The Fokker almost stopped and appeared to tremble. Both Bangs and
Erwin saw that some serious internal injury had occurred. The German
was furiously at work within his manhole, leaving the plane much to its
own devices.
So patent was this that Buck, who was nearest, shot upward and let
drive at the Hun from below. But instead of giving heed to this new
attack, the Hun now recovered, shot off to the right and began climbing
rapidly. Bangs, in accord with his resolve to stick to Erwin, did not
follow, but Blaine did, at the same time megaphoning to both Buck and
Orris as follows:
"I've been up higher than you fellows. There's a number of planes off
in the sou'west. Gettin' so dark could hardly tell 'em apart. Better
stick together and watch out!"
Though the Archies were now quite out of range, night was so near at
hand that this seemed good policy. Blaine now added:
"I'm goin' to give that Fokker another round. Be back with you in a
minute." Then on he went after the German.
What ensued was rather puzzling to both Bangs and Erwin. Blaine was
now evidently faster than the German, whose machine had apparently
sustained some internal injury. They saw the biplane close in on the
Hun amid a rapid fire of bullets from each at the other.
All at once the Hun began sidling irregularly towards the earth. By
this time both the others, having risen somewhat, caught glimpses
through their field glasses of a number of nearing planes winging from
the west.
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