diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 06:33:00 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 06:33:00 -0800 |
| commit | 9d36a930a63e818198960840df188278d8ad8771 (patch) | |
| tree | d42416e74e290235363b7311fb21d6ae88fafa42 | |
| parent | 379cb145d6b7b38eaad18fdd56d5d4dde879d193 (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50960-h.zip | bin | 194435 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50960-h/50960-h.htm | 5962 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50960-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 81254 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50960.txt | 5859 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50960.zip | bin | 110550 -> 0 bytes |
8 files changed, 17 insertions, 11821 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..47e2a4f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50960 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50960) diff --git a/old/50960-h.zip b/old/50960-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index eb263bf..0000000 --- a/old/50960-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50960-h/50960-h.htm b/old/50960-h/50960-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index f977fa4..0000000 --- a/old/50960-h/50960-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5962 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dave Dawson on Convoy Patrol, by R. Sidney Bowen. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - -.ph5 { text-align: right; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph5 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Dave Dawson on Convoy Patrol, by R. Sidney Bowen - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Dave Dawson on Convoy Patrol - -Author: R. Sidney Bowen - -Release Date: January 18, 2016 [EBook #50960] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON ON CONVOY PATROL *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>DAVE DAWSON ON CONVOY PATROL</h1> - -<p>By R. SIDNEY BOWEN</p> - -<p>THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY<br /> -AKRON, OHIO<br /> -NEW YORK</p> - - -<p>COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY CROWN PUBLISHERS</p> - -<p>PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any evidence<br /> -that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3">CONTENTS</p> - - - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_ONE">I</a></td><td align="left"> SECRET ORDERS</td><td align="right"> 11</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_TWO">II</a></td><td align="left"> DAREDEVIL WINGS</td><td align="right"> 22</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_THREE">III</a></td><td align="left"> SATAN'S AGENT</td><td align="right"> 34</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FOUR">IV</a></td><td align="left"> ATLANTIC FURY</td><td align="right"> 47</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FIVE">V</a></td><td align="left"> MYSTERY WINGS</td><td align="right"> 57</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SIX">VI</a></td><td align="left"> THE DEAD DON'T FLY</td><td align="right"> 75</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SEVEN">VII</a></td><td align="left"> MISSING WINGS</td><td align="right"> 86</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_EIGHT">VIII</a></td><td align="left"> PILOT'S LUCK</td><td align="right"> 99</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_NINE">IX</a></td><td align="left"> VULTURE EYES</td><td align="right"> 116</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_TEN">X</a></td><td align="left"> ENGLAND'S PRAYER</td><td align="right"> 129</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_ELEVEN">XI</a></td><td align="left"> DEATH IN THE DARK</td><td align="right"> 144</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_TWELVE">XII</a></td><td align="left"> THE MIDNIGHT PHANTOM</td><td align="right"> 158</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_THIRTEEN">XIII</a></td><td align="left"> SATAN FLIES WEST</td><td align="right"> 172</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FOURTEEN">XIV</a></td><td align="left"> SKY DOOM</td><td align="right"> 188</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FIFTEEN">XV</a></td><td align="left"> HIGH ADVENTURE</td><td align="right"> 205</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SIXTEEN">XVI</a></td><td align="left"> ATLANTIC MADNESS</td><td align="right"> 218</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN">XVII</a></td><td align="left"> WINGS OF VICTORY</td><td align="right"> 229</td></tr> -</table></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ONE" id="CHAPTER_ONE">CHAPTER ONE</a><br /> -<small><i>Secret Orders</i></small></h2> - - -<p>The savage fury of the Nazi Luftwaffe was once again raining down -upon the brave and stubborn city of London. Wave after wave of German -bombers roared in over the city from every possible direction, dumped -their tons of life blasting missiles, and then went streaking away -toward safety with British searchlights, anti-aircraft shells, and -night flying Spitfires and Hurricanes of the R.A.F. hot on their tails. -Some made it, but some others were caught by the two fisted hard -fighting boys of the R.A.F., and once caught the Nazis didn't stand a -chance against such flying skill, daring, and perfect marksmanship. -One after another the German planes burst into flame and went hurtling -downward to complete destruction.</p> - -<p>Down on the ground in the city, London's millions squared their -shoulders and grimly took the terrific blasting from the night skies. -Air raid wardens went about their jobs with a look on their haggard -faces that told the whole world that a thousand such raids as this one -would not even begin to crack England apart. The gallant fire fighters -went about their dangerous tasks with the same expression on their -faces, and the same confident belief in their hearts that England would -forever survive. In the air raid shelters it was the same. In hotels, -too, and apartment buildings, and restaurants, and theatres. All London -was one huge fortress that nothing made by man or devil could destroy. -And in that fortress the men, the women, and the children stood ready -and waiting to take the worst unflinching.</p> - -<p>In the basement restaurant of the Savoy Hotel were two youths who ate -their meal outwardly calm, but seethed inwardly as the faint dull boom -of each exploding bomb echoed through the thick walls and ceiling. -Both wore the uniform of the Royal Air Force, and both held the rank -of Flying Officer which is equal to the rank of First Lieutenant in -the U.S. Army Air Corps. One was Dave Dawson, American born, but now -offering his life and his all in serving England's cause. The other -youth, a year younger, was Freddy Farmer, Dave's dearest friend and -squadron pal, and true British from the soles of his shoes all the way -up to the top of his head.</p> - -<p>For several moments they had been eating in silence, each contentedly -occupied with his own thoughts. But as a louder roar seeped down into -the room, Dave put down his fork and clenched both fists in a gesture -of raging helplessness.</p> - -<p>"I can't eat any more," he said. "Every bite chokes in my throat, I -feel such a heel."</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer put down his own fork and gave a slight lift of his head -to indicate altitude.</p> - -<p>"Because of the business up there, you mean?" he grunted.</p> - -<p>"Yes," Dave replied through clenched teeth. "I feel that I should be up -there helping the boys dust off the baby killing rats, instead of being -down here shoveling food into my mouth."</p> - -<p>"Feel exactly the same way," Freddy agreed. "But, after all, there's no -sense wasting good food, you know. Blessed little of it around these -days. Besides, orders are orders. We have to stick right here. So I say -eat while the eating is good."</p> - -<p>Dave grinned and heaved a long sigh.</p> - -<p>"You and that stomach of yours!" he exclaimed. "It's a darn good thing -they've got the ration card system here. Let you loose and you'd have -the rest of the country starving in a week. And when you're not eating -you're sleeping. What a man, what a man!"</p> - -<p>The young English youth forced a stern look to his face. He pointed a -finger at the blue and white Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon under -the wings on Dawson's tunic.</p> - -<p>"Watch your tongue, my good fellow!" he said. "One more crack like that -last one and I'll go straight to the Air Ministry and tell them the -truth. Quite right! I'll tell them you didn't do a blessed thing to win -that ribbon. That I did all the work, but simply said that you helped a -little so's you could get a medal, too. And frankly, that's really the -way it was, you know."</p> - -<p>Dave grinned then put up his hands in mock terror.</p> - -<p>"Please don't!" he pleaded. "Now that I've got it I want to keep the -medal. So help me, you spill a word and I'll tell them how you were -always falling on your face in the sand, and that I had to carry you -halfway across the Libyan Desert on my back."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> - -<p>"Oh is that so!" Freddy cried. "Well, you didn't carry me a single -yard, and you know it. In fact, I...."