CHAPTER XVII.
THE BADGE OF COURAGE AND MERCY.
"It seems like we were to be treated to about everything there is goingin the way of up-to-date fighting!" said Tubby, who was having somedifficulty in craning his fat neck, to look toward where the wonderfulairship was still making enormous circles above the battle lines.
"Are you sure they are Belgian aeroplanes?" asked Merritt, who had beenattentively observing the ascending fliers.
"They came up from behind the line of trenches," replied Rob, "and thatmakes it look as if they couldn't be German machines. Besides, theinvaders all use a model that is called a Taube, which is different fromthese."
"But why d'ye suppose they didn't climb up before now, and tackle thatmonster Zeppelin, so as to put it out of business, or chase it off?"inquired Tubby.
"They had their reasons, I suppose," he was told by the patrol leader."No matter what they may have been, we're not interested. It's enoughfor us to watch what's going to happen from now on."
"I'll be jiggered if the Zeppelin isn't going to have it out with them!"exclaimed Merritt. "Did you see that little puff of what looked likesmoke? They've got some sort of gun aboard, and mean to try and riddlethe aeroplanes with it!"
"Whew! talk to me about excitement, this has got everything I ever knewbeaten by a mile!" admitted Tubby.
"You notice that both the monoplanes manage to keep pretty far away fromthe dirigible," Rob told them. "And see how they bore up in circles allthe while, too, getting higher right along."
"What's the idea of that?" asked Merritt.
"For one thing it'll put them on equal terms with the Zeppelin so thatthey can send back shot for shot," explained the other. "But unless Imiss my guess they mean to try a bigger scheme than that, if once theycan get above the airship."
"You mean drop a bomb down on it, don't you, Rob?" Merritt asked.
"Yes. You know these Zeppelins are made in many sections. They say onecould keep afloat even if a dozen of these were smashed. They're alongsimilar lines as the watertight compartments of steamships. Some autotires are made the same way too. But if a bomb was dropped on top of thegas bag, I reckon the explosion would play hob with the whole business."
They stood there and watched the strange duel in the heavens. The thrillof that occasion would never be forgotten by any one of the threescouts. And all the while the guns over beyond the low-lying hills werebeating a terrible tattoo that was like the music of the orchestra whena play is being performed. That tragedy was there above them, the stagebeing the limitless expanse of the heavens.
The Zeppelin maneuvered again and again in order to get in touch withthe wasp-like enemies that constantly darted out of reach. There wasmore or less firing going on, the boys could see, even though thedistance and the growl of the German artillery prevented them fromhearing any reports.
"There, I believe they've done it!" shouted Merritt suddenly.
"The Zeppelin is running away, that's sure!" echoed Tubby, "and one ofthe aeroplanes seems to be further up, too!"
"Something has happened, because the rear of the dirigible looks as ifit had collapsed," Rob announced. "I wonder how they manage to steer,with the rudder useless. But they're coming down fast now, you notice!"
"And aiming so as to bring the monoplanes over the German lines," addedMerritt. "If the little fellows know what's good for them, they'll keepa good distance off, because there are guns made that can shoot straightup for a mile, and send a shell or shrapnel to burst, and fetch anaviator every time."
While they watched, the disabled Zeppelin dropped out of sight back ofthe woods, and it was easily possible for the boys to hear the wildshouts of derision that ascended from the trenches where the Belgianslay concealed.
The two aeroplanes then started to have a little scout of their own, anddoubtless those daring air pilots picked up more or less informationthat would prove of value to the defenders of the trenches.
"Is the battle over, do you think?" asked Tubby, when this excitingpanorama in the upper air currents had come to an end.
"Some of the guns are still muttering," Rob told him, "but they seem tobe further away. Perhaps the Germans are bombarding some fortified placeoff in the distance, or it may be an English army has shown up, and isgiving battle to the Kaiser. You know the poor Belgians are hoping forthat to happen right along."
