The air scout; an American boy's adventures when the big war in Europe began

Preface

The deeds of the aviators have played no small part in the big European war. The practical, and at times deadly, work of the daring air scouts has appealed to the imagination and the love of adventure, shared by American boys with their friends across the sea.

The writer of this tale has used accounts and reports which in the main he believes to be reliable. His object has been to interest his young readers not merely in the adventures and experiences of the hero, but also in the causes and actions of the great war itself. He has tried to avoid improbable and sensational deeds. He has visited most of the places to which reference has been made.

One strong motive in writing this story of our own times has been the hope that his young readers will gain a clearer insight into the causes of the struggle, the battles fought, and the results achieved. History in the making ought to be as interesting as history that has been made.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I An Accident .... . . . . 11

III A New Friend . . . .... 25

Chapter I An Accident

B i ON jour, Monsieur. How can I serve Monsieur this morning ?”

“I want to hire a motorcycle.”

Leon Platt was the speaker. He was an American boy of seventeen, spending the summer of 1914 in Europe. He and his twin brother Earl had come over in the same steamer and after being together in England for a brief time had separated. Earl had remained in England to visit some friends, while Leon had journeyed across the rough English Channel to France.

The boys had both French and English blood in their veins. In fact, Leon had been named for a great-uncle of his, Leon Guy, in his time a prominent physician in Paris. At present he was visiting an uncle and aunt who lived in France.

Their home was in Faubourg St. Germain. The word “ faubourg’ ’ means suburb and the Faubourg St. Germain was a pretty little suburb of Paris. Here Leon had arrived a few days before the opening of this story and here he expected to stay for a short time before continuing his travels in different parts of Europe.

When at home in America both he and his brother Earl were accustomed to riding motorcycles. Each boy was the proud owner of a machine and they often had assured each other that there was no part of the machinery they could not immediately adjust in case of accident. Mr. Platt had often laughingly remarked that he believed his boys could tell exactly what was wrong with the engines, merely by the sound. At any rate they were experts, and especially Leon.

He had not seen very much of France thus far, but one thing had caught his attention when he first had entered the beautiful land. Gazing from the train windows on his journey from Calais to Paris, he had noticed the wonderful roads. Hard and white they were, smooth as the top of a table, and they seemed to extend end-

AN ACCIDENT lessly into the country. To an enthusiastic motorcyclist like Leon these straight, wide roads meant only one thing. He promised himself that at the earliest possible moment he would secure a machine and try them out.

His uncle had directed him to a shop where motorcycles were to be rented, and thither Leon made his way the first time an opportunity presented itself. The proprietor, a talkative Frenchman, hastened to meet him as soon as he stepped inside the door and it was in response to his question that Leon had made his request for a motorcycle.

“Monsieur is familiar with the motorcycles V 9 said the proprietor in a dubious tone.

“Oh, yes, I think so,” laughed Leon. “I ought to be, for I have ridden one long enough.”

“A French machine ?”

“No, never a French cycle. Only American makes, but they are all about the same, I guess.”

“I suppose so, but I do not like to have people ride my machines who do not know how to do it. You understand?”

“Yes, indeed,” exclaimed Leon. “I don’t blame you a bit, either. I do know how though and I think I can soon show you that I do.”

“Very well, Monsieur. This way if you please. ,,

The proprietor led the way to the rear of his shop where the motorcycles were lined up along the wall.

“I like this one,” exclaimed Leon, at once walking up to a bright crimson-colored machine. It was long and low and sturdy looking, but what had caught Leon’s attention particularly was the fact that it had four cylinders.

“Ah, but, Monsieur, that is not my machine. It belongs to one of my clients, who but keeps it here.”

“Have you no others like it!” inquired Leon disappointedly. He had singled out that particular one as it gave the appearance of speed, and speed was what Leon most wanted. Those fine hard roads looked like ideal race-tracks to him, and he hoped for a burst of speed perhaps with an automobile or another motorcycle.