</p> - -<p>The thunder of a Nazi "egg" striking much much too close for comfort -cut off the rest of Freddy's words. They both stiffened slightly, and -sat perfectly motionless half expecting to see the ceiling split open -and spill plaster and brick down upon them. However, the ceiling was -thick and well constructed, and after a brief moment or so the building -stopped shaking and trembling. The two youths instantly relaxed but -there was hot anger in their eyes.</p> - -<p>"Bang away, Adolf!" Dave grated softly. "For every one you drop we'll -be dropping two on your neck of the woods soon. And that'll be only the -beginning."</p> - -<p>"Check!" Freddy breathed fiercely. "And when that time comes I think -I'll ask for a transfer from fighters to bombers. I'd love to dump -bombs on Berlin."</p> - -<p>"Me, too," Dave agreed absently. Then as a frown creased his brows, -"What do you make of it, Freddy? You got any ideas? Boy, if anybody can -send a fellow's curiosity sky high it's those Brass Hats who run the -Air Ministry!"</p> - -<p>"Meaning what?" Freddy asked with a blank look on his face. "Have I got -any ideas about what?"</p> - -<p>"For you I should draw pictures on paper!" Dave groaned. "What do you -think I mean? Why were we suddenly recalled from service with the Fleet -Air Arm in the Mediterranean back here to England? Why have we been -skipping all over England flying everything from kites to four engined -transports? And why when we're only back with our old Fighter Squadron -for a day do we suddenly receive mysterious orders to come here to -London, and take rooms in this hotel, and stick here day and night -until we receive further orders? Answer me those, my pal!"</p> - -<p>"Simple," Freddy said with a straight face. "Air Ministry just can't -believe that a chap like you can actually fly an airplane. But before -kicking you out they decided to give you one last chance to prove it. -Right now you are waiting for them to decide whether to keep you on, or -kick you back to Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. But don't lose heart, my -little man, you may...."</p> - -<p>"Nuts!" Dave snorted. "You were with me, pal, and...."</p> - -<p>"And I was simply along to check and make a personal report on your -flying ability," the English youth interrupted in an easy voice. "And -if you must know, I said that you weren't too bad. A little ragged on -the turns, but that you usually do manage to get into a field after -shooting for it five or six times."</p> - -<p>"Then everything will be jake!" Dave breathed in mock relief. "But now -that you've got that side splitting humor off your chest, get over on -the sane and intelligent side for a change. What do you think it's all -about anyway?"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer didn't say anything for a minute or so. He stared -thoughtfully down at the last piece of meat. He nudged it a couple of -times with his fork, then presently speared it and put it into his -mouth.</p> - -<p>"Next week'll be okay!" Dave growled. "There's no hurry."</p> - -<p>"We English never talk with food in our mouths," Freddy said after he -had swallowed. "But what do I think? Frankly, nothing, Dave."</p> - -<p>"Well, that's acting natural, for you," the Yank born R.A.F. ace said -with a grin. "But I had hoped that a bright idea or two had wormed -into that thick skull of yours. At least, that you might have heard -a hint dropped here and there. After all, Freddy, it all seems so -screwy. Look, a little over five weeks ago we were doing daily patrols -off an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. Since then we've flown -everything they've got over here on this island, but not once have we -had the chance to take a crack at a German ship. Holy smoke! What are -they trying to make out of us? Test pilots, or something? I asked a -million questions, but I always got a sweet little blank for an answer. -And between you, me, and that dab of mashed potato on your chin, I -don't think the birds I asked knew the answers either."</p> - -<p>"Now that you've confessed," Freddy said and automatically wiped -his chin with his napkin, "I might as well admit that I asked a few -questions, myself. And like you, got nothing for an answer. No, Dave, -I'm afraid I can't help you at all. I'm practically passing out with -curiosity, myself. It's been a queer business these last five weeks, -and no doubt about it. All that I can even guess at is that Adastral -House has something up its sleeve. And we'll not find out until they're -darn good and ready to tell us."</p> - -<p>"It's always like that," Dave grumbled. "Gee, sitting here is driving -me bats. For two cents I'd go out and take a walk, and the heck with -the bombs. But I...."</p> - -<p>Dave cut himself off short as he suddenly became conscious of the -waiter standing at his elbow. He looked up.</p> - -<p>"Yes?" he grunted.</p> - -<p>"Beg pardon, sir," the waiter said, "but would you two gentlemen be -Flying Officers Dawson and Farmer?"</p> - -<p>"Right," Dave said with a nod. "I'm Dawson."</p> - -<p>The waiter held out a folded slip of paper.</p> - -<p>"A phone call just received, sir," he said. "The party at the other end -said that either of you two gentlemen was to call this number at once. -It took a moment or two to find you. The manager thought you might be -in your rooms. He tried there first."</p> - -<p>As the waiter spoke the last he gave the pair a look that seemed to -say that men in uniform shouldn't scurry down to the basement just on -account of a mere bomb raid.</p> - -<p>"We would be, but we're hungry," Freddy Farmer said quietly.</p> - -<p>"Yes, of course, sir," the waiter said as his face got beet red. Then -he hastily shoved the paper into Dave Dawson's hand and hurried away.</p> - -<p>Dave unfolded the paper and looked at the phone number. It was a London -exchange but the number was completely unfamiliar. He handed the paper -to Freddy.</p> - -<p>"Any of your girl friends know you're here?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Freddy glanced at the number, himself, and shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Clear as mud to me," he said. "I haven't the faintest idea. But we'd -better call it before a Jerry bomb flattens the telephone company. -There's a booth over there. You want to call it?"</p> - -<p>"And maybe get one of your girls?" Dave chuckled and shook his head. -"And you tell her it was your valet? Nix, pal. You go call her. I'll -stand outside and make faces. Boy! Love in an air raid. Now ain't that -something!"</p> - -<p>Freddy blushed slightly but made no return comment. They got up and -crossed the dining room to the phone booth built into the wall. The -young Englishman stepped inside, closed the door, and put through the -call. Dave watching him say his eyes pop, and his jaw drop, and the -light of eager excitement leap into his eyes. In less than a minute -Freddy was out of the booth and as breathless as though he had just run -a couple of miles at top speed.</p> - -<p>"Guess what?" he gasped.</p> - -<p>"You just tell me instead," Dave said. "What's up? An armistice been -signed?"</p> - -<p>"That was an Air Ministry number, Dave!" Freddy breathed. "As soon as -the All-Clear sounds you and I are to report to Room Five Hundred, -Fifth Floor, Air Ministry!"</p> - -<p>"No kidding?" Dave echoed as the familiar tingling sensation came to -the back of his neck. An eerie tingling that had always proved in the -past to be an advance warning of action and danger just ahead. "Who has -Room Five Hundred?"</p> - -<p>"The chap who talked to me on the phone just now," Freddy said. "None -other than Air Marshal Manners!"</p> - -<p>"Manners?" Dave gasped. "The man who led the R.A.F. at Dunkirk? Hey, -wait a minute! Before we went out for service with the Fleet Air Arm in -the Middle East I heard some kind of a rumor that he was going to be -put in charge of something very big, and very hush-hush. Boy, oh boy! -Do you think, Freddy?"</p> - -<p>"I'm not thinking," Freddy said and fished in his pocket for money to -pay for his meal. "I'm heading for Adastral House right now."</p> - -<p>"You mean you're following me!" Dave cried and bolted from the dining -room.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWO" id="CHAPTER_TWO">CHAPTER TWO</a><br /> -<small><i>Daredevil Wings</i></small></h2> - - -<p>As Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer stepped through the door of Room Five -Hundred on the Fifth Floor of the Air Ministry their first impression -was that they were stepping into a concert hall, and that the place was -almost filled up. The room was huge, tremendous in size, and at least -thirty or forty men in R.A.F. uniform were seated in chairs. At the far -end Air Marshal Manners, the R.A.F. hero of Dunkirk, sat at a table on -a small raised platform.</p> - -<p>"Name, rank, and papers, please!"</p> - -<p>Dave stopped short and jerked his head around to stare into the -inquiring eyes of a Staff Sergeant. The non-com held a sheet of paper -in one hand, and a pencil in the other.</p> - -<p>"Must make sure you're supposed to be here, you know," he said as Dave -continued to stare.</p> - -<p>"Oh sure, sorry," Dave grinned, snapping out of his trance. "Flying -Officer Dawson, Former Flight Squadron Two-ten. Here's my pass and -papers."</p> - -<p>The Staff Sergeant checked the papers with what was on the sheet he -held in his hand. Then he gave Dave a searching look and nodded.