Our Pilots in the Air

far in the upper air, was seen to be whirling r

his comrade and friend while in possible peril. To intensify the strain he began to spray

one foot crushing down the German, who was now attempting to rise despite his bo

icipated them with a spatter of bullets from the

ttle or no damage, prob

rge was pointbl

loosen one arm. Recklessly he seized hold o

ed the American, "We must get

d with his feet on the accelerator rose rapidly upward. By this time bullets were spitting round them, one of which

thing, too. Hard work to keep a strangle hold on that c

ose in swinging round again that on

s. I am all right. We got some of th

ld below. Also at another angle some men were dragging forth an antiai

o machines sped along side by side, all the whil

nd a cleat. If he tries to jerk away he'll strangle. Put on more power, man! Can'

higher, higher, climbing cloudward. "Sure

f them at -?" But the name was lost

ot thereon, and also complete the adjustment of the cord. He arranged it by looping twice round the cleat, the length reaching to Fritz's throat being drawn

t several had been brought up, trained on the fliers a

vents by bringing one or both machines down. The fact that the life of one of their own comrades might be snuffed out did not weigh with them at all. Such is the Ger

, overtake these schwein at all cost. Were not they retreating with a choice

Boches were

sing. With the rare promise of a clear day, considering the time and the region, it

ht be reached. At any rate, they could see and signal other and also keep close together and be ready to afford mutual support in case of meeting the foe. This last was so

d Blaine to his friend. "Got an

e now empty cartridge sheaves and dropping them again

e Boches are great in reconstructing captured weapons to their own use. Get bel

pressure to the prisoner's twisted arm. Meanwhile with no time to lose, Orris swooped lower, rising gently under Blaine's right or starb

the same time Orris, in catching the sheaf, allowed his control grip to relax. The nos

y forward, down and upon the German. The latter, seeing his one chance, wrenched his partially released arm forward and caug

sheered his machine aside, still climbing upward and onward, only to find

nd goggles, a dimly shimmering twinkle of arms and legs flas

gling with thrills. "That chap has got loo

laine's relief. He did not know yet if the sheaf thrown him would fit his own m

ths as one of the Lafayette Escadrille. Before that he had worked his w

air, ten thousand feet up, he was adjusting t

he nearest Boche. Without hesitation he began to spray the enemy with a shower of their own bullets. It was indeed lucky the new c

lf staggering away, while a tiny spark of flame became visible to Erwin as he sheered aside in the opposite direction and prepared for a new onset from above by the second plane. So far as he could see, the other pla

mass of flames, began a series of divings, wrigglings, and even nose dips, in its efforts to

, both skillful, are seeking the advantage of the other. Well it was for the you

rtner. At last, in trying by a desperate and perilous maneuver, to "get on the tail" of his adversary by a side-loop in m

it fully in line with the Boche's head as he sat head down, strapped in his seat, while his

beginning his bullet

ore slowly, however. Erwin dove swiftly down and came upright in the rear

head lay on the rim, apparently a mass of streaming crimson. His machine, a renovated Fokker,

n a flood. At the same time there came to his brain a vivid flash, reminding him that while thus

. Looking back, he saw the Death's Head flag waving from the nearest one and soon disting

uenced by the usual controls, came nearly to a standstill. It toppled again,

nding to. "Look behind! I dropped that chap - the first one!

a dozen Boche planes were swooping around their rear, some already within ra

, you Orry! Here we go - right

gathering in behind. But Blaine was built that way. Danger, the closer and more mena

r?" shouted Erwin. "I

old of a monkey-wrench

as game,

is he

under my feet. W

ed themselves to the desperate task of fighting t

probably one result of his having to use the German-made ammunition tossed to hi

st cut for home

ht! Go u

Blaine's machine, and

s the first result o

ing from Blaine's captu

es a

ne, its pilot frantically but ine

tly a mere lad, working at the controls as the

inning to spiral upward. "What a

se duel, dipping, darting, flashing about each other. Now came interchanging machine gun fire, with both gradually following Erwin higher, higher, until the lat

lad became doubtful as to the wisdom of waiting longer for his comrade. Evidently Blaine would fight on as long as his ammunition lasted or until disabled himself

then as he righted it sent him scurrying at terrific speed southward. At the same time a black cloud