The landing was made without incident, though curious glances were cast in their direction.  Many knew that Tom and his chum had made their ascent without a third passenger, and the presence of Lieutenant Beverly announced that some sort of tragedy of the air had occurred.

A number of other pilots swooped down upon them to learn the particulars.  As usual they were inclined to be jocular, and greeted the limping Beverly with a volley of questions, as well as remarks concerning that “luck” of which he had talked.

“They can’t get you, no matter how they try, Beverly,” one called out.

“Another machine to the scrap-heap!” laughingly observed the most celebrated of Yankee aces, slapping Colin on the shoulder.  “Makes an even dozen for you I understand.  Planes may come and planes may go but you go on forever.  Well, long may you wave, old chap!  Here’s wishing you luck.  So the boys picked you up, did they?  Nice work, all right.”

“Just in time, too,” confessed Beverly, “because there were some Huns on the way to finish me that had to be chased off.”

Tom had been noticing something which he thought a bit strange.  It was a way Lieutenant Beverly had of looking at him curiously, as if deciding something in his mind which had suddenly gripped him.

“Is there anything else we can do for you, Lieutenant?” he finally asked, when they had left the bevy of pilots and mechanics behind and were heading toward their quarters; for Tom wished to see the other comfortable before he and Jack ascended once more.

“I don’t believe there is—­at present,” the other slowly replied.  “But this accidental meeting may develop into something worth while; that is, if you chaps would care to join me in a sensational flight.”

At hearing these words Jack began to show a sudden interest.

“If you know anything about us, Lieutenant!” he exclaimed eagerly, “you ought to understand that we’ve always been willing to tackle any job coming our way.”

“This one,” continued the other gravely, “promises to be an unusually dangerous enterprise that if successful, will be sure to win the crew of the big bombing plane tremendous honors and perhaps rapid advancement.”

“You’re only exciting us more and more by saying that,” said Tom.  “Suppose you explain what it is, and then we could decide whether we’d want to join you or not.”

“My sentiments exactly,” added Jack.

Lieutenant Beverly looked from one face to the other.  He seemed to be mentally weighing the chances of his ever being able to run across two more promising candidates for the honor of sharing his secret than the pair of ambitious lads then in touch with him.  As though his decision was taken he suddenly exclaimed: 

“It’s a go, then!  I’ll let you into my little secret, which so far hasn’t been shared by a single living man.  Then later on you can decide if you care to accept the risk for the sake of the glory success would bring, as well as striking a blow for the flag we all love!”