“How soon could we talk with him?” asked Tom.
“Talk with him?” asked the surgeon. “Is that necessary? He is doing very well, and—”
“Tom means ask him some questions,” explained Jack. “You see, he started to tell us about our chum, Harry Leroy, who was out scouting with him. Harry was shot down, so Du Boise said, but he didn't get a chance to give any particulars, and we thought—”
“It will be a day or so before he will be able to talk to you,” the surgeon said. “He is very weak, and must not be disturbed.”
“Well, may we talk with him just as soon as possible?” eagerly asked Jack. “We want to find out where it was that Harry went down in his machine—out of control very likely—and if we get a chance—”
“We'd like to take it out on those that shot him down!” interrupted Torn. “Du Boise must have noticed the machines that fought him and Harry, and if we could get any idea of the Boches who were in them—”
“I see,” and the surgeon bowed and smiled approval of their idea. “You want revenge. I hope you get it. As soon as we think he is able to talk,” and he nodded in the direction of the hospital, “we will let you see him. Good luck to you, and confusion to the Huns!”
“Gee, but this is tough luck!” murmured Tom, as he and his chum turned away. “Just as we were getting ready to go back into the game, too! Had it all fixed up for Harry to fly with us in a sort of a triangle scheme to down the Boches, and they have to go and plump him off the map. Well, it is tough!”
“Yes, sort of takes the fun out of the good news we heard a while ago,” agreed Jack. “I mean about Pershing's boys getting over here to France. I hope Harry's only wounded, instead of killed. But if the Huns have him a prisoner—good-night!”
“There's only one consolation,” added Tom. “Their airmen are the best of the lot Of course that isn't saying much, but they behave a little more like human beings than the rest of the Boche gang; and if Harry has fallen a prisoner to them he'll get a bit of decent treatment, anyhow.”