</p> - -<p>"Check, sir," he said. "Take any seat."</p> - -<p>Dave put his papers back in his pocket, and waited for Freddy to pass -examination. Then they walked farther into the room and found a couple -of vacant chairs. For some ten or fifteen minutes they just sat there -looking around and wondering what was up. They were not alone in -wondering either. They could tell that all of the others were as much -in the dark as they were. One thing struck an important and intriguing -note, however. Both of them saw many faces they had seen during the -last month flying off at least fifty different airdromes about England -in as many different types of planes. It wasn't until then that it -dawned on them that they had not been the only ones to take that -unusual and mysterious advanced flying course.</p> - -<p>And then when general curiosity was just about ready to burst wide open -like an exploding bomb, Air Marshal Manners stood up, rapped on the -table and grinned down into the sea of faces.</p> - -<p>"All right, chaps," he said. "I guess we can get on with it. Relax, -all of you. Smoke if you wish. I know this must look like some blasted -school room, but it isn't. I decided this was the best place to get you -all together, so that was that."</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal paused, cleared his throat, and took a perch on a -corner of the table. Then for a moment or two he let his wide set steel -blue eyes roam from face to face. As Dave locked looks with the famous -ace he had the sudden impression that Manners was looking straight into -his brain and reading all that was there.</p> - -<p>"In case you don't know," the Air Marshal spoke again, "I hate blasted -speech making. So don't expect anything polished from me. And if what I -say doesn't make sense, don't hesitate to interrupt me with questions. -First, though, I've got to ask you a question. And, lads, don't try -to be heroes. Everybody is a hero in this confounded mess. It doesn't -mean a thing. Find the answer to what I ask deep down inside of you. -Be honest with yourself, and with me. Now, here's the question. Is -there any one here who would rather return to his squadron for regular -service in place of accepting assignments that may call for service and -performance far beyond the ordinary call of duty? Think it over, chaps, -and if you would prefer to return to your squadron and your pals it -will be perfectly all right. It will mean nothing to me one way or the -other. And I will give you my word on that."</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal stopped talking and a pin dropping silence settled -over the room. If anybody actually debated whether to return to his -squadron, or remain, nobody else realized it. Every pair of eyes was -fixed steadfastly on Air Marshal Manners' face. And every pair of lips -remained still for two long minutes. It was the Air Ministry high -ranker who finally broke the silence. He grinned and made a little -gesture with one hand.</p> - -<p>"Knew perfectly well it would be a waste of breath to ask it," he said. -"Okay, right you are, then. We're all in it together, come what may. -Now, you don't have to tell me you've been close to blowing your top -with curiosity these last few weeks. I can see it in your faces right -now. Well, I'll put an end to the mystery. A few weeks ago I was put -in charge of what is to be known as the Emergency Command. In simple -language the Emergency Command is to be made up of proven pilots who -can fly anything, at any time, and at any place. That's why you chaps -have been buzzing from drome to drome these last few weeks. I made a -list of a hundred pilots I'd like to have in my Command. Those pilots -were sent through the special training courses. And you thirty-five -lads qualified for service in the Emergency Command. And by the way, -congratulations to each and every one of you. You all proved you have -the kind of stuff I'm going to need."</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal paused for breath and to grin at the sea of eager faces -before him. The pilots grinned back, and in the breast of each was the -tingling warmth that comes with the knowledge of having accomplished -something above the ordinary.</p> - -<p>"And now to get down to serious business," the famous ace of Dunkirk -said in a grave tone. "The jobs you'll get will be tough ones. All of -them. I fancy that no two jobs will be the same. You'll be flying one -type of ship one day, and another type the next. Maybe one day you'll -go on a special Berlin bomb raid. And perhaps when you return ... if -you do ... you'll be assigned the task of ferrying War Office officials -to Canada, or goodness knows where. In case you're wondering just why -such a Command should be formed, just give a thought or two to the -name. That's the whole explanation. An Emergency Command. Pilots ready -to do any kind of a job at a moment's notice. A suicide command, if -you like. The point is, though, you will not act as a unit. You'll be -assigned to a number of established squadrons, but your job there will -be special, and you will follow my orders as given you through the O.C. -of the squadron to which you happen to be assigned at the time. All -clear up to now?"</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners paused again and ran his eyes over the group. Heads -nodded and the murmur of assent passed from lip to lip. He grinned and -heaved a sigh of mock relief.</p> - -<p>"Well, so much for that, then," he said. "Now, something else. The -Emergency Command is to be something that is very hush-hush, and for -very good reason, I think. Because of your work you will soon learn -many, many important secrets about R.A.F. operation. Adolf's little -Intelligence and Gestapo boys would love to find out some of those -things themselves. So to check any attempt on their part to find out, -the identity of you chaps is going to remain a secret. By that, I mean -that on the records you will join a squadron as a replacement, and only -the O.C. of that squadron will know that you are there for a certain -purpose. And when you leave it will go in the records as a routine -transfer or some other suitable explanation. So naturally you lads have -got to live up to it all the time. Act the part of a replacement, and -don't say a thing to anybody.</p> - -<p>"And now, thank heavens, I come to the last part of this speech making. -Here on this table are thirty-five sealed envelopes. In each envelop is -the number of an R.A.F. squadron, the name of its O.C., and its present -location. As all of you have qualified for any kind of a job there is -no sense in my designating a certain job for a certain chap. In short, -you'll pick your first assignment blind. Some assignments are solo, -meaning that you'll go alone. And some will be for two of three of you -chaps. It all depends. So step up here and each of you take an envelop. -However, don't open it at once. I've got a few more words to say first. -Right-o. Step up, all of you."</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal finished the sentence with a gesture of his hand-toward -the table. There was a shuffling of feet as the pilots stood up and -walked towards the table on the raised platform. Dave turned his head -to look at Freddy, and in his pal's eyes he read the same thought that -was in his own brain. Was this night to see them split up? To see them -sent to opposite ends of the British Isles? Perhaps to opposite ends -of the earth? It was a thought that cut deep, and though each forced a -cheery grin to his lips there was the beginning of a dull ache of dread -and fear in his heart.</p> - -<p>"I've got my fingers crossed, if you know what I mean," Dave whispered -out the corner of his mouth.</p> - -<p>"I've had mine crossed since we came in," Freddy replied. "Had a -feeling that something like this might pop up. Luck, Dave, old boy!"</p> - -<p>"Luck to us both!" Dave breathed fervently and took his place in the -line that was forming.</p> - -<p>Some ten minutes later each pilot held a sealed envelop in his hands, -and he held it as gingerly as though it were a delayed action bomb that -might go off any second. Air Marshal Manners crushed out the cigarette -he was smoking and faced them again.</p> - -<p>"More rubbish talk, chaps," he said, "but I owe it to you and to myself -to give you all a fair chance. Don't take what I say lightly. This -is serious business. Mighty serious. Maybe half of you will be dead -by this time tomorrow night. There is no telling. When you open your -envelopes you'll jolly well be thumbing your nose at death. The odds -will be all against you. That's why I had to pick the best I could -find. Pilots with all around ability, courage, and fighting spirit. -The Emergency Command, and just that. Pilots who have the choice of -two things. Doing the well nigh impossible, or getting a wooden cross. -And so, if any of you want to change your minds now, go ahead. It will -still be perfectly all right with me."</p> - -<p>As Air Marshal Manners spoke the last he looked at each man in turn, -and his eyes repeated sincerely what his lips had just said. Nobody -made a single move. Not a pilot so much as licked his lips as though to -say something. Thirty-five steel clawed birdmen of the R.A.F. stared -him right back in the eye, and waited.