Boy Scouts with Joffre; Or, In the Trenches in Belgium

by G. Harvey Ralphson

"Sure!" put in Jimmie with sarcasm. "After they run over us!"

"What can we do?" Ned cried. "We must stop them!"

"Francois, what signal will these Frenchmen understand?" asked Jimmie. "Shall we swing 'em down, or have you anything to suggest?"

"Oh, I don't know," cried Francois. "I don't understand the railroad signals well enough to know what to do."

"I'll tell you what," Jimmie ventured, "I'll swing off to one side, round to quickly, and run alongside the locomotive. As we draw up alongside, you call out to the engineer to stop. He'll understand French. Get your lungs ready for a big whoop, there's lots of noise."

Francois began drawing deep breaths, preparing for the effort.

The Grey Eagle was veered away from the tracks to a distance considered by Jimmie suitable for his purpose, and again quickly wheeled about. This time the boys were prepared for the sharp deflection of the planes, and assisted by throwing their bodies to the outer side of the turn.

Slightly miscalculating the speed of the onrushing train, Jimmie brought the Grey Eagle parallel to its course at a point some two car lengths behind the locomotive. A quick touch of the throttle soon carried them out of the cloud of smoke and cinders abreast of the driver, who leaned from his position interestedly watching the maneuvers of the great aeroplane.