Stanley, though very weak, was still alive.
Loss of blood was the main cause of his weakness. Upon recovering
from his first state of coma, after sustaining his injury, he had borne
the long, wearisome ride, the spatter and peril of conflict without
complaint.
At Appincourte Bluff, where was now a base hospital, he was taken from
the plane and put under adequate medical care. For twenty-four hours
he dozed and slowly strengthened; but when be finally waked again to
life and its daily events, there was Miss Daskam's fair young face at
his bedside. Needless to state that Stanley's recovery was rapid under
these auspices.
Meantime Blaine and Bangs made their further, way in the plane over the
few miles intervening between the hospital and the aerodrome.
Most of the boys were away, scattered along the now advancing front but
by night some of them began to straggle back. Poor Finzer and Brodno
would never come back. That both Lafe and his companion well knew.
But they had died like true men, fighting for the cause they believed
in.
Captain Byers was also at the front, now many miles to the east. But
the veteran Sergeant Anson was on hand and in partial charge. He it
was who brought to the boys some sealed envelopes, saying:
"You chaps have been gone a goodish while. And you've managed to lose
one bully scouting plane. But I guess you've done your bit all right.
Pages:
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197