Shortly after the foregoing events, while the three were performing scout duty north of St. Mihiel, they were attacked by two German machines, an Albatross and a Taube, a combination which, especially when operating against a single machine, is capable of doing deadly work.
When the two enemy ships were sighted, Alfred was in the pilot's seat, and under the direction of the lieutenant, the airplane shot forward directly in the path of the first machine, while the lieutenant poured out a constant storm of shot. The Albatross dived, and Alfred at once moved the control to ascend, thus bringing their machine above the Taube.
The object now was to so manoeuver their ship as to keep between the two enemies, and in doing so make it difficult for either of them to use the quick firers without danger of hitting the other. The Seraph was a rapid climber, due to the high power of her engines.
"Send her up as rapidly as possible," shouted the lieutenant. "Keep on going, and turn slowly to the left, so as to make a big circle; that will give me a chance to put in some shots."
Alfred knew the manoeuver, the purpose being to bring the two machines into line with each other, and thus enable the lieutenant to get his gun in the range of both machines.
"A little down now, and more to the right; there, steady," was the next command.
"Br-r-r-r-r" sounded the gun, as the officer turned the crank.
"The Taube is going down," cried Ralph excitedly, "and here comes another of the same kind," continued Ralph.
"Go straight for the second one," shouted the lieutenant, and Alfred knew that the same trick had to be repeated.
But the new arrival did not accept the invitation to fight on the lines that the first machine adopted. Instead, it began to circle about at a safe distance, endeavoring to secure the overhead position.