Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 43683-h.htm or 43683-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43683/43683-h/43683-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43683/43683-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://archive.org/details/ouryoungaeroplan00port [Illustration: THE FIGHT IN THE AIR. _Page 42._ _Our Young Aeroplane Scouts In Germany._] OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY Or Winning the Iron Cross by HORACE PORTER Author of "Our Young Aeroplane Scouts In France and Belgium." "Our Young Aeroplane Scouts In Turkey." "Our Young Aeroplane Scouts In Russia." [Illustration: A. L. BURT COMPANY] NEW YORK Copyright, 1915 By A. L. Burt Company OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY CONTENTS I. SAVED BY QUICK WIT 3 II. A STIRRING HOLIDAY 13 III. A THRILLING MOMENT 23 IV. THE STOLEN PAPERS 34 V. WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT 45 VI. A FLYING VICTORY 56 VII. THE RAIN OF BOMBS 67 VIII. ALONG THE BATTLE LINE 78 IX. THE LUMINOUS KITE 90 X. THE CARRIER PIGEONS 101 XI. UNDER THE RED ROOF 112 XII. THROUGH FIRE AND FOG 123 XIII. CAPTURED BY COSSACKS 135 XIV. A WONDERFUL RESCUE 146 XV. DUEL TO THE DEATH 157 XVI. DRAWN FROM THE DEPTHS 168 XVII. A MIGHTY STONE ROLLER 179 XVIII. TRAILS THAT CROSSED 190 XIX. RABBIT'S FOOT FOR LUCK 200 XX. WINNING OF THE IRON CROSS 210 XXI. HELD IN WARSAW 219 XXII. AN HOUR TOO SOON 229 XXIII. A LEAP FOR LIBERTY 238 XXIV. AGAIN THEY WON OUT 248 OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY. CHAPTER I. SAVED BY QUICK WIT. "HOLD on there, I want a word with you!" Billy Barry and Henri Trouville, the Boy Aviators, were in the act of climbing into a superb military biplane on the great parade ground at Hamburg when thus hailed by a mild looking man in citizen's attire, with face half-hidden by a slouch hat and a pair of huge, horn-rimmed spectacles. There was a note of authority in that voice, gently tuned as it was, and behind those spectacles were a pair of eyes as keen as gimlet points. The speaker was none other than Roque, the noted secret agent--"Herr Roque," if you please, fitting into his masquerade as a merchant having contract business with the authorities of the canvas city of aëroplane hangars. "Come over to quarters for a few moments, young sirs, won't you?" The polite manner of request was for the benefit of the bystanders, who had been awaiting the flying exhibit, but the slight gesture that went with the words indicated a command to Billy and Henri.