CHAPTER XIV.
WHERE THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE RAGED.
“Look, an aeroplane coming this way!” exclaimed Hanky Panky, pointing upwards.
“If you glance off yonder,” added Josh, “you’ll see more than one of the same. They’re hanging over the battle lines, and I guess sending signals back to tell what the observer notes from his perch away up aloft.”
“Just what they’re doing, Josh,” Rod went on to say, as he stopped for a brief time to take a look in the direction indicated.
In fact, they could make out as many as half a dozen of the fliers, some darting about as swift as swallows on the wing, others more stationary, and evidently with the operators busily engaged transmitting signals.
“There, see that one dropping something white!” cried Hanky Panky; “chances are he’s giving the gunners on his side a tip, so they can get the range of the German battery, and put it out of action with a volley.”
“And there’s going to be something doing pretty soon, or I miss my guess,” added Josh, excitedly; “because there comes a pair of those Taube machines bent on giving the French ones battle. Rod, we’re going to watch a fight in the sky, don’t you see? Whee! but this is the life, take it from me. I never dreamed I’d be so lucky as to be right on the lines when a big battle was taking place.”
The pair of Taube machines came swiftly along to engage the rival aeroplanes that had been making so free with the secrets of the German defences. Evidently the aviators had been ordered to put a stop to the operations of the French pilots, no matter at what cost to themselves.
“They’re shooting at each other now!” cried Josh; “you can see the puffs of smoke break out every second; and it’s different from the bursting of shrapnel shells all around them.”
“Gee! whiz! but this is awfully exciting!” gasped Hanky Panky, stretching his neck still more in order to follow the swift evolutions of the rival air machines; “what if one of them has the hard luck to get his motor smashed by a ball; or his gasoline tank exploded?”