“Yes, Monsieur, I have one just like it. But — ” the dealer hastened to add as Leon ex-

AN ACCIDENT 15

claimed delightedly, “it is out just at the present.”

1 1 When will it be in ?” asked Leon dejectedly.

“I cannot say, Monsieur. I am sorry, but will not Monsieur try any other ?”

“I suppose so, if I can’t have that one. I’d certainly like to try that out, though.”

As he spoke there was a roar and a quick series of reports in front of the shop. A man covered with dust and dirt, on a big, blue, four-cylinder motorcycle, had just drawn up at the curb.

“That is it now,” exclaimed the proprietor. “He is back sooner than I thought.”

“That’s great!” cried Leon. “And I may have it?”

“Certainly, if this gentleman is finished with it. I shall go for to find out.”

The proprietor hastened out to the street and after a short conversation with the cyclist, returned to say that Leon might use the machine.

“You are certain you know how?” he again urged cautiously. “I would not want my fine machine broken, nor would I want you killed either. ’ ’

4 ‘No danger of that,” laughed Leon. “Let me show you.”

Mounting the motorcycle he started the engine. The controls were on the handle bars and he speeded the motor until it almost roared and then slowing it down he started off and took a few turns around the street.

“I think Monsieur knows all right,” said the proprietor admiringly when Leon returned to the place where he was standing.

“I may use it?” asked Leon.

“Certainly. We will see if everything is in order and then you may start.”

Together they looked over the machine. A fresh supply of oil and gasoline was added and soon Leon was ready to go.

“How fast will she go?” he inquired as he sat on the machine waiting to start.

The proprietor shrugged his shoulders and laughed. “There is no use for me to tell Monsieur, for he would not believe me.”

“All right,” laughed Leon. “I’ll find out for myself. ’ 1

A short time later he was in the open country.

AN ACCIDENT

The roads proved as good as they looked and Leon was supremely happy. He had not let out his machine to its full extent but he had traveled faster than a mile a minute at times. The machine was a beauty and Leon already was revolving schemes in his mind for some day owning one like it. At the end of a half-hour he came to the top of a steep hill. At the bottom was a rightangled turn, and a high hedge by the roadside prevented a complete sight of the road.

Leon slowed up as much as possible down this slope, but he still was moving at high speed, for the motorcycle was heavy and hard to brake. He blew his horn as he neared the bottom but just as he turned the corner he crashed head on into a motorcyclist rounding the turn from the opposite direction.

Chapter II Disabled

W HEN Leon opened Ms eyes a few moments later lie found Mmself lying under tlie hedge by the roadside. A young Frenchman was fanning him with his jacket, which he held in his two hands and snapped in Leon’s face in very much the same manner that trainers fan the athletes in their charge.

“ Where am I?” exclaimed Leon dazedly. His head ached and he felt sore all over his body.

“You are by the road,” replied the Frenchman in English that had only a slight accent.

“Oh, yes, I remember,” said Leon. “I was on a motorcycle, I think.”

“You think correctly,” laughed the Frenchman. “You are no longer on it now, however, and you left your seat more quickly than ever I have seen one do so before.”

DISABLED 19

“The machine !” exclaimed Leon. “Is it damaged very much!”

“Not at all. A few scratches only.”

Leon tried to sit up, but fell back with a groan. His head almost seemed to be splitting, and when he moved he felt pains in every part of his body.

“Do not attempt to move,” cautioned the Frenchman. “There is plenty of time.”

Leon lay back and closed his eyes. Small black objects danced in front of his gaze and he felt as if he should faint. Soon he felt better, however, and opened his eyes once more. The young Frenchman had brought both motorcycles and placed them alongside the road, out of the way of passing vehicles.

Leon watched him interestedly and wondered who he could be. At any rate, thought Leon, he was pretty good to take so much trouble for a man who had run into him.

