"We are sorry that we couldn't get here in time, but we met Lieutenant Winston's sister coming over, and we were detained at the hospital," said Ralph.
"It's just as well, as I couldn't make it. The commandant wouldn't give me the time to take you out," said Tom.
"But the lieutenant told us to tell you that he gave you permission to take us," said Alfred.
"Did he say that? Well, that's another thing. I'll tell the commandant," and, without another word, he crossed the field, and disappeared. He was back in five minutes, and waved his hat as he appeared.
"All right, boys; we'll have an hour's flight; how will that suit you?" he said.
The boys were too much excited to know what to say in reply. Tom walked around the machine, observing every part of the control plane and the wires, then mounted the chassis, and with a wrench unscrewed the base of the machine gun.
"Here, boys; we'll take this off for the afternoon; it'll give you more room. There, take hold of it at both ends, and carry it into the hangar," he said, as he handed down the weapon.
"Gee! but that weighs something!" said Ralph.
"Close to eighty pounds, I should say," observed Tom.
"Where shall we sit?" asked Alfred.