"But just think what is over there!" continued Tubby, with a shudder ashe pointed a chubby finger toward the scene of the late charge andrepulse. "Why, I can see hundreds of men lying around, just like thecorn when they go to cutting so it can be stacked. Ugh! it's awful tothink of all those poor Germans!"
"They're not all Germans, either," corrected Merritt; "because I saw oneplace where the Belgians rushed out of their trenches, and fought handto hand. Lots of them must have been knocked over, too. They justcouldn't hold back, I guess, with the fighting spirit in them."
"And this is what's going on all through Belgium, Northern France, andover along the border of Russia," said Rob, powerfully impressed withthe tragic scene he had looked upon.
"Here's another battery coming along the road, too late to get in thefight!" they heard Tubby saying.
"That's where you're barking up the wrong tree, Tubby," Merritt assuredhim, "because what's coming now is just the opposite of a battery. Onecuts down the ranks of the enemy, this one helps to bind up theirwounds, and carry them off the battlefield! In action the fighting menbecome like fiends; but I guess you could call these angels of mercy!"
"Why, sure enough, I can see the Red Cross on the wagon!" cried Tubby,evidently pleased by the discovery. "Then that must be an ambulance,and they're going on the battlefield to help the poor wounded fellows!Oh! how much I admire them right now. I wish I was worth a continentalas a surgeon, and I'd like to volunteer to help take care of some of thewounded."
"There are three more ambulances, and they seem to have several nursesaboard each one," Rob observed, as the procession advanced closer towhere they were located.
"There's a man driving, and I reckon now that may be the surgeon,"Merritt was saying, as though deeply interested. "How about this, Rob? Ithought nurses only worked in the hospitals back of the lines; but theseseem heading right for the battlefield."
"As a rule they let men bring in the wounded," said Rob. "But sometimesa nurse is allowed to go about trying to help the poor fellows as bestshe can until such time as a stretcher can reach them. Most of them areparched with thirst, and what they ask for first of all is a drink ofwater."
"I might do that much, anyway," Tubby was heard to mutter to himself,"if only I thought I could stand the terrible sights. You know, seeingblood always used to make me feel faint-like. But then a scout ought toovercome that weakness."
Possibly it may have been something in what Tubby said that gave Merritthis brilliant idea, for he immediately whirled upon the patrol leader,and exclaimed:
"Rob, why couldn't we ask them to take us along, and let us do what wecan to help? As scouts we know something about taking care of wounds,you remember. Why, didn't that officer compliment us on the way welooked after his men, and the German spy they'd captured? Rob, see if wecould do it, won't you? It might be a terrible experience for us; but Ifeel like I'd be better satisfied if I could lend a helping hand here."
The first of the three army ambulances had by this time come close tothe boys. Attracted by their khaki uniforms, and possibly their brighteager faces, the man who was driving held up his team. A woman ofmiddle-age, garbed as a nurse, jumped to the ground, and approached theboys. They saw that undoubtedly she must be the one in charge of the RedCross detachment.
At sight of the little American flag which Tubby wore on the lapel ofhis coat her eyes glistened.
"That is a glorious sight to my eyes in this foreign land," she toldthem, "for I, too, am American-born. My profession is that of a trainednurse. A wealthy patient I brought abroad died in Antwerp; and as thewar had broken out I determined to offer my services to
the Government,so that I was immediately given a position of trust and responsibility.We are short-handed with men, you can see. I happen to know what BoyScouts over in America have to learn about taking care of woundedpersons. It is a terrible thing to ask, but this is a case of necessity.Would you be willing to help us out; and do you think you could standthe awful sights and sounds of the battlefield?"
Rob and Merritt exchanged glances; while their flushed faces told thenurse what their answer would be, even before they spoke a single word.
"We were just wondering whether you would let us join you," Rob saidquickly, "for we want to do something to help those poor fellows overthere. Yes, if you can make room for us aboard your ambulance we'llgladly go along."
Poor Tubby had lost all his color. He was as white as a ghost; but withtightly shut teeth he pushed up, to allow the nurse to fasten a bit ofmuslin, stamped with a vivid red cross, upon his left arm, and then heclimbed into the ambulance.