by E. J. Craine
Produced by Roger Frank and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
THE DUEL IN MIDAIR.]
AIR SERVICE BOYS OVER THE ENEMY'S LINES
OR
THE GERMAN SPY'S SECRET
BY
CHARLES AMORY BEACH
Author of "Air Service Boys Flying for France"
ILLUSTRATED BY
ROBERT GASTON HERBERT
THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO.
CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N.Y.
Copyright, 1919, BY
GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY
Printed in the United States of America
by
THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO.
CLEVELAND, O.
AIR SERVICE BOYS OVER THE ENEMY LINES
CONTENTS Chapter Page I. Back of the Trenches 1 II. The Winged Messenger 10 III. A Spy Baffled 19 IV. Praise From the General 27 V. The Strange Warning 35 VI. Looking Backward 45 VII. The Great Day Arrives 53 VIII. Over the Enemy's Lines 61 IX. Winning His Spurs 70 X. After the Battle 78 XI. A Show on the Front 85 XII. Clowns on the Wing 94 XIII. More Work in Prospect 103 XIV. Off on a Daring Mission 113 XV. The Moonlight Flight 120 XVI. Landing Close To Metz 129 XVII. More Trouble for the Chums 137 XVIII. The Lone House by the Roadside 144 XIX. A Nest of Spies 153 XX. Jack Climbs a Wall 162 XXI. In the Old Lorraine Chateau 171 XXII. Facing More Difficulties 181 XXIII. Left Behind in the Enemy's Country 191 XXIV. Troublous Times for Jack 200 XXV. Back to Safety--Conclusion 208
AIR SERVICE BOYS OVER THE ENEMY'S LINES
CHAPTER I
BACK OF THE TRENCHES
"Tom, what do you suppose that strange man who looked like a Frenchpeasant, yet wasn't one, could have been up to late yesterdayafternoon?"
"You mean the fellow discovered near the hangars at the aviation camp,Jack?"
"Yes. He seemed to go out of sight like a wreath of smoke does. Why, ifthe ground had opened and swallowed him up, once the hue and cry wasraised, he couldn't have vanished quicker. I wonder if what they sayabout him can be true?"
"That he was a German spy? Anything is possible in war times."
"I guess you're right there. German secret sympathizers, and spies inthe bargain, seemed to bob up all over the United States before wecrossed the ocean to do our fighting for France as aviators."
"They certainly were busy bees, Jack, blowing up munition-works, tryingto destroy big railroad bridges so as to cripple traffic with the Alliesover here; burning grain elevators in which France and Great Britain hadbig supplies of wheat stored; and even putting bombs aboard ocean linersthat were timed to explode days later, when the boat would be a thousandmiles from land."
"Over in France here they make short work of spies, I've heard, Tom!"
"Yes, it's a drumhead court martial and trial. Then, if the man or womanis found guilty, the spy goes out with a firing squad to the mostconvenient stone wall. They never return, Jack."
"Whee! that sounds like war times, doesn't it? And to think the two ofus are right on the firing line, in the midst of all the scrapping. But,Tom, tell me, why should a tricky German spy want to hang out around theaviation field? He could hardly expect to pick up any news there thatwould be worth taking across the lines to the headquarters of the CrownPrince before Verdun."
"Don't be too sure of that, Jack. Perhaps he might learn of somecontemplated bombing expedition, like that one we went on not so longago." And Tom Raymond smiled slightly.
"They are a mighty clever bunch, those spies," admitted Jack Parmly.
"Why, Jack, half of the successes of the Kaiser's armies on all fronts,Russia, France and Rumania, can be laid at the door of his secretagents. They seem to be everywhere, trying to foment internal troubles,strikes, and discontent, so that when the Germans strike hard they meeta divided enemy in front."
"Well, I certainly wish we had caught that fellow."
"You were in the crowd, you told me, that scoured the whole neighborhoodin search of him."
"That's right, I was. But say, he proved too foxy for us all. Anyway, wefailed to find the rascal. Then night came on, when we had to give ourman-hunt over. And to think that I even glimpsed the fellow's face inthe bargain before the alarm went out!"
"Then you'd know him again perhaps, Jack, if ever you met him?"
"I think so. Though I suppose these spies have ways of changing theirlooks at times. But, to change the subject, Tom, it strikes me neitherof us is groaning under the weight of game so far on our little sidehunt." And Jack Parmly grinned.
"Oh, I didn't really expect to run across anything, though that Frenchpeasant assured us there were still some rabbits in the burrows overhere, three miles back of our sleeping quarters. That's why, with a dayoff-duty, I took a notion to borrow an old Belgian-made double-barrelshotgun he owned, and walk out here."
"More to stretch our legs and get the kinks out, than anything else, eh,Tom?"
"That's it, Jack. Don't you remember that while we were training at theaviation school at Pau we used often to walk from the town, eight milesdistant, until we sighted that famous little old red barn at Pau, wherethe Wright Brothers conducted some of their experiments in flyingheavier-than-air machines. That was some little hike."
"Then too, Tom, I guess we wanted to get together by ourselves for achange, so we could talk about our folks at home in little oldBridgeton, U. S. A.," went on Jack Parmly with a sigh. "All the fellowsof the Lafayette Escadrille are mighty kind and sociable, but there aretimes when a fellow gets homesick. Just remember that we have been overhere many months now. It seems years to me, Tom."