</p> - -<p>"God bless you all," the famous ace said softly. "Right-o. Open your -sealed assignments. Orders as to what you are to do will be awaiting -you at the Squadron you join."</p> - -<p>Almost before the Air Marshal had finished the room was filled with the -crackling sound of sealed envelopes being ripped open. However, neither -Freddy nor Dave opened theirs at once. Invisible hands seemed to stay -them, and they looked once more at each other. For some crazy reason -Dave's throat choked up, and for a moment Freddy's face became a sort -of a blur. It was clear again in his vision almost instantly, however. -He grinned and shrugged.</p> - -<p>"Well, it's got to be done, and so here goes," he said.</p> - -<p>With that he ripped open his envelop, and drew out the card inside. The -few words were printed by typewriter, and read:</p> - -<p class="ph4">Squadron No. 74,<br /> -Coastal Command,<br /> -Squadron Leader Hays,<br /> -Plymouth, England.</p> - -<p>Dave stared at the printed words, and was almost afraid to raise his -eyes and look at Freddy. He heard the ripping sound that the English -youth made. And then there was a moment of silence as Freddy read of -his own assignment. Then suddenly both acted as though by silent and -mutual agreement. They stepped close and placed their cards side by -side. The whole world seemed to stand still as they stared at each -other's cards. A moment later unconfined joy filled their hearts, for -the printing on the cards was identical.</p> - -<p>"Boy, do I feel ninety years younger!" Dave finally breathed.</p> - -<p>"That's putting it mildly," Freddy echoed in a voice choked with -emotion. "Phew! I feel like I had just died a thousand times, and come -to life again. Wonder if any other chaps are going to Coastal Command?"</p> - -<p>A few minutes later they found that they were the only two assigned to -the Coastal Command Squadron stationed at Plymouth. And just before -they left to head for their new station Air Marshal Manners drew them -to one side.</p> - -<p>"You're either lucky, or mighty <i>un</i>lucky, lads," he said. "I wondered -what two would get that assignment. The toughest of the lot, in my -opinion. Means everything to England. Everything. But that's all I've -got to say, now. Good luck, you two. And happy landings!"</p> - -<p>The famous ace of Dunkirk gripped them both hard by the hand, then -abruptly turned on his heel and walked away. Dave and Freddy looked -at each other, but neither spoke. There was no need to speak. Each -knew what the other was thinking, for he was thinking the same thing. -High adventure and furious action awaited them just ahead. And perhaps -death, too. But what they did about it would mean everything to -England. Air Marshal Manners had said so. And knowing the man and his -reputation for abrupt frankness they realized that he had not purposely -painted the picture black. He had told them straight from the shoulder, -and he had meant every word he said. England was counting on them, and -there could be no such thing as failure. Not even in death.</p> - -<p>"Well, what are we waiting for?" Dave finally grunted. "Let's go!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THREE" id="CHAPTER_THREE">CHAPTER THREE</a><br /> -<small><i>Satan's Agent</i></small></h2> - - -<p>All Nazi bombing aircraft had gone scurrying back across the Channel to -their funk holes in Occupied France, and a new dawn was sliding up out -of the east as the train bearing Dave and Freddy raced along the track -toward the great British naval base at Plymouth on the south coast. -By a bit of luck they had managed to get an apartment to themselves. -And as soon as the train had pulled out of the London station they had -stretched out on the seats with the idea of getting in as much sleep as -possible before tearing into the mysterious task that lay ahead of them.</p> - -<p>Their intentions and their efforts were fine, but that's about as far -as things went. Sleep completely ignored and abandoned them. There was -too much in their brains, and in their hearts to permit sleep a single -chance to take charge. And so after an hour they both gave it up, sat -up, and switched on the dome light in the car ceiling.</p> - -<p>"Boy, that did me a world of good!" Dave breathed and rubbed knuckles -in his eyes. "Feel like a new man, and rarin' to go."</p> - -<p>"Liar, you didn't sleep a wink," Freddy said scornfully.</p> - -<p>"Yeah?" Dave shot at him. "Who says so?"</p> - -<p>"I do!" Freddy shot back. "I was awake every second of the time, and I -didn't hear a thing."</p> - -<p>"Hear a thing?" Dave questioned without thinking. "What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"You," Freddy said. "When you sleep you snore loud enough to shatter -windows. And there was hardly a murmur out of you."</p> - -<p>"Ouch!" Dave yelped. "Strike three on me! I sure walked right into that -one. Okay, I was kidding. I didn't get in a wink, either. Boy, if you -must know, this suspense is wearing me down."</p> - -<p>"Practically exhausted, I am," Freddy murmured. "Coastal Command, eh? I -guess that means those Yank built Consolidated "Catalina" flyingboats."</p> - -<p>"Or maybe those big four engined British Short "Sunderland" flying -boats," Dave added in a speculative manner. "Well, either one suits me. -Both are tip-top crates. But that means patrolling over coastal waters -hunting for submarines. Heck, unless the bus falls apart and you drop -into the drink I can't see much danger in that kind of work."</p> - -<p>"Neither can I," Freddy said. Then thoughtfully rubbing the palms of -his hands together, "Somehow, though, I have the hunch that it's going -to be a bit more than tootling a flyingboat around from here to there -and back again. The way Manners said happy landings to us makes.... -Well, the way he said it made me sort of feel my stomach was suddenly -filled with cracked ice. You know, sort of cold and shivery?"</p> - -<p>"Right on the nose!" Dave said and nodded vigorously. "And there was a -look in his eye, too. Gave me the feeling he knew darn well he'd never -see us again."</p> - -<p>"What a pleasant thought!" Freddy groaned. "I say, let's talk about -something else. Any more of this and I swear I'll leap off the train -and walk back."</p> - -<p>"That will be the day, when Freddy Farmer back-tracks on anything!" -Dave said with a chuckle. "But maybe it's best to talk of other -things. After all, in this game talking about the unknown doesn't help -at all. Like other jobs we've had, we've just simply got to take this -one in stride as it comes along. And let it go like that."</p> - -<p>"Oh quite," Freddy murmured. Then wistfully, "But I'd still jolly well -like to know what we're going up against."</p> - -<p>"You'll find out, and soon!" Dave said. "Right now, skip it. Tell me. -What do you think of the Dodgers' chances to cop the flag this year?"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer sat up a bit, blinked, and looked blank.</p> - -<p>"Eh?" he echoed. "Dodgers? What country is that, and who are they -fighting? I don't believe I ever heard...."</p> - -<p>The English youth cut himself off short as Dave rolled over on the seat -and collapsed with laughter. Then before Freddy could draw in breath to -demand an explanation, the compartment door was rolled aside and a tall -moon faced youth in the uniform of an R.A.F. flying officer stood in -the doorway. Dave cut short his laughter, and both looked up into the -grinning face of the man in the doorway.</p> - -<p>"Am I interrupting something, chaps?" he asked in a north of England -accent. "Just passing as I heard the outburst of humor, and saw -you were R.A.F., too. Name's Steffins. Heading for Coastal Command, -Plymouth."</p> - -<p>"Come in, come in, Steffins," Dave said and moved over to make a place. -"I'm Dawson, and my son, here, is named Freddy Farmer. Don't pay any -attention to those wings and D.F.C. ribbon on his tunic. He stole them."</p> - -<p>"All lies, Steffins," Freddy said, extending his hand. "The truth is, -Dawson's really wearing my extra tunic. Likes to put on a show, you -know. Look, Dave, have you cleaned those field boots of mine, yet? And -don't forget to change back into your corporal's uniform before we -reach Plymouth."</p> - -<p>"Oh, you chaps going to Plymouth, too?" Steffins asked in a delighted -tone. "By any chance is it Seventy-Four, Coastal Command? That's where -I'm headed. Been up north on Lockheed Hudsons for the last two months. -Got dropped in the water twice."</p> - -<p>"Yeah, we're heading for Seventy-Four, too," Dave said. "We were -in Sixty-Two on the west coast. Catalinas. What do they fly in -Seventy-Four, anyway? Do you know?"</p> - -<p>Dave wasn't sure but he got the impression that Steffins flashed him a -searching, puzzled look. It was gone in an instant, however.</p> - -<p>"Most everything, so I've been told," he said, "I say, you're a Yank, -aren't you?"</p> - -<p>"R.A.F. for the duration, anyway," Dave replied with a nod. "What was -your Lockheed squadron? I know some chaps on Lockheeds up North."</p> - -<p>Steffins seemed to hesitate, but perhaps it was only to draw air into -his lungs.</p> - -<p>"Squadron One Hundred and Twenty," he said. "A fairly new outfit. -Squadron Leader Clancy was O.C. But I'm keen to get to Plymouth. Never -been there before. And I'm blasted sick of the North Sea, I can tell -you. Funny thing, though, about leaving my old squadron. Thought I was -set there for good. Then suddenly yesterday the O.C. told me I had been -assigned to Seventy-Four at Plymouth. Seemed to hint it was special -duty, or something. Wouldn't say a thing, though. Just gave me my -traveling papers, and such, and sent me off."