Hank snorted. “Then you’re going to take the place.”
Bill looked at him fondly, seeing through the strange marks that time had left on this man, the young, awkward boy whom he had befriended in France, when he had been just a young fellow himself, but not so green as the other. Then he said, “What do you say we leave it up to the boys?” He turned to them. “What do you say, Bob? How does a vacation up in the mountains sound to you?”
Bob, his eyes shining, could hardly answer. He hadn’t wanted to show too much eagerness before because he had remembered his manners just in time, and was watching Bill to see how they should respond to Hank Brown’s generous offer. But now that he saw that Bill was favorably disposed, he breathed, “Oh, gee, I think that it would be great! Just great! Let’s go, Bill.”
Hank was amused and pleased by this enthusiasm.
The Captain turned to Hal. “How about you?”
Hal, who had forgotten his misery during the recital of the exciting stories of war aces, and was once more fired with ambition, now that he was safely on the ground, was almost as enthusiastic. “But,” he said as an afterthought, “I don’t know whether I could go, of course. My mother—” his voice trailed off.
Bill reached over and grasped Hank’s hand. “We’ll take it, old scout. Don’t know how to thank you.”
“Don’t,” said Hank. “I’m glad you’re going to go. All you have to do is to wire to Jake when you’re coming. He lights bonfires to mark the landing field, and there you are. I’m going to be in town for two weeks, so you can come up any time to make arrangements. O.K.? Now I’ve got to go. I’ve been spending too much time as it is. Wish I could stay and see Pat, but I can’t. Tell him to come up and see me, will you?”
He bid them goodbye and left in his automobile which had been parked nearby. The next hour was spent in an exciting inspection of the various planes in the airport, from tiny two-seater monoplanes that looked like fragile toys, to huge biplanes; and in a growing impatience with Pat’s delay. Finally a tiny speck appeared on the horizon, but the three of them had been disappointed so often that they did not dare to hope that this was at last Pat McDermott. But it was. He stepped out of the green monoplane and pushing up his goggles, looked around him. He spied his three friends immediately, and hurried to meet them.
“Hi, Irish!” called Captain Bill. “I want you to meet two pals of mine.” He introduced Bob and Hal. “We’re going to teach them to fly.”