The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen Part 19

This was a most audacious move, and while Ralph was guiding the machine toward the stranger the lieutenant poured a constant stream of shot into the first comer. It must not be a.s.sumed, however, that the German machines were idle during this period. Both were firing, but the shots went wild, especially after the daring move just made.

"Up! up! as high as you can go!" was the next order.

The machine tilted, and the lieutenant looked back at Ralph approvingly.

"She is a dandy climber," said the lieutenant musingly. "Now I'd like to see them follow a bit."

One of the machines actually tried to imitate them, but the other ship was noticed wavering and swaying from side to side.

"Something is the matter with that fellow," said Alfred.

"Yes; he's done for, and we can easily polish off the other one,"

remarked the lieutenant, as he watched the falling machine. "Now turn around quickly and dive for the one who is trailing us," said the lieutenant through the tube.

Ralph banked the machine, and brought it around as quickly as possible.

The machine was not a quick-turning one, but the oncoming machine was not prepared for the manoeuver, for it seemed to hesitate which way to go. If it went to the left it would be impossible to use its gun, and if it turned to the right it would be at the mercy of the Frenchman's gun.

The only remedy was to dive; down went the machine at a sharp angle. The lieutenant's shots went wild, but they were soon rid of their troublesome companion.

"I suppose we'll have the whole German flying corps after us now," said the lieutenant. "Turn for home."

No sooner had they turned than another machine came up, this time a most determined fellow.

"Up! up!" again came the command, "and keep pointing that way. You might also veer to the left."

This time it was one of the well-known Taubes, with the disadvantage, however, that she was a tractor,--that is, had the propeller in front, like the Bleriot monoplane, so that it prevented the driver from shooting head on, whereas the Farman biplane was a pusher,--that is, had the gun mounted in front, and the propeller behind the planes. During the evolution of circling, however, the biplane had to present a broadside, which gave the Taube a chance to pour in a stream of shot, many of which took effect.

"That was a close shot!" shouted Ralph through the tube. The lieutenant looked back, and pointed to the tube. A shot had gone through it, causing Alfred and Ralph to look at each other in undisguised dismay.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A Safety Manoeuver_]

At every turn the lieutenant ground out the shot, and soon the barometer registered a height of 6,400 feet. Two miles more and the Taube made a peculiar turn, and glided to the right.

"You have hit him," said Alfred in excitement, and the lieutenant stopped churning.

"It seems like it," was the reply. "When we come back on the circle, go lower," he said to Ralph, "and I can finish him."

As they crept up closer and closer, the lieutenant, with his hand on the crank, waited for the final chance. Like a dying gladiator the Taube turned, and a most terrific storm of shot came from the quick firer.

This was the only time that the boys actually heard the thuds of the striking missiles on the body of the machine. It proved to be the last effort of the Taube; it dropped away, but still held its upright position.

Instantly the engine of the biplane stopped. The lieutenant, with his hand still on the crank, turned and shouted:

"What is the matter?"

There was dead silence, and sudden darkness, for they could not see in either direction. They had entered a dense cloud.

"Have we started on the down glide?" continued the lieutenant.

"I am trying to hold it up," said Ralph. As he spoke they emerged from the cloud, but the Taube was nowhere in sight.

"Try the starter," said the lieutenant feverishly.

"Can't do it," was the reply.

"Then hold it steady while I examine the tank," said the lieutenant. He leaned over, and almost immediately exclaimed: "The connection is shot away."

"I will make a long glide if you can fix it in the meantime," said Ralph.

"No; I will connect the other tank," was the reply.

It required less than a minute to perform this operation, but despite the repair the engine would not turn.

After another examination the lieutenant looked up from the pit, and said: "It's all up now. The other tank is also empty."

The barometer now showed that they were only a little over three thousand feet above the earth. A landing must be made, that was evident; but where? Alfred pointed to a forest, directly east.

"That might be a good place to come down, because there doesn't seem to be any houses there."

"Just the place if we can find a spot big enough," said the lieutenant.

With his field gla.s.ses he scanned the forest.

"Do you see that strip of dark green a little to the left? That is a clear s.p.a.ce, I am sure. Steer for that after circling around. We are still high enough to enable us to make a careful observation of the spot."

The machine descended in its regular glide, and they pa.s.sed over the indicated spot.

"That is a dandy place if you can hit it right," said Alfred.

It was narrow, not more than a hundred feet wide, but it extended diagonally up the hill, not the most desirable place to land, by any means, but it was the only thing to be done.

"Where shall I land?" asked Ralph.

"Try to strike the second clump of brush; do you see what I mean?" asked the lieutenant, his words tumbling over each other in his haste.

"I can do it," was the reply.

"May you have good luck," said the lieutenant.

They approached the end of the open s.p.a.ce between the trees. Fortunately the wind was not blowing, and the fuselage struck the first clump of brush, but they pa.s.sed over it without difficulty. Ralph then threw up the elevator sharply, and the front end tilted, while the body of the machine sank down gently, and the landing was made without a jar.

"That was the most beautiful thing I ever saw. You deserve great credit for that piece of work," said the lieutenant, as he leaned back and patted Ralph.

They leaped from the machine, and for a moment stood there helpless with the reaction which set in, the boys, particularly, being influenced by the great strain. The lieutenant was the first to speak: "Well, here we are in a pretty fix; but it might be worse," he said.

"No; we haven't a drop of petrol left," said Ralph ruefully. "Both tanks were perforated."

They sat down to consider the situation. It was now past five o'clock, and although it was generally the custom to take luncheon with them on these trips, the extra amount which had been stored was barely sufficient for a half meal. The sun was going down, and they had no idea of their location except that, by calculating, the lieutenant judged they might be fifteen miles northeast of Longwy. Everything was still, except the evening chirrup of the birds.

"It is too late to do any investigating tonight; but our first duty in the morning must be to arrange for food," said the lieutenant.