A CHAPTER OF LESSONS ABOUT THE AEROPLANE
Early the following morning there was intense activity in the camp, and Ralph was among the first to learn the cause of the excitement. Several army divisions had come up in the night, and were bound for the Verdun sector, and from the information obtained it was the intention of the commander to make a terrific assault in order to break the German lines north of the city.
The lieutenant, when approached, admitted that they were now in for double duty. "Every man in the corps must report and be ready in the morning. There will be two days of observation, and then look out for some business."
"When will we go to Verdun?" asked Ralph.
"We are expecting orders at any moment," was the reply.
During the previous afternoon more than fifty machines had assembled, and some of those were now leaving, a few going directly east, on observation tours, while others were circling about and testing the engines.
"I am expecting a big Farman machine," said Lieutenant Guyon, as he returned from headquarters an hour afterwards, "that is equipped for carrying bombs, but I am told it is one of the speediest machines in the service. It will easily carry six hundred kilos in bombs (1,200 pounds), and we are ordered to wait here until it arrives."
When the boys were alone, Alfred, with a glint of joy in his eyes, remarked: "I think that will give us an opportunity to do some flying with the lieutenant."
"Do you think so?" replied Ralph, elated at the thought.
"I am sure of that," said a voice behind them.