Air Service Boys over the Atlantic; Or, The Longest Flight on Record

m! Climb i

since the pilot had sensed their immediate danger just as quickly as had Jack himself. Already Tom was pulling the lev

, forming the raiding squadron break formation in great haste, each pilot being eager to d

e destruction of the best machine among them, and thus reduc

ed to breathe easily again. They had climbed beyond the range of the German guns, no matter how heav

naling keep on this level, T

d above the rushing noises that "made

em. They must have set those anti-aircraft quick-firers of theirs in fresh elevated emplacements after the Yankees had tak

lled out, feeling considerable uneasine

ant Jack. "All the same it was a smart trick, and somebody's

the numerous planes around them, "because it might have played hob wi

e through the upper air currents. Besides, the night was cold at such an elevation, and consequently both boys had their heads well muffled up,

heir spring and autumn migrations. In the lead went the battleplane containing the squadron commander, forming the apex of the

, three on one side and four on the other, that of the Ai

uctive of explosives. They, too, could show teeth if cornered and compelled to depend on their own defensive powers; for each of them carried a machine

. It went without saying that the Huns must realize the necessity for guarding the important bridge across which their beaten armies were flockin

es in that vicinity, ready to soar aloft and give furious battle to an

, the sacrifice of a few planes with their crews might be

intended goal. Every pilot and observer in that squadron had been carefully selected wi

ttle and found to be fine gold, eighteen carat pure. Such a thing as flinching when the test came was not to be considered; they woul

ght-glass, and he now

an see flickering lights darting about, and I bel

hen again those Huns along the line would send word back, for they must know what we're aiming at. It's al

nce the bombers must be amply protected in order to allow their gunners an opportunity to get to w

ts, the source of which he could only speculate upon. Then came a flash which must mark the discharge of the first anti-aircra

ying to get their range. The whole pack would break loose in another minute or less; bu

, dropped from one of the big planes in order to get a lead on their location. Jack believed

hand, for he knew that a swarm of fighting Gothas had started up to engage the attacking squadron, and realized tha

st a dozen of their own planes speeding through space, a false move on the part of

ry just then that c

bombers a better chance to get there. No matter wha

ed place. A brief interval followed, and then came the bursting shrapnel again around them, while from several quarter