</p> - -<p>A suddenly liking for Steffins shot through Dave Dawson. Perhaps the -lad was on the same kind of a mission as he and Freddy. He started -to open his mouth to speak, but at that instant he happened to catch -Freddy's eye. The English youth gave a hair width shake of his head, -and said the rest in a look. Dave closed his mouth and started again.</p> - -<p>"It wasn't like that with us," he lied. "Freddy and I asked for a -transfer. Change of scenery, and all that kind of stuff. I guess -there's more action off the south coast anyway. For the last two weeks -we didn't do anything but use up gas and oil. I hope...."</p> - -<p>At that moment all three of them heard the ungodly wail of a plane -coming down in an all out power dive. It was not the wail but the sound -of the plane's engine that brought them to their feet and diving for -the compartment windows. It was not the steady beat of a British or an -American engine. It was the throbbing pulsating roar of a German made -engine. In fact, the unsynchronized throb of two engines. Even as they -reached the window and stared up into the dawn sky they saw that the -plane was a long range Nazi Focke-Wulf 187 destroyer plane. The craft -was low down and racing in toward the moving train. An instant later -the savage yammer of machine gun fire sounded above the beat of the -engines.</p> - -<p>"Strafing us!" Dave shouted unconsciously. "Why, that tramp! Do I wish -I was in a Spitfire or a Hurricane! I'd soon...."</p> - -<p>Dave stopped short, half turned and saw Steffins striving frantically -to crawl under one of the seats. The man's face was paper white and he -was biting into his lower lip hard. Another yammering burst from the -strafing plane and jerked Dave's eyes back to the window. He started -to duck himself but checked it as he saw that the pilot of the plane -seemed to be concentrating on the rear car of the train. He looked at -Freddy and saw the veiled contempt in the English youth's eyes. Freddy -half jerked a thumb at Steffins still trying to crawl under the seat, -and shrugged.</p> - -<p>Dave laughed, and called out to Steffins.</p> - -<p>"Give it up, Steffins! Those things are bolted to the floor. Besides, -the lug isn't shooting our way."</p> - -<p>"And also he has gone on his merry way!" Freddy said, turning away from -the window. "The blighter just thought he'd have a bit of murdering -sport on the way home. If I was in my old Hurricane he'd jolly well get -a bellyful of his kind of sport."</p> - -<p>Very red of face and twice as sheepish looking, Steffins stopped trying -to crawl through bolted wood, and got up onto his feet. He gave Freddy -a hard stare, then smiled slowly.</p> - -<p>"Sorry I made such a fool of myself," he said with an effort. "Truth -is, though, I got peppered a bit by one of those lads back in the -September show. Turns my blood cold every time I hear one of the -beggars come down. Well, I guess I'd better buzz back to my compartment -and get my stuff together. Must be getting near there, now. Nice to -meet you two. Hope we see a lot of each other."</p> - -<p>"Sure, I guess we will, Steffins," Dave said pleasantly.</p> - -<p>"Right you are," Freddy murmured as the pilot slid through the door and -closed it shut.</p> - -<p>"A nice guy to have around in the clutch," Dave grunted when he and -Freddy were alone. "Ask me and I'll tell you the guy is yellow. Hey, -why the heavy scowl, pal? What's suddenly on that thing you call a -mind?"</p> - -<p>"Your nice little friend," Freddy said with a jerk of his head toward -the door. "It doesn't quite check. The lad is a bit queer, I'd say."</p> - -<p>The opening was too perfect for Dave to let it slip by unnoticed.</p> - -<p>"What Englishman isn't?" he cracked.</p> - -<p>"I'll remember that one," Freddy growled. Then grave of face, "No, -serious, Dave. I wish the devil the lad hadn't come in here. I'd -feel better right now. I think I've seen him someplace before, but -blessed if I can remember where. And the beggar lied to us, unless I'm -completely wrong on my R.A.F. squadrons."</p> - -<p>Dave started another smart remark but cut it off at the look on -Freddy's face. He hitched forward a bit on the edge of the seat.</p> - -<p>"How come?" he asked. "What are you driving at? I didn't notice -anything unusual, but I really wasn't listening very hard. What do you -mean?"</p> - -<p>"A friend of mine <i>used</i> to be in One-Twenty Lockheed Hudsons," Freddy -said with meaningful emphasis. "I ran into him a couple of weeks ago, -when you and I were at Hull for that spell. He told me then that -One-Twenty was <i>washed out three months ago</i>. Rather it was hooked up -with One-Thirty-Six and they were doing coastal patrol around the Dover -area."</p> - -<p>"No kidding?" Dave exclaimed. Then with a puzzled frown, "But what was -the point in the guy lying to us? He.... Say, I had a hunch at first -when he came in. Maybe he's on some hush-hush thing like we are."</p> - -<p>"I doubt it, and a lot!" Freddy said tight lipped. "I'm sure the chap -was trying to pump us for all he was worth. Remember that time I shook -my head at you? Well, he was fairly falling over on his face waiting -for you to speak. And the way he tried to crawl under the seat! No, -the lad has something very queer about him. Blast it! I wish I could -remember where I've seen him before. I.... Wait! Let me think. I -almost had it that time!"</p> - -<p>Freddy scowled hard and pressed both palms against his forehead as -though that would help memory to come back. As Dave watched him the -tingling sensation came to the back of his neck once again. He sat as a -man turned to stone, hardly daring to breathe.</p> - -<p>"Well?" he finally got out after several tormenting minutes dragged by.</p> - -<p>Freddy shook his head, started to gesture for silence with one hand, -and then gasped and sat up straight.</p> - -<p>"Got it, of course!" he cried. "Unless I'm completely balmy."</p> - -<p>"Could be," Dave grunted. "But spill it anyway."</p> - -<p>"Earlier tonight just as we were leaving Adastral House," Freddy said -in a strained voice. "You were ahead of me yelling for that cabby, so -you didn't see. In the blasted blackout I flew full tilt into a chap. -We both went flat. I used my flash to help us both get up. And I got a -look at the other chap's face. Dave, I swear to you that the chap was -this Steffins. I can see his face now as clear as day!"</p> - -<p>"So what?" Dave grunted as a sense of disappointment rippled through -him. "The guy was in London to catch this train, and you just happened -to collide with him in the blackout. Maybe he didn't get a look at your -mug, so didn't recognize you just now."</p> - -<p>"Let me finish!" Freddy snapped angrily. "When I bumped into him -outside Air Ministry <i>he was wearing the uniform of a captain in the -Fifth Londonshire Infantry</i>!"</p> - -<p>"Sweet jumping tripe!" Dave breathed softly. "And he pops up again on -this train wearing an R.A.F. uniform? Heck, Freddy, you must have made -a mistake. It doesn't add up to make sense!"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps it doesn't," Freddy said with a shrug. "But I still don't like -that chap. And what's more, when we get to Plymouth I'm going to make -it my job to find out more about him."</p> - -<p>Dave made no reply. He turned his head and stared absently out the car -window. For reasons he couldn't possibly explain to himself at the -time he suddenly had the feeling that Freddy Farmer had spoken words -of truth. That the English youth had looked into the future, seen what -the war gods were brewing, and spoken an advance warning for them both. -Dave shivered slightly and turned from the window.</p> - -<p>"I wonder what it will be like when peace comes to this cockeyed world -again," he grunted.</p> - -<p>"I wonder how many of us will be around to find out," Freddy murmured -as though talking to himself.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOUR" id="CHAPTER_FOUR">CHAPTER FOUR</a><br /> -<small><i>Atlantic Fury</i></small></h2> - - -<p>With her twin engines thundering out their duet of mighty power, the -American built Consolidated "Catalina" flying boat patrolled back and -forth over the convoy of fifteen merchant ships plowing through the -Atlantic swells toward the southwest coast of England. At the controls -sat Dave Dawson, and at his side in the co-pilot and navigator's seat -was Freddy Farmer. Aft at their respective stations were the three -other members of the plane's crew. For seven long hours the flying -boat had been escorting the convoy through dangerous waters. And every -instant of that time five pairs of R.A.F. eyes had been searching the -waters below for signs of a lurking group of Nazi "steel fish," and -scanning the heavens for the first glimpse of a Nazi air raider winging -out from its base in occupied France.</p> - -<p>Nine solid hours of being constantly on the alert, and not so much as -a single floating hunk of wood sighted. It was as though the Germans -had no idea that valuable cargoes of war material were headed for -England. Or else the presence of the Catalina flying boat and the small -but heavily armed "Corvette" escort freighter leading the convoy made -them decide to leave it alone. At any rate the merchant ships had not -received a single scare, and soon they would be through the danger zone -and unloading their war stuffs at England's docks.