Part 11 (1/2)
”We're not back horimly ”Let's talk soh Lady Luck or the Good Fairy had been waiting for that exactdrone of a German plane The two boys swiveled around at once, shi+elded their eyes with their hands and peered upward The plane was down fairly low and coht toward them A rabbed hold of Freddy and pulled them both down under the bushes
”Gosh!+” he exclai for us Don't move a ot the swastika ht all the Gern”
Freddy didn't answer for abush branches and squinting his eyes up at the plane
”That's a Gernize it, now It's an Arado AR-95 It's a two seater, and was built as a torpedo plane They use it off airplane carriers, but it's a pretty old type Look, Dave! The pilot has cut his engine He's gliding down I say, let's get out of here! The observer in back has probably spotted us!”
”Noait!” Dave hissed and shot out a hand to stop Freddy fro back into the woods ”If they have spotted us we'd not get far before we'd be caught Besides, I don't think they've seen us Look! He's going into a gliding turn Freddy! I'll bet you ato land in that s to do!”
”You're right, Dave!” Freddy breathed ”And so out to meet the to tell theedly ”They wouldn't land They'd either drop a e, or use their radio If they have one They'd stay up to see which e headed Nope That's some kind of a headquarters over there, Freddy I bet the plane is bringing theht,” Freddy said in an uncertain voice, as his clear blue eyes clouded with doubt ”There! He's down on the ground, now, and braking to a stop”
”That sure is a sweet looking shi+p!” Dave breathed softly ”An Arado AR-95, huh? Oh, sure, now I ren It has a BMW radial engine (_Bavarian Motor Works_) The Ger their pilots It's not so fast as the other war planes, and it's a cinch to fly, they say _Freddy!_”
Dave allish youth's arm bit deep into the flesh
”Ouch, my arm!” Freddy protested, ”What's the matter, Dave? What's up?”
Dave didn't reply He watched the German plane coround and walked toward the group of Ger from the farm house They met and appeared to talk for a moment or two Then all of them turned and went back to the farm house When they passed inside Dave took a quick look over at the Arado with its prop ticking over, then swung around to face Freddy
”Maybe that solves our problem, Freddy!” he said in a strained whisper
”That plane!”
”The plane?” Freddy echoed with a frown ”What about it? Good grief, you surely don't mean”
”Why not?” Dave countered ”I made my first solo on a better shi+p than that I'll bet you anything you like I can handle it What do you say, Freddy?”
The English youth gulped and looked most undecided Dave took the moment of silence to press home his point
”It's the best bet we could possibly have!” he argued ”Gee, in that shi+p we could be behind the Allied defenses in no tiht be stuck here for ht run into What do you say? Are you galish youth was already sa here And between us we ought to ht-o, Dave, if you like”
”That's the stuff!” Dave said and slapped him on the back ”They're all inside the farm house now, and if we keep back of that field wall, there, we can get right up close without being seen When I give you the sign, run like the dickens for the shi+p Gee! We've got to ot to!_”
The two boys looked at each other, nodded, and then started crawling out from under the bushes on all fours
CHAPTER TEN
_Trapped In War Skies!_
Hugging the ground at the extreme end of the field wall, Dave and Freddy stared at the Ger propeller filled the air with a purring sound that struck right to their hearts and sent the blood surging through their veins in wild exciteue and body weariness had coerous adventure ahead filled therim determination