CHAPTER X
A SURPRISE FOR JACK
The two Air Service boys followed the enemy down with a risky nose-dive, determined to make sure that he did not get away; and so were able to see him strike amidst the upper branches of the trees with a horrible crash. They themselves had a close call, and only for Tom's clever handling of his machine might have shared the fate of their victim.
Marking the spot as best they could in the darkness of the night, the boys again started upward, in the hope that there might still be other work for them to do.
"Too late!" called out Jack. "The Boche has had a stomachful and is beating it for home like all get-out. He's lost two planes and pilots, which is a heap more'n he counted on giving up for the fun of bombing our hangars. Shall we call it off and go in, Tom?"
Indeed, there was nothing else for them to do. The enemy had been forced to run before he
84
