l pounding.

So the afternoon began to wear away, and all this while the motors
hummed cheerily, as they worked unceasingly, carrying the three bold
riders closer and closer to where the greatest battle of the age was
being fought to a finish.

There was a sudden whoop from the rear, where Hanky Panky held his
place. When the others managed to glance around, almost afraid that they
would find him in the ditch alongside the road, with his machine a
wreck, they discovered Hanky pointing wildly overhead, while at the same
time he shouted:

"Looks like old times, fellows, to see that aeroplane spinning along up
there half a mile high; and say, it's sure a German Taube in the
bargain. How about that same, Rob; you ought to know what they look
like?"

CHAPTER VII.

CLOSE TO THE FIRING LINE.

"You're right about it, Hanky Panky!" announced Rod, after he had taken
a good look aloft, and recognized some of the familiar features
distinguishing the Taube aeroplanes used almost exclusively at that
early stage of the war by the German military forces.

"It's snooping around getting information so's to help Von Kluck strike
the Allies where they don't expect him, most likely!" the boy in the
rear called out.

"Mebbe not," said Josh stoutly; "for all we know old Von may have put
his fingers in the trap laid by wily General Joffre, and what he wants
to do now is to find a way to draw out again."

Whether Josh really believed all he said or not was an open question,
but at any rate it was in his heart to stand up staunchly for the French
and English, whatever came to pass. He had seen that vast German horde
overrun poor Belgium, and he was praying they might meet an obstacle
when they finally ran up against the whole Allied army, standing before
Paris, and determined to do or die there.

They cast many a glance upward as they continued to move along. The
aeroplane did not seem to be disturbed, as far as they could make out.
If there were French birdmen in the vicinity they had other work cut out
for them besides chasing a hostile flier. Possibly they were over the
fighting armies, finding out valuable statistics for the use of the
French commanders, and which might affect the ultimate outcome of the
battle.

All doubt concerning their being in the vicinity of the field of
gigantic operations was by this time removed. The roar of guns had kept
on growing more and more intense. Besides, it was easy for them to make