“Aren’t you hurt!” exclaimed Leon as the young Frenchman came up to him once more. “I haven’t even asked you that.”

“Not in the least bit. I am too tough and used to falls. I did not hurt myself this time at all.”

THE AIB SCOUT

“It was all my fault,’ ’ protested Leon. “I am sorry and I want to apologize. ’ ’

“It was not your fault at all. It was mine. I was on the wrong side of the road and you could not help but run into me. I was going very fast in an attempt to gain speed for the steep climb up the hill. I turned the corner on the wrong side of the road, when instantly and with a sudden crash, you hit me.”

“Your machine is not damaged, I hope?” said Leon.

“Very slightly; it is nothing. The little pipe that carried the fuel into the engine is broken. That is all.”

“I can fix that easily for you,” said Leon.

“So can I fix it,” exclaimed the young Frenchman. “It is but a little work to do it.”

“You are sure it was not my fault that we had the collision?” once more insisted Leon.

4 4 Absolutely. If it had not been my fault probably I should not have tried to make you conscious again after you fell. I should have been angry.”

“I don’t blame you,” laughed Leon.

DISABLED 21

Just then there was the toot of an automobile horn in the distance, and the young Frenchman hurried out into the middle of the road in the path of the approaching machine. The car contained only the driver, and as the young Frenchman held up his hand, it came to a full stop. There was a whispered conversation between the two men, and then they both came over to the place where Leon was lying. He had tried to get up but found himself entirely too weak.

The two men exchanged a few words in French which Leon did not understand. The driver of the automobile then grasped him by the feet, and the motorcyclist took hold of him under his arms.

‘ 1 What are you doing to me? n Leon exclaimed.

“We shall put you in the automobile, ’ ’ replied the young Frenchman.

“But where are you going to take me?” demanded Leon. “I am all right and can walk.”

“I think you had better not try it,” laughed the young Frenchman. “You are hurt more than you think. Just let me take care of things and you will soon he all right some more . 9 9

Leon made no further protest. He was suffering intense pain and he found himself too weak to do anything hut lie back in the arms of the two men who were carrying him. Soon he was placed in the tonneau of the machine, and the young Frenchman sat beside him with his arm around his waist.

The car started back down the road in the direction from which it had come. Leon felt too badly to ask any questions and the matter of where he was being taken had almost ceased to interest him. The only sensation he experienced was that of pain, and he kept his eyes closed and gritted his teeth most of the time.

Some two or three miles down the road the car turned off the main thoroughfare. A narrow lane, lined on both sides by huge poplar trees, ran off at right angles and it was this course the little party took.

It was not as smooth as the main road had been and the bumps did not serve to lessen Leon’s suffering in the least. In a short time they came to the end of the lane, where a pretty white cottage was standing. A big collie dog came out barking to meet the approaching automobile and an

DISABLED elderly man and woman appeared soon after at the front door.

This was all that Leon saw. Everything suddenly turned black in front of his eyes and he fainted.

When next he awakened he was lying in a white cool bed in a little corner room in the cottage. There was a vase of yellow flowers on a table nearby and white curtains were hanging at the windows.

The elderly woman he had seen outside stood beside him bathing his forehead with a cool wet cloth.

“ Where is my motorcycle demanded Leon weakly. “ I only hired it, you know; it doesn’t belong to me and so I must take good care of it.”

The woman did not understand English evidently, for as soon as Leon spoke she went outside and called, “ Jacques!”

The young Frenchman who had taken care of Leon appeared and in response to the patient’s question, assured him that the motorcycle was being cared for.

“This is my home,” he continued. “My

THE AIE SCOUT mother and father are here, and here you will stay until you are better. Do not protest. You must remain here, and soon you will be well again. Just now you cannot move.”

“But my uncle and aunt!” exclaimed Leon.

“I will inform them. And where did you hire the motorcycle? I will return that also.”

Leon gave him the two addresses and then with a deep sigh fell into a heavy sleep.

