"Sure you are all right?" called Orris as the two machines sped along
side by side, all the while rising. "Didn't that fellow give you
trouble?"
"None to speak of. I've looped a cord about his throat, and got the
other end round a cleat. If he tries to jerk away he'll strangle. Put
on more power, man! Can't you see they've dragged the Archies out and
are stuffing in sheaves of bullets?"
"All right!" called Erwin, now spiraling higher, higher, climbing
cloudward. "Sure you got the Taube straight -- hey, Lafe?"
"Course I have! Didn't I work one of them at --?" But the name was
lost to Orris as the distance increased.
To Blaine's relief the Boche did not move for a moment or two. This
gave him time to twist that free arm back where Lafe could press the
weight of one big foot thereon, and also complete the adjustment of the
cord. He arranged it by looping twice round the cleat, the length
reaching to Fritz's throat being drawn taut. Moreover, as the German's
body was resting sidewise upon his other arm, still tightly bound,
Blaine felt that he had the man for the time being at least.
Now came heavier roars from below. Not only one gun but several had
been brought up, trained on the fliers and were being fired rapidly at
the receding airplanes.
Also the true nature of the situation aloft must have been divined.
Hence the extreme activity among the Germans, now trying desperately to
reverse the progress of events by bringing one or both machines down.
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