"Let us go on down. I want to see them start. Do you think Mr. Bangs
is strong enough? Look at him run!"

"I guess he is as strong as Mr. Blaine. But they both really ought to
have a few days' leave, don't you think?"

Arrived on the driveway, half a dozen men, all in the leather uniforms
with caps and goggles to match, were mounting the machines nearest.
Blaine, having donned his rig on the run, as it were, was already in a
triplane much like the one he had last used. Turning to the mechanic,
he asked:

"It cannot be my own machine, is it?"

"Sure thing!" the man replied. "It was sent to us the day after you
got in. We fixed her up, thinking you might need it. Glad you are out
so soon, Ensign."

"Thanks for that! I reckon we'll need all we got by the looks of that
squad that's coming. They're dropping bombs already."

"Yes, sir," said another mechanic, using his glass. "And right over
where you and Sergeant Bangs came down."





CHAPTER XI