“I’d like to fly her in the big push!” Jack leaned forward eagerly. “She’s a natural for scouting and bombing. No Zero could ever catch her. And in the stratosphere she’d bring you home faster than the wind.”
“Tired? Had a hard day?” the Commander demanded.
“Practically just rolled out of my berth, sir,” Jack grinned.
“Then we’ll try her out right now. Night’s the time for that. We’ll not be spotted.”
They did try the plane out. Jack went up alone at first with one pale light showing. The Commander, watching and listening on the deck, was sometimes on tiptoe and sometimes doing a jig as Jack put the screamer through its paces. An ardent enthusiast was the Commander.
“Boy! What a plane!” he exclaimed the moment Jack leaped from the cockpit. “What a kite! Have her gassed. I’ll go get my flying jacket and we’ll go up together!”
CHAPTER XXVI
JACK’S JET PLANE WINS ITS WAY
“I’ve used up all my kerosene, sir!” Jack declared in sudden consternation. “And I’m quite sure this jet plane won’t run on gas.”
“Oh, don’t let that worry you!” was the Commander’s instant reply. “You’ve been around this old flat-top long enough. You should know that we carry a greater variety of goods and supplies than you’d find in a department store. We service the entire task force.”
“Sure, I know. But kerosene—”