THE WOUNDED AVIATORS
They were out early the next morning, and started for the tramway a mile
distant. They passed Tom's hangar, and stopped for a moment to take a
look at his machine. As they were leaving they heard his voice:
"Going to leave us?" he inquired.
"No; but we must go to the city to get our mail, and we are expecting a
telegram," shouted Ralph.
"Get back by eleven o'clock if you can," was the answer.
"We'll be here, sure," said Alfred.
"He must mean that we can have a try in the machine at that time, I
suppose," remarked Ralph.
"I imagine that's why he wants us back then," answered Alfred.
They covered the mile in record time. The idea of going up in a machine
was a stimulus, and they talked about it all the way, and wondered what
it would feel like to sail above the earth in a war-machine.
At the post office they had their first disappointment, and there was
nothing at the telegraph office. They were perplexed at the absence of
news, but consoled themselves with the thought that transportation from
the Swiss frontier might be in the same condition as at the Western
front, so they decided they would not remain long in the city.
The city, containing a population of about 40,000, is located on the
sand dunes. It takes its name from the old church of St. Eloi, and means
_church on the dunes_. It has been in existence for over a thousand
years, and was owned by the Dutch, the Spaniards, and the English,
before it became permanent French territory.
Passing through the principal square, on their way to the terminus of
the tram cars, they saw crowds of people moving toward the main landing
place of vessels. They followed, and witnessed the debarkation of the
first vessel load of Red Cross supplies, accompanied by a large corps of
physicians and Red Cross nurses.
Fully fifty vans were taken from the ship and lined up, with their
equipments, ready for a prompt start. A number of lorries (large motor
trucks), carrying beds, bedding and like material, followed, and were
placed behind the vans.
"Do you know where they are going?" asked Ralph, addressing a young man
in uniform.
"To the general hospital, where they will be assigned to stations near
the front," he replied.
"Do you mean the general hospital near the aviation ground?" inquired
Alfred.
"Yes," was the answer.
"Probably we can get a chance to ride there," said Ralph, addressing
Alfred.
The man overheard the remark, and quickly turned to the boys.
"Are you attached to the flying squadron?" he asked.
"Yes," replied Alfred.
"Then they wouldn't object, I am sure," answered the officer, and he
strode forward. After speaking a few words to one who seemed to be in
charge, he motioned to them.
"Get in, boys," he said.
They were quick to respond, and, after thanking the officer, mounted one
of the vans. Inside were three nurses and two physicians, who smiled at
the boys.
"So you are going to war, too?" said one of the nurses, as she made room
for them.
"Yes," said Alfred, rather shyly; "we are going back."
"Going back?" remarked one of the doctors. "Did you say 'going back?'"
he inquired.
"Well, we were with the Belgian army from Liege to Antwerp, and came
across the northern part of Belgium with them," said Alfred.
"Then you must have seen some fighting?" asked one of the others, much
interested.
"Yes, indeed; we were in the first battles of the war," said Ralph.
The information was certainly an interesting bit of news. From that time
on the boys were the center of interest, and many questions were plied
and answered.
"But where are you bound now?" asked one of the doctors. "If I
understand correctly, you are attached to the aviation corps, is that
so?"
"Yes, we are being put up by them, and we may do some flying in a few
days," said Alfred.
"We do hope you will be successful," said one of the nurses. "Won't you
tell us where you are from?"
"We are from New York," said Alfred.
"Then you are not English?" she asked.
"Oh, no," replied Alfred. "But that doesn't make any difference. It's
just the same as though we were English. We want to help out."
There was a merry roar of laughter at this, and Ralph immediately chimed
in with a sort of explanation: "The Germans didn't treat us right, when
they captured us, and, anyhow, they had no business to attack Belgium."
"Good for you," said a sweet little miss. "We like Americans, and
especially those like you who have that spirit."
The vans covered the ground to the general hospital in quick time, and
the boys were really sorry when the van drew up before the building, but
they quickly recognized the place where they had accompanied the injured
aviators the previous day.
"Ralph, we ought to go in and see the lieutenant and Jack," said Alfred.
"Who are they?" interposed the doctor.
"Why, they fell with their machine yesterday, and we helped them out,"
said Alfred.
"What was the lieutenant's name?" asked the doctor.
"Why, we don't know; we forgot to ask for it; but maybe they will let us
in," said Ralph.
"Come along," said the doctor. "We'll find a way to get in."
They followed him up the steps, and marched to the office, where the
doctor was greeted by many of those present.
"Who was it that met with an accident yesterday?" he asked.
