After exchanging a few good-natured sallies with the gleeful Sammies, who were discarding their clothing as fast as their hands would let them, the four Khaki Boys left the creek and started back to quarters. "Pipe the plane!" yelled Jimmy suddenly, pointing upward. "I'll bet it's just come from over the German lines. She's a Frenchie, too. You can see her colors. She's flying pretty low." "She's coming down fast!" shouted Bob. "Looks as though she'd been nipped." Pausing to watch the plane, it seemed to the Khaki Boys that it was, indeed, coming down altogether too fast for safety to its pilot. "He's lost control of it! No, he hasn't, either! He's sure some birdman. Oh, joy! Watch him!" Jimmy was prancing about, flourishing his wash, as he poured forth this volley of excited exclamation. "He's going to land right the other side of the depot! Come on! I want to get a look at him!" Bob had now taken up the cry. With "Come on!" he was off across the field, his three bunkies keeping up with his mad dash. Already a crowd of Sammies had come out of the depot, and were running toward the aviator, who had now made a skilful and easy landing. "We may get the grand snub," panted Bob, as they neared the quiescent plane. Its pilot was just stepping out of the seat. He moved very stiffly, and staggered a little, as his feet touched the ground. His face partially toward the plane, he turned smilingly as the noisy delegation of Sammies rushed up to him. "It's Cousin Emile!" bawled Jimmy at the top of his lungs, and dashed straight toward the smiling man. "Blaise! This is, indeed, most remarkable!" called out a deep voice. A ready hand shot forth to meet Jimmy's, and grasped it warmly. "Gee whiz, but I'm glad to see you, sir!" was Jimmy's fervent greeting. "You'll have to excuse me for calling you 'Cousin Emile.' I was certainly flabbergasted for a minute." "No apologies," laughed Voissard, showing his white teeth in amusement at Jimmy's confusion. "It is the very pleasant surprise to meet you thus, my dear young comrade. And your friends, too," he added, offering his hand in turn to Ignace, Bob and Roger, who now grouped themselves about him with beaming faces. "Now of a truth it seems you must have just come from the bath." His quick eyes had taken in the newly cleansed articles of clothing in the boys' hands. "We certainly have," affirmed Bob. "We landed here just before daylight from our first front-line trench detail. You can guess how much we needed a big clean-up." "Ah, yes, I can easily understand." Voissard's fine face grew sympathetic. "It is the hard life in those muddy trenches. I marvel that you are still here to tell of it. But where is your comrade of the dark face and quiet, sincere manner? You see my memory is good." "He's gone, sir," was Jimmy's sad response. Inquiry for Schnitzel caused the four eager faces to cloud over. Briefly, Jimmy informed Voissard of all he knew pertaining to Schnitzel's disappearance.