rocks had apparently decided
that the airmen in the two-seated plane hovering above had discovered
their place of concealment, and, unable to endure the thought of being
flanked by the oncoming boys in khaki, had opened fire.

Of course their plan was to bring down the American machine and seal the
lips of those who flew in it before they could communicate the nature of
their discovery to their comrades.

This made the situation doubly perilous for Jack and Morgan. If they
attempted to rise, as discretion suggested, there were those three grim
monster Hun Gothas waiting to envelop them with an avalanche of gunfire.
This could have only one result; namely, the destruction of the plane
bearing the totem of the Red Indian's head.

It was a time for quick decision. As the deadly missiles from below
continued to pepper the air around them, and even beat a tattoo against
the body of their plane, Jack started into a series of wigwag evolutions
which he had evolved for just such a desperate situation.

This gave him a better chance, although at any second one of the flying
bullets was apt to find its way aboard and do either himself or Morgan
an ill turn.

Whichever way he turned so wheeled those sentry planes above. They were
like a trio of hungry cats watching the twistings and turnings of a poor
mouse that had its safety-hole stopped up, and could find no means of
escape left open. And with three agile cats on guard what chance had
little Mr. Mouse?

But then Jack Parmly had often proved himself to be one of those who
refuse to call themselves beaten until the very last effort has been
made. He had been in tight places before, and had always managed to
wriggle out by some means or other.

Besides this, there was some hope that his predicament would be seen by
other American airmen scouring around the skies, who, with the
accustomed daring of their breed, would fly immediately to his relief.

Even as this thought flashed through his brain Jack believed he heard
the sound of firing directly above him; though it was only because of a
sudden lull in the continual fighting all through that region that he
was able to discover this fact.

Then came a yell from Morgan, who, not having to manipulate the motor
and handle the levers, had been better able to observe all that was
going on around them.

"Shoot up, Jack? We've got to do our share in driving those Boches off!"

Yes, there had been an increase in the number of c