thinning fog, gradually lowering their altitude and nearing at a rate
of a mile and a half a minute the advancing lines of the enemy,
revealed only to these fliers by the close barrage fire maintained by
their artillery in the rear.

Of course beyond this barrage must be certain observation planes. The
chance must be taken of meeting one of these. Meanwhile the first
thing was to begin upon the assaulting battalions with their machine
guns.

Almost in an instant they were over the front platoons, flying as close
as they dared in order to escape the barrage that was passing overhead,
falling now behind the front trench line of the Allies. This in order
to stop, or at least hinder the arrival of such reinforcements as could
be thrown forward to strengthen this suddenly assailed point.

These planes, being of a late design, had a device whereby the aim of
the Lewis gun could be instantly altered from a horizontal to a
perpendicular slant. Moreover both Blaine and Bangs had repeating
rifles, and revolvers. Great dexterity was shown by each as their
machines, slackening their speed to that most suitable for accurate
firing, their motors roaring right over the assaulting columns, poured
down a spray of bullets that inevitably found a human mark.

Fritzy usually charges in dense masses. He is "cannon fodder"; he knows
it, but apparently doesn't care. Now, however, he dodged, dived,
hunted shell holes, and otherwise evinced extreme terror. First one
plane, then the other, at nearest safe distance apart, rained down
showers of death. Was this another repetition that earlier trench
assault that resulted in the destruction of the sausages? It looked