rin' while you do the rowin'. He gives me a pain!"

2

Two weeks later orders came down concentrating several pursuit,
observation and bombing groups in the neighborhoods of Commercy and
Nancy. The members of the squadrons to which McGee and Larkin had been
detailed were feverish with excitement. Operations and armament officers
were busy with the duties incident to making all planes ready for
combat. This could mean but one thing--Action!

Three nights after the move McGee and Larkin sat at a late dinner in one
of the little cafes on the main street of the small French town. They
were discussing the progress of their work and each was heatedly
contending that his own group was superior in every way.

"Just come over and watch my flight do formation work," Larkin urged.
"They'll open your eyes."

"Humph! You'd better open your own eyes! I have watched you. We were up
in the sun this morning--five thousand feet above you--and watched you
for half an hour. A fine bunch you have! We could have smothered you
like a blanket. Have you ever shown them anything about looking in the
sun for enemy planes?"

Larkin's face evidenced his chagrin. "Are you kidding me?"

"Not much! We kept right along above you, but in the sun. I'll admit
they did good work, but oh, how blind! Boy, we're not too far back to
get jumped on. There have been fights farther back from the lines than
this. You know Fritz dearly loves to raid 'dromes where new squadrons
are in training. Believe me, their spy system is perfect. I'd be willing
to wager my right eye that they know these groups are stationed in this
area, how long they have been in France, and just what types of planes
we are using. They've the best spy system in the world. You know how
many times they have raided green squadrons. They figure it puts the
wind up a bunch of inexperienced men. So keep your eye peeled. And if
you want to see something pretty, come over and watch my gang. They're
ready for combat work right now--except Siddons."

Larkin looked up in surprise. "I thought you told me he knew more about
the planes and about flying than any of the others."

"He does. But he can't--or won't--keep in formation. He cuts out, and
goes joy-riding."

"Seems to me I remember someone else who used to do that same little
stunt," Larkin said, smiling reminiscently.

McGee flushed. "Yes, I suppose I did, but not in training. I never cut
formation until--"

"Until you saw something