CHAPTER IH

A NEW FRIEND

I T was morning when Leon awoke. He realized now more fully than he had the day before how badly he had been hurt. His body was a mass of bruises and he found it almost impossible to move.

Jacques ’ mother, Mrs. Dineau, brought him his breakfast and shortly afterwards the doctor came. He examined Leon thoroughly and informed him that while no bones were broken and he was not injured internally, it would be folly for him to attempt to move at once. Several days might elapse, he said, before Leon could return to Paris.

Later in the morning, Leon’s uncle and aunt also arrived. They had been greatly worried when Jacques had informed them, over the telephone, of the accident. Seeing how comfortable their nephew was, however, and being informed that he was in no danger, they soon departed, much relieved.

“What would Earl think if he learned of the accident? Probably he would say it was all my fault and if I had known my business, I would never have been smashed into,” thought Leon.

The time passed quickly for the invalid, however. Mr. and Mrs. Dineau were very good to him and did all in their power to make him comfortable. They gave him books to read, but as they were in French, Leon was not able to make much out of them. Jacques had left home for a few days and as Mr. and Mrs. Dineau knew no English, Leon had a hard time making his wants known. Through force of necessity he learned a few French expressions from them.

On the fourth day Jacques arrived home again.

“How is the patient?” he exclaimed cheerily, bursting into the room as he spoke.

“I am in fine shape,” replied Leon. “I think I’ll get up and go home pretty soon.”

“Not yet, my friend, not yet. You must not be in such a hurry.”

A NEW FRIEND

“But I am imposing on you here.”

“Do not say that; it is not so.”

Jacques evidently meant what he said and Leon soon saw that he should not mention the matter again. Jacques came in to talk with him many times during the day, and Leon could not help liking him. He was so enthusiastic and sincere about everything, that he almost compelled one to grow fond of him.

“Tell me about America,” he urged. And Leon at once began to tell him of many facts concerning the great country across the sea. He spoke of the great rivers and mountains and plains. He told his new friend about the big cities and the tall buildings. These impressed the French youth greatly; he could scarcely conceive of a building more than sixty stories high. The thing he wondered at most of all, however, was the great extent of the United States. It seemed incredible to him that it should take five days on a fast train to travel from one end of the land to the other.

“And now,” said Leon when he had finished, “tell me about yourself.”

“Oh, I?” said Jacques quietly. “I am in the army. ’ ’

“In the army!” exclaimed Leon. “That is an interesting life.”

“Sometimes,” agreed Jacques. “Also it is very hard sometimes.”

“Have you been in the army long?” asked Leon.

“Three years. I was quartered in Algeria for two years. For the last year I have been here in France.”

“You are in the infantry?” queried Leon.

“ I was, in Algeria,” Jacques replied. “It was very hard, too ; stationed on the edge of the desert where it was so hot and sometimes we had very long marches.”

“The natives made trouble, you mean?”

“Often. We would be sent out and it was very had fun. I did not like it one little bit . 1 9

“You are not in the infantry any more, then?” inquired Leon.

“No, I am now in the aviation corps.”

“You are!” exclaimed Leon.

WHEN LEON OPENED HIS EYES A FEW MOMENTS LATER HE FOUND HIMSELF LYING UNDER THE HEDGE BY THE ROADSIDE.

Page IS

A NEW FEIEND 29

“ Yes, for one year I have been attached to that division. It is very interesting. ’ ’

“Well, I should think it might be! Did you ever have a fall?”

“Once, but it was not serious. We were up very high when our motor suddenly ceased running. It was exciting for a moment, but we landed in safety with only a slight bump. We what you call ‘ volplaned 7 down.”

“Whew!” exclaimed Leon. “Were you at the wheel at the time ? ’ 7

“Yes,” said Jacques.

“And you have an aeroplane all of your own!” said Leon. “That must be wonderful.”

