They grasped the body of the car, while it seemed to fairly sizzle through the air. Closer and closer the earth crept up toward them. They felt that it would be necessary to hold fast when the shock came. The next sensation was most peculiar; the body of the car began to rock up and down; the din of the motor had ceased, and they were riding on the earth. CHAPTER IV TRENCH WORK WITH THE BRITISH FORCES Everyone seemed to know Tom, as he was heartily greeted on all sides. The appearance of the boys, however, was a puzzle to the group of aviators. "Let me introduce my friends, Ralph and Alfred, genuine American boys, who were with the Belgians in their great fight from Liege to Antwerp," said Tom. "How did that happen?" asked one of the men, as he grasped their hands. "We were on the spot when war was declared, and we just pitched in and helped them out," replied Ralph. "Were you in any battles?" asked another. "Oh, in a dozen, or so," answered Alfred. "Good boys!" shouted several. "How did you happen to get here?" asked the first interrogator. "We came over with the Belgians, from Antwerp," said Ralph. The foregoing information was enough to introduce the boys, and they were gratified to find several other Americans in the party. The reception was cut short by the peculiar antics of a huge Farman machine, which was approaching in an erratic manner. It seemed to dart back and forth, and swing around in short circles, as though wounded. "Something is the matter with Le Clere," shouted Tom. At that moment the machine darted toward the earth, and the boys held their breaths at the anticipated calamity. Fifty feet from the earth the machine righted itself, and swooped upward, then, with a vicious plunge, it went down and struck the earth, the crash being plainly heard, although it landed more than five hundred feet from where they stood. Every one on the ground rushed toward the fallen aviator. Before they reached the scene, two men extricated themselves, and stood on the debris. "What was the matter?" asked Ralph. "Look at the holes in the wings," said Tom. "That tells the story; pretty well riddled." "Are you all right?" shouted one of the men. "Yes, but that was a dandy fight, and we brought him down," replied Le Clere, a daring Frenchman, who handled the machine gun. The Gnome motor was lying on the ground twenty feet from the wreckage. One of the planes was tilted up at an angle, and was uninjured, but it carried the marks of twenty holes, through which the sunlight streamed. "That will give you an idea of the fascinating work we are engaged in," said Tom, pointing to the bullet marks. The body of the machine was wrecked, and the fuselage a mass of splinters. It was, indeed, a mystery how the two flyers escaped without injury. "What will they do with the machine?" asked Alfred. "They'll build up another out of it in two days," said Tom.