It thus happened that six weeks after the boys entered Belgium southwest of Liege, they reached Dunkirk on the French coast, and saw the immense fleet of warships and transports, which the British had in the harbor. It seemed that every spot around the city was taken up by tents, wagons, mules, horses, and heavy guns, to say nothing of the soldiers on every hand.
One regiment after the other entrained in cars, and were whirled to the south. Box cars, flat cars, some new, others dilapidated, were in service. It seemed that there were thousands of automobiles in line, and every one was anxious to get away. They even saw thousands of men, with full kits on their backs, march out to the east, as though they scorned to wait for railway or auto accommodations.
Pierre was at the door of the boys' tent early in the morning of the second day. "I am glad to tell you that the roll has been signed, and you can get your pay," he said. "But I am awfully sorry to have you go."
"Of course, we've had some pretty hard times," said Ralph, "but it was a great experience. Maybe we'll come back again."
"We're going to try to join the flying machines," said Alfred.
Pierre laughed, and Ralph smiled, for, while that idea was uppermost in his mind, he had never discussed the subject with Alfred sufficiently to enable them to call it a plan that they really intended to follow out. It was more an enthusiastic feeling of something that they would like to do, without knowing just how they would go about it.
"So you are really going to start for Paris this afternoon?" said Pierre.
"Yes; we ought to be there now, for father will wonder what is the matter with us. You see he hasn't heard from us for six weeks, and it has been two weeks since we received his letter," said Ralph.
"Then why don't you wire the Continental Hotel, Paris, and tell him you are on the way? It will relieve his anxiety. Tell him to answer you at once, for it may take you several days to reach Paris," said Pierre.
"Several days?" queried Alfred.
"Yes, indeed. Troops occupy all the cars now," replied Pierre.
So the telegram was sent, and it was decided to remain where they were until morning so as to receive the reply before starting. But no answer came that night or the next day. In the meantime, the boys wandered from place to place, for, as they still wore the trim Belgian suits, they were privileged to visit many places barred from civilians.
In the afternoon they found themselves far down the road leading to Ypres, when they were startled at the sound of an unusual buzzing, and soon divined the cause as they saw a dozen or more airplanes flying around over the broad fields to the east. Nothing more was needed to give the boys an inspiration. They moved toward the great field, as though a giant magnet pulled them. Long before they were near the hangars they could see the flyers far above them, circling about. The scene fascinated them.
Then something like a dull explosion startled them, and they looked at each other and then glanced about.
"There it is; look at it; directly above us," shouted Alfred, in great excitement.
"Something has happened; it's on fire," said Ralph.
In an incredibly short space of time, something struck and rattled along the ground not far from them, but the machine, although falling, was still some hundreds of feet from the earth. One of the operators could be seen frantically drawing back the levers, and trying to hold the badly damaged ship from overturning, but his efforts were unavailing.
The boys closed their eyes as the swiftly moving machine now actually rolled down through space, tumbling over and over, until it finally struck the ground with a crashing noise, not a hundred feet from where they stood. Terrorized at the sight, they stood still for a few moments, but this was no worse than the scenes they had witnessed in battle, so, without a word, they made a rush for the mound of debris.
"They are both under the machine," said Alfred.
"Look at the smoke; it's afire," shouted Ralph.
"Use sand! use sand!" almost shrieked Alfred.
They had early learned that sand is more effectual as a fire extinguisher of burning oil than water, if properly applied. Handsful of sand were scooped up and applied. A groan from one of the men arrested their movements.
Alfred jumped on the broken mass, and peered down. "There he is!" he shouted. Ralph crawled over the broken body of the airplane, and reached down.
"No; this man is lying still," he said. "Here he is; come on this side; he is under the framework."
The scene was one which well might inspire heroic work.
The imprisoned man was quite young, with handsome features, and it seemed cruel that such a fate should overtake him. The boys strained at the wreck until it moved.
"Brace it up on that side," said Ralph.
The truss from the fuselage was removed from the aviator, the man quickly drawn out from his perilous position, and carried clear of the wreck.
"Now for the other one," said Alfred.
Blood was still flowing across the face of the other flyer, as they crawled over the wreck to draw him out.
"This one is alive, I am sure," said Ralph.
"Why, yes; his heart is beating," replied Alfred, as the injured men were laid side by side.
"I have heard that they have first aid packages in machines of this kind," said Ralph, as he sprang toward the remains of the machine. "I have it," he cried, as he leaped over the wrecked pieces. "Here is—a—Restorative, whatever that is,—half a wineglass at a time,—where's the wineglass?"
"Give each a good swallow of it," said Alfred, as he raised up the head of the one first rescued.
The other man opened his eyes. "Lieutenant!" he said. Then, as he gazed at the boys, he seemed to smile, and as Alfred held up the bottle he feebly nodded.
It seemed to revive him in a few moments, and he struggled to raise himself. "I feel better now, but something hurts my legs," he said.
The lieutenant opened his eyes, and quietly looked at the boys without speaking.
"Can I do anything for you?" said Alfred.
"Is Jack hurt?" he asked.
"Yes; but he is all right," said Ralph.
"Here I am; still on top," said Jack, as he slightly turned, and moved his hand toward the lieutenant.
"And what are you boys doing here?" asked the lieutenant.
"On our way to Paris," said Alfred.
"But where did you get the uniforms?" asked the officer.
"Why, we've been in the Belgian army, and were in several fights," said Ralph proudly.
The lieutenant's face brightened into a smile, which quickly changed to one of pain. An ambulance stopped alongside with startling suddenness, for the boys had been too busy to notice that the watchers at the hangars had signaled for assistance. The men were carefully carried to the van, and as they were about to start the lieutenant motioned to the doctor in charge, and said:
"I want the boys to come along with us."
CHAPTER II
IN THE AVIATION CAMP
Once inside the ambulance the boys had an opportunity to watch the doctors, as they removed the clothing from the men, and began a search for the location and nature of the injuries. It was a gratification to be able to assist in this work. Jack's legs were both broken, and the lieutenant's chest, back and right arm were bruised and clotted with blood.
"I think they are all right," said the doctor in charge.
"But it's awfully hard breathing," said the lieutenant.
"You must have had a pretty good weight on top of you," remarked the doctor.
"I should think so," said Ralph. "It was all we could do to lift up the cross piece of the frame from him."
"We'll