is, sir," he agreed proudly. Then
he added, just having remembered the important message he was to deliver
to the bomber's skipper, "Colonel Benson wishes to see your entire crew
as soon as you land." He snapped a salute and turned to his crew.

"Sure, an' I'm starved. I'm hopin' he won't give us a two-hour lecture
on how to invade Italy," O'Malley grumbled.

They hurried to the colonel's headquarters, where they found their
commanding officer waiting for them. He beamed upon the dirty, unshaven
group headed by Stan.

"I'll only keep you a few minutes, gentlemen," he said. "Be seated."

Stan saluted smartly and spoke his piece. "I'd like you to meet General
Bolero's sons, Tony and Arno. They made it possible for us to deliver
the papers from the general and later to escape."

"What you have done is appreciated. I hope I may be able to be of
service to you," the colonel said.

"We wish to fight the Germans. We are both pilots," Arno said.

"I believe that can be arranged," Colonel Benson said.

He looked at Allison and O'Malley and a broad smile formed on his lips.

"I have heard of the luck of the Irish. Now I am willing to add the
British to that list. What I wanted to say is that you are requested not
to talk about your experiences at all until you have reported to
headquarters in Malta. After that you will be returned to my command. No
one is going to talk me out of three fliers like you men." He looked at
Tony and Arno. "Possibly I might be able to make it five."

O'Malley seemed to feel this was a soft spot where he could safely make
a request. He grinned at the colonel.

"We have a job to do, sor, one that won't wait very long."

The colonel's smile faded and he eyed O'Malley sternly. "I'm listening,"
he said warily.

"General Bolero has to be rescued from them Germans. They may decide to
shoot him."

The colonel looked suddenly very unhappy, "That is really a job I am not
supposed to handle. After all, I am only a sector commander and not in
charge of the war in the Mediterranean area."

"It could be done aisy," O'Malley said. "I'd like to have the job."

The colonel regarded O'Malley grimly. "I don't doubt but you would do
it. However, there is some little risk. While you men are reporting to
headquarters, Lieutenant Wilson and I will be giving the matter our
consideration." He got to his feet. "Wilson, you see that our friends
are outfitted. Get cleaned up and have a big feed." He nodded towa