NEWS BY WIRELESS.
Frank immediately opened wide the door and bade the other welcome. He
even held out his hand, and made the French aviator feel that they were
delighted to know he was to be with them.
"First of all be pleased to read what Major Nixon has written here,"
said M. Le Grande, after being introduced to the other boys, who were
surveying him with natural curiosity, because they, too, recognized his
well-known name.
Frank quickly read the contents of the note. It was to the point, for
the British officer was a man of comparatively few words.
"My Dear Frank:
With this I introduce my friend Monsieur Armand Le Grande. You
know what he has done in your line. He will be your passenger on
the trial trip. Remember, you are the sole commander, as M. Le
Grande is there simply to take notes, and advise, if you care to
ask his valued opinion at any time. The best of luck to you all,
and may this day be one never to be forgotten, both here and in
the tight little island across the Channel. When we receive word
by wireless, I shall let you know over the phone.
Yours sincerely,
JOHN NIXON, Major."
Since Frank knew the handwriting well he could not have any doubt
concerning the authenticity of the letter. It happened that he had also
seen pictures of the noted French birdman, and they corresponded with
the features of the man who had come to them.
If Frank, therefore, had in the beginning entertained the slightest
suspicion, it was by now wholly allayed. Sitting there while the
newcomer enjoyed a cup of black coffee, they talked in low tones of the
contemplated voyage.
It was wonderful to see how calmly they discussed the tremendous
possibilities of the great raid by aëroplanes on the enemy's works. Ten
years back, had anyone ventured to affirm that in so short a time scouts
would be sailing through the upper currents at the rate of two miles a
minute, and even "looping the loop" in a desire to prove their mastery
over air, he would have been set down as visionary and a dreamer.
Frank went to the double doors opening on the trestle that ran down to
the water and took an observation.
"There is some haze on the sea," he announced, "but it is rising, and I
think we are going to have a fair day for the trip."
They had made all preparations, so that when the summons came there
should be no occasion for unnecessary delay. Knowing that they would
find it bitterly cold far up among the clouds while moving at high
speed, all of them were careful to don the warmest clothing possible. As
they wandered about the interior of the hangar they resembled mummies to
some degree; but appearances count for little with the venturesome men
who risk their lives while emulating the birds.
All at once there was a quick angry buzz.
"The 'phone, Frank!" cried Billy.
Frank darted over and clapped the French receiver to his ear.
"Hello!" he called.
"Who is it?" asked a voice he recognized as belonging to the Major.
"Frank Chester; is that you, Major Nixon?"
"Yes, has he arrived, Frank?"
"If you mean M'sieu Le Grande, yes. He's here with us, waiting for the
time to come when we make the start."
"Well, it is here. I have called you up to tell you, Frank."
"Have you received a message by wireless from across the Channel, sir?"
"We have," replied the Major. "It told us that the fleet had started
from Dover cliffs, and would be across in less than half an hour, if all
went well."
"Good news! You make us happy when you say that. Shall we get out at
once and be ready to join them when they show up?"
"Lose no time, for they may be here sooner than expected; and again the
best of luck go with you, Frank, my boy. May you and your chums return
in safety, and your passenger bring back a glowing report. That's all;
now get busy!"
Frank swung around. His young face fairly glowed with animation and
expectation.
"How about it, Frank?" asked Billy, as nervous as ever.
"They're on the wing and heading this way. Everybody get aboard while I
fling open the doors and fix it to start!"
There was no confusion because they all knew exactly what was expected
of them, and everyone had his place arranged.
Frank swung aboard as the big seaplane began to move. In another second
they had passed beyond the doors and commenced to descend the trestle
leading to the surface of the bay.
The seaplane took the water with the grace of a swan. There was
something of a splash when the connection was made, but that odd bow so
like a spoon had been built especially to spurn the water, and so the
craft skimmed along just as a flat stone hurled by a boy's hand will
skip over the surface until its momentum has been exhausted.
"There's something of a crowd over there watching us, Frank!" announced
Billy, as he pointed to the shore, at some little distance away.
"Could they have known about what we expected to do," remarked Pudge,
"or is it just the idle crowd that was chased away yesterday by the
guard, come to see what's on the program for to-day?"
"The chances are some of those spies are among the lot," Billy said at a
hazard.
"If they are they'll be kicking themselves soon because they can't get
word to their friends up the coast," Pudge continued, looking as though
he considered that he might be going to have the time of his life, as no
doubt he was.
Frank did not start up. There was no necessity for doing it, since he
had no desire to show off before the Dunkirk people, and it was the part
of wisdom to conserve all his resources for the strain that awaited
them.
