darkness, forflares dropped by the bombers kept continually on fire. The bridge stoodplainly out, and a keen eye, even without the aid of glasses, coulddistinguish the rush of terrorized German troopers trying to get clear ofthe danger zone before a well directed bomb struck home.
Jack, leaning from his seat, took all this in. He was keyed to thetop-notch by what he saw and heard. Tame indeed did most other incidentsof the past appear when compared with this most stupendous event.
"Wow!" burst from his lips, as a sudden brilliant flash below told thatthe first huge bomb had struck; but with all that racket going on aroundof course no ordinary human voice could have been heard.
He could see that it had not been a successful attempt, for the bombstruck the ground at some little distance away from the terminus of thestructure spanning the river. However, it did considerable damage whereit fell, and created no end of alarm among those who were near by.
As yet the Air Service Boys had not been engaged with any of the hostileplanes, though most of the other Yankee pilots seemed to be having theirhands full in meeting and repelling fierce attacks.
Both kept in readiness for work should their turn come, Tom manipulatingthe plane, and Jack working the rapid-fire gun which he had learned tohandle so cleverly.
Strangely enough, Jack, as he looked, was reminded of a vast circus whichhe had once attended, and where tumblers, athletes, and trained animalswere all performing in three rings at the same time. He had found itutterly impossible to watch everything that went on, and rememberedcomplaining lustily afterwards in consequence.
Now there were some eleven rings in all, besides what was taking placethousands of feet below, where the bombs had started to burst, tearinggreat gaps in the ground close to the bridge, and causing the wateritself to gush upward like spouting geysers.
Lower still dropped the venturesome pilots guiding the destinies of thefour huge bombers. What chances they were taking, bent only on succeedingin the important task to which they had been assigned!
Jack knew he would never forget that dreadful crisis, no matter if hewere allowed to live to the age of Methuselah; such an impression did itmake upon his mind.
But their turn came at length, for in the dim light two big Gothas werediscovered swinging in toward them as though bent on bringing about thedestruction of the Yankee battleplane.
Jack forgot about what was taking place below, since all of hisenergies must now be directed toward beating off this double attack.It had come to the point of self-preservation. The Hun airmen wereplaying a prearranged game of hunting in couples. While one made afeint at attacking, the other expected to take advantage of anexposure and inflict a fatal blow that would send the Americanaeroplane whirling to death.
Jack saw when the nearest plane opened fire. The spitting flame told himthis, for it darted out like the fiery tongue of a serpent. He alsorealized that the bullets were cutting through space all around them; anda splinter striking his arm announced the fuselage of the plane hadalready been struck, showing the gunner had their range.
Then Jack began work on his own account, not meaning to let the fightbecome one-sided. His duty was to pepper any of the enemy craft that camewithin range, regardless of consequences. To Tom must be left the entirerunning of the plane motor, as well as the maneuvering that would form apart of the affray.
Heedless of what was taking place around them, the two chums devotedtheir attention to the task of baffling the designs of their two foes.Wonderfully well did Tom manage his aerial steed. They swung this wayand that, dipped, rose, and cut corners in a dizzying fashion in theendeavor to confuse the aim of the Hun marksmen.
Once Jack experienced a sudden sinking in the region of his heart. Therewas a strange movement to the plane that made him fear the motor had beenstruck. He also missed the cheery hum at the same time, and felt asickening sensation of falling.
But immediately he realized that Tom was only executing his pet drop, thenose-dive. One of the Huns followed them down, just as a hawk-mightpursue its prey. When the American plane came out of the dive at the newlevel Jack saw that the Hun was closer than ever, and once again startingto bombard them.
At least they now had only a single adversary to deal with, which couldbe reckoned a point gained. Most of the fighting was going on above them,but Jack believed the bombers must be somewhere near by, possibly at astill lower level.
Again the maneuvering, or jockeying, for position commenced. In this airduel the pilot who knew his business best was going to come out ahead. Itmight be they were opposed by some celebrated German ace with a long listof victories to his credit, which would render their chances smaller.
Tom, however, seemed to be keeping up his end wonderfully well. Thehissing missiles cut through the canvas of their wings, beat upon theside of the fuselage, and even nipped the Air Service Boys more than onceas they stormed past. Neither of the boys knew whether they wereseriously wounded or not; all they could do was to fight on and on, untilsomething definite had been achieved on one side or the other.
Once Jack felt something blinding him, and putting up a hand discoveredthat it was wet; yet he was not conscious of having been struck in thehead by a passing bullet. Dashing his sleeve across his eyes he shut hisjaws still tighter together, and continued to play his gun as theopportunity arose.
They were coming to closer quarters, and the issue of the battle, howeverdreadful the result, could not be much longer delayed, Jack knew.
Then it happened, coming like a flash of lightning from the storm cloud!
