Still further along he discerned Fort Vaux and Fort Douaumont, scenes of desperate fighting when the great German forward movement had reached this pinnacle, but not fated to remain always in the hands of the invaders—not while Frenchmen lived to clutch their weapons and say: “They shall not pass!”
Still further they sailed.
Now Tom could see the uneven lines that marked the trenches of the enemy, though as a rule these were so well hidden under “camouflage” that it required a practiced eye to pick their location out.
Columns of muddy smoke spurting up here and there told where high explosives were still tearing further into this area. All this and much more Tom saw on that first visit of his to the upper currents above the long fiercely contested field of Verdun where the German Crown Prince had seemed ready to sacrifice a million men if necessary, in order to attain the object he had in view.
Then from the actions of his pilot, Tom knew they had reached their station, so that from that time forth they must occupy themselves strictly with the business, for the carrying out of which they had been sent forward.
“I’ve got to do my part now,” thought Tom, grimly. “If I don’t my flying for France will be a failure.”
CHAPTER XIX
THE BATTLE BELOW
Tom Raymond was now about to have a part in a genuine battle. Even though he might be thousands of feet above the actual fighting, there was an important mission for him to perform, since he would be relaying signals from the advanced plane over the enemy lines. On the accuracy of these reports might hinge the success or failure of the attack.
The constant roar of their motor, and the high altitude at which they were working, would prevent his hearing much of what was taking place below. Still his eyes could take note from time to time of numerous interesting things likely to happen.
He could see the waves of French troops advancing behind the barrage fire put up by their batteries, and which was undoubtedly being gradually “lifted” the further they went toward the enemy lines.