e-oo, _mes enfants_. Be careful with
those Spads. They were built for flyers."

"You be careful that you don't fall out of that motor cycle side car on
the way back," Yancey retorted. "They look like baby carriages, but
they're not."

As Smoot walked away, stung by this last retort, Yancey turned to
Hampden and Siddons. "How'd you like to have a flyer like that in this
outfit?" he asked.

"He's all right," Hampden replied. "A lot of the ferry pilots are crack
flyers--just a tough break in the game. It might have happened to you."

"I wasn't talkin' about _him_" Yancey replied and pointed to
McGee's plane, now banking in to a landing at the far end of the field.
"I meant that bird down there."

"Oh, McGee?"

"Yes."

Hampden laughed, skeptically. "Fine chance to get a flyer like that!"

"Oh, I dunno. Some American outfit will draw him. He and that other
fellow, Larkin, have asked to be repatriated."

"How do you know?"

"I was with 'em in town last night and they told me all about it. They
flew up to Paris day before yesterday, and on the way back they landed
at Chaumont and made a call on G.H.Q. They put their case before the
Chief of Staff and asked him to use his influence. They've made out
formal application. Both of them are tickled pink over the prospect.
McGee said he would like to get with this squadron."

"Bully for him!" Hampden enthused. "Maybe we don't look so bad, if
fellows like that are willing to throw in with us, eh, Tex?"

Siddons was coldly skeptical. "You have the weirdest imagination. Why
should he want to be with us?"

"Dunno. Ask him."

"I shall," Siddons answered as he moved over toward the point where he
estimated McGee's taxiing plane would come to a stop.

"Big stiff!" Yancey said under his breath. "He'll ask him, all right,
and right out in meetin'. He never believes anything he hears until he
has asked a thousand questions about it. What do you see in that fellow
to like, Hamp?"

"He's all right, Tex. He was pretty decent to me while I was acting as
Supply during that time Cowan grounded me. Came around to help me with
the paper work and put in a good word for me."

"Yeah, he's always chummy with Supply and Operations--but only because
he thinks he can get some favors that way. I despise him."

"Oh, come now! You mustn't feel that way. We are all in the same boat,
and we'd as well be chummy."

"Huh! If you ever get in the same boat with that fellow he will do the
stee