“It is not my own. It belongs to the Government, of course. But I always run it. I like it very much.”

“ Is it a biplane ? 7 7

“No, a monoplane,” said Jacques. “Over here in this country we use mostly monoplanes, while your people in the United States prefer the biplanes. 7 7

“Which is better?” asked Leon.

“I do not know. It is only a matter of opinion, I think. Some like one, some like the other. ’ ’

44 Suppose France was to have a war?” suggest ed Leon. 4 4 W ould you be in it V ’

4 ‘Why, yes, of course / 9 said Jacques simply.

“Would you fly over forts and drop bombs down and do things like that?”

“I cannot tell, probably I would have to do things such as that. Principally I would be a scout, I think. The aviators would fly over the enemy’s lines to seek out their positions and discover where they were stationed.”

“Wouldn’t that be wonderful!” cried Leon enthusiastically. “You’d be way up in the air where no one could shoot you.”

4 4 Perhaps not, ’ ’ said J acques dubiously. 44 You know there are guns specially made to fire at aeroplanes.”

4 4 Is that so? Well, that makes it different, then. I can’t say I’d enjoy it if I was in an aeroplane and somebody from below hit my machine with a few bullets.”

4 4 No,” agreed Jacques quietly, 4 4 it would not be very pleasant. ’ ’

A NEW FRIEND 31

“Have you been flying much lately !” Leon asked.

“Not a great deal, very lately. You see I am home on my furlough now. Otherwise I could not be here, and you see, if I had not been home I would not have run into you with my motorcycle, and you would not be here at present.’ ’

“If you hadn’t run into me, someone else would,” laughed Leon. “I’ve had a fine time at your home here anyway.”

“I am glad,” said Jacques, “and I hope we may be friends.”

“I am sure we shall be,” exclaimed Leon heartily, and he extended his hand to Jacques as he spoke. They shook hands warmly and thus began a friendship that was to be of far greater value to both the young men than either dreamed of at the time.

Chapter IV

F OUR days more Leon remained in the little white cottage. Two days before he left he got out of bed and for an hour at a time sat quietly in the little house or on the shaded lawn. He used to take his chair out into the sunshine in front of the cottage and sit there by the hour looking at the beautiful country, playing with the friendly collie, or talking with his new friend.

Jacques he found more interesting every minute, and he soon became very fond of the young aviator. The tales he had to relate of his army life were fascinating to Leon. He enjoyed the story of the life and work in Algeria, but most of all he liked to listen to Jacques’ talk of the aviation-work.

“Suppose,” said Leon one day, “that France was at war with some great nation and they sent big dirigible balloons over here to attack the 32 cities. Wliat would you do in your aeroplane to stop them?”

“The best thing,” replied Jacques, “would be for me to run right into them. If I was going over sixty miles an hour and hit the gas bag of a balloon, you can see the balloon would not last very long. ’ 9

“No,” agreed Leon, “and you wouldn’t last very long, either. You would be killed, wouldn’t you?”

“Oh, yes, undoubtedly,” said Jacques simply.

“But,” protested Leon, “would you do a thing like that when you knew you would surely be killed?”

“Why, yes, if it would be of service to France. France is worth more than my life, you must know, and I should be so happy if I could feel I was doing it for my country.”

“Do all your soldiers feel the same way?” asked Leon in wonderment.

“Of course,” said Jacques simply. “We love France. Just see how beautiful she is,” and as he spoke he waved his hand towards the green fields and the rolling hills in the background.

Leon looked in the direction Jacques indicated. France certainly was beautiful, and he thought how terrible it would be if any hostile army should ever sweep across this fertile land, spreading death and ruin on every side.

Both young men were silent for a time, busy with their thoughts. Jacques first broke the silence.

“You know we have also guns for use in aeroplanes,’ 9 he said.

“What kind of guns?”

