This survivor, eager to serve, was ordered into his aëroplane and the machine hurtled aloft. The flyer made a fearless attempt to cross the field at a height of a quarter of a mile. Bullets from guns mounted on top of a slope pierced the aëroplane’s gasoline tank, causing the fuel to escape and forcing the pilot to attempt to glide to the earth. On reaching the ground he tried to defend himself with a revolver, but was quickly captured.
The French commander, at the sight, shrugged his shoulders, and with a despairing gesture turned to Colonel Bainbridge, with the words:
“It is all over.”
Henri heard the remark, and in wild excitement fairly leaped toward the officers.
“There’s another machine, and two of us left who know how to run it. We’re ready!”
The French officer recognized the speaker as one of the boys who had located the German battery when his own aviators had failed to make a find.
“What do you think of it?” he asked Colonel Bainbridge.
“I think that they can save the day,” solemnly asserted the officer addressed.
“To the front, Billy!” loudly called Henri.
Billy was already “to the front”—he was testing the machine in preparation for instant flight.