pon the ground and running along
upon its wheels. Many willing hands grasped portions of the framework
and assisted in bringing the machine to a halt.

Before the task of stopping the aeroplane was fairly accomplished the
pilot had leaped from his seat. He approached the group of officers
about the Kaiser with rather unsteady steps and gravely saluted.

The salute was returned by the entire party, who then stood at
attention. From the center of the party the Kaiser stepped forward.

A few short, brisk sentences were exchanged between the Kaiser and the
stranger who had descended so precipitately from the sky.

"Gee!" exclaimed Jimmie in disgust. "They're talking German, and I
can't understand it at all! What rotten luck!"

"Hush!" responded Dave. "I'm getting a word now and again. Perhaps I
can make out what it is the chap is reporting."

"If you can understand that awful bunch of noises they call a language
you're going some!" declared Jimmie, half to himself.

"Just a moment now," said Dave. "He's unburdening himself of a long
talk about the movement of some troops, I take it. Now he is saying,"
the boy went on, "that he has seen or some one has seen a strange
aeroplane near here. It is supposed to be one of the French machines
that has somehow got past the lines and is scouting."

"Let him report that stuff all he wants to," was Jimmie's comment in an
uninterested manner. "We should worry a lot about that!"

"But suppose it is the Eagle he has sighted?"

"Ah!" was the lad's quick ejaculation. "It can't be the Eagle."

"Why not?" asked Dave. "Isn't it entirely possible?"

"Well, come to think of it, you are right. It might be the Eagle he
has seen and is reporting. What can we do to stop him if he should
take a soldier or two with him now and start out to plug the little old
Eagle and her crew full of bullet holes?"

"I can't imagine, you know," was Dave's puzzled reply, "unless we
prevent his getting away at all. I don't see how that is to be done.'"

A sudden resolve came to the red-headed lad as he pondered over the
situation. Glancing quickly about to observe whether the two were
under surveillance, he drew from his pocket several small objects.

"Stay just about here, Dave," he said. "I'm going over to the machine
and see what I can do to fix it so they can't run very well. If I'm
successful it may mean that we can save the boys on the Eagle. If I'm
caught at it I'll take part