"So should I," agreed Jacques. "We'll do it then, only we'll have to keep a mile or so behind the front."
"That's all right," exclaimed Earl. "We can see if we're a mile or so high."
They had covered scarcely two miles from the village of Flambeau when Leon suddenly spied another aeroplane.
"Look!" he cried excitedly. "There's another monoplane!"
One glance was enough for Jacques. His experienced eye immediately identified the stranger and he turned to his two aides.
"That's a German flier," he remarked. "Get the machine-gun ready."
"What are you going to do?" demanded Earl eagerly.
"Now you fellows will have to do all the work with the machine-gun," exclaimed Jacques as he shifted the course of the big monoplane and started in pursuit of their enemy.
"I'll have to; maneuvering this machine will keep me busy."
Higher and higher Jacques steered the monoplane. His desire was to rise above their opponent if possible and thus take him at a disadvantage.
"Do you suppose he sees us?" demanded Earl.
"I don't know yet; he's two miles away now, anyway."
Speeding through the sky the two great mechanical birds rushed at each other. With jaw set and a cool calculating eye Jacques sat in the pilot's seat and directed the course of his flier. Earl and Leon held the machine-gun ready for instant action.
"We're almost over the battle-line," announced Earl suddenly. "I can see the trenches below."
"Never mind them," exclaimed Leon. "Watch that machine."
"There are only two men in it too," added Leon.
As the two machines approached each other Jacques all at once elevated his front plane and the big French flier rose swiftly higher and higher. The opponents were scarcely a half-mile apart now and as the monoplane in which the three young soldiers of France were seated rose above its adversary Leon and Earl opened fire with the machine-gun.
The Germans replied but the aim of each was poor and the two fliers swept past each other unharmed.
"Turn around, Jacques, and go back after him," cried Leon excitedly. "We'll get him next time."
With a wide graceful sweep Jacques turned the big monoplane and advanced again to the attack. The German also had wheeled and once again the two machines approached each other, maneuvering for position.