“I mean are we going to do something to get Harry away from the Boche nest?”
“I'm with you in anything like that!” exclaimed Jack. “But what can we do? How are we going to rescue him?”
“That's what we've got to think out,” declared Tom. “Something has to be done.”
But there was no immediate chance to proceed to that desired end because of something vital that happened just about then. This was nothing more nor less than secret news that filtered into the Allied lines, to the effect that a big Zeppelin raid over Paris was planned.
It was not the first of these raids, nor, in all likelihood, would it be the last. But this one was novel in that it was said the great German airships would sail toward the capital over the American lines, or, rather, the lines where the Americans were brigaded with the French and English. Doubtless it was to “teach the Americans a lesson,” as the German High Command might have put it.
At any rate all leaves of absence for the airmen were canceled, and they were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to repel the “Zeps,” as they were called, preventing them from getting across the lines to Paris.
“And we'll bring down one or two for samples, if we can!” boasted Jack.
“What makes it so sure that they are coming?” asked Tom.
It developed there was nothing sure about it. But the information had come from the Allied air secret service, and doubtless had its inception when some French or British airman saw scenes of activity near one of the Zeppelin headquarters in the German-occupied territory. There were certain fairly positive signs.
And, surely enough, a few nights later, the agreed-upon alarm was sounded.