"All right now!"
Stubbs gave a great sigh of relief.
Hal increased the speed of the machine until it fairly flew over the ground. And then his hand touched the elevating lever.
Immediately the plane soared in the air like a big bird.
And from the ground came exclamations of surprise; for it was not until that moment that the Germans who had been advancing toward the friends had discovered their presence; although they had been espied by Chester and Stubbs some moments before.
A volley of rifle bullets was fired at the rapidly rising machine.
One flew by Stubbs' ear and he dropped to the bottom of the car with a howl of fright.
A moment later, however, the machine was beyond reach of the rifles of the German troops, and Hal laid the craft out on a straightaway course, heading directly west.
"Nothing can stop us now but enemy aeroplanes," he said quietly.
He increased his speed. The big army plane flew toward the distant French lines with a speed greater than that of the fastest express train.