fame. No,
no! Air battle is made possible only by thoughts of victory.

McGee walked over to Yancey's plane. The gangling Texan was testing his
rudder controls and flipping his ailerons with jerky movements of
evident impatience.

"I want you to know," McGee said to him, "that I did not ask for this
flight. It is yours, by rights."

Yancey's grin was genuinely friendly. "Shucks, that's nothin'. I'm glad
to be out. Bein' a flight leader sorter cramped my style anyhow. This
way I can do a little free-lancin'--if I see some cold turkey."

"You leave cold turkey alone and stay in formation," McGee replied.
"Just remember, old man Shakespeare was talking about the air service
when he said 'things are not always what they seem'."

"I'll be good unless I spot some of those German observation balloons.
I've a sneaky feelin' I could eat up two or three of those sausages
before I come back here for breakfast without havin' my appetite
spoiled."

McGee shook his head in serious warning. "Leave them alone, Yancey. They
look easy, but the Archie gunners can fill the air around 'em so full of
lead that a bee couldn't fly through. And as for flaming onions--boy! We
are out on combat patrol, remember. This is no joy-ride."

"Sure. But--"

That moment Major Cowan came running across the field and hurried up to
McGee. His excitement was evident in every movement.

"Orders just came," he began, hurriedly, "for every available ship to
proceed to the bridges at Dormans and Chateau-Thierry. Bombers are going
up, also. The Germans have started a big drive."

His manner, and the electrifying words, had drawn every man around him
in a close circle. "That's what all the gun fire is about--barrages and
counter-barrages. Disregard the patrol orders, Lieutenant, and proceed
with these two flights to Dormans--at once! You are to do everything in
your power to retard the enemy advance, harass their troops, and
especially harass their advanced positions and lines of supply. Do you
understand?"

"Perfectly, sir."

"Good! Take off at once! I will at once get out all other available
ships and lead them against the lines at Chateau-Thierry. You've the
head start, and must, therefore, take Dormans. Snappy, now!"

A cheer went up from those pilots who a moment before had been cursing
the luck that had left them behind. They started running for the
hangars.

As McGee climbed into his plane, Yancey "blipped" his motor and shouted,
"Who sai