"You caught me all right. But how are we going to get away? Say your machine is busted?"
"How'd ye know?"
"Well, by the way it came down and struck. I have no tools with me, and I had to crawl in here in a hurry."
"Come on," ordered the Sergeant in his official tone. "We've got no time to lose. I've got tools or rather Milt had."
"What's the matter with Finzer?" Buck was keenly concerned for he and
Milt had been quite chummy.
Blaine told him briefly all that had happened.
"And you had to leave him back there? Well - well, it's war. Sure he was dead? By thunder! I'll get even yet with Hans — Gawd willin'. The skunks!"
All this and more while Lafe, now alert and busy, was getting out Finzer's tools. Presently the two were examining Buck's plane which they found was practically all right except for a big rent in two of the wings. With the appliances at land this did not take long, for both worked frantically, knowing that hostile planes from the neighboring front would soon be hovering near and also that the infantry was due either to reform the battle line or, if not, that reinforcements might pass at any time.
In a very short while the job was done. To Blaine's surprise Buck began nimbly climbing back up the crater wall.
"Where ye going?" he gently called, but only heard in reply: