“Yes, sir.”
“What are you doing here?”—fiercely.
“I couldn’t sleep, sir.”
“Neither could I. Rotten luck! What do you suppose became of them?”
“You mean the planes, sir?”
“Certainly.”
“They—they ought to be in this morning,” Rand stammered.
“They should have been in last night.”
For a time they lapsed into silence, each regarding the other intently. Finally the corporal plucked up enough courage to make his request:
“If you’ve no objections, inspector, I’d like to return to duty.”