CHAPTER XIX
OUT OF THE AIR
Clear of the trenches at last, it proved a long, tiresome march tobillets. The roads over which the Khaki Boys marched were rough andfull of shell holes. Long before they reached their destination a finerain began to fall, which soaked them to the skin. With it, however,came a dense fog, which was a great help in concealing them from enemyeyes.
An hour before dawn, when almost to billets, they heard a reverberatingroar, which they guessed to be that of the German guns. It announced tothem that Fritz had again begun his "strafeing." Every Sammie's heartbeat faster, as the welcome voices of their own big guns boomed forthin answer.
To the thunderous tune played by these noisy orchestras of war, therain-drenched Khaki Boys at last reached billets. These consistedof several stables, a deserted schoolhouse, and a long, barn-likestructure, which had been used by the Allies at the beginning of thewar as a supply depot.
To his great satisfaction, Jimmy drew the supply depot as a billet. Itwas large enough to accommodate two hundred men, and when dawn camehe was overjoyed to find all three of his bunkies had been quarteredthere, too.
"Talk about style," exulted Bob, when a little later the quartettesat cross-legged in a row, devouring a breakfast of bacon, bread andcoffee. "This is almost as good as a real barracks. It's about thecleanest billet we've struck since we started out in dear old EightHorses."
"It's pure luck, our getting together." Roger sighed his satisfaction."I'll bet we'll have a real cushy time while it lasts. I hope we don'tget shelled. Listen to the guns. It must be hail Columbia now in thefront-line trench on both sides. Seems funny to be away from it,doesn't it?"
"I guess we've earned a rest," yawned Jimmy, "and a bath along with it,about four times a day. It'll take me three weeks to get clear of mudand these blamed cooties. First chance I get I'm going to hunt for acreek and live in it."
"So will I," vowed Ignace. "I am the mud all over. My mothar now see,no believe I am the son to she."
"I'd hate to have _my_ mother see me now," smiled Jimmy. "She wouldn'tsleep nights for the next year. Just as soon as we get settled I'mgoing to write to her. I wrote every day to the folks while I was inthe trenches. I hope some of those letters get across."
"I guess they will, that is, if you didn't put anything in 'em that thecensors got peeved at," rejoined Bob. "About all a fellow is allowed towrite is 'I am well,' and 'good-bye.'"
"Some of us ought to write to Schnitz's folks," said Roger soberly.
"Not yet." Jimmy shook his head. "Wait awhile. Maybe Schnitz'll comeback to us."
"I don't believe it, Blazes," disagreed Bob sadly. "He got his outthere in the dark, I'm afraid. Schnitz was the kind to fight till hedropped, rather than be taken prisoner."
"I tell you I had a hunch out there in the trench that I'd see himagain," Jimmy stubbornly asserted. "It came to me just as plain asanything, 'Schnitz isn't croaked. He'll come back.'"
"You think Schnitz he come back, so think I," nodded Ignace, who wasalways fond of backing up his best Brother's statements.
"Well, I hope it works out that way," declared Roger kindly.
Privately, his belief in hunches was not strong.
"I wish I'd never let him go that night," Jimmy continued moodily. "Ifhe'd waited ten minutes longer, as I did, the two of us would have gotback to the lines together."
"You might not have, at that," was Bob's opinion. "You can't tell howit would have come out. His way was the wisest."
Continuing to talk of Schnitzel, the memory of whom was constantlybefore them, the four Brothers finished breakfast and went outsidetheir quarters to look around them. As they had been on the marchnearly all night, they expected to sleep part of the day. So far asmilitary routine was concerned, they were "on their own" until Tapsthat night. Next morning, however, they would be subject to the usualmilitary routine they had observed when in the training camps.
Wandering about in the vicinity of their billet, the four Brotherswhooped with joy at sight of a good-sized creek, which looked to benot more than a quarter of a mile back of the depot. Hastily repairingto their quarters, they got out soap, towels, and clean underwear.Laden with these, an extra uniform blouse, and a pair of clean legginsapiece, they raced across the fields to the creek, and were soonjubilantly swimming about in its clear, but very cold water.
