they might have left us with a couple of guards."

"Who started the fuss?" O'Malley demanded.

"I stumbled, but that was just to slow down the procession," Stan
answered. "I'll admit it was a mistake."

"We'd better be doing some heavy thinking," Allison warned. "If we don't
we'll spend the rest of this campaign in a prison camp."

There was no time for thinking and very little chance to talk. The Yanks
were hustled out to the runways and loaded into a shaky and battered
Fiat 20, two-engine bomber. They were escorted by the two squads of
guards who stood around with rifles at ready until the plane started
down the runway.

Stan was squeezed in between O'Malley and Allison. The space inside the
bomber was very limited, for it was not intended as a passenger plane.
Besides the pilot and copilot, two men armed with pistols sat in the
cramped quarters. The Italians had very thoughtfully provided their
prisoners with parachutes. One of the guards spoke English and was not
unwilling to talk. Stan singled him out at once.

"I have been in America," the guard said in a friendly fashion.

"What city?" Stan asked.

"New York. I stay one year."

"Didn't you like it?" Stan asked with a grin.

"Sure, it was much good. I come back for my brother and then there is
war. I must stay." The soldier shook his head sadly.

"After the war you'll be going back?" Stan asked.

"Sure. It is a fine place to live, New York. I make plenty money, got
friends." The soldier smiled. "I will see you then."

Stan laughed. "You sure will." His eyes were on the back of the pilot's
neck. If O'Malley reached out he could touch the man flying the plane.
Stan bent forward, at the same time signaling O'Malley with his knee in
short and long taps. O'Malley finally woke up and answered the Morse
SOS. As Stan talked to the soldier he also telegraphed to O'Malley and
later to Allison.

What Stan suggested was that they get control of the two pistols. The
friendly soldier was bending closer. Stan would offer to show him some
pictures from America that he had in his wallet. He would get the man
off guard and when he had a chance would grab his pistol and push him
over into the cramped back part of the ship. O'Malley and Allison would
have to get the other pistol.

"I think I have some pictures you may recognize," Stan said. He fished
out a wallet which the Italians had not taken from him. Opening it he
pulled out several snapshots of planes he had p