“Well!” exclaimed Frank at last, drawing a long breath, “there’s one less murdering Boche for Uncle Sam to deal with. May their tribe decrease!”
“Amen,” said Tom. “I wonder if Dick has come off safely?”
The others also felt anxiety on this point, but it was soon dispelled, for they heard the sound of his motor as he descended rapidly. Of course, it was impossible for him to land now, on account of the darkness, but as he swooped low over the treetops he fired a few rounds of ammunition from his machine gun, by way of greeting, and the boys raised a lusty cheer, which, however, it is very doubtful if he heard, owing to the noise of his motor. Then he straightened out in a line for the aeroplane base in back of the American lines, and gradually the hum of his motor faded out in the distance.
“Maybe we’ll come across the remains of that German machine when we advance tomorrow,” speculated Billy. “But whether we do or not, that ought to be a tip for our airmen. That was one idea of yours, Frank, that wasn’t quite as bad as the majority of your ideas.”
“Well, if I can have an idea that works out like that one once in a while, I’m entitled to have a few poor ones,” retorted Frank, and retired with the honors of war.
By this time “taps” was almost due, and the boys set about rigging up their “pup” tents, and getting ready for the night. In spite of the weariness caused by the strenuous and exciting day, they managed to stay awake long enough to discuss the thrilling air battle they had witnessed, but then fell asleep until the notes of “reveille” recalled them to another day of this stern game called war.
The next morning they were up with the first notes of the bugle, and by the time dawn had fairly broken were through breakfast and ready for what the day might bring forth. Then the bugle blew the “assembly” and the soldiers fell into orderly ranks, standing at attention while muster was read.
Their commanding officer then gave them a short talk in which he praised their progress on the preceding day, and expressed his confidence that they would do as well or better today. Then the order was given to advance, and the formation moved forward at a walk, keeping as good a line as possible over the broken terrain, but inevitably breaking up into small parties as the difficulties of the advance became more and more pronounced.
The Germans had apparently retreated to a considerable distance, for at first the Americans met with no opposition except that offered by the tangles of barbed wire and abandoned trenches with which they were continually coming into contact. Frank, Billy and Tom kept a lookout in every direction for the destroyed German aeroplane, but their vigilance was doomed to go unrewarded, for they saw not a sign of it.
By noon time the Americans had begun to come in contact with the enemy again, and were again engaged in the grim business of clearing out stubbornly held trenches and machine gun nests. The Germans fought for every foot of ground, but were slowly but surely forced backward, ever giving way to men who were better soldiers than they were. Always they had the advantage of carefully planned and constructed fortifications, and yet always they were beaten out of them. By noon the Americans had registered a satisfactory advance, and the order was given to rest while the wearied soldiers were given food and a chance to get a very much needed rest.