the soldiers manning the
searchlights for the beams now swept restlessly across the eastern sky.
To the eastward, two or three kilometers, an anti-aircraft battery
opened fire, and from aloft came the dull _pouf!_ of the exploding
shells. Vain, futile effort! It was only the angry thundering of
admitted helplessness. One chance in a million! The motors droned on,
coming nearer and nearer. Excited townspeople, in wooden sabots,
clattered down the streets seeking shelter; fear-stricken mothers and
fathers spoke sharply to their little broods as they hustled them along.

"Buzz," Red said, "it's dollars to doughnuts they're coming here to lay
some eggs on our 'drome--just to put the wind up these boys. Remember
what I told you a few minutes ago."

Larkin was more hopeful. "I guess not," he said. "Headed for some supply
base or ammunition dump farther in, would be my guess. But if they are
coming here, there's little we can do about it. It's up to the
anti-aircraft boys."

"Hum-m," McGee mused. "I wonder."

A motor cycle, with side car, running without lights, came popping down
the street. Without hesitation McGee ran out into the middle of the
street, waving his arms and shouting wildly. The motor cycle swerved
sharply, missed the dancing, gesticulating figure and skidded to a stop.

"Say, what's eatin' you, soldier?" demanded the irate American motor
cycle orderly.

For answer McGee sprang into the side car and barked a few crisp, sharp
orders that brooked no hesitation. The responsive little motor roared
its staccato eagerness as the machine lurched forward, leaving Larkin
speechless and wondering.

"What do you know about that?" he mused. "Now what can that little
shrimp be up--" he hesitated, struck by the same thought, he felt sure,
that had plunged McGee into such sudden action. Then he began shouting
for the driver of their motor car.

"Martins! Martins! Oh, Martins!" Blast the fellow, doubtless he was
already in some place of security. "Martins! Oh, Martins!"

A door flew open, letting out a beam of light as Martins came out, clad
only in his underclothes and yawning prodigiously.

"Did you call, sir?" he asked, blinking foolishly as he studied the
flashing rays of the sky-searching lights.

"Yes! Get the car! Snappy, now!"

"Yes, sir. Just as soon as I can get on some clothes."

"Hang the clothes! Get the car--and set the road afire between here and
the 'drome. Move! Don't stand there blinking like