The plane in which Tom and Jack had gone aloft to make observations
which, it was hoped, would result in the discovery of the hidden
battery, was a special machine. While very powerful and swift and
equipped for air-fighting, it was also one that had been used by one of
the French photographers and his pilot. The photographer, was a daring
man, and had, not long before, gone to his death in fighting three
Hun planes. But he had peculiar ideas regarding his car, and under his
orders it had been fitted with a glass floor in the two cockpits, or
what corresponded to them.
Thus he and his pilot could look down and observe the nature of the
enemy country over which they were traveling without having to lean
over, not always a safe act where anti-aircraft guns below are shooting
up shrapnel.
So as Torn and Jack flew on and on, over the enemy's first and
succeeding line trenches, they looked down through the glass windows in
the plane to make their observations. There was a camera attached to
the plane, and though they could each make use of it, but they were not
skilled in this work.
It was impossible for them to talk to one another now, as Jack had the
motor going almost full speed, and the noise it made was deafening, or
it would have been except for the warm, fur hoods that covered the ears
of the fliers. They were warmly dressed for they did not know how high
they might ascend, and it is always cold up above, no matter how hot it
is on the earth.
Up and up they climbed, and then they flew on and over the enemy lines,
keeping close lookout for anything unusual below that would indicate
the presence of the battery. Behind them, and off to one side, a fierce
aerial battle was going on.
Tom and Jack were eager to get into this and do their share. But they
had orders to make their observations, and they dared not 'refuse. They
could tell by looking back every now and then that the affair was going
well for the Allies, including some of the American airmen, even if the
Huns outnumbered them.
Back and forth over the German lines swept the glass-bottomed Spad, and
at a certain point Tom, who was looking down, uttered an exclamation. Of
course Jack could not hear, but he could feel the punch in the back his
chum administered a moment later.
Jack turned his head, and saw his chum eagerly pointing downward. A
moment later he motioned over his left shoulder, pointing backward, as
though they had just passed over something which would warrant a second
inspection.
Jack swung the machine about in a big circle, banking sharply, and then,
as he passed over the ground covered a little while before, he, too,
looked down, and with sharper glance than he had used at first.
What he saw was the ruins of a small French chateau. It had been under
heavy fire from the Allied guns, for it had sheltered a German machine
gun nest, and some accurate shooting on the part of the American gunners
had demolished it a day or so before.
But what attracted the attention of Tom and Jack was that whereas the
chateau before the bombardment had stood on a little hill without a
tree near it, now there was a miniature forest surrounding it. It was
as though trees and bushes had sprung up in the night. As soon as he
had seen this, Jack turned to Tom, nodded comprehendingly, and at once
started back over the American lines. They had no easy time reaching
them, for by this time the fleet of Hun planes had been defeated by the
Allies, and had turned tail to run for safety--that is what were left of
them, several having been shot down, and at no small cost to the French,
English and American forces.
But the defeat of their airmen seemed to anger the Germans, and they
opened up with their antiaircraft batteries on the machine in which Tom
and Jack were flying homeward. “Woolly bears” and “flaming onions,” as
well as shrapnel, was used against them, and they were in considerable
danger. Jack had to “zoom” several times to get out of reach of the
shells.
They finally reached their aerodrome, however, and as soon as they had
landed and their plane was taken in charge by the mechanics the two lads
hurried to the commanding officer.
“Well?” he asked sharply, as they saluted. “Did you discover anything?”
“I think so, sir,” returned Tom, for Jack had told his chum to do
the talking, since the discovery was his. “You remember, sir, the old
chateau we put out of business the other day?”
“Yes, I recall it. What about it?”
“This: It seems suddenly to have grown a wooded park around it, and
the trees and bushes don't seem to be as fresh as natural ones ought to
look.”
“You mean they camouflaged the ruins, and have put another battery in
the old, chateau?”
“I think so, sir. It wouldn't do any harm to drop a few shells there.
If it's still a ruin the worst will be that we've wasted a little
ammunition and may start the German guns up. And if it is what we think
it is, we may blow up the battery.”
The commander thought for a moment.
“I'll try it!” he suddenly said. “It's worth all it will cost.”
He called an orderly and issued his instructions. Tom and Jack had not
yet been dismissed, and now the commanding officer turned to them and
said:
“Since you boys were sharp enough to discover this, I'll let you have a
front seat at the show which will start soon. Go up and do contact work.
Let the gunners know when they make a hit.”
The air service boys could not have wished for anything better.
“Once more for our bus!” exclaimed Jack delightedly, when they were
outside.
Their Spad had been refilled with gasoline, or “petrol,” as it is called
on the other side, and oil had been put in, while the machine guns had
been looked to.
“You seem to have spotted it all right, Tom,” went on Jack, just as
they were about to start, for word came that the American batteries were
ready.
“Yes, I was looking down through the glass, and when I saw the old
chateau it struck me that it had suddenly grown a beard. I remembered
it before, as being on a bare hill. I thought it was funny, and that I
might be mistaken. But when you agreed with me I knew I was right.”
“Oh, the Huns have brought up trees and bushes to disguise the place all
right,” declared, Jack. “The only question is whether or not the battery
is hidden there.”
But there was not long a question about that. Their machine was equipped
with wireless to signal back the result of the shots, and Jack and
Tom were soon in position. From the maps used when they had previously
shelled the place to drive out the German gunners, the American
artillery forces knew just about where to plant the shells.
There was a burst of fire from the designated battery. Up aloft Jack and
Tom watched the shell fall. It was a trifle over, and a correction was
signaled back.
A moment later the second shell--a big one sailed over the German first
lines, and fell directly on the chateau partly hidden in the woods.
There was a burst of smoke, and with it mingled clouds of dust and
flying particles. Faintly to Tom and Jack, above the noise of their
motor, came the sound of a terrific explosion.
There had been a direct hit on the old ruins, as was proved by the fact
that not only was the German battery put out of commission, but a great
quantity of ammunition hidden in the trees and bushes was blown up, and
with it a considerable number of Germans.
And that it was a place well garrisoned was evident to the air service
boys as they saw a few Huns, who were not killed by the shell and
resultant explosion of the ammunition dump, running away from the place
of destruction.
“That was it all right,” said Jack, as he and Tom landed back of their
own lines.
“Yes, and it couldn't have been hit better. I hope that was the battery
they wanted put out of business.”
And it was, for no more shells came from that vicinity of the Hun
positions for a long time. The aeroplane observations had given the very
information needed, and Tom and Jack were congratulated, not only by
their comrades, but by the commanding officer himself, which counted for
a great deal.