"How far is that from here?" asked Alfred.
"Twenty miles," replied Tom, and the two boys looked at each other hopefully, as he left them.
Tom re-appeared at three o'clock, and informed them that they would start in fifteen minutes.
"If you are ready for the trip, jump in and make yourselves comfortable," he said, and they required no second invitation.
The dainty Morane just suited them, and they were in their seats in an instant. Tom then tossed them a light package, which they tucked away, and the engine began to buzz. As they glanced around, two more machines seemed to vie with them in taking the air, then, as they again looked around, four more machines began to move, and soon all were on the wing, flying side by side, excepting two large Farman machines, which were well in the lead.
Up, up, up, they went, the machines on line with each other maintaining a height of about four thousand feet, while the Farmans were about five hundred feet higher. Within a half hour they saw in the distance what appeared to be a silver ribbon running east and west, which proved to be the river Aisne, and to the east they saw the city of Soissons. The beautiful aviation ground was reached within an hour, and they alighted in front of a magnificent group of hangars in the center of well-tilled fields, so located as to afford a view in all directions from the grounds. The machine was then put up for the night, and Tom and the boys were glad to turn in for a much-needed rest.
It was now the first day of September, and there had been nearly one month of war. The immense German forces had hewn their way through Belgium and entered France, reaching the cities of Laon, Epernay, and Chalons-sur-Marnek, thus forming a huge circle. They were within forty-five miles of Paris.
When the boys awoke the next morning the first words that greeted them were: "The Germans are within five miles of Soissons."
They rushed over to the hangar, but the machine and Tom were not to be found. This was another source of grief to them, and they stared about, and wondered at this new turn of affairs until, meeting an attendant, Ralph inquired:
"Do you know where the Morane has gone?"