camp," said Ralph. The boys were up early in the morning, but[Pg 68] didn't have the least idea what steps to take to continue their journey. Everything in the way of transportation was reserved for the troops. Thousands of people were leaving their homes, and people with household effects, mounted on all sorts of conveyances, were noted on all sides, although at this time the Germans were not within ten miles of the river. The nearest railway to the south, which ran east and west along the southern bank of the river Aisne, was fully ten miles distant from this point. [Pg 68] Tom was on hand early, and greeted the boys most affectionately. "I have been thinking I might be able to help you out a bit," he said, after a little talk. "We are ordered to the station near Villers-Cotterets, and that's only forty miles from Paris." "How can you help us?" inquired Ralph excitedly. "Probably I can give you a lift in the machine," he said. "How far is that from here?" asked Alfred. "Twenty miles," replied Tom, and the two boys looked at each other hopefully, as he left them. Tom re-appeared at three o'clock, and informed them that they would start in fifteen minutes. "If you are ready for the trip, jump in and make yourselves comfortable," he said, and they required no second invitation. The dainty Morane just suited them, and they were in their seats in an instant. Tom then tossed them a light package, which they tucked away, and[Pg 69] the engine began to buzz. As they glanced around, two more machines seemed to vie with them in taking the air, then, as they again looked around, four more machines began to move, and soon all were on the wing, flying side by side, excepting two large Farman machines, which were well in the lead. [Pg 69] Up, up, up, they went, the machines on line with each other maintaining a height of about four thousand feet, while the Farmans were about five hundred feet higher. Within a half hour they saw in the distance what appeared to be a silver ribbon running east and west, which proved to be the river Aisne, and to the east they saw the city of Soissons. The beautiful aviation ground was
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