“Hum-m!” Cowan mused. He knew, none better, that here before him stood two excellent pilots with a wealth of combat experience. If he sent them back, doubtless some other squadron would draw them, and that squadron commander would be the gainer, he the loser. Still, he had no authority for taking them along. An assignment order would doubtless reach them within twenty-four or forty-eight hours. Still and all, he considered, much can happen in that time–especially to an untried squadron going into action. Such pilots as these were scarce, and many 119were the commanders who would seek them. “Well,” he said at last, “just what would you do in my place?”
It was a fair question, and one seldom heard from the lips of a commanding officer. Coming from Cowan, it was doubly surprising, and effectively blocked all pleas founded on sentiment and sympathy.
Now Larkin was stumped, but McGee was ready to take up the gage.
“Major Cowan, I have been in the service long enough to know that the wise army man always gets out from under. Pass the buck. It’s the grand old game. But I see a way out. If I were in your position I would direct the issue of an order sending us back. But,” he added as Cowan evidenced surprise, “I’d manage to have that order mislaid in the excitement.”
Cowan nervously paced back and forth. Suddenly he wheeled in decision. “No,” he said, “I won’t pass the buck; I won’t shift the responsibility. Passing the buck in training may be all very well, but a commander who does so in action is not fitted for command. We are on the eve of action. Report to Lieutenant Mullins, gentlemen, and tell him I said you were to go along. See that your ships are ready at four a.m.” He turned and walked rapidly toward a group of ground men who were loading a truck.
120Larkin’s eyes became wide with astonishment. “Well what do you know about that! Say, that bird is going to make a real C.O.”
“I think he is one now,” McGee answered. “Action does that to men–sometimes.”
121CHAPTER VI
The Squadron Takes Wing
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