It was the first real bath that any of them had enjoyed since leavingthe village where they had been briefly quartered before going on theirlong march to the trenches. Cold as the water was, they soon grew usedto it, and had a glorious time splashing about in its clear depths.
After their bath, they donned clean clothing, washed out theirdiscarded underwear, hanging it to dry in the sun on some low bushesnearby. They also gave their soiled leggins a much-needed scrubbing.
By the time the leggins had become presentable again, their wash waspartially dry.
"We can't wait all day for these duds to get dry." Bob passed acritical hand over his damp wash. "Let's take 'em back to billet andhang 'em up there. Now I've had a bath, I want to go bye-bye. Besides,we ought to tell the other guys about this French swimming pool. Theyneed a bath, too."
"Tell 'em nothing. Listen to that! Look over there!"
Jimmy pointed across the field. A dozen men were charging toward them,yelling and wildly waving clean clothing, towels or whatever theychanced to have in their hands.
"Discovered," grinned Bob. "Welcome to our bath tub!" he shouted, asthe running group drew near. "Jump in, the water's fine. It's a surecure for trench mud and live stock."
After exchanging a few good-natured sallies with the gleeful Sammies,who were discarding their clothing as fast as their hands would letthem, the four Khaki Boys left the creek and started back to quarters.
"Pipe the plane!" yelled Jimmy suddenly, pointing upward. "I'll betit's just come from over the German lines. She's a Frenchie, too. Youcan see her colors. She's flying pretty low."
"She's coming down fast!" shouted Bob. "Looks as though she'd beennipped."
Pausing to watch the plane, it seemed to the Khaki Boys that it was,indeed, coming down altogether too fast for safety to its pilot.
"He's lost control of it! No, he hasn't, either! He's sure somebirdman. Oh, joy! Watch him!"
Jimmy was prancing about, flourishing his wash, as he poured forth thisvolley of excited exclamation.
"He's going to land right the other side of the depot! Come on! I wantto get a look at him!"
Bob had now taken up the cry. With "Come on!" he was off across thefield, his three bunkies keeping up with his mad dash. Already a crowdof Sammies had come out of the depot, and were running toward theaviator, who had now made a skilful and easy landing.
"We may get the grand snub," panted Bob, as they neared the quiescentplane.
Its pilot was just stepping out of the seat. He moved very stiffly, andstaggered a little, as his feet touched the ground. His face partiallytoward the plane, he turned smilingly as the noisy delegation ofSammies rushed up to him.
"It's Cousin Emile!" bawled Jimmy at the top of his lungs, and dashedstraight toward the smiling man.
"Blaise! This is, indeed, most remarkable!" called out a deep voice.
A ready hand shot forth to meet Jimmy's, and grasped it warmly.
"Gee whiz, but I'm glad to see you, sir!" was Jimmy's fervent greeting."You'll have to excuse me for calling you 'Cousin Emile.' I wascertainly flabbergasted for a minute."
"No apologies," laughed Voissard, showing his white teeth in amusementat Jimmy's confusion. "It is the very pleasant surprise to meet youthus, my dear young comrade. And your friends, too," he added, offeringhis hand in turn to Ignace, Bob and Roger, who now grouped themselvesabout him with beaming faces. "Now of a truth it seems you must havejust come from the bath."
His quick eyes had taken in the newly cleansed articles of clothing inthe boys' hands.
"We certainly have," affirmed Bob. "We landed here just before daylightfrom our first f
ront-line trench detail. You can guess how much weneeded a big clean-up."
"Ah, yes, I can easily understand." Voissard's fine face grewsympathetic. "It is the hard life in those muddy trenches. I marvelthat you are still here to tell of it. But where is your comrade of thedark face and quiet, sincere manner? You see my memory is good."
