Gilpin observer., 1917-11-22

for their value. AS they were emptied
regiment after regiment of japanese
infantry which had been waiting till
the batteries had prepared their way
charged across the bridge with IRE
sistible impetus and swept over the
trenches like living wave.
Not, however, entirely without oppo
sition. One man had, for reasons OF
his own, elected not to retreat. Alone
he greeted the onslaught with ma.
chine-gun fire. spraying death over the
bridge and its approaches. Dozens OF
the charging troops fell before he ran
out of ammunition or was silenced by
n shot well aimed; Patria never knew
how the fellow met his end. He was
one minute, working his weapon busily
and methodically; the next, he was 81
lenced; and his fate was masked by
the hordes that took possession Of the
trenches.
AS this happened. Patria's observer
touched her arm to draw her attention
to their personal peril. So absorbed
had she been in the action beneath
her that she-and for that matter, her
observer as well-had altogether neg
lected to look after the safety Of the
biplane.
1t was now menaced by no less than
three Japanese air scouts-lightly
armored biplanes carrying two pas
sengers and equipped with machine
guns.
Soaring out over the battlefield at a
great height, these assassins Of the air
had chosen shrewdly the right moment
to strike at Patria's plane. The latter
happened to occupy the lower levels
Of the air alone, at that time; no other
machines Of Patria's flying corps were
at hand; the two which had pursued
the first hostile airplane beyond the
border were lost to view in the heat
haze that yelled the south, their fate
mystery; all others were still in the
hangers or delayed by minor circum-
stances at the aviation field.
Upon the lonely craft pilOted by Pa
tria, then, the three Japanese dropped
down from their high level with the
ferOcity Of hawks, opening fire with
their machine guns as soon as they got
within range, and attacking the de-
voted biplane from three sides.
Taken utterly by surprise-with no
more than the touch Of her Observers
warning hand upon her arm by way
Of preface to hailstorm Of bullets
Patria did the only possible thing per.
mitted by the conditions, that is,
sought safety in fortnight flight. And
since she was hemmed In on the north,
east and west, she was obliged to drive
into the south.
For a few moments she expected
each breath to be her last. Bullets
whistled and sang between the planes
or tore their fiimsy surfaces or glanced
from twanging struts and cables like
sleet through the ribs of coverless
umbrella. 1t seemed nothing short of
miraculous that none found lodgment
in either Patria or the observer.
Then, however, the slightly superior
speed Of the American engines began
to make itself felt. Patria drew slight
ly ahead and at the same time tilted
the nose Of her machine and began to
climb. Immediately the firing of the
machine guns ceased. and the three
ed out in determined pursuit.
The four swept away into the south
ern skies like leaves whirling before
sQuall.
Climbing steadily, Patria gained the
5,OO0-foot level at a distance Of some
miles within the Mexican side of the
border, her three pursuers outpaced
but undiscouraged lowering in the Of
fing like wolves that wait for winded
stag to fall.
And now fortune chose to favor the
American for a little. Out Of the haze
in the south fifth aircraft was ap-
preaching. For some time in doubt as
to whether 1t was another enemy craft
or possibly an American survivor Of
that triangular duel which had result
ed from the first air skirmish of the
day, Patria was quickly able to recog-
nize certain peculiarities of construc-
tion which Enthusiastically identified the
newcomer as one Of her own corps.
There was, however, no way Of tell
ing how 1t was manned, whether by its
| original crew or by the Japanese who
might have captured the plane. But
all doubts as to this were soon set at
rest by the action Of one Of Patr1a's
pursuers in abandoning his first OBJ
jective and sweeping OFF at tangent
to engage the stranger-who cheerful
ly greeted this new antagonist with a
whitening blast OF machine-gun fire.
Circling warily, like prizefighters
sparring for an opening, splitting fire
and hatred, the two were temporarily
forgotten by Patria, who had pressing
personal matters demanding instant
attention.