Meanwhile, at Vauciennes the newcomer was being tested.  At first he was thought to look rather sickly and weak, to be somewhat reserved and distant, and too well dressed, with a “young-ladyish” air.  He was known to be already an expert pilot, capable of making tail spins after barely three months’ experience.  But still the men felt some uncertainty about this youngster whom they dared not trifle with on account of his eyes, “out of which fire and spirit flowed like a torrent."[15] Later on they were to know him better.

[Footnote 15:  Saint-Simon.]

A legend was current as to the large quantity of “wood broken” by Guynemer in his early days with the escadrille.  This is radically untrue, and his notebook contradicts it.  From the very first day the debutant fulfilled the promise of his apprentice days.  After one or two trial flights, he left for a scouting expedition on Sunday, June 13, above the enemy lines, and there met three German airplanes.  On the 14th he described what he had seen in a letter to his father.—­His correspondence still included some description at that time, the earth still held his attention; but it was soon to lose interest for him.—­“The appearance of Tracy and Quennevieres,” he wrote, “is simply unbelievable:  ruins, an inextricable entanglement of trenches almost touching one another, the soil turned over by the shells, the holes of which one sees by thousands.  One wonders how there could be a single living man there.  Only a few trees of a wood are left standing, the others beaten down by the “marmites,"[16] and everywhere may be seen the yellow color of the literally plowed-up earth.  It seems incredible that all these details can be seen from a height of over 3000 meters.  I could see to a distance of 60 or 70 kilometers, and never lost sight of Compiegne.  Saint-Quentin, Peronne, etc., were as distinct as if I were there....”

[Footnote 16:  Shells.]

Next day, the 14th, another reconnaissance, of which the itinerary was Coucy, Laon, La Fere, Tergnier, Appily, Vic-sur-Aisne.  Not a cannon shot disturbed these first two expeditions.  But danger lurked under this apparent security, and on the 15th he was saluted by shells, dropping quite near.  It was his “baptism by fire,” and only inspired this sentence a la Duguesclin:  “No impression, except satisfied curiosity.”

The following days were passed in a perfect tempest, and he only laughed.  The new Roland, the bold and marvelous knight, is already revealed in the letters to be given below.  On the 16th he departed on his rounds, carrying, as observer, Lieutenant de Lavalette.  His airplane was hit by a shell projectile in the right wing.  On the 17th his machine returned with eight wounds, two in the right wing, four in the body, and in addition one strut and one longitudinal spar hit.  On the 18th he returned from a reconnaissance with Lieutenant Colcomb during which his machine had been hit in the right wing, the rudder, and the body.  But his notebook only contains statements of facts, and we have to turn to his correspondence for more details.