</p> - -<p>Taking one hand from the controls, Dave dug knuckles into his tired -eyes and sighed heavily.</p> - -<p>"If this is the British idea of a joke," he growled, "all that I can -say is that it smells out loud."</p> - -<p>"Meaning what?" Freddy asked and made a few final marks on his -navigation charts. "Mad because all those ships down there are going to -get through safely?"</p> - -<p>"Nuts, of course not!" Dave snapped and gave him a scornful side -glance. "And you know darn well what I mean."</p> - -<p>"That's true, I do," Freddy said and scowled out over the nose of the -flying boat's hull. "Certainly is funny. Do you think by chance that -something's gone haywire?"</p> - -<p>"All I know is that <i>I'm</i> getting close to going haywire!" Dave replied -savagely. "For two days now, we've been attached to Seventy-Four -Squadron of the Coastal Command, and what have we done? Nothing but -toot these big babies out over the Atlantic, pick up a merchant convoy, -and toot back with them. Not a sign of a U-boat, not a sign of a Nazi -plane, and.... Heck! Not a sign of anything. And we were two chaps who -were to tackle a do-or-die mission and receive secret orders from our -new O.C. You know, Freddy, I'm beginning to think, it's all a lot of -hog wash. But why Air Marshal Manners should hand out all that fancy -stuff sure beats me."</p> - -<p>"I'm just as much in the dark myself," Freddy grunted. "But somehow -I don't think that it was supposed to be this way. I think that -something went wrong some place, and Manners had to hold up our special -orders. Or perhaps he wanted us to get well acquainted with things. -I mean, make it definitely look as though we were just a couple of -replacements."</p> - -<p>"Maybe so," Dave sighed and stared at the flock of British destroyers -steaming out to take over and lead the convoy into port. "Maybe so, -but I still don't like it. So help me, I doubt I'd be able to recognize -a Nazi plane now if one should fall into my lap. Well, there're the -destroyers, so this trick is over. Send the code signal to Plymouth -Base that we've made contact and are coming in. And tell Sergeant Black -aft that I'll have another slub of that coffee before we go in. And -tell him I mean coffee, <i>not</i> tea!"</p> - -<p>"A regular barbarian, drinking that horrible stuff!" Freddy groaned and -adjusted his radio mike. "I swear, we'll never be able to make you a -real Englishman!"</p> - -<p>"It's still coffee!" Dave said with a grin. "And hurry it along, my -little man."</p> - -<p>A few minutes later the Catalina flyingboat had left the convoy far -behind and safely in the charge of the destroyers. A cup of warm coffee -was in Dave's stomach, and he was almost becoming slightly satisfied -with the world again. Now, if only about forty-'leven Nazi planes would -show up and give them a little action everything would be all to the -merry. No hope of that, though, he reflected gloomily. They were too -near to Base, and any Jerry lad who showed his nose around Plymouth -Base just naturally didn't get back to Germany. The Jerries knew that -and so they stayed well clear of that little bit of England.</p> - -<p>"And what about the great mystery, Dave?" Freddy suddenly spoke up to -break his train of thought. "Do you think we should go to Squadron -Leader Hays and tell him our story?"</p> - -<p>"Meaning your boy friend, Flying Officer Steffins?" Dave echoed with a -frown.</p> - -<p>"None other," the English youth replied. "I told you there was -something queer about that chap. I really think we should speak to -Squadron Leader Hays about him."</p> - -<p>Dave made no comment for a few moments. During these two days at -Plymouth Base he had thought a lot of thoughts about the queer acting -R.A.F. pilot they had met on the train coming down. And the most -important thought was the fact that neither he nor Freddy had so much -as set eyes on the man since the moment he had picked himself up off -the compartment floor after the Nazi plane strafe and gone forward -to his own seat. The man had simply vanished into thin air. He most -certainly had not reported at Plymouth Base. Freddy had made sure of -that by asking all around. As a matter of fact, nobody at Plymouth -Base had even heard of the man. And the bulletin board in the mess had -said in so much black type that Dawson and Farmer were the only two -replacements posted to Seventy-Four.</p> - -<p>"Sorry to wake you up, Dave," Freddy spoke again. "But what do you -think about the situation?"</p> - -<p>"Pipe down, I was thinking," Dave growled. "But I can't even get to -first base. Maybe we should speak to the Squadron Leader, yet that -might make us look like a couple of saps. If there's one thing that -gets a fellow's goat in this war it's the dizzy unfounded spy scares -that pop up every time you turn a corner. And after all, to us he was -just a yellow belly who shot off his face and asked a lot of questions. -Maybe he was just some bird posing as an R.A.F. officer just for the -heck of it. That sort of thing's happened before. You know, some bird -wants to make an impression on his girl and he goes calling all dolled -up as an officer, when he really should be wearing his private's -uniform. No, Freddy, I don't think Squadron Leader Hays would love us -extra much if we went to him with such a crazy story."</p> - -<p>"I'm afraid you're right," Freddy grunted. "It is just a little bit -crazy. But I still swear he's the same chap I bumped into in front of -Adastral House."</p> - -<p>"Well, maybe that time he was calling on a girl who likes the Army -best," Dave chuckled. "Anyway, let's skip it for the time being. -There's Base, and here we go down to a stack of warm food, and a little -shut eye."</p> - -<p>Dave's statement was half truth and half falsehood. They did put away -a stack of food, but there was to be no shut-eye for either of them. -They had hardly finished their meal when an orderly appeared with word -that they were to report at once to Squadron Leader Hays' office. They -exchanged looks, grinned happily, and instantly lost all desire for -sleep.</p> - -<p>"Hot dog!" Dave breathed and pushed back from the table. "Maybe this is -it!"</p> - -<p>"I'm saying nothing until I'm dead sure," Freddy grunted and got up, -too. "The way things are going perhaps we're to be favored with the -special honor of washing dishes."</p> - -<p>"Boy, can you make a guy feel good!" Dave growled and gave his best pal -a playful poke in the ribs.</p> - -<p>When they reached the Squadron Leader's their hopes dropped a little -for the simple reason that they were not the only two summoned. There -were ten other pilots there as well. Squadron Leader Hays waited until -Dave and Freddy had settled themselves in chairs and then started to -speak.</p> - -<p>"Special job for you fellows," he said. "Coastal Command is testing -out a new type of plane to be used on short range work. It's the new -Fairey "Fulmar" fighter. It's powered with a Bristol Pegasus engine -that's been jacked up a bit to give a couple of hundred more horsepower -than the ordinary Pegasus. It's a land job, of course, but it's been -fitted with extra tanks, and sections of the wings are sealed so that -you'll float for quite a bit of time in case you fall down into the -drink. Whether these Fulmars will give us the service Coastal Command -demands remains to be seen. Anyway, six of them arrived last night, and -I've selected you chaps to give them a good testing. If you can find -any off-shore Nazi planes then so much the better. However, don't go -too far out, and don't get too close to the French coast. You can be -sure that the Jerries are just aching to shoot down a Fulmar and get a -good look at it. Well, that's all. They're out on the line now, and the -mechanics are waiting. You can take off any time you want."</p> - -<p>The Squadron Leader made a little gesture with his hand that dismissed -the group. Disappointment tugging at their hearts, Dave and Freddy -started toward the Squadron Office door, but pulled up short as the -Commanding Officer spoke again.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Dawson and Farmer!" he called out. "Wait a moment, will you?"</p> - -<p>Both youths wheeled around with hope soaring up anew. The Squadron -Leader waited until all the others had left, then grimaced and sighed -unhappily.</p> - -<p>"Darnedest war I ever fought in!" he growled and motioned to the boys -to step closer. "There's enough blasted hush-hush stuff to smother the -whole Empire. Of course what I told the others was plain rot. We've got -Fulmars here, and they are to stay for keeps. This testing idea is all -bosh. But orders are orders. So there's nothing I can do about it."</p> - -<p>The Squadron Leader made another face and took a sealed envelop from -out of his inside tunic pocket. He handed it to Dave.</p> - -<p>"Your orders for something or other," he said. "Don't read them until -you're in the air. And don't bother asking me questions. I don't know -a blessed thing about them. What's more, I don't want to know. This -arrived from Air Marshal Manners an hour ago. Here, take it, and get on -with your job. Stuff it in your tunic pocket and keep it there until -you're in the air. And.... Well, naturally, good luck and all that sort -of thing. Now, buzz off, both of you."