eetops, though there did not
seem to be a yard to spare. That danger past, Jack felt that they were
better able to cope with the next peril. Down below the disappointed
general continued to shout and the soldiers to shoot, but one was just
as harmless as the other.

"He's coming for us, Tom! That Boche pilot!" shouted Jack. "Swing around
so as to give me a chance to pepper him good and hard!"

Tom did so, and Jack speedily found an opportunity to handle his
machine-gun, which he did with all his old-time vigor.

There was a feeble response from the Hun, who, however, seemed hardly to
understand what it was all about, or just why he should be chasing after
an unknown plane that had come from the region of Von Berthold's
headquarters.

Two minutes passed, and they were no longer followed by the Hun machine.
Jack never knew whether he had done any damage or not, though convinced
that he had seldom made better use of his gun. It was enough for the air
service boys to realize that the field was clear ahead, and with
reasonable luck they ought to be able to make their goal without further
mishap.

Some little time later there was a bit of a sensation created among the
American aviators when a big bombing plane that had been listed as
"missing and supposed to be lost" came settling down like a huge bat.

Harry Leroy was the first to rush alongside to learn if his two chums
were safe and sound. When he saw Tom unstrapping a little girl, Harry
believed, on the spur of the moment, it must be Jeanne Anstey.

And it can be easily believed that both Tom and Jack felt they had had
the most energetic night in all their experience, one that would not
soon be forgotten; while Helene, clasped in Jack's sheltering arms,
contented herself with a repetition of just one word--"Jeanne."

CHAPTER XXV

PEACE IN SIGHT--CONCLUSION

IT seemed as though there was to be little sleep for either of the air
service boys on that remarkable night. Helene must be given into the
charge of some one who could look after her temporarily; and Tom
understood just whom Jack had in mind when he followed the other to the
quarter where the Y. M. C. A. shelter stood.

They managed to communicate with Bessie after a bit, and then she came
out to them. Great was her astonishment upon learning where they had
been, and that this exact counterpart of little Jeanne, whom she had
seen once when directed by Nellie to the house further back of the
lines