In his youth and innocence—­John Ivan Jewel wondered why it was that the soldiers looked astonished even while they saluted their commanding officer.  He did not know that he was being especially honored by Captain Riley, which is perhaps a good thing.  It saved him a good deal of embarrassment and left him so much at ease that he could talk to the captain almost as freely as if he had not worn a uniform.

“Good-by—­and good luck,” said Captain Riley, and shook hands with Johnny.  “I’ll be glad to see you again—­and, by the way, I’m just keeping that money until you call for it.”

Johnny climbed in and settled himself, then leaned over the edge where the bullet had nicked so that his words would not carry to the man waiting to crank the motor.

“I’ll call for that money in about two hours,” he said.  “I ain’t saying good-by, Captain.  I’ll see yuh later.”

Captain Riley stood smiling to himself while he watched the Thunder Bird take the air.  That it took the air smoothly, spiraling upward as gracefully as any of his young flyers could do, did not escape him.  Nor did the steadiness with which it finally swung away to the southeast.

“That boy’s a born flyer,” he observed to his favorite first lieutenant, who just happened to be standing near.  “They say he never has had any training under an instructor.  He just flew.  He’ll make good—­a kid like that is bound to.”

Up in the Thunder Bird Johnny was thinking quite different thoughts.  “He thinks I won’t be able to deliver the goods.  He was nice and friendly, all right—­good golly, he’d oughta be!  He admitted right out plain that they wanted Cliff bad.  But he’s hanging on to my money so he’ll have some hold over me if I don’t bring in Schwab for him.  And if I don’t, and go back for my money, he’ll—­well, firing squad won’t be any kidding, is what I mean.

“O-h-h, no!  Captain Riley can’t fool me!  Wouldn’t tell me to get Schwab over here—­didn’t dare tell me.  But he makes it worth a whole lot to me to get him, just the same.  He knows darn well if I don’t I’ll never dare to go back, and he’ll be over seven thousand dollars better off.”  Johnny, you will observe, had quite forgotten that receipt in his pocket, which Captain Riley might find it hard to explain if he attempted to withhold the money.

His doubt of the Captain increased when, looking back, he spied two swift scouting planes scudding along a mile or two behind him.  That they might be considered a guard of honor rather than spies sent out to see that he did not play false never occurred to him.

“Aw, you think maybe I won’t do it!” he snorted angrily, his young vanity hurt.  “All right, tag along and be darned.  I’ll have Schwab and be flying back again before you can bank around to fly hack and tattle where I went.  That’s what I mean.  I ain’t going to be done outa no seven thousand dollars; I’ll tell the world I ain’t.”