"He's gone, sir," was Jimmy's sad response.
Inquiry for Schnitzel caused the four eager faces to cloud over.Briefly, Jimmy informed Voissard of all he knew pertaining toSchnitzel's disappearance.
"It is the fortune of war," was the aviator's grave comment when Jimmyhad finished. "We learn in time to accept all in that spirit. I, too,have lost many valued and loyal friends at the front. I share yoursorrow for this brave comrade. Yet I am happy that none other of youhas met with misfortune.
"It is purely by chance that I found you," he continued. "I spent thenight over the Allemand lines. Naturally, my plane has received roughtreatment. It was necessary for me to come down and make the repairs. Ihave yet some distance to go, and my bird's wings need the attention."
"Can we do anything to help you, sir?" was Jimmy's prompt inquiry.
"_Merci_, but no. My plane needs but a few touches here and there,which only myself can give and hurriedly. I have the importantinformation gleaned, which I must impart quickly to those who wait forit. For how long shall you remain in billet?"
Voissard cast a thoughtful glance at Jimmy as he asked the question.
"Three weeks, unless we get other orders."
"That is well. Watch for me. If all goes as I hope, I shall return hereto see you within the next three days. I have much to say to you."
During this conversation, the Sammies who had run out of billets andup to the aeroplane, had drawn back a little distance from it, and thequartette gathered about the aviator. The average American boy hatesto "butt in." Nevertheless, many pairs of bright eyes were wistfullywatching the trim Nieuport, and the favored four who appeared to be onsuch intimate terms with its pilot.
Noting this, Jimmy was seized with a kindly inspiration.
"Would you mind speaking a word to the fellows back there, sir?" heinquired deferentially. "They'd like it a lot, especially if they knewwho you really were. May I call them over and tell 'em? It will onlytake a minute and they'll be good. It will be a regular bang-up treatfor them."
A half-frown touched Voissard's dark brows, then his boyish smile cameinto evidence.
"Since you ask it," he consented, "but only for a moment."
At the word of permission, Jimmy hurried back to where his comradesstood.
"Fellows," he greeted. "Come up and meet the Flying Terror of France.I'd like him to see what a rattling fine bunch we've got in the goodold 509th."
This last compliment was slyly intended to put every Sammy on his bestbehavior. It succeeded signally. An awed and admiring delegation, ledby Jimmy, filed respectfully up to the aviator. Forming a little line,they came smartly to Attention. On the last word of presentation spokenby Jimmy, every man saluted.
Gracefully returning the salute, Voissard made an earnest littlespeech to his young admirers, expressing his pleasure at meeting them,and thanking them in the name of France for their loyal response andallegiance to the Allied cause.
As he finished speaking, the Sammies again saluted. Wheeling, they wereabout to march off when he stopped them, expressing a wish to shake thehand of each. To the delighted Khaki Boys it was a red-letter occasion.Boyish exuberance getting the upper hand, they could not resist givingthree cheers for Voissard, as he took the hand of the last man in line.Then it seemed necessary to give three more for France, and anotherthree for the United States. Finally, they trooped happily off, full ofgratitude to Blaise, a "corking Sarge," who "hadn't a stingy bone inhis body."
The four Brothers remained with Cousin Emile while he went overthe plane, and made the minor repairs which he had referred to as"touches." It took the better part of an hour to make them, duringwhich period the boys hovered admiringly about the clean-cut littlelighting craft.
"I'd almost give my eyes to take a trip with you, sir," was Jimmy'swistful assertion, as Voissard was about to say good-bye.
"Your company would be the great pleasure," the aviator courteouslyreplied. "However, we shall at least meet again soon," he added,extending his hand in friendly farewell.
There was a quizzical twinkle in Cousin Emile's dark eyes. Had Jimmyknown what was going on behind them he would have been raised to theseventh heaven of bliss. He could not possibly guess that his ardentdesire to take a trip with Voissard was in a fair way to be presentlyrealized.