"Lively, everybody!" cried Tom, as he led the way to the big plane.
"Are we all here?" asked Jack.
A rapid count showed that not one of the brave force had been left behind.
"Is there room for me?" asked Mr. Raymond.
"Well, I should say so!"
"If there isn't I'll stay behind," cried Jack.
"No you won't!" exclaimed Tom. "There'll be room all right!"
The running men reached the plane just as they could see, in the light of the burning factories, a squad of Germans rushing to intercept them. In haste they scrambled aboard, and pressed the self-starter on the engine. There was a throbbing roar, answered by a burst of fire from the German rifles, for the place had been so devastated that no machine guns were available just then.
"All aboard?" asked Tom, as he stood ready to put the motors at full speed and send the craft along the ground, and then up into the air.
"All aboard—we're all here!" answered Jack, who had kept count. And Mr. Raymond was included.