`What's going on?' interrupted a well-known voice. As one, the watchers swung round.
Major Raymond was standing behind them.
`What are you all staring at?' he inquired curiously. Ì can't see anything.'
`There is nothing to see, sir,' answered Biggles, casually. 'We were just watching a machine take off, that's all.'
The major nodded. 'Come over to the Squadron Office, you fellows, will you? I want a word with you,' he said in an official tone of voice.
Obediently they all followed him as he led the way.
Chapter 20
Accused
Major Mullen, the C.O., was sitting alone at his desk when they trooped into the Squadron Office, Major Raymond first, conspicuous by the scarlet tabs on the lapels of his tunic, followed by Biggles, Algy, Forty, Rip, and Thirty.
Major Raymond looked at the C.O. 'Shall I say it or will you?' he asked quietly.
Ìt's more a matter for Wing than for me, so I'd rather you did,' returned Major Mullen.
Major Raymond turned to Thirty. 'A rather curious thing has happened,' he began, in that suave tone of voice that senior officers know so well how to adopt when it suits their purpose. 'In view of the excellent work you have done since you joined this squadron, and more particularly for the special mission which you carried out successfully for me, I submitted your name to General Headquarters for a decoration—the Military Cross, to be precise.'
Thirty guessed what was coming. He felt the muscles of his face stiffen, and something seemed to sink inside his stomach. He did not know how he knew, but he knew. He did not speak.
`You can imagine my surprise,' continued the major, `when Wing Headquarters were informed by General Headquarters, who had been in touch with the Air Board, that there was no officer of your name on the
list of the Royal Flying Corps. Not unnaturally we assumed that you had been seconded from another regiment, but there was no record of that either. When we discovered that there were two officers at this unit not appearing on the official list, we felt that it was time we made inquiries. Naturally, we asked your C.O. for the movement orders you would normally present on arrival; he thereupon told us that you had arrived without any.
Can you offer any explanation of the strange state of affairs?'
Thirty swallowed something in his throat. 'I can, sir,' he said in a low voice.
`Well?'
`The fact of the matter is, sir, we . . . er . . . that is —'
Ì'm waiting.'
`Well, we're not officers at all; that is, we've never been gazetted,' burst out Thirty, desperately.
`What?' The word came from Forty. His lips continued to move, but no words came. He appeared to have difficulty in speaking.
Ìt's true,' said Thirty, miserably.
`Where did you get those uniforms?' asked the major sternly.
`From my brother's wardrobe, sir.'
Forty's eyes grew round. 'What the—?'
The major interrupted. 'Just leave this to me, Captain Fortymore, will you?' He turned again to Thirty. `Kindly continue,' he said, smoothly.
Ì've nothing more to say, sir.'
`Why did you do this?'
`Because I wanted—we both wanted, but I was the ringleader—to get to the war.'
`But there are regular channels for that. I understand you both arrived here in service aeroplanes? Where did you get them?'
`We borrowed them, sir.'
`Stole them, you mean.'
`No, sir,' denied Thirty. 'We only moved them from one place to another. They've been in service all the time. We could think of no other way of getting here.'
`What was the hurry?'
`Well, Forty—that is, Captain Fortymore, my brother—was missing, and I hoped to be able to rescue him. And I did, too,' concluded Thirty, firmly.
The major stroked his chin. His face was still stern, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. '
You ran away from school?' The question was really a statement.
Thirty realized then that the major knew more than he pretended. 'Yes, sir,' he admitted.
`What do you suppose Germany would say if she knew?'
Ì don't know, sir, and I don't particularly care,' declared Thirty. 'I got Forty—I mean, Captain Fortymore—back, and that's all I care about.'
`You've been a civilian under arms, liable to be shot if you were caught.'
Ì should have been shot anyway if they had caught me,' Thirty pointed out, with truth.
The major coughed and caught the C.O.'s eyes. 'Yes, I suppose you would,' he conceded.
'But that does not alter the case. It was a most dangerous thing to do.'
`So was my trip to Belville the other night, sir, but you didn't stop me going on that account,' murmured Thirty.
`That was an entirely different matter.'
`Yes, sir—so I believe.'
Àt your age you should have known better.'
Ì did know, sir, but it made no difference. I succeeded in what I set out to do, so to apologize and say I am sorry would be sheer hypocrisy. All the same, sir, I apologize to you personally for the trouble I have caused you. Also to the C.O. for deceiving him.'
`That sounds a ham-fisted sort of apology to me,' observed the major. 'Still, I'll accept it.
And what do you think you are going to do now?'
`That is for you to decide, sir.'
Ì suppose we ought to send you back to school.' `Without wishing to appear boastful, I think I should be of more use out here, sir.'
The major smiled. 'Algebra would seem a bit dull after what you have been doing, no doubt,' he remarked. Then his manner became serious again. `Now look here, young man; this escapade of yours has given General Headquarters—and the squadron for that matter—a lot of trouble. In the circumstances there is only one thing we can do. We cannot have civilians walking about in uniform, so you have both been given commissions in the field. Your names will both appear in to-morrow's Gazette, and to save your skins, in case either of you is ever caught by the enemy, your commissions have been antedated from the day you joined the squadron. Which means that you have both been officers since that day. That being so, the recommendation for the Military Cross has been allowed to stand.'
Thirty could hardly believe his ears. 'Well, that's frightfully good of you, sir,' he stammered. 'You may
be sure I shall—both of us will, in fact—try to live up to it.'
Ìf you go on as you have started we shall be satisfied.' The major smiled and held out his hand. He turned to Forty. 'You'd better keep an eye on this young brother of yours,'
he said. 'I've spoken to Major Mullen about it; he says you can stay here in 266 if you like. Either that or you can take him with you to your old squadron.'
Ì'm not going to leave Biggles,' announced Thirty, firmly.
`Well, talk it over,' smiled the major, making for the door. 'Oh, by the way, that dinner to-night is still on. Half-past seven, sharp.'
The C.O. accompanied the major to the door. For a moment or two they stood outside, conversing in low tones, before Major Raymond broke off and turned back to the office. '
Oh, there is one more thing I must tell that young rascal —' He stopped abruptly. 'Well,'
he exclaimed, 'what do you think about that?' He raised his finger and pointed.
Thirty was slumped down in the C.O.'s chair. His eyes were closed. From his lips and nose issued a sound of deep, regular breathing. He was, in fact, fast asleep.
Major Raymond regarded him for a moment in silence. Then, 'In your chair, too, Mullen,'
he said in a low voice. 'It looks to me as if it might be a case of coming events casting their shadows before.'
`There are more unlikely things than that,' said Biggles softly. 'Fetch a stretcher, Algy; let's put him to bed. In fact, I think it's about time we all had a spot of sleep.'
With which suggestion the others agreed.
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