CHAPTER XVII
MORE TROUBLE FOR THE CHUMS
It had been a close call for the two air service boys. Had they beendelayed just a minute or two longer escape might have been impossible.And to have been caught with the spy's paper of information in theirpossession might have proved a very serious matter.
Some of the mob, that had come from Metz itself, were German soldiers.They carried guns with which they opened a hot fire on the departingplane.
Again the lucky star of Tom and Jack seemed to be in the ascendant, forthey did not receive even a scratch. Later they found reason to believethat a number of the leaden missiles had come very close to theirpersons; for the marks upon the body of the plane itself, as well as thetiny holes in the stout linen covering of the wings, told where bulletshad passed. Possibly, though, these had come from the rapid-fire gunhandled by the Boche airman.
The plane had left the ground and started to mount when this shootingoccurred, so that the marksmen had at least had a fair target at whichto fire. But as the departing airplane was speeding away from them therapidly increasing distance may have disconcerted the Germans. At anyrate they failed to bag their game.
The boys were now mounting upwards again, filled with joy over theirrecent escape. Jack felt sure that Tom had the precious paper; for hewell knew the other would never have returned so quickly had not successrewarded his search.
They were soon heading directly for their distant base. Tom could nowgive his aerial steed the rein, and get all the speed possible out ofthe cumbersome two-seater. There was no longer any necessity for"loafing on the job," to allow a tardy moon to come in sight, as hadbeen the case before. Home, and at top speed, was the slogan now.
But, alas! it was not long before Tom realized that something was wrongwith the plane. He found it increasingly difficult to manage the engine,and the machine began to give erratic jumps that alarmed Jack.
Had it been possible to make himself heard above the clatter of themotor and the propeller, Jack would have been much inclined to shoutout, and ask his more experienced comrade what had happened.
Still he could give a shrewd guess. One of the bullets fired by theTeuton soldiers must have struck some part of the motor, and done enoughdamage to make its workings exceedingly erratic. If such were the case,would it be wise for them to try to push on at this high altitude, wherea sudden collapse would mean death for both of the occupants of thedisabled plane?
Tom soon shut the motor off, and tilted the machine for a volplane downseveral thousand feet to a new level.
Jack held his breath. This was partly because the wind rushed at him ina vicious fashion while they were plunging downward, and also on accountof a new fear that clutched his heart.
How about the wings of the airplane standing the strain when Tomsuddenly brought that volplane to a stop and tried to sail on an evenkeel again? Would they hold out? Or had some defect occurred in themwhich could also be charged to the spattering bullets fired by the Metzmob?
Then Jack breathed easier again.
The thing had been accomplished, and they were once more speedingonward, as Tom touched the controls that started the motor working. Allthen was well, as far as they had gone. Apparently they could bysuccessive stages descend close to the treetops, and skim along untilsome favorable open space showed, into which a skillful pilot would findit possible to drop lightly and land.
A second volplane further added to Jack's peace of mind. They were nowhalfway down, and all seemed well. The earth loomed up below, althoughas yet it took on only a vague, misty effect, due to the weak moonlight.
Jack busied himself in trying to make things out, as for the third timethe nose of the heavy observation Caudron was suddenly pointed downward,and they took the next "header."
This time Tom dropped a greater distance. When once more the loud hum ofmotor and propellers was heard they had almost reached the treetops.Jack gave one gulp, in fear lest his pilot could not make things work ashe intended, and that they must crash to the earth while descending atsuch frightful speed.
Now everything was all right. They could not be more than a thousandfeet above the floor of the valley they were following in their homewardroute. If anything happened surely Tom would find some way of making alanding, even if a clumsy one that would put their machine out of therunning and leave them stranded on enemy soil.
They continued to move along slowly, both looking eagerly to discoversigns that would invite a possible landing. It looked as though theywere in the country; at least they did not discover any signs of lightsto indicate the presence of houses near by.
Soon a landing proved feasible, as they came to just the kind of openplot the air service boys yearned to discover. To make absolutelycertain before committing himself, Tom circled the ground twice, andeven dropped lower and lower while so doing, all the while straining hisvision to the utmost.
Then the thing was done.
That was far from a pleasant landing. It shook them up considerably; butJack was of the opinion that no damage resulted to the airplane, whichafter all was just then the main consideration.
Both of them leaped to the ground, after which Tom secured his electrichand-torch which he had found useful so many times while on the outwardtrip and he wished to consult the compass or the register of thebarograph.
"I guess there's some sort of a house near by," said Jack, "because arooster crowed over yonder. Yes, I can see what looks like the line of aroad, too. I suppose it runs the entire length of this valley."
While Jack was saying this softly the pilot had started to take aninventory of the motor. His now practiced eye ran along this and thatpart, each of which was so essential to the smooth running of theengine. Tom too had already formed a pretty clear idea as to where hewas likely to find the damage, and hence was able in a short time togive a satisfied grunt.
"Located the trouble, have you, Tom?" queried the other.
"Yes. It's right where I expected to find it. A bullet has made a dentthat interferes with the free action of the part. Besides, I think thatspark plug has become fouled with oil, and will have to be changed toget the best results."
"How lucky you brought another with you! Lots of fellows wouldn't havebothered about such a little thing."
"I had my suspicions about that when we started," explained the other,"even though the mechanician assured me it was perfectly clean. I knowdifferent now, and will certainly give him a piece of my mind when weget back."
"Then you expect to get home safely, do you?" asked Jack, in a relievedtone, that proved how anxious he had been growing since troubles had soconsecutively alighted on them.
"Surely," chuckled the other, with his usual confidence in voice andmanner, "a thing like this isn't going to stop our plans. Here in thisretired spot nobody's apt to bother us while we make our repairs. Youcan hold this torch, Jack, and shove the light squarely on the work."
Tom worked for some time. He tapped as gently as possible when knockingout the dent made by the bullet, and he gradually removed the cause ofthe trouble. He was just finishing with the spark-plug when theconfidence of the air service boys received a sudden jolt.