Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/73

68 a pointer from what his chum had told him.

Later on, when at the table, they found that the company seemed unusually quiet. Seldom was a laugh heard, and serious faces were the rule rather than the exception. Though those aboard might be reckoned brave men and women, or they would not have been there, the near approach to a dreaded peril was beginning to get on their nerves.

Tom decided to lounge in the cabin after the meal, and for a time Jack was willing to stay there also. But he seemed very restless, and was up and down many times inside of the next hour.

"I think I'll go outside, and take a few turns," he finally told Tom. "I feel stupid after eating so much supper, and a bracing air would serve as a tonic. See you later, Tom."

"Well, don't forget what we were talking about," the other warned him. "It's as dark as a pocket out there, because they won't allow lights, you know, and after all, the stars don't count for much. Keep away from the rail, Jack!"

"I will," the other assured him as he turned away.

After that Tom continued to keep his attention fixed to some extent on the story he was