"Good-morning, Dastral. Congratulations, my boy. I have heard all about your adventures yesterday from my Adjutant. You've started well! You're just the man we're wanting here. We're having warm work with the Boches this week. You're a lucky dog to run into a German submarine on your first trip over."
"Oh, it was my observer, sir. He spotted the blamed thing, and bombed her. It was as easy as winking. Just a stroke of luck, sir, that's all."
"Well, I hope your luck 'll keep in. We shall be glad to see you as soon as you can come over. Are you both all right?"
"Yes, sir. Quite all right, 'cept for a slight chill through being in the water for a few minutes."
"Well, better stay where you are a couple of days if you are comfortable, and then come on here."
"Thank you, sir. Yes, we're quite comfortable here, and we'll report at the aerodrome in a couple of days."
"Right. Good-bye. Oh, I say! Are you there?"
"Yes, sir."
"I was going to tell you that the machine arrived here about an hour ago. It's some 'bus' and I like the look of her, except that she's badly smashed, and will be in the hands of the riggers and mechanics for four or five days before she can be used again."
"Oh, that's not so bad. I feared she would be useless after the crash she got, sir. How did you get her there so quickly?"