Then followed three months of the hardest kind of work; there were long lectures and hours of study upon the organization of foreign armies, interspersed with periods of calisthenics and infantry drill; also instructions on topics connected with flying, such as motors, rigging, gunnery, and wireless. Every one worked at top speed to assimilate as much as possible of the knowledge with which he was being crammed; that occupied all the hours of daylight and part of the night, too, so there was little time to form close and lasting friendships. Everybody was so busy with his own problems that it was impossible to pay much attention to the other fellow.
But the three months were up at last, and Ted, standing near the head of his section, was promptly sent to flying school. Those who were not so fortunate in their marks were sent to concentration camps to wait weeks, even months, for their turn.
“Attention to orders,” called the section leader the morning after Ted and a number of others had reported for their new class of instruction. “Boyle, Currier, Davis, and Edwards report to Lieutenant Livingston, Ship Number 188. Green, Hammond, Jones, and Murphy report to Lieutenant Talbot, Ship Number 210,” and so on down the line, ending with a final “Fall out.”
Ted could not believe his ears. Was it possible that the Lieutenant Livingston who was to be his instructor was Stanley? They had not communicated with one another since entering the service.
Ted hurried to Ship Number 188, which had been pointed out to him by one of the mechanics.
“Lieutenant Livingston, sir?” he inquired of the officer evidently in charge of the ship.
“Yes, what can I do for you? Why—if it isn’t Ted. What are you doing here? I am certainly glad to see you.”
Ted explained how he had been transferred from the infantry and had just completed his course at ground school; also that he had been assigned to Stanley for flying instruction.
“This is luck. Let’s get at it right away; we can talk more to-night. Hop into the rear seat and we’ll start right off.”
“What do I have to do?” Ted asked excitedly.