he Lafayette
Escadrille with which they had so long been associated.

"That's so. We'll soon be on the firing line with Uncle Sam," agreed
Tom. "Of course we've been with him, in a way, ever since we've been
fighting, for it's all in the same cause. But there'll be a little more
satisfaction in being 'on our own,' as the English say."

"You're right. What's on for to-day?" asked Jack.

"Haven't the least idea. But here comes a messenger now."

As Tom spoke he glanced from a window and saw an orderly coming toward
their quarters. The man seemed in a hurry.

"Something's up!" decided Jack. "Maybe they've got word from poor
Harry."

"I'm beginning to give him up," said Tom. "If they were going to
let us have any news of him they'd have done it long ago--the beasts!"
and he fairly snarled out the words.

"Still I'm not giving up," returned Jack. "I can't explain why, but I
have a feeling that, some day, we'll see Harry Leroy again."

Tom shook his head.

"I wish I could be as hopeful as you," he said. "Maybe we'll see him
again--or his grave. But I want to say, right now, that if ever I have
a chance at the Hun who shot him down, that Hun Will get no mercy from
me!"

"Same here!" echoed Jack. "But here comes the orderly."

The man entered and handed Jack a slip of paper. It was from the
commander of their squadron, and said, in effect, that though Tom and
Jack were no longer under his orders, having been duly transferred to
another sector, yet he would be obliged if they would call on him, at
his quarters.

"Maybe he has news!" exclaimed Jack, eagerly.

Again Tom shook his head.

"He'd have said so if that was the case," he remarked as he and his chum
prepared to report at headquarters, telling the messenger they would
soon follow him.

"Ah, young gentlemen, I am glad to see, you!" exclaimed the commander,
and it was as friends that he greeted Tom and Jack and not as military
subordinates. "Do you want to do me one last favor?"

"A thousand if we can!" exclaimed Jack, for he and Tom had caught
something of the French enthusiasm of manner, from having associated
with the brave airmen so long.

"Good! Then I shall feel free to ask. Know then, that I am a little
short-handed in experienced airmen. The Huns have taken heavy toll of
us these last few days," he went on sorrowfully, and Torn and Jack knew
this to be so, for two aces, as well as some pilots of lesser magnitude,
had been shot down. But ample