“Have you ever jumped before?” asked Smith.
“Never in my life,” replied Bill.
“That makes no difference, you have to start some time,” said Smith. “Fortunately, Sergeant Ruhs has just arrived from Dayton with instructions as to how the parachutes shall be worn and how you get out of the plane with them on. You had better see him right away and get your instructions. I approve of the schedule of events.”
So there were parachutes, and a parachute jump was going to be part of the field day after all. Bill had never even seen one at close range. He had never had the slightest desire to try one out, and, furthermore, he realized that the thing he desired the least of anything in the world was to make that jump the next day.
CHAPTER XXII—TRAPPED IN MIDAIR
Bill left the headquarters building with a heavy load on his mind. As far as he could see, he had put himself in such a position that he had to make that parachute jump. He went to the supply building and found Sergeant Ruhs. Several parachutes were spread out on the floor and Ruhs was inspecting them.
“Sergeant, you never told me that we had received those parachutes,” said Bill.
“No, sir, I didn’t,” replied the parachute sergeant. “They came while you were down at Roseburg.”
“How many are there?” asked Bill.
“Enough to equip each plane with two and then have several for reserve,” replied Ruhs.