But orders were orders, and Harris had not yet indicated that he had
enough.

Twisting and turning, to make as poor a mark as possible for the
enemy guns, Jack sent his machine here and there. The other pilots
were doing the same. Machine guns were now opening up on them, and
once the burst of fire came so close that Jack began to "zoom."
That is he sent his craft up and down sharply, like the curves and
bumps in a roller-coaster railway track.

By this time the leading plane gave the signal for the return, and,
thankful enough that they had not been hit, Jack swung about. But
the danger was not over. They had yet to pass across the enemy's
front line trenches, and when Harris signaled Jack to go down low in
crossing the lad wondered what the order was for. It was merely
that the observer wanted to see what was going on there so he could
report.

They went down to within a mile of the earth, and several times the
plane was struck by pieces of shrapnel or bullets from machine guns.
Twice flying bits of metal came uncomfortably close to Jack, but he
was kept too busy with the management of his machine to more than
notice them. Harris was working hard at the camera and the maps.

Then, suddenly, came the danger signal from the leading plane, and
only just in time. Out from the German hangars came several battle
machines. Harris dropped his pencil and got ready the automatic
gun, but it was not needed, for, after approaching as though about
to attack, the Huns suddenly veered off. Later the reason for this
became known. A squadron of French planes had arisen as swiftly to