A number of other pilots and observers occupied the same quarters, which had once been the refuge of German officers.  Wretched though these quarters were, they at least afforded security from the bursting shells that were being sent across now and then by the enemy, from their positions on the hills to the northwest.

Jack had been paying small heed to the merriment of his mates, who, like most young men gathered together in a group, had been carrying on high.  Sitting there with his head resting on his hand he had allowed himself to become buried in deep thought.  A strained worried look had taken possession of his usually sunny face.

“What’s the matter now, Tom?” he asked, with a deep sigh, as though he had been rudely brought back to a realization of the fact that he was still in France, where the battle raged, and far removed from those peaceful Virginia scenes he had been picturing.

“We’re ordered out with that raiding party to-night,” Tom continued, lowering his voice to a whisper, since it was supposed to be a military secret, and not to be openly discussed.

“Oh!  Well, what does it matter?” asked Jack, beginning to show animation.  “We’ve put in our applications for leave, but the chances are they’ll not be acted upon immediately, although we asked for speed.  And nothing would please me more than to see action while I’m waiting.  I’m afraid I’d go clean daffy unless I could forget my troubles in some way.”

“Glad to hear you say that, Jack, because I’m feeling particularly keen myself to be one of that bunch to-night”

“When do we start?” demanded the other tersely.

“Not until two in the morning,” came the low reply.  “All that’s been figured out with regard to the moon you know.”

Jack took a quick glance around.  So far as he could see, no one was paying the least attention to him and his comrade.  One of the air pilots was trying to sing a song, being in jovial mood after receiving a letter that he admitted was from his “girl in the States” and the others manifested a desire to join in the chorus, though none of them dared let their voices out, since it was against the rules.

“Did you learn anything about the job we’ve got on hand, Tom?”

“Yes, that’s what I did; though I believe it was not generally told to all who are to be in the party,” came the cautious reply.  “Of course just before the flight they’ll be given full particulars, when orders are issued to the pilots and observers.  It’s a bridge this time, Jack!”

“That one spanning the river about twenty miles back of the German lines, do you mean?”

“Yes, it’s the most important bridge within fifty miles.  Over it day and night the retreating Boche armies are passing.  There’s hardly a minute that guns and regiments may not be seen passing across at that point.”

“Yes,” observed Jack, “and a number of times some of our airmen have tried to bomb it in the daytime; but Fritz keeps such a vigilant watch we never could succeed in getting close enough to do any material damage.  And so the High Command has decided that bridge must be knocked to flinders!”