"Lieutenant Winston," was the reply.
"And was he badly hurt?" almost shrieked the sweet little nurse who had
accompanied the party in the van.
"No; he is getting along well," said the attending physician. "He owes
his life to a couple of brave lads, who happened to be near. He has been
anxious to see the boys, and has asked where they were."
"We are the ones who helped him," said Ralph. "We want to see him; may
we?"
"Oh, thank you, thank you so much," said the nurse.
"Do you know him?" inquired Alfred.
"He is my brother; may we go to him at once?" she asked.
"I will take you to him," said the physician.
"So you are Miss Winston?" said Alfred. "Isn't it funny how we happened
to meet you?"
She almost hugged the boys in her joy at the news, and at her good
fortune in thus meeting the boys who were instrumental in saving her
brother.
The lieutenant saw his sister approaching arm in arm with the two boys.
The greeting was a most affectionate one.
"I met the two boys in Dunkirk; they just happened to get into our van.
We learned after we got here what they had done. Isn't it noble of
them?" she said.
"I have tried to find them all day," said the lieutenant, and he pressed
the hands of the boys. "Yes, I was in an awfully tight place when the
boys found me; but I am all right now."
They remained with the lieutenant and his sister for more than an hour.
They had entirely forgotten their appointment with Tom. It was nearly
twelve o'clock.
"I am afraid we shall have to leave you," said Ralph. "We promised Tom
to be over at the hangar at eleven."
"Tom Brandon; the American dare-devil?" said the lieutenant, smiling.
"Why, yes," replied Alfred, somewhat hesitatingly. "Is he a dare-devil?"
he continued, with wide-open eyes.
"Well, he doesn't seem to be afraid of anything; I suppose he would go
anywhere, if he was ordered to make the trip. Is your engagement an
important one?" asked the lieutenant, with a curious light in his eye.
"Why,--yes,--we--we wanted to take a flight this afternoon," said Ralph.
"Do you think they would let us?" asked Alfred quickly.
"Rather against the rules and somewhat risky," said the lieutenant,
slowly shaking his head, but his face relaxed, as he saw the crestfallen
appearance of the boys. "We can get around the rules sometimes," he
added.
"Tom said he would try to fix it for us," said Ralph.
"Then go at once, and tell him that Winston gave him permission," said
the lieutenant. "Do you think it is safe, Addie?" he asked, turning to
his sister.
"It seems to me it is safe to trust boys who have been in battles as
they have, don't you?" she replied sweetly, as she arose and grasped the
boys' hands. "Now, don't forget us, will you?"
"No, indeed; we intend to come over to see you in the morning," said
Ralph.
The boys fairly flew across the broad grounds in order to reach the
hangar. Their chagrin was great as they peered in to find that Tom and
his machine were absent.
"Looking for Tom?" asked one of the men.
"Yes; do you know where he is?" asked Alfred.
"He's coming now, I think," was the reply, as the man approached the
door and glanced upward. "Yes; there he is, winging it in."
Within two minutes the Morane gave a quick dive, then flattened out and
skimmed the ground, and just before alighting the nose of the machine
gave a short, quick, upward dart.
"He does that the slickest of the whole lot. That was a quick stop, sure
enough," remarked an attendant.
The machine had landed not two hundred feet from the hangar. The boys
were over without delay, and accosted Tom, as he reached the ground.
"We are sorry that we couldn't get here in time, but we met Lieutenant
Winston's sister coming over, and we were detained at the hospital,"
said Ralph.
"It's just as well, as I couldn't make it. The commandant wouldn't give
me the time to take you out," said Tom.
"But the lieutenant told us to tell you that he gave you permission to
take us," said Alfred.
"Did he say that? Well, that's another thing. I'll tell the commandant,"
and, without another word, he crossed the field, and disappeared. He was
back in five minutes, and waved his hat as he appeared.
"All right, boys; we'll have an hour's flight; how will that suit you?"
he said.
The boys were too much excited to know what to say in reply. Tom walked
around the machine, observing every part of the control plane and the
wires, then mounted the chassis, and with a wrench unscrewed the base of
the machine gun.
"Here, boys; we'll take this off for the afternoon; it'll give you more
room. There, take hold of it at both ends, and carry it into the
hangar," he said, as he handed down the weapon.
"Gee! but that weighs something!" said Ralph.
"Close to eighty pounds, I should say," observed Tom.
"Where shall we sit?" asked Alfred.
