"Say, Orry, are you coming to at last?"

Another kick, evidently part of a struggle by Orris to right himself.

Blaine saw the German making the first spiral upward, in an effort to
attain a position suitable for using the machine gun. Blaine therefore
zigzagged more to westward, thereby throwing the reviving Erwin into an
easier position. At this an easier position. At this Blaine was
pleased to see his friend look wonderingly at him and the bowed head
slightly raise itself.

"Lay still right where you are, Orry," murmured Lafe. "There's a Boche
after us. We've got out of Archie's range, but I've one of their
planes on our heels. Whist! Git down lower! He's going to fire. If
he does, I - I'll crumple up. We'll land and - and -"

Further talk ceased as the simultaneous rattle and spatter of opposing
machine guns made talk impracticable. Blaine was below, the Boche
above, each whirling, diving, spiraling as dexterous pilots do in such
conflict.

True to his promise amid the first exchange of shots, watching both
Erwin's recovery and the German, now closer than ever, Blaine concealed
himself.

And now, seeing that Orris was quite revived, and following Blaine's
counsel, they presented to the German only a collapsed form, half
leaning as if hit again. Blaine, almost out of sight, steered
groundward.