d feel pretty rocky. But
now we've got all the more incentive to get busy!" exclaimed Tom.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean get our machines in fighting trim. I'm going out and get a few
Germans to make up for what they did to Harry."

"You're right! I'm with you! But what about what's her name--I mean
Harry's sister?"

"I didn't hear her name. Some of the Red Cross nurses are looking after
her. They promised to let me know when she came to. We can offer to help
her, I suppose, being, as you might say, neighbors."

"Sure!" agreed Jack. "I'm with you. But let's go and--"

However they did not go at once, wherever it was that Jack was going to
propose, for, at that moment, one of the Red Cross nurses attached to
the aviation hospital came to the door and beckoned to the boys.

"Miss Leroy is conscious now," was the message. "She wants to see you
two," and the nurse smiled at them.

Tom and Jack found Miss Leroy, looking pale, but prettier than ever,
sitting up in a chair. She leaned forward eagerly as they entered, and,
holding out her hands, exclaimed:

"They tell me you are my brother's chums! Oh, can you not get me some
news of him? Can you not let him know that I have come so far to see
him? I am anxious! Oh, where is he?" and she looked from Tom to Jack,
and then to Tom again.

CHAPTER III. ANXIOUS WAITING

Nellie Leroy--for such the boys learned was her name--broke the silence,
that was growing tense, by asking:

"Is there any hope? Tell me, do you think there is a chance that my
brother may be alive?"

"Yes, there is, certainly!" exclaimed Tom quickly, before Jack had an
opportunity to give, possibly, a less hopeful answer.

"And if he is alive, is there a chance that he may be rescued--that I
may go to him?" she went on.

"Hardly that," said Tom, slowly. "It's a wonder you ever got as near to
the front as this. But as for getting past the German lines--"

"Then what can I do?" asked Nellie Leroy, eagerly. "Oh, tell me
something that I can do. I'm used to hard work," she went on. "I've been
a Red Cross nurse for some time, and I helped in one big explosion of a
munitions plant in New Jersey before I came over. That's one reason they
let me come--because I proved that I could do things!" and she did
look very efficient, in spite of her paleness, in spite of her, seeming
frailness. There was an indefinable air about her which showed that
she would carry through whatever she undertook. "I ne