CHAPTER V
THE AIR RAIDERS
Upon hearing the words uttered by the mechanic who handled the menworking at their battleplane, Tom and his chum exchanged meaning looks.
"Can you make it perfectly safe again before half an hour passes?" askedthe former anxiously.
"Surely," came the confident reply. "I know what's in the wind, andyou'll be fit for any sort of flight when another fifteen minutes hasgone by. We're on the last stay now, and I've carefully examined themotor and every other thing about the plane. Don't fear to risk yourlives on my report. I'd go up myself willingly if I had the chance."
"All right, Sessions, we're willing to take your word for it," Tomassured him, and then drew his comrade aside.
Jack on his part was eager for a little talk between themselves. Thatstaggering fact had appalled, as well as angered, him. Why shouldtheir particular plane have been selected for such treacherous work,among all the scores connected with the air service in that sector ofthe fighting front?
"What do you make of this thing, Tom?" he immediately demanded.
"It's an ugly bit of business, I should say," came the guarded reply.
"You mean calculated to make every one feel timid about taking anyextraordinary risk--is that it?" continued Jack.
"Yes, if the fact were generally circulated. But according to my mindthey'll keep it quiet until after the armada gets off. No use alarmingthe others, though orders have gone out I presume to have every planecarefully examined. Still, that would only be ordinary caution; we nevergo up without doing such a thing."
"Tom, do you think there could be any possible connection between thiswork of a German spy, as it appears on the surface, and my news from Mr.Smedley, the lawyer?"
"It's possible--even probable, Jack. A whole lot depends on whether welearn of any other plane having been meddled with. One thing sure, it'llspur them to greater vigilance about watching things here. This isn'tthe first time there's been a suspicion of rank treachery. Planes havebeen known to be meddled with before now."
"I wouldn't put it past him!" muttered Jack sullenly.
"Meaning your cousin Randolph, I suppose," Tom added. "Nice opinion tohave of a near relative, I must say. But then I'm inclined to agree withyou. It may be only a queer coincidence, your getting such important newsthis afternoon, and some unknown party trying to bring about our downfalland death in this brazen way only a few hours afterwards."
"And using corrosive acid, too," spluttered the indignant Jack. "I'veheard of ropes being partly cut, even wire stays or struts filed toweaken them; but this is the limit. Don't I wish they'd caught the skunkin the act!"
"He'd never have left this aviation camp alive," said Tom sternly. "Why,the boys would be so furious they'd be tempted to lynch him offhand."
"And I'd be glad to help pull the rope!" snapped Jack. "A more cowardlyact couldn't be imagined than this. Air pilots take great enough chances,without being betrayed by spies or traitors."
"We'd better say nothing about it," Tom concluded. "I'm going to runover the entire machine on my own account."
"And I'll do the same, Tom; for a pilot can't be too sure of his mount,especially when there's such meanness afoot."
They accordingly busied themselves after their individual fashion. Everybrace and stay was looked over carefully and tested as only pilots knowhow. Long experience, and many accidents have taught them where the weakspots lie, and they understand how to guard against the giving way atthese points.
So the minutes passed. Other pilots had already ascended to await theassembling of the picked squadron at some given altitude. Every minuteor two could be heard the rush of some unit starting forth. There werefew of the accompaniments of an ordinary ascent, for all loud cries hadbeen banned.
"All ready!" came the welcome words at last.
The last strut had been carefully gone over, and now everything waspronounced in perfect condition. At the same time, after such a discoveryhad been made, it was only natural for the boys to feel a queer tug inthe region of their hearts as they climbed to their seats, and with handsthat quivered a little proceeded to make fast the safety belts.
"There goes another bomber, which makes four--the full number you spokeof, Tom," remarked Jack. "I suppose we're holding up the procession moreor less, worse luck, when usually we can be found in the lead."
"The commander must know about our mishap," replied Tom, "and isn'tapt to blame us for any little delay. The night's still young, and wecan reach our destination in half an hour, with time to spare. Socheer up, old comrade; everything's lovely and the goose hangs high.Now we're off!"
With that he gave the word, and paid attention to his motor, whichstarted a merry hum. The propellers commenced to spin, and down theslight slope they ran with constantly increasing speed. All around themcould be heard the refrain of planes in action; from above came similarsounds, and Jack, looking up, discovered dim scurrying forms ofmysterious shape that flitted across the star-decked sky like giant bats.
Now they, too, were rising swiftly in spirals. Both kept a keen watch,for it was at this time they stood the greatest chance of taking part inan unfortunate collision that might result in a fatal disaster.
But every pilot was on edge, and careful to avoid any such blunder. Theyhad been well drilled in all the maneuvers connected with just such ahurried ascent in numbers. Each plane had its regular orbit of action,and must not overstep the bounds on penalty of the commander'sdispleasure.
After mounting to the arranged height, the Air Service Boys found that itwas a very animated region, though fully a thousand feet from the earth'ssurface. Almost a dozen planes in all were moving in a great circle,their motors lazily droning, and the pilots ready to enter into squadronformation on signal.
In fact, Tom and his chum were the last to arrive, which under thecircumstances was not to be wondered at.
"All on deck, I reckon," called out Jack, after he had taken a surveyabout him. "There's the signal from the flagship, Tom. We've got tokeep the red lantern ahead of us and fall into line. There go thebombers to the center, and our place you said was on the left, tailingthe whole bunch."
Like a well disciplined aerial navy they fell into place, each taking itsposition as previously arranged. When the formation was made completeanother signal was given. This meant the advance was now to begin, andthe crossing of the German lines undertaken.
Unless there chanced to be some mistake made concerning the properaltitude required, so as to clear all possible bombardment when over theHun lines, this might be accomplished without danger. So far as wasknown, they had gauged the utmost capacity for reaching them possessed bythe German anti-aircraft guns, and Jack promised himself to jeer at thefutile efforts of these gunners to explode their shrapnel shells close tothe speeding armada.
Something must have been underrated, however; and, in fact, few planscan be regarded as absolutely perfect. The advancing raiders werepassing over the enemy front when a furious bombardment suddenly burstforth below.
Jack could see the spiteful flashes of the numerous guns, and while thesound of the discharges came but faintly to his ears, to hisconsternation, all around them, as well as above and below, came sharpcrackling noises, accompanied by bursts of dazzling light.
They were actually in the midst of a storm of bursting projectiles and inimmediate peril of having some damage done to their swift-flying planessuch as would spell ruin to the enterprise, perhaps bring instant deathto some of the fliers!