Tom and Jack realized that this might be so, and they felt that there was no easy task ahead of them in trying to rescue their chum from the hands of the Germans. But they were not youths who gave up easily.
“May we keep this note?” asked Tom, as he and Jack got ready to depart. Having fallen on the camp of the escadrille with which they were formerly quartered, it was, strictly speaking, the property of the airmen there. But having been told how much the sister of the prisoner would appreciate it, the commanding officer gave permission for Tom and Jack to take the glove and note with them.
“Let us know if you rescue him, Comrades!” called the Frenchmen to the two lads, as they started back for their own camp.
“We will,” was the answer.
Nellie Leroy's joy in the news that her brother was alive was tempered by the fact that he was a German prisoner.
“But we're going to get him!” declared Tom even though he realized, as he said it, that it with almost a forlorn hope.
“You are so good,” murmured the girl.
Jack and Tom spent a few happy hours in Paris, with Nellie and Bessie—the last of their leave—and then, bidding the girls and Mrs. Gleason farewell, they reported back to the American aerodrome, where the young airmen were cordially welcomed.
There they found much to do, and events followed one another so rapidly at this stage of the World War that Tom and Jack, after their return, had little time for anything but flying and teaching others what they knew of air work. They had no opportunity to do anything toward the rescue of Harry Leroy; and, indeed, they were at a loss how to proceed. They were just hoping that something would transpire to give them a starting point.
“We'll have to leave it to luck for a while,” said Torn.