The following is an account of marvelous devotion to duty. Not even the nearness of death could make the aviator forget his work. What a lesson to us as Christians. How rarely we find today such love and devotion in Christ’s service! May God make us more faithful, more in earnest, and more resolute for Christ, and ready to carry His messages all over the world.
The special correspondent of the “Petit Journal” in the North of France narrates an aerial fighting episode, in which two English aviators figured, the poignant tragedy of the adventure meriting attention. After risking a fall in the German lines, the English monoplane succeeded in coming down among the French. It was the lamentable and usual spectacle of an airplane accident, with, apparently, two dead bodies under the shapeless mass. After a time it was noticed that the pilot still breathed, and that he had only fainted. As he was being carried away he began to show further signs of life, and he was heard to whisper, “I am blind. Never mind, bring Major X. to me. Before I was blinded I saw all that was wanted.”
The major was brought, and the heroic pilot told him he had successfully accomplished his mission, after which, at a height of fifteen hundred meters shells suddenly began to burst all round him, killing his companion, as he thought, and depriving himself of sight. Discouraged, he let go the levers, when he heard his look-out feebly cry to him to rise quickly. “I thought they had killed you,” cried the pilot; “I am blind.” The look-out, in a still feebler voice, continued: “Rise to the right, and come down after. We are now over the German lines.” The voice suddenly stopped, but, following the directions, the pilot returned alone in the darkness, his comrade having in reality breathed his last.