“Then that cuts 'Hennery’ out,” said Ernest. “Four of you to go. Well, we will make two trips and get in time to have a swim besides. Come on, let’s get Frank and eat lunch.”
They wandered over to a shady knoll where they waited until Ernest had seen the man he expected, and as soon as Frank came they brought out their lunches and ate them with much talk and laughter. There was plenty to drink for Frank came along with a basket full of ginger ale and pop, to say nothing of a couple of dozen ham sandwiches he had bought in the village. There was no need of Fatty’s knapsack. It was a feast; and Ernest and Frank saw that Skinny, who would not ask his tired mother to put him up a lunch, did not lack for good things.
Presently Ernest, who had been lying on the grass telling all the blood curdling tales he could think of, got up, stretched himself and announced that it was time for him to go over to the hangar. Ernest was pilot of the Instruction plane. There was only one as the school was very small, and the government only supported the Field at Camp Knox on account of the amount of equipment there. All the students were going into aviation for commercial service, and soon the Field would be closed and the equipment transported to some of the large Fields where men were trained for Government mail service and matters of that sort. So Ernest was practically in charge of the Field as far as flying went.
Reaching the Field, they found the six planes drawn out and their young pilots lounging beside them.
The Instruction plane, with broad scarlet bands across its wings to distinguish it from the others, occupied the center of the Field. All the planes were equipped with wireless.
Drawing on his gauntlets, Ernest spoke to the two men beside his car. “I will take a couple of passengers on each flight this afternoon,” he said. “Report at the Adjutant’s tent for an afternoon off, if you like. It is a perfect day for flying.” He took his place. “Who is going? Bill and Skinny? Somebody lend them coats and goggles.”
Bill and Skinny, pale with excitement, squeezed into the observer’s seat and with rather a feeble wave at the other boys felt a terrific sense of goneness as the plane went hopping along the Field before it rose in the air.
“Tend the wireless!” cried Ernest, and Bill adjusted the apparatus as they soared up.
One after another the other planes followed. The air was filled with humming. Higher, higher still they soared, until the plain, the woods and even the hills looked like a vivid green and brown map, through which in a silver line the river ran. As they passed over the hills they had explored that morning, still flying low, Bill thought he saw a tiny white object moving on the face of the rock, but forgot it immediately.
As soon as Ernest had attained the height he desired, he turned his plane and waited for the others. Calling terse sentences to Bill, he sent order after order by wireless to the surrounding planes, and in response they formed lines, figures and circles around, below and above the Instructor’s plane. For an hour they hung there in the air, then at a last command the planes one by one circled down to earth, followed by Ernest and the two boys.