“Don’t you drop down feet first?” asked Bill.
“You start that way, but before you get the chute open you will have turned quite a few somersaults in the air. The main thing is to count three after leaving the plane, and then pull the ring far enough so that the pins holding the pack together are entirely removed from the lugs.”
“Is there anything more?” asked Bill.
“That’s all there is to it,” replied Ruhs.
Bill removed the chutes and started for town. If Sergeant Ruhs had made several jumps, there was no reason why Bill shouldn’t make one and get away with it.
Bill found that he could not concentrate on the various events which were taking place the next morning. He was nervous about the jump in spite of all attempts to view the matter in a matter of fact way. The morning dragged interminably. The Governor and all the other officials inspected the field and planes. The baseball games were played and the trap-shooting events took place, but Bill found it hard to concentrate on them.
There was a large crowd out at the field by the time that the luncheon was served. The speeches were finished and the pilots started for their planes.
“Here’s wishing you luck,” Bob Finch said to Bill.
“I am glad that I am to be the first officer in the Squadron to jump,” replied Bill. “Some of these days some of the rest of you may have to jump under circumstances not quite so favorable. At least I will know how it feels.”
“I will take mine when I have to,” said Bob. “It takes nerve to jump overboard just for the experience, and I can’t see myself doing it now.”