to keep the fact to themselves. Archie Fox felt it most keenly of all,
for he was very fond of Jimmy Hill, and thought it hard fate indeed
that took Jimmy away from him. Jimmy was learning rapidly. He had
made friends with one of the instructor pilots, a little man named
Reece, who spent much time tuning up and going over the school machines.

Reece was never idle, never quiet. An hour in which nothing had been
done was to him an hour wasted. If he had nothing else to do he would
go over work just completed and make sure it had been done well. In
consequence, Reece had few accidents, and rarely suffered delays and
waits while something was being "put right." Jimmy appreciated this
quality in Reece, and saw its results.

By tuning his inclinations and point of view with that of the instructor,
Jimmy got into very close touch with the little man, who was never
tired of answering questions and making explanations. Reece had been
for some years working for one or another of the crack international
fliers who traveled in various parts of the world. He had no ambition
to become a star himself, but knew most of the well-known airmen of
two continents, and contained a store---house of anecdotes about them
and their doings.

Jimmy always walked or rode home with Archie when he could, and much
of their time on Sundays was spent together. The colonel had from
the first insisted that they should have the Sundays to themselves
and they had got into the habit of going to church each Sunday morning
in uniform, with the army men, who always turned out in some force.
Sunday afternoons generally found them at the airdrome, and often
they might be found at work, but they were considered free to do
as they chose. These Sunday afternoons were of great value to Archie,