The Brighton Boys with the Flying Corps | Page 6

don't think it is fair
to make fun of them. If everyone in the country was as eager to do his
duty in this war it would be a splendid thing."
Grace was a fine-looking girl, with a handsome, intelligent face. When
she talked like that, she made a picture good to look upon. Harry was
surprised. Usually his sister took but little account of his activities. But
this was different. With her own brother Will fighting in France, and
another girl's brother Will a doctor in the American Hospital at Neuilly,
near Paris, Grace was heart and soul with the Allies. Harry might have
done much in other lines without attracting her attention, but his
keenness to become a flier at the front had appealed to her pride, and
she felt deeply any attempt to belittle the spirit that animated the boys,
however remote might be the possibility of their hopes being fulfilled.
Major Phelps listened to the enthusiastic, splendid, wholesome girl
with frank admiration in his eyes. Harry could not have had a better
champion. First the major took the book. Glancing at it, he raised his
brows. "Do you understand this?" he asked.

"I think so, sir," answered Harry.
"It is well worth reading," said the major as he laid it down. Then he
stepped toward Harry and took his hand again. "Your sister is perfectly
right, if your father will not mind my saying so. I have been attached to
the British Flying Corps in France for a time, and I saw mere boys
there who were pastmasters of scout work in the air. The game is one
that cannot be begun too young, one almost might say. At least, the
younger a boy begins to take an interest in it and really study it, the
better grasp he is likely to have of it. I am thoroughly in agreement
with your sister that no one should discourage your studies of flying,
and if I can do anything to help while I happen to be in this part of the
world, please let me know. You look like your brother Will, and if you
one day get to be the flier that he is, as there is no reason in the world
you should not do, you will be worth having in any flying unit."
Harry was struck dumb for the moment. This was the first tangible
evidence that the plans of the boys were really to bear fruit, after all. He
stammered a sort of husky "Thank you," and was relieved to find that
Major Phelps mention of Will had drawn the attention from everything
else for the moment. The Corwins had to hear all about the older boy,
whose letters contained little except the most interesting
commonplaces.
The major, it is true, added but little detail of Will's doings, except to
tell them that he was a full-fledged flying man and was doing his air
work steadily and most satisfactorily. His quiet praise of Will brought a
flush of pride to Grace's cheek, and the major wished he knew of more
to tell her about her brother, as it was a pleasure to talk to so charming
and attentive a listener.
At last he rose to take his departure, and the Corwins were loud in their
demands that he should come and see them often. As the major stepped
down from the piazza Harry grasped his courage in both hands and
said:
"Major Phelps, may I ask you a question?"

"Certainly," said the major genially. "What is it?"
"Well, sir," began Harry, "we Brighton boys have been wondering how
we can get inside the new airdrome. Summer vacation is coming, and
we could all---the eight of us, in our crowd---arrange to stay here after
the term closes. We want to be allowed inside the grounds, and to have
a chance to learn something practical. We would do anything and
everything we were told to do, sir."
"Hum," said the major. "Let me think. You boys can be mighty useful
in lots of ways. I'll tell you what I will do. Find out whether or not your
friends would care to get some sort of regular uniform and take on
regular work and I will speak to the colonel about it when he comes. I
think he will be here to-morrow or next day. Things are getting in
shape, and we will be at work in earnest soon. The colonel is a very
nice man, and when he hears that you boys are so eager to get into the
game maybe he will not object to your being attached regularly to the
airdrome for a while. You might find that the work was no more
exciting than running errands or something like that. Are you all of