and now we have nothing to think about except getting
back home to the _douzieme_ once more."

"I'd hardly call it home," laughed Earl. "I hope there aren't as many
bullets and shells flying around our homes as there are around the
_douzieme_. Home wouldn't be very comfortable under those
circumstances."

"Well we'd better start anyway," said Jacques. "All aboard!"

The boys quickly scrambled back to their places. The little group of
soldiers they were leaving wished them the best of luck and then the
machine started.

"Do you suppose we'll have as easy a trip home as we did coming?" asked
Earl as they began to soar higher and higher.

"We can go the long way if you want to," said Jacques.

"What do you think, Leon?" demanded Earl. "Don't you think we might as
well take the longer but the safer route on the return trip?"

"I don't see why not," exclaimed Leon. "We can fly just behind the
battle-line all the way back. I'd like to see what it looks like."

"So should I," agreed Jacques. "We'll do it then, only we'll have to
keep a mile or so behind the front."

"That's all right," exclaimed Earl. "We can see if we're a mile or so
high."

They had covered scarcely two miles from the village of Flambeau when
Leon suddenly spied another aeroplane.

"Look!" he cried excitedly. "There's another monoplane!"

"Where?" demanded Jacques.

"To your right."

One glance was enough for Jacques. His experienced eye immediately
identified the stranger and he turned to his two aides.

"That's a German flier," he remarked. "Get the machine-gun ready."

"What are you going to do?" demanded Earl eagerly.

"Chase him of course," said Jacques.

CHAPTER XXI

DISABLED

"Now you fellows will have to do all the work with the machine-gun,"
exclaimed Jacques as he shifted the course of the big monoplane and
started in pursuit of their enemy.

"Leave that to us," cried Leon.

"I'll have to; maneuvering this machine will keep me busy."

Higher and higher Jacques steered the monoplane. His desire was to
rise above their opponent if possible and thus take him at a
disadvantage.

"Do you suppose he sees us?" demanded Earl.

"Certainly he does," said Leon.

"And he's ready to fight?"

"If he wasn't he'd turn and run."

"How soon shall we open fire?"

"I don't know yet; he's two miles away now, anyway."

Speeding through the sky the two great mechanical birds rushed at each
other. With jaw set a