"Zat is eezee to explain," said the Frenchman. "After you leave me in New York I get passage on a French liner for Havre. We arrive and I am at once placed in command of zee air forces of Belgium. Since zat time, pardon my conceit, monsieur, I think zat wizout bragging I can say I 'ave cause zee Germans very much trouble. Last night I fly over zee country and where I see Germans I drop a little souvenir,--but what is zee matter, monsieur, you look excited."
"No, no, go on," said Jack; "I was just thinking that it's possible the day of miracles has come back."
"In zee course of my journey I see a farmhouse where Gerrman cavalry horses and stacked arms show in zee moonlight," said the Frenchman.
"How did you know they were Germans?" asked Jack.
"Did you not know all zis territory is now overrun by zem? Yesterday they advance. They are now near Louvain. But nevaire fear, someway we drive zem back. But to continue. I drop one, two bomb wiz my compliments and----"
"Once more pardon, my dear Readee, but you are well in zee head? Zee sun----?"
"No, no, don't you see?" cried Jack; "those were your bombs that resulted in my being saved from a spy's death."
"_Sacre!_ Ees zat possible? And yet it must 'ave been so! Embrace me, my dear Readee, nuzzing I 'ave done 'ave give me so much plaisair as zees."
Jack had to submit to being hugged by the enthusiastic little aviator to whom, as may be expected, he felt the deepest gratitude.
"And now what are zee plan?" asked de Garros, when his enthusiasm had subsided.
"I want to join my friends in Louvain," said Jack.
"_Nom d'un chien!_ You are trying to walk zere through zees part of zee country!"
"_Mon ami_, you might as well commit zee suicide. It is swarm wiz German. I hide in zees wood till night when I can travel wizout having zee bullet swarm like zee bee round what you call zee bonnet."
"Then what am I going to do?" he demanded. "I can't stay here and I've had one experience with the Germans, and I assure you it was quite sufficient to last me for a lifetime."
"If that is possible. If not, to some place where you can communicate wiz your friend. 'Ow you like zat?"
Jack hesitated a moment. He was not a timid lad, nor did he fear ordinary danger. Yet flying above the German troops, between the place where they were talking and Louvain, was a risky business to say the least of it.