. So I'll say good-night. Kiss little Jeanne for me, and
I'll try not to forget one of your messages to Tom. Now, good-bye."

CHAPTER VI

CLEANING OUT MACHINE-GUN NESTS

"A BUSY day ahead of us, Jack!" Tom remarked the next morning, after
they had breakfasted and were getting themselves ready for going up.

Early though the hour was it seemed as though the whole inferno of
terrible noises had broken out much louder than on the preceding day.
From every quarter men could be heard shouting; while detachments of
infantry were hurrying off with orders to reach certain points before
nightfall, no matter what obstacles they had to surmount.

The big guns were "talking," and there began to be heard the chatter of
deadly machine-guns; the deep-toned explosion of shells, and the
peculiar sound of the German minnewurfer, used with such effect in the
former trench battles that the Boche still clung to it through all the
retreat.

Then there were close around them planes starting off with a rush,
pilots and observers gaily waving their hands to comrades still
detained, but just as eager to go as though it were a picnic to which
they were thus invited instead of a possible repast with the Grim
Reaper.

"What makes you think it's bound to be any different from yesterday,
Tom?" demanded the one spoken to, as he adjusted a strap, and took a
last critical survey of the more important wire stays of his machine
upon which so much depended.

"Oh! not different, only more of it," Tom explained. "On our scouting
expedition last night we found that the Huns have a series of extra
strong nests fixed for us to-day. We're to arrange with the batteries
for signaling in regard to these, for they would take too big a toll of
the boys if rushed like the common variety, where there's only one gun
and a couple of Boches to handle it."

"Glad to hear it," snapped Jack. "So far neither of us has had the good
luck to locate a big hornets' nest. I hope our chance comes to-day. I've
always wanted to see how that game worked."

"Well, perhaps you'll know more about it when we meet to-night, which it
is to be hoped will come about," said Tom, a bit seriously.

Indeed, in those strenuous times none in the army could be at all
certain he would be in the land of the living a few hours ahead. In
particular the daring air pilots who so often took great hazards were in
peril. Yet the men went about their duties with apparently light hearts.