CHAPTER XIV.
WHERE THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE RAGED.
"Look, an aeroplane coming this way!" exclaimed Hanky Panky, pointingupwards.
"If you glance off yonder," added Josh, "you'll see more than one of thesame. They're hanging over the battle lines, and I guess sending signalsback to tell what the observer notes from his perch away up aloft."
"Just what they're doing, Josh," Rod went on to say, as he stopped for abrief time to take a look in the direction indicated.
In fact, they could make out as many as half a dozen of the fliers, somedarting about as swift as swallows on the wing, others more stationary,and evidently with the operators busily engaged transmitting signals.
"There, see that one dropping something white!" cried Hanky Panky;"chances are he's giving the gunners on his side a tip, so they can getthe range of the German battery, and put it out of action with avolley."
"And there's going to be something doing pretty soon, or I miss myguess," added Josh, excitedly; "because there comes a pair of thoseTaube machines bent on giving the French ones battle. Rod, we're goingto watch a fight in the sky, don't you see? Whee! but this _is_ thelife, take it from me. I never dreamed I'd be so lucky as to be right onthe lines when a big battle was taking place."
The pair of Taube machines came swiftly along to engage the rivalaeroplanes that had been making so free with the secrets of the Germandefences. Evidently the aviators had been ordered to put a stop to theoperations of the French pilots, no matter at what cost to themselves.
"They're shooting at each other now!" cried Josh; "you can see the puffsof smoke break out every second; and it's different from the bursting ofshrapnel shells all around them."
"Gee! whiz! but this is awfully exciting!" gasped Hanky Panky,stretching his neck still more in order to follow the swift evolutionsof the rival air machines; "what if one of them has the hard luck to gethis motor smashed by a ball; or his gasoline tank exploded?"
"That'd be a bad thing for the men in the aeroplane, I should say!" Joshinformed him. "They must be all of half a mile high, and a fall wouldflatten a poor chump out like a pancake."
"There's one of the Germans turning tail right now and running away!"called out Hanky Panky; "and the other--why, see how queer that machineis acting, will you? It keeps turning around like a corkscrew, and seemsto be dropping all the while."
"A good reason, too," snapped Josh. "French guns proved superior to theKaiser's, for they did some damage. That Taube is falling! Only for theskill of the two men aboard it'd be coming down right now like the stickof a spent rocket, or a meteor aiming to strike the earth."
All of them watched the erratic course of the disabled aeroplane withthe keenest interest. Indeed, the valiant pilot certainly deserved agreat deal of praise for the way in which he manipulated his charge. Atthe same time the Taube was going to strike the earth with a severeblow.
"I wouldn't like to be aboard that poor craft, let me tell you," saidHanky Panky, as it neared the earth, not far back of the French front;"the people in it are going to get broken arms or legs, and the machinewill be smashed in pieces."
"Huh! they'll call themselves lucky if it ends at that," snorted Josh;"some men would have their necks or backs broken; but these Germanaviators are a tough lot, I've heard, and can stand a heap of pounding."
Even as they looked the wrecked Taube struck the ground. Some soldiershad hastened in that direction, and were on the spot almost as soon asthe disabled German machine landed. They could be seen moving aboutamidst the wreckage of the aeroplane. Then they appeared carryingsomething in their midst.
"They've picked up the occupants of the fallen Taube," said Rod, "andfrom the way they carry them the poor chaps must be badly hurt. Yes,there they've stopped that ambulance coming from the front, and aregetting the wounded birdmen aboard. The French admire bravery, even in amortal foe, and you can be sure that those gallant fellows will receivejust as good care as if they were their own men."
He again started to move forward. The field hospital was now close athand, and they could expect to be within its borders in a few minutesmore.
Hanky Panky nerved himself for the terrible ordeal he knew was beforehim. Both the other lads also shut their lips firmly, so that they mightendure the gruesome sights without feeling faint; for they were notaccustomed to such things, and but boys after all.
Some of those they met eyed them in wonder, doubtless at a loss to knowwho the three youngsters were, and what brought them to the battlelines. No one seemed to think of stopping them and asking questions; itmight be from lack of time.
Whenever Rod noticed some officer near by he gave the regulation salute,which may have induced the others to believe the boys actually belongedto some branch of the service; though their khaki uniforms would ratherindicate a connection with the British army just then co-operating withGeneral Joffre.
The boys had just succeeded in stacking their machines when anopportunity came that allowed them to render assistance in carryingseveral poor fellows into one of the tent shelters. A lorry had arrived,and there did not seem to be any attendant on hand to help the driver,who looked around in despair.
"Come along, Josh, and lend a hand here!" exclaimed Rod, equal to anyemergency, as he sprang forward.
Hanky Panky started, but soon held back, unable to bear the sight of thewounded men who were in the motor truck.
The two boys succeeded in carrying three of them inside the shelter,where they were placed as comfortably as possible, awaiting the timewhen the bustling surgeon, engaged with other cases, could attend totheir hurts. One of them was in a very bad way, having been terriblyinjured by a bursting shell. It pierced Rod's sympathetic heart just tolook at his white, blood-specked face. But the black eyes were stillfull of fire and animation; and when Rod held a dipper of cold water tothe lips of the soldier of the republic the other drank greedily, andthen thanked him in French.