"Say, I hope you are not homesick enough to want to go back, oldfellow?"
"Not me, Tom. I made up my mind to stick it out until we whip theKaiser. But already I can see it'll never be an accomplished fact untilUncle Sam throws his sword into the scales. And any day now somethingmay drop."
"Yes, matters are at an acute stage in Washington, that's sure. AllFrance, bled nearly white in two-and-a-half years of war, is prayingthat the day may come soon."
After that the two athletic looking young Americans, dressed in theuniform of the French aviation corps, fell silent for a brief time.They, however, continued to trudge over the devastated fields, lookingthis way and that for any sign of a stray rabbit that had escaped thegeneral slaughter.
It was just previous to the world-stirring session of Congress, when thePresident made his thrilling speech that sounded almost from end to endof the world, and put America in line for the cause of democracy.Anxious days those were across the ocean, anxious not only in France,Italy and Great Britain, in Serbia, Rumania, Greece and Russia, but inthe Central Empires, also.
For well did those in Teutonic authority know, in spite of their vainboasting, that once great America decided, the thing was bound to bedone, sooner or later. Never in the course of her history has ourrepublic been on a losing side. Her wars have invariably broughteventual v
ictory to her arms, because she has never once fought for anunjust cause.
These two vigorous young fellows were fair samples of those enterprisingAmericans who found it impossible to sit idly by. They could not awaitthe slow course of events that was bound to carry our country into theworld war on the side of the Allies, in spite of all the powerfulcounter currents among the pro-German citizens at home.
Dozens of the brightest of flying men from the States had gone over andoffered their services to France, the country they loved. In time therecame to be so many, that from the ordinary French Flying Corps there wasformed a unit entirely made up of Americans.
This, in honor of the one great Frenchman whom Americans most honor athome, was called the Lafayette Escadrille. Some of its members hadbecome famous at their profession. Names like those of Lufbery, Thaw,McConnell, Chapman, Prince, Rockwell, Hill, Rumsey, Johnson, Balsley andothers became household words among readers of the great dailies in theStates.
Tom Raymond was the son of a man who had gained fame as an inventor.When the war broke out he started work on numerous inventions, some ofwhich were calculated to become terrible agents for the destruction ofhuman life. Then Mr. Raymond's mood changed, and he set to work toconceive a wonderful stabilizer for airplane use that would save myriadsof lives, and if adopted by Uncle Sam was likely to help win the war forthe Allies.
Just when this invention was finished a drawing of one of the parts wasstolen by a German spy. Later on, after Tom and his chum, Jack Parmlyhad decided to become war aviators, having already had considerableaviation experience, they went to the flying school conducted by theGovernment in Virginia.
From there in course of time they crossed the Atlantic and entered thefamous French school at Pau. Then, having mastered the science of flyingsufficiently to be sent to the front, they had joined the LafayetteEscadrille, as related in a previous volume entitled "Air Service BoysFlying for France; or The Young Heroes of the Lafayette Escadrille."
Tom in particular seemed to have a great career ahead of him, unlesssome unfortunate accident, or possibly a Teuton pilot, cut it short, ashad happened in the cases of Rockwell, Prince, McConnell and Chapman.Every one knew he possessed genius of a high order, and that it wouldnot be long before Tom Raymond might anticipate gaining the proud titleof "_ace_," which would indicate that he had defeated five enemiesat different times, and put them entirely out of the running.
Tom was already a corporal in the French service, and expected before agreat while to be given the privilege of wearing the chevrons of asergeant. Jack had not progressed so rapidly but was doing well.
And now to return to the young aviators during their walk.
"I reckon we've gone far enough, Jack," Tom remarked presently. "Ourfriend Jean may have been telling the truth when he said there werestill a few bunnies left alive in this war-racked section of country,but I can see they've got the good sense to stick to their burrowsduring the daytime. We won't be burdened with our bag of game on thereturn trip."
"Yes, that's always the trouble, when you go out after rabbits andhaven't any hound along to get them up and bring them within gunshot,"grumbled Jack.
"But we've had a good walk," returned his companion; "and for a time wemanaged to get away from that terrible explosion of shells, and big-gunfiring. We ought to be thankful for our little time off, Jack."
"Oh! I'm not really complaining," remarked the other young aviator, witha whimsical expression on his good-natured face. "But don't you know Ihate to go back without having fired even one shot." He stopped shortand pointed upward. "Hold on, Tom; there's some kind of bird going topass over right now! Crow or anything, please bring it down! I'llpromise to eat it, no matter what it is."
Laughingly Tom threw the gun up to his shoulder, and the next instantthe report sounded. It seemed almost contemptible, after listening tothe roar of those monster shells exploding for so long.
The bird fell fluttering in a heap. Tom evidently was a fair marksman,for it had been moving swiftly over their heads at the time he fired.Jack ran forward and picked the game up. As he did so he gave utteranceto exclamations that naturally excited the curiosity of his chum. SoTom, after reloading his gun with a fresh shell, waited for Jack torejoin him, which the other did, his face full of mystery.