CHAPTER X.
THE AEROPLANE BOYS IN LUCK.
Thrilled by the nature of the communication made by the British officer,Frank, Billy and Pudge stood there staring at one another.
Of course it was not so very difficult for Frank to understand just whythis invitation to accompany the raiding party of British aviators hadcome to them. Back of it all was the French Government, he felt certain.Before going into the business of making heavy investments connectedwith the new American seaplane patents it was only natural they shoulddesire to witness an efficient test of the machine's superiority overany aeroplanes they already possessed.
The contemplated raid would afford such a test. Competent critics, thoseother experienced birdmen, would be near to gauge the capacity of the_Sea Eagle_. In other words, the French Government did not want to "buya pig in the poke." Unless the hybrid sea and aircraft could meet therequirements laid down, they would not dare risk squandering greatamounts of money in those hard times to duplicate her model.
Frank was greatly pleased. It seemed as though he and his chums hadreceived a magnificent compliment in being honored with such aninvitation.
"Of course, Major Nixon, you have been authorized to see us, and extendthis courtesy?" he asked, as a starter.
"I can show you my credentials in that line, Frank," the genial officerreplied, without the least hesitation or embarrassment, which heaccordingly proceeded to do, thus relieving the other's mind in thebeginning.
"Everything is shipshape, sir," said Frank. "Now let us talk about theconditions under which we are to be allowed to accompany the expedition"
"Please keep your voice lowered as much as you can while I instructyou," begged Major Nixon.
"You are thinking of those German spies who are said to be everywhere?"ventured Frank, who had heard much talk along these lines ever sincearriving at Dunkirk.
Indeed, the stories that passed current concerning spies wereastonishing. Most of them Frank did not believe in at all, for he knewthey were founded on the fears of the people. At the same time thesecret agents of the Kaiser were certainly vigilant as well as bold, andif one had to err at all it were better to be on the safe side.
"In times past I haven't taken much stock in the wild stories that havebeen going around," said the soldier, smiling; "but we certainly knowthere are spies in Dunkirk at this very hour. In fact, you boys have hadpretty strong evidence that your operations while here have been watchedday by day."
"Yes," remarked Billy, "and after what happened last night we are readyto believe almost anything, sir. I remember reading that sometimes thewalls have ears, and I guess it may be so."
"Under such conditions then it is best that we get our heads closetogether and talk in very low tones," said the officer. "There areguards posted all around the stockade now, and yet in spite of thatprecaution some of those German spies are smart enough to play thegame."
"Anchors and aeroplanes, but this is exciting enough to please even afellow built like you are, Billy!" muttered Pudge, who was mopping hisred forehead with his handkerchief, though the others did not considerit any too warm there in the hangar of the great seaplane.
"I am unable to tell you at this minute the exact hour when the startwill be made," Major Nixon whispered. "Much depends on the state of theweather, and the arrival of the fleet of aeroplanes from across theChannel, for most of them will come from England, you understand."
"Conditions being favorable, then," observed Frank, "you believe that byanother morning the start of the raiding party will take place?"
"Yes, undoubtedly," came the answer. "We wish to take advantage of theunusually good weather conditions. Then, besides, we have learnedthrough certain sources of information that the Germans on their ownhook are planning an extensive dash with their aeroplanes and dirigibleson the coast cities on the Channel. It is in hopes of balking that, aswell as accomplishing other results that more than thirty seaplanes willmake this stupendous raid on their submarine bases at Ostend, Zeebruggeand Blankenberghe."
"Sandwiches and sauerkraut!" Pudge was heard to gasp, as though hisbreath were almost taken away by the magnitude of this assertion; for hehad never as yet seen as many as thirty aeroplanes assembled together,and certainly not in action.
"Is that the only motive of the raid, Major Nixon?" Frank asked, for heinvariably made it a point to acquire all the information possible.
"Well," continued the soldier, "to be perfectly frank with you, thereare a number of other objects which such a sudden attack is likely toinfluence. It is aimed to destroy the railway station at Ostend so as togreatly hinder the movement of troop trains and those carryingammunition and supplies. Then, at Bruges, other damage may be done."
"But isn't there still another big object in it?" insisted Frank.
"I suppose you are referring to the great submarine blockade of thecoasts of Great Britain which Germany proposes to inaugurate next week?"said Major Nixon. "Yes, although I have not been so informed, I canguess readily enough that by means of this raid it is hoped toextensively damage their submarine base at Zeebrugge, and injure themovement in the beginning."
"In other words," said Frank, "Great Britain means to throw down thegage of battle, and warn Germany she can make just as dashing raids asanyone. No one nation is mistress of the air in this world war--as yet."
Major Nixon smiled as he heard those last two words, and saw the quicklook of pride which the young aviator threw toward the monster seaplanethat was housed in that hangar.
