ie signaled, "Cover stragglers."

The squadron was now well behind the British lines, but they were south
of the aerodrome, having changed direction to meet the attacks. Tam with
a little leap of heart recognized in the distance a familiar triangular
field of unsullied snow, searched for and found the rectangular block of
tiny huts which formed No. 131 General Hospital and turned out of the
line with a wild sense of exhilaration.

"She'll no' see me eat," he said, "but she shall see a graund ficht."

The bomber was swerving and dipping like a helpless wild duck seeking to
shake off the three hawks that were now hovering over her.

"Let you be Laramore's machine, O Lord!" prayed Tam, and he prayed with
the assurance that his prayer was already answered.

He came at the leading German and for a second the two machines streamed
nickel at one another. Tam felt the wind of the bullets and knew his
machine was struck. Then his enemy crumpled and fell. He did not wait
to investigate. The bomber was firing up at his nearest opponent when
Tam took the third in enfilade and saw the pilot's head disappear behind
the protective armoring.

He swung round and saw the bombing machine diving straight for the earth
with the German scout on his tail. Tam followed in a dizzy drop. Three
thousand feet from earth the bombing machine turned a complete
somersault and Tam's heart leaped into his mouth.

He banked over to follow the pursuing German and in the brief space of
time which intervened before his enemy could adjust his direction to
cover pilot and gunner, Tam had both in line. His two guns trembled and
flamed for four seconds and then the German dropped straight for earth
and crashed in a flurry of smoke and flying debris.

Tam looked backward. The bomber had pancaked and was drifting to a
landing; the squadron was out of sight. Tam glided to the broad field
before the hospital.

"I knew it was you--I knew it was you!"

He looked down from the fuselage at the bright upturned face.

"Oh, aye, it was me," he admitted, "an' A'm michty glad ye was lookin',
for A' was throwin' stunts for ye."

He was on the ground now, loosening the collar of his leather jacket. He
stepped clear of the obstructing planes of his machine and looked
anxiously toward the gentle slopes of the ridge on which the bomber had
landed.

"Thank the guid Lord," he said and sighed his relief.

He was making a careful inspection of his own machine prepara