"We will keep right on his tail, boys," said Brodno. "That noise
behind is Fritzy starting on a raid, no doubt. If he gets too close we
must either keep him back or lead him off after us."
The noise of whirring propellers increased rapidly. Doubtless scouting
planes were out. As a rule, they are faster than the big biplanes. In
view of this, Byers presently began to mount higher, the rear plane
maintaining its level with a view of attracting the notice of the
pursuing Germans. Then came a spatter of machine gun bullets that
rattled about their ears until Blaine, from his rear position, opened
on the Boches in turn.
After that the pursuit of Byers ceased, for Blaine and Brodno, with
their two weapons, aided by Erwin, who manipulated a Lee-Enfield rifle,
kept the three scouts busy for a time. A plane is a shaky place from
which to aim a rifle, but Orris, having had much practice at the
training butts, soon laid out one lone pilot and his scout went
trailing guideless out of range and action.
But about this time there came the heavier rumble of Archies from
below, and presently shrapnel began tearing into the wings of the
biplane.
"Up we go, boys!" said Brodno. "I guess Byers must be well on over by
now."
But about this time they heard the sounds of gun spatter far up above,
and mounting rapidly they saw two more Fokker scouts trailing after
Byers, who not only mounted still higher, but put Pete at the aft
machine gun, taking Miss Aida over inside his own manhole.
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