regular work.

When Blaine and Erwin climbed into the Bleriot, bombs already stowed,
and it was wheeled out in front of the hangar, everything was very
quiet. A minute later they were climbing up into the inky darkness at
the appointed signal, the only noises being the whirrings of their own
and two other two machines appointed for the two A. M. hour.

Watching for the signal of the leader of the squad, at the right time
they headed for the further front.

Over the trenches star-shells from the infantry could be seen. Under
direction they headed over No-Man's-Land, keeping at sufficient
altitude, hugging the darkness, avoiding glints of light, dodging
occasional searchlights, and all practically without a word spoken.

"You've been out here before, Lafe"' said Orris at last. "How much
further are we going?"

"Be there in two minutes. Keep easy! I'm going lower. Get your bombs
ready."

Silently Erwin obeyed. Below lay blackness, relieved at one point by a
few dots of light that marked the ruins of the hamlet on which they
were to let loose the bombs. So far no sign of life in the air or
below appeared.

The three machines in this detachment had scattered in order to
distribute their supply of bombs at a given signal from the leader. In
this night raid an escorting fleet that usually accompanied the daytime