He had his field glasses in his hand, and with these he now began to
scan the heavens toward the west, veering a little to the northwest. The
others waited anxiously to hear what he might discover.
"Nothing in sight from here," announced Frank; "but then that was to be
expected. We are low down on the water, and there are more or less
streaks of haze in the air to interfere with a good view."
"It's too soon to look for them, anyway," added Pudge.
"How long do they expect to be on the journey across the Channel,
Frank?" Billy inquired.
"From what Major Nixon said, I should guess from twenty minutes to half
an hour," Frank explained. "It all depends on what air currents they
strike, and whether they meet with any accidents on the way."
"There's our friend the sergeant waving to us from the shore," announced
Billy. "He doesn't know what's going on, but he wants you to understand
he wishes you all kinds of good luck."
"Oh!" suddenly cried Pudge, "what's that over there, Frank! Focus your
glass on it and tell me! I hope it isn't one of those sassy little Taube
machines come to bother us just when we want to be let alone."
"No fear," he was told by Frank as soon as he caught the far distant
object that had caused this outbreak on the part of the fat boy. "That's
only a gull circling around in the sunlight."
"Hadn't we better be up so we can join the fleet without wasting any
time?" asked Billy
"No need," Frank assured him. "I understand that they mean to swing in
here, and then make a fresh start straight away up the shore."
"But why should they come in here at all, when they could just as well
have headed straight from Dover to Antwerp and Zeebrugge?" demanded
Billy, who with that reporter instinct of his always wanted to know the
why and wherefore of everything.
"There are several reasons, I believe," Frank went on to say. "For
thirty seaplanes to cross the Channel with its variable winds is a big
feat, and it was to make sure all was well with each member of the fleet
that they laid out to start fresh from here. Then, I fancy, several
other machines are waiting here to join them, so as to make the raid as
big as possible, and strike a note of alarm along the naval bases of the
coast."
"Now I understand better," admitted the other, always willing to listen
to any explanation given by Frank, for whose opinion he entertained
considerable respect.
The minutes dragged. Even Pudge manifested unusual impatience, and kept
craning his fat neck in the endeavor to scan the sky toward the west, as
though in hopes of making a pleasing discovery ahead of Frank with his
glasses.
"There goes one man up in his biplane!" remarked Billy, who had happened
to turn his head and glance back toward the city, attracted possibly by
a distant humming sound that was strangely familiar.
"And a second following him in a monoplane," added Pudge. "I suppose now
those fellows will join the squad that's meaning to do some damage to
interior points like Bruges."
Both the boys looked toward Frank appealingly, as though they hoped he
would think best to follow suit, but he did not make the slightest move.
Instead, he held the field glasses again to his eyes as he swept the
heavens far to the west for signs of the coming squadron of navy
aëroplanes and seaplanes that had left the cliffs of England, sailing
high to avoid the fog that lay upon the Channel there.
"It must surely be twenty minutes from the time they started by now,"
urged Billy presently.
"Just that to a fraction," announced Pudge, looking to see.
"They may have met with contrary winds up there and be delayed," urged
Frank. "Because it seems so quiet down here is no sign that the
conditions are the same a mile high. Be patient! I expect to soon have
some good news for you."
"I surely hope nothing has happened to break up the tea party, once it's
got off on the trip," grumbled Billy.
Pudge said nothing more, but sat there watching Frank. He knew they
would learn of the coming in sight of the fleet first of all from the
one who carried the magnifiers; and hence he kept his eyes on the face
of his chum.
When Frank lowered the glasses Pudge gave a soft wheeze, as though he
had been fairly holding his breath meanwhile; then as soon as the other
started to look again Pudge resumed his former occupation of watching
for signs.
Even the longest night must have its end, and this absorbed vigil on the
part of the fat boy was not without receiving its reward.
When Frank, on the next occasion, not only hastily lowered the glasses
but passed them along to Billy, Pudge knew the crisis had arrived at
last.
"There they come!" cried Billy, as soon as he had clapped the smaller
end of the field glasses to his eyes. "Oh! what a raft of them I can
see! Must be a hundred in that bunch, Frank, anyway, all of fifty if
there's one!"
But Frank knew how Billy was prone to exaggerate, without meaning to
deceive.
"Let M. Le Grande take a look, Billy," he suggested, which aroused the
other to a remembrance of the fact that they had as their guest a most
famous aviator who should be treated with every consideration.
Pudge did not ask to look. He was too busy watching Frank, who had made
as if to turn on the power and start things going. For, after skimming
over the surface of the water, the big seaplane would mount up like a
bird on the wing.