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Page 83
Plenty of willing hands gave the _Omnibus_ a lift and then did a like
service for the _Arrow_. As they rose, aviators and passengers alike
waved a farewell to Lord James Ivor, and he and the Englishmen about him
waved back. But the thousands lying on the grass slept heavily on, while
the cannon on their utmost fringe thundered and crashed and the German
cannon crashed and thundered, replying.
The _Arrow_ kept close to the _Omnibus_, so close that John could see
the white faces of Wharton and Carstairs and their hands clenching the
sides. But he remembered his own original experience, and he was not
disposed to jest at them now.
"They're air-sick--as I was," he said to Lannes. "Call to them to look
westward at the troops," said Lannes. "Great portions of the French and
English armies are now visible, and such a sight will make them forget
their natural apprehensions."
Lannes was right. When they beheld the magnificent panorama spread out
for them the color came back into the faces of Carstairs and Wharton,
and their clenched fingers relaxed. The spectacle was indeed grand and
gorgeous as they looked up at the sky, down at the earth, and at the
line where they met. The sun was now low, but mighty terraces of red and
gold rose in the west, making it a blaze of varied colors. In the east
the terraces were silver and silver gray, and the light there was
softer. The green earth beneath was mottled with the red and silver and
gold from the skies.
The German army was yet invisible beyond the hills, although the cannon
were flashing there, but to the west they saw vast masses of infantry,
some stationary, while others moved slowly forward. Looking upon this
wonderful sight, Wharton and Carstairs forgot that they were high in the
air. Their hearts beat fast, and their eyes became brilliant with
enthusiasm. They waved hands at the _Arrow_ which flew near like a
guiding friend.
"Wonderful, isn't it?" shouted John.
"I never expect to see its like again," Carstairs shouted back, and
then, lest he should not be true to his faith, he added:
"But I won't desert the automobile. It's my best friend."
"British obstinacy!" shouted John.
Carstairs shouted back something, but the planes were now too far apart
for him to hear. John saw that the _Omnibus_, despite her awkward look,
was flying well and he also saw through Lannes' glasses four aeroplanes
bearing up from the east. He did not say much until he had examined them
well and had concluded that they were Taubes.
"Lannes," he said, "German machines are trespassing on our air, and
unless I'm mistaken they're making for us."
"It's likely. Just under the locker there you'll find a rifle, and a
belt of cartridges. It's a good weapon, and if the pinch comes you'll
have to use it. Are your friends good shots?"
"I think they are, and I know they're as brave as lions."
"Then they'll have a chance to show it. The _Omnibus_ carries several
rifles and an abundance of ammunition. She might be called a cargo boat,
as there's a lot of room on her. I'm going to bear in close, and you
tell Caumartin and the others of the danger."
The _Arrow_ swerved, came near to the _Omnibus_, and John shouted the
warning. Carstairs and Wharton instantly seized rifles and he saw them
lay two others loaded at their feet. With the prospect of a battle for
life air-sickness disappeared.
"You can rely on them, Philip," said John as the _Arrow_ bore away a
little, "but I don't like the looks of one of those German machines."
"What's odd about it?"
"It's bigger than the others. Ah, now I see! It carries a machine gun."
"That's bad. It can send a hail of metal at us. It's lucky that
aeroplanes are such unstable gun-platforms. When platforms and targets
are alike swerving it's hard to hit anything. We're going to rise and
dive, and rise and dive and swerve and swerve, John, so be ready. I'll
signal to Caumartin to do the same, and maybe the machine gun won't get
us."
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