At the eastern side of the meadow adjoining the one on which they noticed the soldiers running, was a fringe of tall trees. Near by, groups of men were visible, and as they neared the place they saw an object high in the trees. "Is that the machine hung up between the two trees?" asked Alfred. "It looks very much like it," responded Ralph. "Yes; that is the tail and one of the wings, sure." It was a struggle to get across the miry field, but they finally arrived. The Red Cross people, who were already there, were rendering first aid to the captain, who was lying on his side, his face pale, and one of his bared arms covered with blood. "How is he, Doctor?" asked Ralph, as he sprang from his wheel and leaned over. The doctor, without looking up, answered: "A very bad fall; internal injuries; we may know more in a few minutes." "Why, that's Doctor Walker," said Alfred. The physician quickly looked up at the mention of his name. "This is a strange place to find you boys," he remarked with a welcoming smile. CHAPTER XIV CAUGHT IN A TERRIFIC DRIVE "Did he land in that tree?" asked Ralph, addressing a bystander. "Yes, the machine seemed to be pretty badly riddled, and became unmanageable long before he reached the tree; but he went into it at a smashing speed. The officer was thrown out and shot down into that small tree, which broke the fall. If it hadn't been for that he would have been mashed to flinders," was the response. Shortly thereafter the captain showed signs of recovering consciousness. He raised the uninjured arm, and soon opened his eyes. He glanced at the boys, but did not seem to recognize them. "He seems to be very much better," said the doctor. "He is bruised up about the same as you were when you were brought to the hospital at Cortier," he said, addressing Ralph. After a wait of half an hour more, the doctor announced that the patient could be moved, and he was accordingly carried to the van and comfortably fixed on the hammock within. "So you knew the captain?" inquired the doctor. "Yes; we happened to be crossing the aviation grounds at Dunkirk, at a time when the captain was aloft, and some part of the machine broke. He had a bad fall, and we were, fortunately, close at hand and helped to rescue him from under the machine," said Alfred. The captain opened his eyes; he tried to smile, but the attempt died away. Then he seemed to make another effort, and this time succeeded. "You were right," said the captain in a weak voice. "We found it; report to the colonel. The battery must have wiped them out by this time." He closed his eyes and was silent for a time. It seemed as though he actually dropped off into a sound sleep. "What does he mean? Do you know what he is talking about?" asked the doctor, turning to the boys. The patient's eyelids began to quiver, and the boys quietly nodded their heads. "That was a corker!" continued the captain. "Tell the colonel, by all means."