CHAPTER XXII. NELLIE'S RESOLVE
"What happened?"
"How'd they get you?"
"Are you hurt?"
These were a few of the questions put to Tom and Jack as they weresurrounded by the rescuing party of their friends, led, it afterwarddeveloped, by the very lieutenant with whom the two air service boys hadstarted in the patrol across No Man's Land.
The German captors had either all surrendered or been killed, and thetables were most effectively switched around. At first Tom and Jack weretoo surprised and overwhelmingly grateful to answer.
But they soon understood what had happened. And then they told the storyof their fight against odds until captured. They said nothing just thenof the unexpected information that had come to them about Harry Leroy'spresence in a German camp so comparatively near their own lines. Butthey resolved, at the first opportunity, to make use of the information.
The shooting of the big guns gradually ceased when it was made manifestthat neither side was ready for a general engagement. The pop-pop of themachine weapons, too, died away and the star shells ceased rising.
"Come on you Fritzies--what's left of you," cried the lieutenant, whenhe had made sure that there were no others of his party whom he couldrescue.
Then with Tom and Jack the center of a happy, tumultuous throng of theirown comrades, the trip back to the American lines was begun. It waswithout incident save that on the way a wounded British soldier wasfound lying in a shell hole and carried in, ultimately to recover.
Tom and Jack told what had happened to them, how they had beensurrounded and led away; and then, came the story of the lieutenant whohad led the patrol party which had turned defeat into victory with theaid of reinforcements which were sent to him.
He had seen his hopes blasted when rushed by the big crowd of the Hunpatrol, and, though slightly wounded, he realized that absolute defeatwould come to him and his men unless he could get help. He sent a runnerback with word to send relief, and then, surrounding himself with whatfew men remained alive and uncaptured, the fight went on.
It was bitter and sanguinary, and at last, with only two men left besidehim, the lieutenant heard the rush of the relief guard. He was placedin charge, as he knew the lay of the land, and the party hurried to andfro, wiping up little knots of Germans here and there, until the mainbody encountered the squad having in charge the two air service boys.
"You began to think it was all up with you, didn't you?" asked thelieutenant, when they were all once more safely in the dugout.
"We certainly did!" admitted Tom.
"We had visions of watery soup and wheatless bread for the rest of thewar," observed Jack.
He and Tom were slightly wounded--mere scratches they dubbed thehurts--but they were sent to the rear to be looked over and bandaged, aswere some of the others who were more severely hurt. There were some whocould not be sent back--who were left in No Man's Land silent figureswho would never take part in a battle again. They had paid their pricetoward making the world a better place to live in, and their names wereon the Honor Roll.
"Well, what do you think about it?" asked Tom of Jack.
"I don't know what to think. It seems hardly possible that Harry can beso near to us, and yet we can't do a thing to help him."
"I'm not so sure about that," returned Tom. "That's what I want to talkabout."
It was a week after the patrol raid, and clear weather had succeeded therain and mist, so that it was possible for the aeroplanes to operate.And their services were much needed.
There were preparations going on back of the German lines of whichGeneral Pershing and the Allied commanders needed to be informed. Andonly the "eyes" of the armies could see them and report--the eyes beingthe aeroplanes.
So it came about that, having been relieved of their temporary transferto the infantry, Tom and Jack were once more with their comrades of theair.
"Well, let's think it over, and talk about it when we come down,"suggested Jack. "We've got to go upstairs for our usual tour of dutynow."
This would last three hours. They were to do scout work--report anyunusual activity back of the German lines, or give warning of theapproach of any hostile aeroplanes. After their tour of duty was endedthey would have the rest of the day to themselves, provided there wasno general attack. Of course if, while they were up, they were attacked,they must fight.
Each lad had a plane to himself, since the young "huns" had all prettywell passed their novitiate, and were now in the regular flying squad.Later some other new aviators would report for instruction on the battlefront.
Up and up climbed Tom and Jack, and eagerly they scanned the Germanlines for any signs of activity. But though there were some Hun planesin the air, they did not approach to give battle. Possibly some otherplans were afoot. Afterward Tom and Jack admitted to one another thatthere was a great temptation to fly over the German trenches to try toget a sight of the prison that had been spoken of--the camp where HarryLeroy might be held.
But to do this would be in direct violation of their orders, and theydared not take any risks. For to do so might involve not only themselvesin danger, but others as well. And that view of the matter determinedthem. They would have to await their opportunity for rescuing theirchum--if it could be accomplished.
Their tour of duty aloft that day was without incident. This is not anusual condition at times along the long battle front. Men can not go onfighting without stop, and there come lulls in even the fiercest battle.Flesh and blood can stand only a certain amount of torture, and theneven the soul rebels.
So Tom and Jack drifted peacefully down to their aerodrome, noting thatit was being newly camouflaged, for the recent rain had played havocwith some of the concealments.
As far as possible both the Germans and the Allies tried to conceal thelocation of their flying camps. The aeroplanes and balloons needed largebuildings to house them, and such structures made excellent and, ofcourse, fair war-marks for bombing parties in aeroplanes hovering aloft.So it was the custom to put up trees and bushes or to stretch canvasover the aerodromes and paint it to resemble woods and fields in aneffort to conceal, or camouflage, the depots where the airships werestationed. But this work was done by a special detail of men, and withit Tom and Jack had nothing to do.
They turned their machines over to the mechanics, who would go carefullyover them and have the craft in readiness for the next flight. Then,being free for several hours, the two young airmen could do as theypleased, within certain limits.
"Well, did anything occur to you?" asked Jack, as he and Tom, havingdivested themselves of their heavy fur-lined garments, went to the messhall, which was in an old stable, from which the horses had long sincebeen removed.
"You mean a plan to rescue Harry?"
"That's it."
"No, I'm sorry to say I can't think of a thing," Tom answered. "Ithought I would, but I didn't. Have you anything to say?"
"Yes. Let's go to Paris."
"You mean to see--er--?"
"Yes!" interrupted Jack with a smile. "This is their day off, and wemight as well have a little enjoyment when we can. From the easy time wehad to-day we'll have some hard fighting to-morrow. This was too good tolast. Heinie is up to some mischief, I think."
"Same here."
So, having received permission, they went to Paris, and soon found theirway to the lodgings of Mrs. Gleason, where the air service boys werewelcomed by Bessie and Nellie.
Of course the first question had to do with the captive Harry, and tothe delight of Nellie Tom was able to say:
"We have news of him, anyhow."
"News? You mean he is all right?"
"Well, as all right as he ever can be while the Boches have him, Isuppose," was the answer.
"But the news didn't come direct from him. He's in another camp. I'lltell you about it."
Tom and Jack, by turns, related what had happened on the night patrol,and explained how they had overheard talk of Harry.
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sp; "Then he is nearer than he has been?" asked Nellie.
"Yes," admitted Tom.
"Won't it be easier to rescue him then?" Bessie queried.
"Well, that doesn't follow," said Jack. "Of course if we could rescuehim, we'd have a shorter distance to bring him, to get him inside ourlines. But it's just as difficult getting beyond the German lines now asit was before. Tom and I thought we'd come and talk it over, and see ifyou girls have anything to suggest. We'll do the rescue work if we onlyget a chance, and can find some plan. Have you any?"
He asked that question, though he hardly expected an answer. And both heand Tom, as well as Bessie and her mother, were greatly surprised whenNellie exclaimed:
"Yes, I have!"
"You have?" cried Tom. "What is it? Tell us, quick!"
"I am going to save my brother by offering myself as a prisoner in hisplace," said Nellie with quiet resolve. "That's how I'll save him! I'llexchange myself for him!"