The machines were so high that little could be seen, but some one had a pair of glasses and reported that one of the German craft was disabled and was coming down out of control.
This information afterward proved to be correct. Then during the battle which followed another German machine was set on fire; so that a total of three were destroyed, and another of the six engaged in the raid sent back damaged, and one of its occupants killed.
Nor did the Allied planes come off scatheless. One was shot down and both occupants killed, while another man was wounded. But the hospital had not been bombed, which was the great thing. 176
“Do you wonder that I’m aching to get back into the fight against such beasts?” asked Jerry, when the patients had once more been carried back to the wards, and Jerry and his chums had resumed their conversation in a quiet place outside.
“Don’t blame you a bit,” assented Ned. “But we were talking about Noddy Nixon.”
“Yes,” resumed the tall lad. “I was saying he asked a mighty queer question of the surgeon and I have my own opinion––”
At that moment a smiling Red Cross nurse appeared and said:
“There’s a visitor asking to see you, Mr. Hopkins.”
“A visitor for me!” exclaimed Jerry.
“Yes, do you wish to see any one?”