ck. I don't think
he'll strike till he can work both sides of the river, and that'll take
time to prepare. That's what his fresh divisions are for ... But
remember, he can attack now, if he likes. If he knew how weak we were
he's strong enough to send us all to glory in the next three hours.
It's just that knowledge that you fellows have got to prevent his
getting. If a single Hun plane crosses our lines and returns, we're
wholly and utterly done. You've given us splendid help since the show
began, Archie. For God's sake keep it up to the finish and put every
machine you can spare in this sector.'

'We're doin' our best,' he said. 'We got some more fightin' scouts down
from the north, and we're keepin' our eyes skinned. But you know as
well as I do, sir, that it's never an ab-so-lute certainty. If the Hun
sent over a squadron we might beat 'em all down but one, and that one
might do the trick. It's a matter of luck. The Hun's got the wind up
all right in the air just now and I don't blame the poor devil. I'm
inclined to think we haven't had the pick of his push here. Jennings
says he's doin' good work in Flanders, and they reckon there's the
deuce of a thrust comin' there pretty soon. I think we can manage the
kind of footler he's been sendin' over here lately, but if Lensch or
some lad like that were to choose to turn up I wouldn't say what might
happen. The air's a big lottery,' and Archie turned a dirty face
skyward where two of our planes were moving very high towards the east.

The mention of Lensch brought Peter to mind, and I asked if he had gone
back.

'He won't go,' said Archie, 'and we haven't the heart to make him. He's
very happy, and plays about with the Gladas single-seater. He's always
speakin' about you, sir, and it'd break his heart if we shifted him.'

I asked about his health, and was told that he didn't seem to have much
pain.

'But he's a bit queer,' and Archie shook a sage head. 'One of the
reasons why he won't budge is because he says God has some work for him
to do. He's quite serious about it, and ever since he got the notion he
has perked up amazin'. He's always askin' about Lensch, too--not
vindictive like, you understand, but quite friendly. Seems to take a
sort of proprietary interest in him. I told him Lensch had had a far
longer spell of first-class fightin' than anybody else and was bound by
the law of averages to be downed soon, and he was quite sad about it.'

I had no time to wo