CHAPTER V

THE PRACTICE DRILL

About the time that Corporal Orris Erwin was able to take his place
again as a fighting aviator, Sergeant Blaine, returning from a long
scouting raid over in the enemy's territory, met the boy in the broad
drive of the aerodrome looking about him rather strangely. He threw an
arm over Orry's shoulder, and drew him along to the door of the Aero
Club.

"Been in here?" he asked. "It is great! They asking 'bout you the day
we left. Heard about Cheval?"

Orris, not feeling like talking, shook his head, vouchsafing:

"Nothing only that he went along with your squadron at the last
minute."

"Poor chap! He won't raid with us again. He went down near Essen.
There was where we were to unload most of our bombs. But Archie got
him. Down he went -" Blaine's eyes grew moist at the memory.

Erwin understood. "Nothing more?" he ventured.