Down went this one of Buck's opponents in flames. Both planes fell just without the grounds, while the battle above filtered away towards the German front, the invaders evidently having gotten enough. Two other enemy planes were retiring in a crippled condition, all pursued by the Allies, who had so far lost only one machine. The Senator, seeing little heed paid by his daughters to his commands, was seized by the spirit of the combat and recklessly hurried off towards the nearest wrecked plane that had fallen. The girls, with others, followed. It was a sad sight. This machine, the wings still burning, lay in a confused huddle over a crushed human body that still gave signs of life. It was the plane that Byers bad sent down in flames. Aided by men from the aerodrome, they extinguished the fire with a ready hose, the Senator and the girls assisting. Carefully they dragged out a horribly mutilated yet youthful form. A surgeon, with the girls aiding, tried to alleviate the, pain of the dying man. His lips moved. "What's he trying to say, Vella?" demand the Senator. "You know some German, don't you?" "Sounds like 'Schwein, Schwein!' Doesn't that mean pigs, papa?" "It sure does! There, he's talking again!" The girls listened, but could not understand; while the surgeon, formerly an intern at one of the New York hospitals, smiled pityingly. "Poor fellow!" he volunteered. "He's not complimentary." "What's he saying now? Sounds like American -- then something else." "He says, 'Amerikaner-all swine-pigs,' and a lot more." They drew back somewhat; but the girls whose sympathy predominated, continued to minister to his needs until the last breath announced that one more Boche had gone to his account. It was an hour or so before the rest of the squadron again appeared. With them were the scouting planes that had been wished for when the enemy squadron so suddenly appeared. In the fights over the German trenches another of our planes had somehow vanished. No one could say further except that Erwin, the missing pilot, had been seen mounting high up amid a scurry of clouds, with two pursuing Fokkers on his heels. Blaine and Bangs were in the midst of hearty congratulations from many, including Senator Walsen and his daughters, when the news was brought to them. They had just alighted and were standing beside their machines. Instantly Blaine turned to Buck, saying: "You and your machine all right, Buck?" Andra, at this, regarded Lafe closely. "I'm O. K. and so is my bully little Nieuport. Say, old man, we've got to go out and see what's gone wrong with that little snipe Orry, eh?" " Sure thing! Orry is a good fellow. I'm with you." The next instant Blaine was back in his seat. He turned to the mechanic who had just finished examining the machine. "Fill up the tank, Bill," he said. "And hand me out a few more sheaves of ammunition. Sure you've got enough, too, Buck?"