"It's plain that you have the utmost confidence in the ability of yourmachine to wrest that supremacy from the Germans, if once France securesthe right to manufacture a fleet of _Sea Eagles_," he remarked, as helaid a hand upon the shoulder of Frank Chester, of whom the bluffsoldier had become quite fond in the short time they had known eachother.
"Then it is understood, Major, that we keep ourselves in readiness tostart out so as to be on the move at dawn, for I don't imagine such agreat fleet of aeroplanes would wish to make a start in the darkness ofnight."
"No, there is no necessity of such a thing," came the quick reply. "Infact, one of the objects of this raid is publicity. We do not aim tocreep up and damage the enemy in the dark. We want him to see theastonishing sight of such a mass of darting seaplanes descending on hiscoast towns like a flock of eagles, and destroying military property,not citizens' private homes, mind you."
"I think," said Frank, "I can speak for my friends here as well asmyself, Major, when I promise to be ready for the signal. How will weknow when to start out, for we shall all sleep here to-night?"
"There is only one condition which you will be asked to meet," said theother.
"Then tell us what it is, sir."
"The French Government will expect to have a representative aboard the_Sea Eagle_ during the flight, not to interfere in the slightest degreewith your mastery of the seaplane, but simply to take notes concerningher behavior under every sort of condition."
"We certainly agree to that condition, Major Nixon," said Frankheartily. "In fact, I should have asked that one be sent out with us. Itis a part of our policy to fully satisfy the authorities we've beendealing with for nearly a year, now, that everything we claim, and muchmore, is possible with our advanced model of a hydro-aeroplane."
"Very good, and I am pleased to know it," said the officer. "I shallhave to go back to town, now, but I will advise the local representativeof the Government that you accept the conditions. By early dawn therewill appear here a skillful aviator with written credentials, and I hopehis ultimate report will be all you boys hoped it to be. My word! I onlywish I were going with you, but other duties must claim my attention."
He shook each one of them warmly by the hand.
"The best of luck, Frank," were his last words at parting. "I trust thatyou may have an experience calculated to dwarf anything that has evercome your way."
Frank, as he contemplated what a thrilli
ng adventure lay before them,fancied that this wish on the part of Major Nixon was in a fair way ofcoming true. It certainly would be difficult to imagine a more excitingexperience than taking part in an aerial raid, where more than thirtyseaplanes started out to bombard strongly fortified coast defenses ofthe enemy, each raider subjected to a continual fire from every knownspecies of anti-aircraft gun known to modern warfare.
After the soldier had left them, the three Boy Aviators sat around andtalked in low tones. They had barred the door, and so far as they couldsee there was not the slightest chance that any eavesdropper could getclose enough to overhear what they said. Nevertheless, the caution ofMajor Nixon had its effect upon them and there was no loud conversationexcept when ordinary matters were touched upon.
Frank always liked to "potter" around and give little touches ofimprovement to some part of the seaplane in which he had such a deepinterest. No one knew its good and bad qualities as well as Frank; evenits inventor had not studied these points as carefully as the youngaviator.
So it happened that from time to time the boy made numerous littleimprovements that he figured would cause the motors to work moresmoothly, or strengthen some part of the framework that showed signs ofweakness.
Half a dozen times Frank left his two chums, sitting there killing time,to attend to something connected with the plane. He had carefullyexamined to find what had caused the accident that gave them such athrill when thousands of feet above the earth.
"The same thing will never occur again, that I'm as sure of as I am ofmy own name," he told Billy, when the other asked him about it.
Several hours had passed since the soldier had left them. Pudge, havingtaken a stroll outside, came back to report that there were at least adozen British "Tommies" standing guard around the enclosure in which thehangar had been erected.
"It's a good thing, too," said Pudge, "because a crowd has come out fromtown to hang around here in hopes we'll make a flight to-day. Oilskinsand onions, but I should think there must be a hundred people if there'sone. But those Tommies are ready to use their bayonets on the firstfellow who tried to climb up and peep over the stockade."
"There are two guards, I noticed, down by the end of the trestle, whereit strikes the water," observed Billy, who had been moving around.
Frank was doing some little job under the seaplane, and at this momentcame sauntering toward his two mates. Billy, happening to glance up atthe other's face was surprised to see that Frank looked excited; atleast his eyes sparkled strangely, and there was a grimness in the wayhe had set his jaws.
Billy, always inclined to be explosive, might have burst out with aquestion only that he received a quick and expressive look from Frank,accompanied by the placing of a finger on his lips. Then, as Frankdropped into a chair beside them, Billy leaned over to whisper:
"What's up now, Frank, that you're looking so mysterious?"
"I've just made a discovery, that's all," came the same sort of carefulreply. "Fact is, after all our precautions we've been outwitted, forthere's a spy hidden in the hangar right now!"