who handled the men working at their battlepl

again before half an hour pass

her fifteen minutes has gone by. We're on the last stay now, and I've carefully examined the motor and every other

o take your word for it," Tom assured

, as well as angered, him. Why should their particular plane have been selected for such treachero

this thing, Tom?" he

siness, I should say,"

feel timid about taking any extraordi

e armada gets off. No use alarming the others, though orders have gone out I presume to have every plane c

on between this work of a German spy, as it appears on

eddled with. One thing sure, it'll spur them to greater vigilance about watching things here. This isn't the

t past him!" mutt

I'm inclined to agree with you. It may be only a queer coincidence, your getting such important news this afternoon

d of ropes being partly cut, even wire stays or struts filed to weaken the

" said Tom sternly. "Why, the boys would be so

cowardly act couldn't be imagined than this. Air pilots take gr

om concluded. "I'm going to run over

can't be too sure of his mount, especi

ver carefully and tested as only pilots know how. Long experience, and many accidents have taught th

adron at some given altitude. Every minute or two could be heard the rush of some unit starting fo

ame the welcom

e, after such a discovery had been made, it was only natural for the boys to feel a queer tug in the region of their

e of, Tom," remarked Jack. "I suppose we're holding up the procession

le delay. The night's still young, and we can reach our destination in half an hour, with time t

ght slope they ran with constantly increasing speed. All around them could be heard the refrain of planes in action; from above came simil

, for it was at this time they stood the greatest chance of taking pa

n all the maneuvers connected with just such a hurried ascent in numbers. Each plane had its reg

hough fully a thousand feet from the earth's surface. Almost a dozen planes in all were moving in a gre

last to arrive, which under the cir

nal from the flagship, Tom. We've got to keep the red lantern ahead of us and fall into line. The

previously arranged. When the formation was made complete another signal was given. Th

, this might be accomplished without danger. So far as was known, they had gauged the utmost capacity for reaching them possessed by the German anti-

be regarded as absolutely perfect. The advancing raiders were passing ov

scharges came but faintly to his ears, to his consternation, all around them, as well a

ate peril of having some damage done to their swift-flying planes such as would