"Well, from the sudden way in which the Eagle's progress was checked, I'm sure that Jimmie caught the loop of line all right," was Ned's answer. "Then," he went on, "from the way in which the craft shook just before she jumped skyward, I believe that the two boys were in some sort of difficulty. All at once we began to climb, and that indicated to me clearly that a considerable weight had been lost."

"Do you mean to say you think both Jimmie and Dave fell?"

"I can't see any other way out of it," declared Ned.

"Well, of all things!" was Harry's expression as the truth of the matter began to dawn upon him. "What shall we do now?"

"I move we circle back in a big spiral," stated Jack, "and see if we can see what's going on there. Maybe the boys are hurt."

"We weren't going high enough for the drop to badly injure either of them," declared Harry. "Unless they were tangled in the rope, they have landed upside down with care, all right."

"Jimmie will come out of any mixup with his fists doubled up," was Jack's almost laughing comment. "I believe that if that chap were to fall into the hopper of a mud scow he'd come out with a clean shirt on and a smile all over that freckled face of his."

"Yes, and ready to fight the chap that pushed him in," added Ned.

"Then let's get back there and see what we can see," urged Harry.

"Better not swing too close," advised Jack. "We can't tell what tricks those fellows may have up their sleeves. They weren't prepared for our sudden coming, and so failed to get us. Next time, though, they may be more fortunate and we might get something not wanted."

"What do you think, Ned," questioned Harry.

"I think it would be unwise to go back there too close now," was Ned's advice. "I'm of the opinion that our attempt to take Jimmie away had a bad effect on them, and that they're quite angry."

"Well, swing around a ways and let us take a peep through the gla.s.ses.

Maybe we can see what's going on back there."

Accordingly Ned, in an effort to appease the curiosity of his chums, brought the Eagle in a wide spiral to a position about three thousand feet above the camp and a trifle to the westward. From this point of vantage the lads could clearly see the camp within the range of their field gla.s.ses. Jack nearly danced with joy as he looked.

"Hurrah!" he shouted. "I can see a group about one of the tents that looks all flattened out. I'll bet that Jimmie landed on top of the tent and broke it down. They're standing in the middle of the group there, and seem to be surrounded by officers."

"Then the rest is easy," commented Ned, giving a touch of the levers that carried the Eagle away on a straight flight to the westward.

"Easy?" queried Harry. "What do you mean--easy?"

"Why, they'll be taking train right away for the western front, unless we're badly mistaken," answered Ned. "All we have to do is to leave them alone for a few days until they arrive at the front, and there we can help Jimmie and Dave to escape."

"You figure that by that time the Germans will have forgotten us?"

"Either that or they'll have other things to think of."

"Then let's beat it out of this neighborhood," suggested Harry.

"Wait a minute," urged Jack. "What do you suppose they'll do to the boys if we leave them there? Won't they try to take out their spite on the lads and go to extreme measures?"

"I hardly think so," argued Ned, tilting the planes to bring the Eagle a trifle closer to the earth. "In the first place, I think the officers will want to keep the two lads for the amus.e.m.e.nt of the soldiers. It will give them something to think about for a few days."

"Yes, the two boys will amuse the soldiers, all right!" declared Jack.

"But what will happen to the two boys meanwhile?"

"That's what I'm coming to," went on Ned. "I figure that they will not be willing to see harm come to the lads through the Germans directly, because it would make trouble between the German nation and ours and that of Dave. They may make the lads go into the front lines when they get to the front, and if they should get hit by a bullet from one of their own countrymen the situation would be different."

"I see," reflected Harry. "Then in that case the Germans could claim they were not directly responsible. They might claim that the boys got enthusiastic and enlisted voluntarily. If they got shot it was no fault of the dear, kind Germans!" he finished sarcastically.

"Well, that's about the way of it, I guess," answered Ned. "Anyhow,"

he added, "I'm not a bit afraid for the boys' safety until Verdun is reached. After that I'm not at all so sure as I'd like."

"Then I agree that it's best that we just hit it up for the west."

"Right-o!" cried Jack. "Let's get out of town, as that freight conductor used to say. And let's be quick about it."

"We'll be in plenty of time if we just jog along easily and save any undue strain on the machine," advised Ned. "We'd better be on the lookout for something to eat instead of worrying about speed."

"We can eat some of this canned goods we put aboard back there in Peremysl," suggested Harry. "I'm getting a little bit hungry now."

"Then don't eat anything until you're good and hungry," Ned put in with a smile. "We can't tell where we'll be apt to get anything after this present supply is exhausted."

"Then I won't eat just now," agreed Harry. "I'm not so hungry."

Ned's laugh at the other's reply went far to break the spell of melancholy that rested upon the group after they had discovered the loss of their comrades. Truly they needed a bit of cheering, for the situation was anything but pleasant and hopeful.

"I see a little village off there to the right a piece," said Jack presently. "We'd better find a favorable landing spot not far from the town pretty soon, for it's coming on dark and we'll be unable to see without showing searchlights that would expose ourselves."

"You're right, I believe," Ned said. "We'd better land."

"All right, then," agreed Harry. "Let's come down easy, though."

Under Ned's capable hands the Eagle swooped silently and swiftly toward the earth. The great machine behaved splendidly in every particular.

All three boys craned their necks eagerly toward the earth as they descended. With watchful eyes they peered about.

In another five minutes they were standing beside the Eagle, which rested easily in a gra.s.sy spot beneath some tall trees that screened the lads from the eyes of anyone pa.s.sing upon the road.

Their flight through the twilight had been apparently un.o.bserved, for no outcry from the nearby village had reached their ears.

For a few minutes the three lads stood peering anxiously forth from a screen of bushes that separated them from the highway.

At length Ned signalled his comrades to follow, and cautiously stepped forth from the copse. The others were close upon this heels.

"Let's go to the village," offered Ned, "and try to find out just where we are. Then we can know what to do next."

"Go ahead!" agreed Jack and Harry in chorus.

Ned walked down the road a few paces, then turned to look back at the spot where they had come through the bushes. He examined carefully the shrubbery, and stood a short time examining the outline of the trees and larger growth, carefully noting the contour.

"Getting a landmark for use when you return?" asked Harry.

"That's just it!" laughed Ned. "Never can tell, you know," he went on in mock seriousness. "Might have to come back in a hurry!"

Laughingly the three then proceeded on their way into the town.