Even as the boys watched, one missile found its mark, and the plane, out of control, whirled round and round and then fell swiftly to the ground within the French lines.
But not with guns alone did the Allies respond. Like a flock of falcons, a squadron of French aeroplanes shot swiftly up into the air, climbing, climbing in the effort for altitude, so that they might swoop down upon their prey from above.
"There goes Dick's plane in the van!" cried Frank, his voice tense with excitement.
"That's the place for America!" exclaimed Tom. "Always in the van!"
CHAPTER XVII
THE BAPTISM OF FIRE
All faces were turned toward the sky. It was the army boys' first glimpse of a battle in the air and the grim game held them spellbound.
Like great birds the battle planes wheeled and swooped, now diving, now climbing, each jockeying so as to get the weather gauge of its opponent and bring its machine guns into action.
The forces were nearly equal and for some time victory hovered in the balance. But either the staying quality or the alertness of the Allies finally turned the scale. Two of the enemy planes were shot down, and a third, evidently crippled, but not wholly out of control, sought the ground within its own lines.