"A pair missing," murmured the major, as he searched the sky with his glasses.
And Tom wondered if Jack's machine was among those that had not headed back.
Eagerly he procured a pair of binoculars, and when he had them focused he identified one machine after another, at last picking out his chum's. It did not seem to be damaged.
But two of the French craft had been brought down—one in flames, the report had it, and the other out of control, and both fell within the German lines.
"Did you get any photographs of the big gun?" asked the major, when the men in the double machine had made a landing.
"We got lots of views," answered the photographer, "but what they show we can't say. As far as having seen the gun goes, we didn't spot it."
"Well, maybe the photographs will reveal it," suggested the major. "Ah, but I am sorry for the two that are lost!"
Jack's experience had been less exciting than Tom's. One machine had attacked the former, and there had been a hot engagement for a while, but the German had finally withdrawn, though to what extent he was wounded or his machine damaged Jack did not know.
However, the picked squadron had reason to feel satisfied with their efforts. All now depended on the developing of the photographs, and this was quickly done. For this part of warfare is now regarded as so important that it is possible for a plane to fly over an enemy's station, take photographs and have prints in the hands of the commanding officer inside of an hour, if all goes well.
Carefully the photographs were examined by men expert in such matters. Eagerly they looked to discover some signs of the emplacement of the big gun. But one after another of the experts shook his head.