"You can easily crowd into the hole in front," said Tom. "Now don't get
frightened and jump out; I can bring you down easier than that. If it
seems to turn over, don't mind. That's part of the game."
The Morane was equipped with a self-starter, but three attendants were
on hand to hold the machine. They took their places and Tom turned on
the switch. Whir-r-r-r-r,--they felt the tremor of the machine. Soon
Tom's hand was raised and came down with a swift motion. They felt the
machine slowly gain headway, and then it seemed to spring forward with
huge leaps. At first they could feel the oscillating motion of the
wheels, and as the speed increased there was less jar until finally
there was no further vertical movement, and they no longer felt the
wheels traveling over the ground.
"We're up!" shouted Ralph in excitement, as he turned to Tom. The latter
evidently knew what Ralph meant, even though the noise of the motor
prevented him from hearing, for he merely smiled, and shook his head.
Alfred leaned over the side of the body, and gazed at the wheels, and as
he did so something seemed to push the seat of the aeroplane upwardly.
He quickly turned toward Tom and smiled. They were in the air. How
glorious it seemed to Ralph and Alfred at that moment. The feeling was
an indescribable one; they were now going up rapidly; ahead was a tall
pylon, which seemed to be directly in their way.
Ralph seized Alfred's arm, and pointed toward it, their eyes being
intently fixed on the square flag which flew above the mast, but the
machine seemed to whiz by it like a streak. After passing it the machine
seemed to slow down. They were not aware that the closer you are to an
object the faster seems to be the motion. Looking down at the earth they
could note an object for some time, and as they went further up and up,
things on the earth seemed to pass by with less and less speed.
The most confusing thing to them was the constant change of position.
Instead of making a straight-away flight Tom circled around the aviation
field twice, going higher on each turn. The great hangar was plainly
visible each time they came around, but it grew smaller and smaller.
The boys leaned over the body of the machine, and scanned the earth
below. It was too grand and inspiring for words. It was some time before
they began to realize that the hangars were disappearing, and that the
machine was now going forward in one direction. The country below was a
confused maze of narrow yellow streaks, bordered by green and yellow
spots, with innumerable rows of dark green and brown bands and patches,
which they soon recognized as trees, while cottages and larger buildings
dotted the whole landscape as far as the eye could reach.
Alfred was the first to cast his eyes to the north. What he saw almost
startled him. A dark vivid green spread to the horizon, blending with a
pale mist, far, far away.
"Look! look!" he cried.
"That's the sea!" shouted Ralph.
Tom smiled as he reveled in their joy. He pointed ahead, and the boys
quickly turned. Far off, in the distance, they saw what seemed to be
immense fields of snow.
"What can that be?" asked Ralph.
Alfred shook his head, and gazed silently, then turned toward Tom. "Can
you make it out?" he asked Ralph. The latter shook his head.
The machine went on for ten minutes more. Beyond the white fields
something else arrested their attention; great clouds of smoke were
observed. They were not clouds, and there was no fire visible on the
earth. That was the second mystery.
"I know what that is now," said Ralph.
"What is it?" asked Alfred.
"Tents, tents," said Ralph.
"Yes, and that smoke must come from the big guns," said Alfred.
Ralph turned his head toward Tom, and raised his cap. The latter knew
that the boys recognized the nature of the scene before them.
"That must be a battle," said Alfred, as he pointed to the great clouds
of smoke.
"Look way over to the left," shouted Ralph. "See that long, narrow road?
There is something moving there."
"Why, that is cavalry; sure enough. See, they are turning a corner in
the road. That's plain enough," said Alfred.
"I wonder if he is going to take us over the German lines?" queried
Ralph.
"And suppose something happens, and we are compelled to go down; we'll
be in a nice fix," remarked Alfred.
Ralph shook his head, and glanced back toward Tom. The latter, however,
soon turned the machine. As he did so a dozen or more aeroplanes came
into view. They noticed that the machine was going toward a field where
a huge gas bag was moored near the ground. It was an observation
balloon. Beyond were several dozens of flying machines drawn up in front
of the hangars. Tom circled the machine around several times; the earth
came nearer, and soon they observed a long stretch of green that seemed
to invite them. In another minute they were several hundred feet from
the earth, and they seemed to go faster and faster.
"Whew! but doesn't it scoot now," said Alfred.
They grasped the body of the car, while it seemed to fairly sizzle
through the air. Closer and closer the earth crept up toward them. They
felt that it would be necessary to hold fast when the shock came. The
next sensation was most peculiar; the body of the car began to rock up
and down; the din of the motor had ceased, and they were riding on the
earth.