the climax of the story comes with the epic battle of saint-mihiel. david is shot down and presumed dead. however, he survives the crash landing, steals a german biplane, and heads for the allied lines. by a tragic stroke of bad luck, he is spotted and shot down by jack, who is bent on avenging his friend. when jack lands to pick up a souvenir, he becomes distraught when he learns what he has done, but before david dies, he forgives his comrade.