Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/186

Rh "There's not a doubt about it," he was assured by Tom, who had not allowed himself to worry about that in the least. "By the way, I saw the old sergeant gripping your hand as you came away. He took it in the right spirit, of course, when you told him why you had to beg off?"

"Oh, yes. And, Tom, he's to be one of the party. Think of his going up this afternoon, just as if it was all in the day's work; when to-night he'll have to be in his plane for many hours, and cruise far up the Rhine and back."

"He's a hardened old vet!" laughed Tom. "Was he wishing you good luck, Jack?"

"Sure thing. He also told me to say this to you: 'Success on this trip will be the making of you as a warplane pilot.' And I guess it will put us in line for promotion besides. Before long we may take our place with the rest of the boys, and frequently meet a Boche in combat away up near the clouds."

Nothing was said at the supper-table about the bombing trip, so Jack reasoned that it had not been scattered broadcast. But Tom decided that others besides their captain might be told, as the secret would certainly not be passed on. One and all were glad that a chance had finally come for Jack and Tom to do "something worth while," knowing how