The Boy Volunteers with the French AirmenWard, Kenneth
History
The Boy Volunteers with the French Airmen
Ward, Kenneth
Airmen -- France -- Juvenile fiction; War stories; World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations -- Juvenile fiction
"That is the place where I live," said the elder of the two men, as he
pointed to a low cottage on the side of a hill, "and Raoul here lives
below the turn. We must approach the house cautiously, for we know spies
to be in this part of the country."
"I will go ahead," said Raoul. "Follow and go up to your house through
the orchard."
They tarried by the roadside until the signal appeared. Upon reaching
the house they were greeted by Felix's wife, for that was the name Raoul
bestowed on his friend. A good meal was soon spread before them, and in
the meantime the lieutenant was plied with questions, as the people in
that section had no opportunities for learning what was really taking
place in the outside world.
Finally the lieutenant asked: "Do you know of any place where we could
get some petrol?"
The men mused for a while, and shook their heads. "You know," Felix
said, "everything around here is controlled by the Germans, and petrol
is one of the things that is kept strictly under guard."
"Do you know the place where they store it?" inquired the lieutenant.
"Yes, but it would be dangerous to attempt to get any of it," said
Raoul.
"I have a plan," said Felix, "but we cannot do anything before night. I
know every step of the way to the station, and will take you there this
evening."
"Good!" said the lieutenant. "In the meantime, give me a diagram of the
station, and the roads leading to it. That will help me to become
familiar with the surroundings."
For the next hour the lieutenant was busily engaged in learning all
about the country, and where the stores and ammunition were kept.
"I think we might as well have some of that petrol," said the lieutenant
with a smile, as he looked at the boys, who nodded their approval, as
they were keen to participate in the plans which the lieutenant had
formed.
That night, after ten o'clock, they appeared at their place of
concealment, for it was thought wise to keep away from the house in the
event any of the prying neighbors should happen in. Together they
cautiously found their way to the railway and walked along the track
until the first switch was reached. While waiting there so that Felix
could point out the different objects, Ralph drew the lever, and set it
so the first train would take the switch.
The lieutenant saw it and nodded approvingly. Ahead a few hundred feet
was a low building, which was reached by the track which led from the
switch.
"The guards are stationed at that shed across the track, and sometimes
they come over," said Felix.
"But is the building open?" asked the lieutenant.
"There are no doors; only open arches. The tanks can be loaded and
unloaded from the tracks," was the answer.
They were carrying three vessels, such as are usually employed for
transporting petrol in small quantities, and nearing the shed the
lieutenant said: "Remain here and await my orders. I will go ahead and
investigate."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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