</p> - -<p>Dave and Freddy saluted, executed a snappy about face and walked on -air out of the squadron office and over toward the south side of the -field where Six Fairey Fulmar fighter planes were lined up with engines -ticking over. From the depths of dread and despair they had soared -up to a new high. The long awaited event had come to pass at last. -The sealed orders in Dave's pocket seemed to turn into a white hot -coal that burned right through his clothing to his skin. He couldn't -speak because excitement and eager expectation was like a hand of -steel clutching at his throat. Sealed orders. For what? For life, or -for death? Right now neither of them cared very much. One thing was -certain. Those sealed orders meant action, and action was all that -mattered to those two fisted, stout hearted, steel clawed birdmen of -the Royal Air Force.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIVE" id="CHAPTER_FIVE">CHAPTER FIVE</a><br /> -<small><i>Mystery Wings</i></small></h2> - - -<p>It took every ounce of his will-power, but Dave Dawson forced himself -to wait until he and Freddy had the Fulmar clear and well out of sight -of the Plymouth Base before he took the sealed orders out of his -pocket. He turned in the seat so that Freddy could read them at the -same time, but he didn't rip open the envelop at once. He held it up -and looked at Freddy.</p> - -<p>"Let's fool Manners," he said with a straight face. "Let's just toss -this over the side and go on down back and land. There's probably -nothing in it anyway. What say, huh?"</p> - -<p>Freddy's jaw dropped, his eyes popped, and his face turned white as a -sheet.</p> - -<p>"Good grief, Dave, have you gone mad?" he gasped and grabbed for the -envelop. "Don't you dare...!"</p> - -<p>The English youth cut himself off short and turned beet red as he saw -the grin on Dave's lips. He swallowed hard and balled one hand into a -hard fist.</p> - -<p>"Some day you'll pull one of your bad jokes just once too often!" he -growled. "Open that letter before I throw you out bag and baggage. -Phew! What years you took off my life, you ... you...!"</p> - -<p>"Naughty, naughty, don't say it!" Dave said with a laugh as Freddy -floundered around for a suitable word. "Mama wash your mouth out with -soap! Okay, pal. Sorry you almost had heart failure. Guess it is a bum -time to pull one like that."</p> - -<p>"Shut up and open that letter!" Freddy shouted in a fuming voice.</p> - -<p>Dave nodded and tore open the envelop and pulled out two typewritten -sheets of paper. He smoothed them out, let the ship fly itself, and -then started reading the orders. They read:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Flying Officers Dawson And Farmer</p> - -<p>You are to first make sure that no aircraft either British or Nazi are -in sight. Then you are to set a course for the area off the French -coast as indicated on the second sheet of these orders. En route you -will tune your radio to wave length reading 429-6B and <i>leave it at -that reading regardless of what happens</i>. For your information when -your radio is set at that reading it will be in constant contact with -special directional finder apparatus aboard certain British naval craft -in surrounding waters. They will know your exact location every second -of the time, but your signal will not be heard by any enemy aircraft or -surface vessels.</p> - -<p>When you reach the area marked on the second sheet you will cruise -about and <i>maintain a constant look-out</i> for a single funneled Nazi -surface sea raider of some seven thousand tons. The craft will probably -be painted a dull grey, and may be flying the flag of almost any -country. The craft has flat decks from bow to stern and sets low in -the water. Even from close range she looks like an ordinary tramp. She -is, however, heavily armed and is fitted with hidden guns that can be -hoisted above decks at an instant's notice.</p> - -<p>Most important of all she is the fuel ship for a wolf pack of some -ten to fifteen Nazi U-boats. They will be close to the ship but will -submerge the instant your plane is sighted. You probably will not even -see them. So concentrate only on the surface raider.</p> - -<p><i>Make no attempt to attack the raider! Do not touch your radio!</i> The -raider's set will be open and although it will not be able to hear your -directional finder signal it will pick up anything else.</p> - -<p>Even though you are attacked by enemy aircraft do not give battle!</p> - -<p>You are to act as though you are lost. As though you are having engine -trouble, or are out of fuel. When you sight the raider start down and -keep on going down. You are to make a crash landing in the water.</p> - -<p>As soon as you have crash landed your signal will stop going out over -the air. British naval craft in that area will then head under full -draft for the spot. And Fleet Air Arm craft will be launched with -torpedoes and bombs. The two units will attempt to trap the raider and -her U-boats and blow them out of the water.</p> - -<p>When you have landed your job is done, and you are to save your own -lives as best you can. This area is believed to be the rendezvous -point of the most dangerous raiding pack England has yet battled. It -is absolutely essential that this pack be destroyed. And it is hoped -... and expected ... that you will fulfill your orders to the letter. -The success of the entire venture depends upon your causing the raider -no alarm, keeping your directional finder signal going out over the -air all the time ... and creating the impression that you are lost and -making a forced landing in the water without being able to send out -your position.</p> - -<p>Good luck, and God bless you!</p> - - -<p class="ph5">Manners<br /> -Emergency Command</p></blockquote> - -<p>Dave waited until Freddy nodded to indicate that he was through -reading, and then took a look at the second sheet. It contained a -complete navigation course that led to an area of the Atlantic about -seventy-five miles west-south-west of Brest on the coast of occupied -France. One glance was enough to tell them both that surface and -under-sea raiders working out of that rendezvous area could fan through -England's trade lanes with Canada and the United States in the matter -of a few hours and then go scooting back to any one of a number of -bases on the French coast.</p> - -<p>"Well, Manners certainly wasn't kidding when he gave us that little -pep talk," Dave finally broke the silence. "Boy, he sure did hand us -something sweet, didn't he?"</p> - -<p>Freddy didn't reply at once. He swallowed a couple of times and ran a -finger around the strap of his helmet as though it had suddenly become -a little bit too tight.</p> - -<p>"And not a chance to fire a shot!" he groaned. "Blasted clay pigeons, -that's what we've got to be."</p> - -<p>"Dead ducks, and how!" Dave breathed. "Nope, I don't think it's going -to be nice at all sitting in the water with the British navy and Fleet -Air Arm lads heaving everything at the raider and her subs. Of course, -though, I can still pitch this thing overboard, and we can swear Hays -didn't give us a thing."</p> - -<p>"Never mind that!" Freddy growled. "As you would say, we stuck our -chins out, and we've got to keep them out. Set the course, my little -man, and tune in on that wave length. No, wait, I'll do that little -thing. Who knows but what you might get Manners on the thing and start -offering brighter suggestions. Blast it, though, I hate swimming. -Specially in mid Atlantic this time of year."</p> - -<p>"Cheer up, pal!" Dave laughed. "I'll save you, my boy!"</p> - -<p>"In that case I'm doomed for sure!" the English youth groaned and -turned his attention to the radio.</p> - -<p>For the next several minutes neither lad spoke. Each was busy with his -own thoughts. And be it said they were not pleasant ones. However, -they were not unpleasant thoughts simply because almost certain death -awaited them out over the Atlantic. That their chances of surviving -this assignment were almost nil didn't bother them a bit. What rankled -was that they had to go down to whatever kind of doom awaited them -without so much as starting to put up a show of resistance. Aerial -decoys, that's what they were. Just a couple of lads sent out to act -as helpless enemy bait, and when they had done their job probably get -blown to atoms forty ways from Sunday. It wasn't right, and it wasn't -fair. But it was orders, and that was that!</p> - -<p>"A penny for your thoughts, Freddy!" Dave suddenly called out. "If -they're the same as mine they're not worth that much."</p> - -<p>"Matter of fact, I was thinking about that directional finder gadget," -the English youth replied as he stared at the radio. "It sure must be -something pretty neat. Just think, British war craft know where we are -right now. The chaps at the other end can put a dot on their navigation -charts marking the spot of water we're over now. What will this war -bring out next?"</p> - -<p>"Don't ask," Dave grunted and fixed his eyes on the distant horizon. -"One thing I hope, though. When we crash land and our signal -automatically stops, I hope those boys will get to the spot in a hurry. -The Jerries are no dopes. They may smell something fishy. And they -sure will once they spot naval craft smoke on the horizon."