“We have some small machine guns, which weigh but a few pounds and will fire several hundred shots a minute. If we can puncture the big gas bag of a balloon you can see that it would soon come down to the earth. Some men are very accurate in dropping bombs also . 9 9

“How many times out of ten can a man hit what he is aiming at with a bomb?” inquired Leon.

“Well, one man at a height of eight hundred feet hit a target sixty feet in diameter twelve out of fifteen times.”

“How big were the bombs?”

“They weighed fifteen pounds each.”

“But,” protested Leon, “if you were only eight hundred feet high you would be a good mark for guns down below.”

“That is true,” agreed Jacques. “An aviator would have to fly much higher than that, and then of course his aim would not be so good. The machine would be traveling very fast also and that would make it more difficult to take good aim.”

“Let’s hope you will never have to try your skill in real war,” said Leon.

“I trust not, but we must always be ready. Being ready is a fine defense, you know.”

“Of course it is,” agreed Leon. “It must be great sport to go up in an aeroplane, too. I have never done it.”

“No! Perhaps some day I might take you up if you should care to go.”

“ 4 Care to go!’ ” cried Leon. “I should say I would care to go ! ”

Jacques laughed at his young friend’s enthusiasm. “Of course I should have to obtain the permission necessary,” he said. “You are sure you would like to try it, after being almost killed right on the solid ground ?”

4 4 I ’d go in a minute ! ’ ’ declared Leon. 4 4 When do you suppose you could take me?”

4 4 Well,” said Jacques, 4 4 my furlough is not over for ten days yet, so of course it could not be before that length of time. Perhaps in two weeks I could do it.”

Leon’s face fell.

4 4 In two weeks I shall be away from this part of the country,” he said disappointedly.

4 4 You are going far?”

4 4 To Belgium. I am going up to Brussels for a little while. I want to see the battleground of Waterloo especially, and then I expect to go over into Germany after that.”

4 4 Do you not expect to come back to Paris at all this season?” asked Jacques.

4 4 I’m afraid not. It looks as if we would not have our ride together after all, doesn’t it? I am sorry, but you were nice to ask me, just the same.”

4 4 It was nothing. I should have liked very much to take you.”

“ Perhaps some other summer,” said Leon. “At any rate I hope we are going to see each other again some time.”

“I think we shall,” said Jacques, “and I have a strong feeling that it will he before very long. I don’t know why I think that way, but I do. You know my old mother dreamed last night that France was going to have war. Is not that a queer thing?”

“With whom are they going to war?”

‘ 4 She does not know, but she dreamed that, and this morning she believes it will happen. She is sure of it, though I hope she is wrong. I also feel sure that you and I shall meet some time soon again, though I cannot tell you my reason for being so sure.”

“Well,” laughed Leon, “I hope your mother is wrong and that you are right.”

The following day Leon bade Mr. and Mrs. Dineau and Jacques good-by and started on his journey back to Paris. His uncle and aunt had called for him in an automobile to take him away, and they found him almost entirely recovered from his accident.

“ Don’t forget/ ’ called Jacques, as the car moved away from the cottage, “I expect to see you soon again, my friend.”

“I hope you do,” cried Leon, and a moment later they were gone.

The following*week Leon spent quietly in Paris, seeing some of the wonders of that great city. The wonderful view from the Eiffel Tower fascinated him, while the streets, swarming with taxi-cabs, were a never ending source of enjoyment. Soon, however, the time came for him to leave and he made ready to start on the next lap of his journey, up to Belgium.

Chapter V Rumors Of War

T HE morning after Leon arrived in Brussels lie went out to visit the battlefield of Waterloo, ten miles distant from the city. Here it was that on the 18th day of June, 1815, the great struggle that overthrew the power of Napoleon was decided.

It was easy for Leon to see that the Duke of Wellington had made a wise choice of battlefields when he had selected his position of defense. In front of the village of Mont Saint Jean extends a long chain of gently sloping hills. Behind this range of hills were posted the cavalry and reserve forces out of sight of the enemy.