"From the way he looked at us when he spoke, it's safe to believe that we will be somewhere behind the push."
Billy had a hunch that his job was secure whenever Roque had work above ground.
Schneider had heard enough to set him at the task of cleaning and polishing his personal stock of firearms.
The four biplanes returned that very night to the besieged fortress, from which two of the machines were destined to leave in short order on a most important and perilous journey.
Our boys had instructions to give the aircraft a thorough going over, fill the petrol tanks to utmost capacity, and carry all the condensed foodstuff possible.
"Maybe he is figuring on a chance of a lay-up in the mountains," suggested Stanislaws, detailed to assist the younger aviators in the work of preparation.
"'Maybe' is a good word to use in connection with the moves of the chief, for you can't prove anything by us."
The present was all that counted with the busy lads, hustling to complete their immediate assignment.
"Ready and waiting," they soon announced to the chief, who simply nodded approval, and went on with the work in which he was engaged—studying and making field maps.