"And you had to leave him back there? Well - well, it's war. Sure he
was dead? By thunder! I'll get even yet with Hans -- Gawd willin'.
The skunks!"

All this and more while Lafe, now alert and busy, was getting out
Finzer's tools. Presently the two were examining Buck's plane which
they found was practically all right except for a big rent in two of
the wings. With the appliances at land this did not take long, for
both worked frantically, knowing that hostile planes from the
neighboring front would soon be hovering near and also that the
infantry was due either to reform the battle line or, if not, that
reinforcements might pass at any time.

In a very short while the job was done. To Blaine's surprise Buck
began nimbly climbing back up the crater wall.

"Where ye going?" he gently called, but only heard in reply:

"In a minute -- in a minute!"

But while Blaine was fuming, still getting things in readiness, Bangs
slid back down the embankment, dragging a shabby gray army overcoat.
Lafe looked disgusted. He snatched it, held it up, flashed his light
over it, then cast it down, saying:

"That's a Boche infantry coat -- officer's, I reckon. What do we want
of that? Get into your place. I've turned your machine round."

Both climbed in, Bangs stowing in his own machine the coat he had
delayed both to secure, a said the while: