The officers took their places by the respective machines. The minutes rolled by. An hour pa.s.sed slowly, and nothing happened. Two hours pa.s.sed, and still there was no sign of the staff officers - otherwise "bra.s.s-hats".
Biggles began to sag at the knees.
"My hat!" he groaned. "I can"t stand much more of this! Aren"t we getting any lunch today, Mahoney?"
"The Old Man says no. The bra.s.s-hats might arrive at any moment, so we"re to carry on until they come."
Slowly the afternoon wore on, but still there was no sign of the expected officers. Then, from a distance, came the drone of many aeroplanes flying in formation, and the personnel of Squadron No. 266 stiffened expectantly.
"My word, they"re doing the job properly!" muttered Algy to Biggles.
"Don"t be a fool! Bra.s.s-hats don"t fly!" snapped Biggles. "Look! What"s this coming?
What the - "
He broke off, staring unbelievingly towards the far edge of the aerodrome as nine Bristol Fighters, flying very low in a beautiful tight Vee formation, swept into sight.
Straight across the aerodrome they roared. When they were about half-way, and immediately in front of the sheds, they dipped in ironical salute.
A message streamer fluttered to the ground from the leading machine. Then they.
disappeared from sight beyond the hangars, and the drone of their engines was lost in the distance.
An air-mechanic raced out, picked up the message, and carried it to the puzzled C.O.
Under the curious eyes of the entire squadron he opened it. There was an extraordinary expression on his face as he looked up and called: "Captain Mahoney and Captain Bigglesworth, please come here! What do you make of that?" he went on curtly as he pa.s.sed a sheet of paper.
They read it together: It is requested that Captains Mahoney and Bigglesworth be asked how they like their eggs boiled.
"For and on behalf of the officers of Squadron No. 301.
"(Signed) A. L. BENSON, Major."
"What a put-over!" gasped Biggles, as understanding flashed to him.
"Come with me!" said the C.O. curtly, and led the way to the squadron office. "Now, gentlemen," he went on as he closed the door behind them, "kindly have the goodness to explain what all this is about"
Biggles acted as spokesman. Clearly and concisely he told the whole story, from Algy"s reprimand by Captain Bitmore up to the masquerade, and the admonition of that officer.
The major heard him out in silence.
"Well; he said slowly, "there are two aspects in this situation. Major Benson has evidently discovered the plot, and he has taken the course that I, knowing him as an officer of the finest type, would expect.
"If he had reported the matter officially to Headquarters I need hardly tell you that you would both have been court-martialled. As it is, he has taken an unofficial course to enable the squadron to get its own back. He has put it across us very neatly!
"At this moment every member of Squadron No. 301 is probably convulsed with mirth at our expense. We shall never hear the last of it. The joke has recoiled on us with a vengeance. What are we going - "
The door was flung open, and Wat Tyler, the recording officer, dashed in.
"Staff car just arrived, sir, with a full load of officers from General Headquarters!" he gasped.
Major Mullen sprang to his feet.
"Get back to your stations!" he shouted, making for the door.
Biggles gurgled with glee, as with Mahoney at his side they dashed back to the sheds.
"What a fluke! What an absolute hummer!" he chortled. "It"s a surprise inspection. Won"t 301 be pleased when they hear about it!
"They"ve done us the finest turn they could possibly do for us - if they"d spent a year trying to work it out. The laugh will be on our side, after all."
An hour later the officers and mechanics of Squadron No. 266 were paraded in front of the sheds, and General Sir Martin Ashby, of the General Headquarters Staff, addressed them.
"It gives me great pleasure," he began in his stentorian voice, "to see a squadron in the field that can carry itself with such spotless efficiency. I have visited many units in the course of my duties, but never has it been my lot to find one in which such praiseworthy zeal is so obviously displayed by all ranks.
"Your equipment is a credit to yourselves, your commanding officer, and the Service as a whole. I shall make it my business to see that the magnificent example you have set is made known to every other squadron in France. So gratified am I to find that a unit in this command can maintain itself as I have always claimed that a squadron can be maintained, in spite of active service conditions, that I shall cause these observations to be published tonight in R.F.C. orders, so that all other units on the Western Front*
* The front line trenches stretching from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier where the opposing armies faced one another.
may be aware of the pattern you have set. Thank you!"
Major Mullen"s face wore a broad smile as he returned from seeing the officers on their way.
"What a slice of luck!" he laughed. "The squadron"s reputation is now higher than it has ever been before, and the general has just told me that all requests from us will in future receive his personal consideration. Applications for leave will receive priority.
"Yes, the laugh is certainly with us. What is more, I took the opportunity of mentioning Lacey"s little episode, and the general has promised to put the matter right with Wing, which means that no further action will be taken in the matter, except that Captain Bitmore is likely to get a rap over the knuckles. In fact, everything seems to have panned out extremely well!"