England was being left so far behind in the race for the mastery of the air. Then he caught sight of the great beams of light that marked the position of the huge Berlin aerodrome, and a few minutes’ flying brought him above Spandau. He circled twice, looking for Gaston’s signals, and at last he dropped lower, caught the gleam of the three lanterns which Gaston had placed to guide him, and brought the machine swiftly down beside the big barn. Then he leaped from his seat. He nearly gave a shout of joy that would have aroused every German within a mile! For there, in the light of the lanterns, stood Yvette herself. There was no time for explanation. “Now’s your chance,” gasped Jules, wild with excitement, “the German plane has just gone up!” Dick’s face hardened instantly. “Get in, Yvette,” he said curtly. Yvette stared in utter astonishment. This was a new Dick with a vengeance! All his usual graceful courtesy had dropped from him in the instant; the sheer fighting spirit was on top and Dick was, for the moment, the officer giving commands to his subordinates. His face was set like granite, and into the keen eyes there came a look Yvette had never seen there before. The cheerful, laughing “pal” had gone; in its place stood the fighting machine, pitiless and efficient. For an instant the girl was almost on the edge of rebellion; then she turned, and, without a word, took her place in the machine. As she did so, she caught Dick’s eye. For an instant the stern face relaxed; then the iron mask shut down again. For five minutes, while Yvette put on her leather helmet, Dick studied the plan which Jules showed to him by the light of a shaded lantern. When the Mohawk jumped into the air every detail of it was photographed indelibly on his brain. For three thousand feet the Mohawk shot upward at a speed which left Yvette dizzy and breathless. Then they hung motionless, as Dick peered anxiously earthward. Were they high enough? With a smothered exclamation Yvette pointed downward. Far below them
Prev.
Back
Top