d, the two brothers watched its descent. Like some great
flaming meteor it hurtled earthward. Down, down, down it plunged into
the distant valley below. A sheet of fire trailed behind until finally
it struck the earth with a crash; there was a burst of smoke and with a
start the young Americans came to themselves again.

The horror and the awfulness of their opponent's death had had a
profound effect upon them and for the moment they had forgotten
everything else. Still, this was war and death is part of the game.

Jacques, however, had paid no attention to the fate of the German
flier. All he knew was that his own machine was disabled and that he
and his companions were in deadly peril.

"What do you think, Jacques?" demanded Leon. "Will that wing hold up?"

"I do not think so," replied Jacques soberly. "I think we must land."

"Where are we?"

"Inside the German lines."

"But if we land here we will all be taken prisoners."

"Our lines must be ten miles away," said Jacques. "What can we do?"

"It won't hold us that far you think?" asked Earl anxiously.

"I am sure it won't."

"Can't we try it?"

"It would be foolish," said Jacques firmly. "Unless we land at once
that wing may collapse and then we shall go spinning towards the earth
just as fast as did those Germans."

"You know best," exclaimed Leon. "I hate to think of being taken to
some German prison camp though."

"Perhaps we can make repairs," said Jacques. Carefully he descended,
now and then casting an anxious look towards the weakened support.
Below was a heavily wooded valley with only an occasional small
clearing where a tiny farm appeared.

"Can we land all right?" inquired Earl.

"We can with luck," replied Jacques grimly.

The big monoplane wobbled badly at times and the young aviator had to
call upon all of his skill to prevent the machine from capsizing. As
they neared the ground the three boys maintained a strict silence and
with anxious hearts awaited the outcome.

A wide forest stretched beneath them. The waving tree-tops appeared
soft and feathery from above, but the three boys knew that unless they
could avoid the trees their doom was sealed. The open space in which
Jacques was trying to effect a landing seemed pitifully small.

The young Frenchman was a past master of aviation, however. With the
greatest skill he directed the disabled machine until they were
directly above the clearing. He shut off the engine