“Oh! don’t allow yourself to give way to such an idea,” said Jack. “Look on the bright side of things all the time. Think how we’ve been carried through our troubles so splendidly. No matter how dark things seemed they always took a turn for the better in the end, and every time it proved the best thing that could have happened to us.” With an effort the boy managed to get a better hold upon himself. This companionship with Jack was the luckiest thing that could ever have happened to Amos; for the Western lad always seemed to steady him at times when his nerves were sorely tried, so as to give him renewed strength of purpose. “There goes another ’plane up, Jack!” he exclaimed a minute later. “That first pilot, now high over the German lines, seems to be holding his own in spite of all the shrapnel they can send after him. Yes, you must be right in saying we’re coming to where we will find the controlling force of the aviation corps. Before another half hour goes by I’m likely to know the best--or the worst!” “You’ll be wringing Frank’s hand and telling him how proud you are to learn that the boldest of all the Allied aviators, known under the name of Frank Bradford, is your own dear brother--make up your mind to that!” said Jack, sturdily, for he saw that his chum was trembling with suspense. When one has dreamed and thought of a certain object for days and weeks, and it comes time when he may know the truth, small wonder that he shivers with alternate hope and dread. Amos was only human. You and I most likely would feel the same nervousness under similar conditions. Amos uttered a cry of dismay, as though he had received a sudden shock. “Oh! Jack, they did get that second pilot, you see!” he exclaimed. “He’s volplaning down now like everything, and will fall inside the German lines perhaps!” “No, he’s heading this way!” declared Jack. “From the fact that they’re still keeping up their fire I reckon they fear he’ll escape them. The pilot couldn’t have been badly hurt when his ’plane was struck, because I can see him sitting up and managing his machine. It was only his motor that was put out of commission, and if he keeps on as he’s going now he’ll get safely down.” “There, he’s disappeared behind that line of trees!” cried Amos, “but the firing has nearly stopped, so they must think it’s no use wasting any more ammunition on him. Let’s hurry, Jack! I’m wild to know if that was my brother. Something just seems to tell me it must have been. Ten minutes more ought to take us over there where he came down. Just to think of it, only that short time, and I’ll see him, if I’m lucky!”