The herald., 1917-10-11

"S|/TC |C/S Il C/'S %L/O|7/ CIZF <IE/S
! already they could see through the
morning haze the country below then
/ Swarming with khaki-clad men.
There were puffS of smoke in the air
and the deep thud of the bursting
| shells from the anti-airCraft guns.
They could see the lines now. Not
/ a square inch Of the ground seemed
free from shell holes. and 10 the right
were the remains of a village and q
large mine crater.
There were intermittent Hastings OF
the guns on either side of the broad
brown belt which divided the enemies.
Bang! Bang. Bang" three shells
burst unpleasantly close to the leader,
and he heard the tearing sound Of
shrapnel through his planes. Warm
work" he said to himself as he saw
that one of his spars was shot away.
The other machines seemed undam-
aged. and once they were well over
the lines all firing ceased. No doubt
the guns were being mounted on lorries
and taken further back to get another
shot at them.
Below them were the heavy French
machines carrying out reconnaissance
work, and they could see above them
on each side French and English cir
planes of all types and sizes. With
kissing noise tiny scout dived down
past them. hOtly pursued by a big Ger
man machine bristling with guns. But
the five machines steadily pursued
their own course. This was not their
area, and they had their own work TO
do.
In a few minutes they had reached
their destination. For the next two
hours they would patrol that area
marked out for them on the map. wait
ing for the Huns. who would certainly
try 10 drive them away. But for the
moment they had leisure to look
around them. To the right they could
see four French machines making for
home. Probably they were on their
way back from bombing raid. Then
there came the sound OF firing imme-
diately behind them. One of the pa
troll was being attacked by a stubby
little German scout machine, which
was diving at him from behind. The
leader banked sharply around and,
steeply, made straight for the
enemy. But the stubby German on
seeing another opponent turned for
homo ~ rho ton of hic cponl
The leader looked around 10 see
what had happened to his companion. !
His engine was missing badly. He
seemed in trouble. hut he was contin- |
uing his duties. And other things were
A True Shot.
Two Hun machines were passing n
thousand feet below them. An Eng |
fish machine dived at them. One start |
ed for earth, but the other showed |
fight. BY a clever maneuver he had !
just got behind his opponent when the |
leader dived into the scene of action.
He came up close before he opened |
fire, and then with his third shot hit
The enemy in the petrol tank. 1t burst
out in flames and fell to earth.
He Topped the loop to show his pleas
IRE.
THAT was good shot" he said 10
himself as he turned and counted the
patrol. There We're only four alto
gether. One had turned home through
engine trouble. They kept close to-
gether, and for about half an hour all
vent peacefully and well. Their en-
zines were running perfectly, and the
air acted like balm on their
'Ouls. The occasional sounds Of firing
lid not disturb them. Then In the dis
ance they saw a great cloud Of ma
hines approaching from the east. and
'ach man looked to the leader for a
ignal. This was no ordinary enemy
'atrol. One or two served to relieve
he monotony of life, but fifty was
more than joke. But the leader held
o his course.
With a deep droning of the engines