"It may be the last drink I shall ever want," he told Rod complacently,"but I rejoice to know I have lived to see the day when a French armyhas made the German beast turn tail and run. My father died before Parismany years ago, and I have prayed for this glorious day to come. I amsatisfied. I have done my duty to France."
It made a powerful impression on both the boys. Such bravery anddevotion to country could hardly fail to do otherwise. Secretly theyhoped the valiant soldier might survive his terrible injuries, and liveto see the day when victory crowned the tri-color of France, which headored.
The busy surgeon now found a chance to pay attention to the latervictims of German bullets and bursting shells and bombs. At the sametime he started a conversation with Rod, the latter being the only oneof the boys who could speak French.
Presently Rod turned again to Josh to say:
"Here's a streak of luck for us, Josh. Just as soon as he's through withthe case he's now working on, the gentleman, Dr. Gervaise, is going toloan us his binoculars. He also says there is a slight elevation twentyyards back of this shelter, from the top of which we can get a prettyfair view of the battle lines. From what he tells me I figure we'll bejust in good time to witness something that is going to take placebefore long."
Of course this pleased Josh exceedingly, because it was a field-glass hehad been yearning for ever since they found themselves within touch ofthe field of battle. He even tried to assist the wearied army surgeon asbest he might, for Josh had an abundance of nerve, and could accustomhimself to almost any sight if he had a motive controlling his actions.
Presently, armed with the Lemaire binoculars, Rod led the way out of thetemporary shelter under which the victims of the fierce fighting couldbe shielded from the hot September sun while the principle of "first aidto the injured" was being applied.
Hanky Panky was lingering near by, watching some of the interestingsights, and evidently finding it a difficult thing to retain a firm gripon himself. He greeted the reappearance of his chums with eagerness.Perhaps he even hoped that they meant to quit the
confines of the fieldhospital, and depart to other regions. At sight of the field-glasseswhich Rod waved at him Hanky understood, however, just why they werehurrying toward that elevation close by; and he trotted at their heelsas an obedient little spaniel might have done.
Once they reached the summit of the rise it was found that the Frenchsurgeon had not overstated the fact when saying that a very good view ofthe battle lines could be obtained from this point. Rod took a look andthen handed the glasses over to Josh, knowing how eager the other was tosee at close range what was going on over where the big guns werethundering so fiercely--where also the French lay in hiding, ready toagain charge desperately upon the German trenches when the word toadvance was given. The ground between the hostile armies was coveredwith the fallen. Josh shivered as he contemplated the terriblespectacle. It would doubtless haunt him for many a day and night tocome. He looked everywhere, not even omitting to glance upward so as tosee what the flying birdmen might be doing; then he handed thebinoculars over to Hanky Panky, who received them eagerly, despite hissensation of horror.
When Hanky Panky leveled the glasses at the distant line of hastilythrown up German trenches the first thing he saw was what seemed to bean innumerable army of men in drab working feverishly to strengthentheir defences.
Already they had tasted of the new-born French enthusiasm, and couldanticipate that much more of the same sort was bound to break loose.Long years had those fiery Gauls been hugging to their hearts thethought of revenge for the humiliation suffered away back in '71, whentheir beloved Paris echoed to the tramp of the victorious Teutonichosts.
They began to believe the day had dawned at last when the shame of theirfathers could be wiped out, and the tables turned on the hated foe.
How Hanky Panky did turn from one point to another and "soak" it all in,as Josh remarked aside to Rod, impatiently waiting for a second chanceto observe what was going on over there beyond the windrows of the dead.
It seemed as though Hanky Panky could not tear his eyes away from theamazing sight which fairly fascinated him. As though held in the grip ofa nightmare the boy was staring and muttering to himself. Sometimes hiswords signified wonder and awe; then again there was an underlying veinof compassion in what Hanky Panky said; for his heart was greatlytouched by the sight of all this terrible misery. He could see some ofthe forms on the late battlefield moving. He realized that men inanguish must be calling out for a drink of cooling water so as to quenchtheir burning thirst. Others were doubtless suffering all sorts oftortures from the wounds they had received.
To be sure the hospital attendants were doing everything they could togather up the wounded. Men bearing the sacred Red Cross, from both theFrench and the German sides, were moving about, searching for those inwhom life still remained. Vehicles could also be seen in places,receiving some of these victims, while the men with stretchers stumbledabout carrying their groaning burdens to the rear.
Yes, Hanky Panky would never forget what he saw that day, though helived to a ripe old age, for it was burned upon his memory indelibly.
Josh, getting impatient, was just about to demand the binoculars whenthe other uttered a sudden cry that gave them a new thrill:
"Oh! see what's going to happen now, will you, fellows?" was the burdenof his announcement; "there's a new French army hurrying up to attackthem on the flank; and they've given the signal for a general advance.Great snakes! but it's going to be an _aw_ful sight when they cometo close grips!"