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Updated: June 24, 2025
Besides, it is a fair bargain. We have promised each other, Mr. Power and I, never to fly again." "It is in one way a pity," I murmured. "For monsieur is without doubt a species of born birdman. But any one would make a parallel renunciation to stand in his shoes." "You are dangerously romantic, Monsieur Jules," said mademoiselle.
A German birdman, circling above on patrol duty, had observed the wake of the periscopes and had touched off a night flare. Like a giant pyrotechnic display the red globules floated in the air. No sooner had the light appeared than there came the boom of a big gun on shore and a huge shell screeched seaward over the Monitor. Instantly the coast defense guns of the Germans crashed into action.
Fatigued by the trip, he threw himself down on the sand, puffing and blowing from the effects of his fight in the water. As he rested, he heard the murmur of a skyplane's motors and turned to behold a giant Gotha machine heading up the coast. Stretching himself out quickly, as though to simulate the posture of a drowned man cast up by the waves, he lay wide-eyed watching the German birdman.
He also reasoned that he would prove a faithful, if none too courageous watchdog. That airplane was Bland's one hope of escape from the country, since riding horseback was so unpopular a mode of travel with him. Thinking these things, Johnny looked back at the unhappily plodding birdman and grinned.
He had just finished reading the front-page account of his exploits, and his mood was blacker than ever. No man likes to see his private affairs garbled and exaggerated and dished to the public with the sauce of a heartless reporter's wit. The headlines themselves struck his young dignity a deadly blow: BIRDMAN FURNISHES NEW SENSATION! Modern Lochinvar Lands in Jail!
The airman taxied back to the hangars and stopped just in front of us, while we gathered round to hear the latest news from the front. For he had left the front, this birdman, only an hour before! I was incredulous at first, for I still thought of distances in the old way. But I was soon convinced.
"I have two," smiled Trent, "but I am afraid I can spare only one. Lieutenant Bowers, Ensign Darrin. Hop aboard, Darrin!" In a twinkling Ensign Dave had shaken hands with the birdman, adding: "At your orders, sir!" Then Dave stepped nimbly up to the platform. "Take a seat beside me, with your field-glasses ready. Here's your field note-book."
And say, that must mean one of the robbers was something of a birdman himself; because no greenhorn would ever think of making his getaway in an aeroplane. Don't you see that's a pretty good clue, Frank? I'll remember that when I'm getting in touch with other points, and find out if there's any aviator who's gone crooked of late.
The birdman had fallen out, but had managed to cling to the chimney, so that he had not reached the ground, and there he clung, while the motor of his airship was banging away, and revolving the propeller blades dangerously close to his head. "Are you hurt?" cried Tom, to the unknown birdman. "No, but I'm likely to be unless I get out of here!" was the gasped-out answer. "Hold fast!" cried Tom.
Under the coat he wore a pink-and-white silk shirt, much soiled and with the neck frankly open, imitating sport style because of missing buttons. He looked what he was by nature; what he was by training, a really skilful birdman, did not show at all. He begged a smoke from Johnny and slouched along, with an aimless garrulity talking of his hard luck, now curiously shot with hope.
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