Air Service Boys in the Big Bat

probably accounted for fact that the Germans did not turn tail and scurry back beyond the protection of their own a

out in bold relief in the clear air. The sun glinted on the red craft which were in the lead, and bes

ng a good shot with the Lewis gun. Practice with the machine weapons in aeroplanes had been going on, for some

given his companion these instructions and had ascertained, by a glance over his shoulder, that the lad understood for he nodded his head, Tom again

as mounted so that it could be aimed independently of the aeroplane. Tom also had a gun in front of him, but it was fixed and could be aimed only by po

were machine bullets from the Hun aviator's gun, breaking through

t hear a word. An instant later Tom heard the Lewis gun behind him firing, and he saw several tracer b

straight," reasoned Tom. "I'll ha

age. And the air service boy knew he must not let this happen. Quickly he shifted the rudder and began to climb himself. Bu

ed just where he wanted it, he pressed the lever and a burst of bullets shot out and fairly riddled the red plane. I

as he leaned over and looked down

nt did not affect Tom Raymond greatly. It was not his first killing. But when he, glanc

is to think of what the Huns have done-crucifying m

flew off to engage another Hun machine the lad back of him rose to the occasion and shot so well th

e tank, and he was obliged to coast back to his own aerodrome to get another machine, if possible. He was also hit once in the leg, the wound being painful thou

rom the remaining red plane, which seemed to bear a charmed existence, as it did not appea

d forces, and three of the American machines were damaged and their operators severely wounded, though with a chance of recovery. By American machines is meant those

e to our credit," said Tom, as h

omplained his chum. "It went again

your turn next," rep

eceived their baptism of fire, and

first air battle. For many of the American fighters were "green," while not one of the Huns, as was learned later, but what had several Allie

arriving. They found time once to run into Paris on their day of leave, to see Bessie and Nellie, and they went on a little picnic together, which was as jolly

achines crashing to earth and the others back over the Hun lines, more or less damaged. That was a great day. And, as a sort of reward for their work, Tom and Jack were given three days' leave

fellows in the Lafayette

ht," agr

ther th

efore, been a great battle with victory perching on the Allied banners. The air conflicts, too, had been desperate, and many

arrival at their former aerodrome had been for

of the air that an incident occurred which made a great change in their lives. One

long way over Heinie's lines," remark

back long ago or they will not come back until

o single combat?" asked Tom, as

think he brings some messages. We sent some to the Germans yester

mp. Hundreds came out to watch, for now the object of the lone aviator was apparen

he hovering aeroplane. It landed on the roof of one of the hangars, bounced of

g for the past week. Some of them, the message from the German lines said, had been killed by their falls aft

y, as the last of the relics from th

im up," added Jack. "But we can aven

ed Tom. "If

air service boys looked up. Another small object was falling. It landed wi

opped out. Quickly it was read, and the import of it was gi

rry Leroy! Word fr