sank as they saw a great crowd gathered, and one after the other turned away. [Pg 81] "Chances of getting in seem to be pretty slim," said Alfred. "Well, we might try it, anyhow," said Ralph, as he pushed forward. They marched up to the gate, and passed through without the least objection on the part of the guards. This was the greatest surprise to both. They had forgotten that the uniforms they wore gave them admittance without question. Evidently they were taken for army messengers. "See that American flag?" shouted Ralph. "That's the place for us," replied Alfred. Accordingly, they lost no time in making for the hangar on which the emblem appeared. They saw a Farman machine partly outside of the hangar, and in the body of it was seated a ruddy-faced chap. "What's up?" he asked. "Came over to help you out," said Alfred. He looked down, and slowly said: "You did, eh?" "Well, we've seen a little active service at the front, so far," explained Ralph, "been in battle several times, have been captured by the Germans, helped to build trenches, worked with the Red Cross people, and had a few flights in an airplane,[Pg 82] and as we like aviation business best of all, we thought we'd come over and go to work." [Pg 82] The airman raised himself, sat down on the side of the car body, and commenced to laugh, although Ralph's remark was said without the least tinge of pride or boasting. Several from the adjoining hangars came in to learn the cause of the boisterous mirth. "Well, that's fresh enough to come from real American boys," he said, after he had sobered down a little. "That's right; we're from the United States; we came here because we saw the flag on the outside; what shall we do the first thing?" said Alfred. "From America?" said the man, climbing down from the machine. "And you are regular Yankees? Well, well; that's too good! I'm something of an American myself. By jingo, you're the kind of fellows to have
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