Edgar Wallace

Tam o' the Scoots Edgar Wallace

Lieutenant Bridgeman went out over the German lineand "strafed" a depot. He stayed a while to locate a newgun position and was caught between three strongbatteries of Archies. "Reports?" said the wing commander. "Well, Bridgemanisn't back and Tam said he saw him nose-dive behindthe German trenches." So the report was made to Headquarters andHeadquarters sent forward a long account of air flightsfor publication in the day's communique, adding, "Oneof our machines did not return." "But, A' doot if he's killit," said Tam; "he flattened ootbefore he reached airth an' flew aroond a bit. Wi' ye noask Mr. Lasky, sir-r, he's just in?" Mr. Lasky was a bright-faced lad who, in ordinarycircumstances, might have been looking forward to hisleaving-book from Eton, but now had to his creditdivers bombed dumps and three enemy airmen.