“That’s mighty nice of you,” Paul said, voicing the sentiment of the other boys.
“I think what you ought to do,” said McCarthy, “is to consider yourself a single group and I’ll teach you as a group. Of course I couldn’t take you up all together, but whatever ground-work there is to be done, I could instruct you as a group.”
“That’s just what we were thinking, sir,” said Jack.
“In that case, everything is settled, except that I must insist that you bring written permission from your parents. Is that agreeable?”
The boys were so surprised and shocked by the willingness of McCarthy to instruct them that they were left almost speechless. William was the first one to recover. “You mean to say that you’re actually willing to teach us to fly?” he asked skeptically.
The major smiled and nodded. “That’s just what I said, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but you said it so casually and carelessly that we didn’t grasp it at once,” said Nuthin’. “Say it again, please, sir,” he pleaded.
Major McCarthy reiterated his offer and the boys let out wild yells of joy.