</p> - -<p>"The bombers will be on top of them long before that," Freddy said. -"Besides, though Manners didn't say so, it's up to us to delay the -raider as long as we can. Ten to one she'll hove to to pick us up. -Particularly the plane. This Fulmar is a new job, you know, and it -would be a feather in the raider captain's cap to take one back to -port."</p> - -<p>"Sure, that's true," Dave nodded. Then with a frown, "But the set-up -doesn't appeal to me so much. No, I don't mean about our necks. I mean, -Manners' hope that the navy and Fleet Air Arm will wipe out the raider -and her tin fish children. Seems too much to hope for, the way I figure -it. Frankly, I wish we could have talked with Manners instead of only -being able to read what he wrote. I've got ideas that...."</p> - -<p>"Don't I know it!" Freddy cut in. "But forget them, my friend. You'd -have Manners tearing out his hair in two minutes. Don't worry, he's -considered this thing from every angle, and picked the best way to do -the job."</p> - -<p>"Maybe," Dave grumbled reluctantly. "But I still would like to have -been able to talk to the guy."</p> - -<p>"And that's a break Manners will never know about," Freddy chuckled. -"Anyway it's no good now. The area's just ahead, and who knows what -else. And by the way, Dave, did I ever tell you that it's been nice -knowing you? I'm afraid I'll have to admit it's true."</p> - -<p>As the English youth's quiet voice came to Dave's ears a hard lump -formed in his throat and for a brief instant the horizon ahead became -just a little bit blurred.</p> - -<p>"Well, I guess I've got to admit that you're aces, too, Freddy," Dave -said, a moment later and reached back a hand.</p> - -<p>Freddy took the hand in his own and gripped it hard. Neither spoke a -word. They didn't have to. All the words in the world meant nothing -compared to the real meaning and significance of that handclasp. It was -Freddy who finally broke the silence.</p> - -<p>"What am I?" he said gruffly. "Your precious little girl friend, or -something? Let go, and get to work."</p> - -<p>"Now isn't that just like the guy?" Dave sighed and kept his eyes on -the sea and horizon ahead. "I hold his hand to help stop him shaking -and trembling with fright, and he bawls me out. Yes, the English are a -screwy race, no fooling. I...."</p> - -<p>"Shut up, Dave!" Freddy cut in sharply. "Take a look to the left! What -in the world do you make of that?"</p> - -<p>"Huh?" Dave echoed and bent forward slightly to stare down over the -left wing of the plane at the rolling grey green swells of the North -Atlantic. "What do you mean, look? I don't see a thing but water."</p> - -<p>Freddy reached forward and rapped him sharply on the shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Not down, <i>up</i>!" he shouted. "Off to the left about three miles, and a -couple of thousand feet above us. It's a plane!"</p> - -<p>Dave jerked his head up and stared hard in the direction indicated. -For a couple of seconds he saw nothing but sun bathed blue sky and -scattered patches of clouds. Then suddenly he saw the flash of sunlight -on wings. He took a good second look and gave an angry shake of his -head.</p> - -<p>"Now what?" he grated. "Aren't we ever going to get started on -anything? That's a British plane. From here it looks like a Fairey -'Swordfish' torpedo plane of the Fleet Air Arm. It's a biplane, and not -a low wing monoplane job like this one we're in."</p> - -<p>"It is a Swordfish torpedo plane!" Freddy cried excitedly. "And look, -Dave. There! See? See its markings? What in the world?"</p> - -<p>"Boy, what eyes you've got, pal!" Dave grunted and squinted hard at -the distant plane. "I can't see a thing. That darn sun is.... Hey! -Holy smoke, Freddy! That ship is carrying the markings of Seventy-Four -Squadron! Our own outfit!"</p> - -<p>"Exactly!" Freddy echoed. "It means that somebody was sent out to -signal us that the show was all off. Or else some lad has been trailing -us just to find out what we're up to."</p> - -<p>"Well, it can't be the first," Dave said as a tiny tingle of worry -rippled through him. "Our orders were sealed, you know. Nobody at the -Plymouth Base knows where we are."</p> - -<p>"Well, one chap does," Freddy said and pointed. "That chap up there."</p> - -<p>Dave made no comment to that. He turned his head front and searched -the rolling swells all the way south to the horizon line. And to the -east and to the west as well. But that was all he saw. Just miles and -miles of rolling grey green swells. There wasn't the sign of a single -thing on the surface, nor the faint shadow of a U-boat lurking under -the surface. In fact, there wasn't so much as a single puff of smoke to -denote the presence of surface craft.</p> - -<p>"Somebody's either taking us for a sweet sleigh ride," he grunted to -himself. "Or else we just naturally read those orders wrong. My guess -is that...."</p> - -<p>Dave never stated what his guess was. At that moment the savage yammer -of aerial machine gun fire crackled against his ear drums above the -roar of the Bristol engine. He jerked his head around just in time -to see Freddy Farmer clutch at his left cheek and slump over against -the side of the cockpit. The English youth straightened up almost -immediately and took his hand away from his cheek. Dave's heart started -beating again when he saw the thin narrow red line that cut down from -the lobe of the ear toward the point of the jaw. Freddy had been -slightly creased by a bullet. An inch or so more to the right, however, -and the English R.A.F. ace would have been stone dead.</p> - -<p>In practically the same instant that Dave looked at Freddy he jerked -his gaze skyward. The strange plane from Seventy-Four Squadron was -racing down at them with all guns blazing. The thick glass hood over -the Fulmar's two place cockpit was being turned into a mass of millions -and millions of tiny cracks as the bullets from the Fairey Swordfish's -guns slammed against it. Hardly realizing that he was doing so, Dave -jumped hard on the controls and whipped the Fulmar up over and down in -a wing screaming half roll. The maneuver took them clear of the other -plane's gun for a moment or so. But no longer. The biplane followed -through in a similar maneuver and came tearing down in again.</p> - -<p>"You dirty rat, what gives?" Dave bellowed angrily and slid off the -safety catch of his gun triggers. "If you're asking for trouble you're -getting it now ... and plenty!"</p> - -<p>Even as the words raced off his lips he kicked the Fulmar through a -vicious half roll and then hung it on its prop. The Swordfish's pilot -was caught cold and a ten year old kid could have picked him off at -that distance. It so happened, though, that Dave didn't have the chance -to fire a single shot. Quick as a flash Freddy leaned forward and -knocked his thumb off the trigger button.</p> - -<p>"Don't, Dave!" Freddy screamed. "Are you crazy? Our orders were not to -shoot even if we were attacked!"</p> - -<p>"But this is different!" Dave roared. "That bird...."</p> - -<p>"No!" Freddy cried insistently and hung onto Dave's hand. "We've got to -follow orders. Fake that you've been hit, and try to get away from him. -Gosh, Dave, we haven't even sighted the raider yet. Get away from this -chap. A Fulmar can fly rings around a Swordfish. Get away from him and -let's continue with the patrol."</p> - -<p>Whether it was Freddy's convincing argument, or whether it was the fact -that the Swordfish was no longer a perfect target, Dave didn't really -know. Anyway, he kicked the Fulmar off its stall and went sliding off -and down to the right. However, the stall had cut the Fulmar's speed -to practically nothing. Also there was more than just an average run -of the mill pilot flying the strange plane with Seventy-Four Squadron -markings. Before Dave could pick up sufficient speed to do any fast -maneuvering the Swordfish came ripping in again with its guns spewing -out jetting streams of flame.</p> - -<p>Dave felt the plane tremble as it was hit in a hundred different -places. Then suddenly the Bristol in the nose began to cough and -sputter, and the controls went wishy-washy in his grasp. A cold lump of -ice took the place of his heart, and a load of buckshot began to bounce -around in his stomach. For a moment he couldn't move a single muscle. -He simply sat there like a man of stone waiting for the next burst from -the Swordfish's guns to rip and tear into his body. Instinct, however, -took charge where his brain failed. The next thing he realized he had -put the plane into a tight spiral and was working down toward the -surface of the water as fast as he dared.</p> - -<p>It was not enough, though, for the mysterious Swordfish pilot to know -that the Fulmar was crippled and going down. The plane tore in for -three more bursts before it zoomed up for altitude and went thundering -away at full throttle toward the east. Luckily the parting burst did no -further damage to the Fulmar. The plane was finished for good, however. -The engine made one last gasping sound and then died completely. Dave -gingerly worked the wabbly controls and eased the craft out of its -tight spiral and put it into a long flat glide. Then he turned around -and glared at Freddy.</p> - -<p>"Right or wrong, we should have plugged that tramp!" he growled. "I had -him pinned to a cloud when you knocked my hand away from the trigger -button. But skip it, pal. Orders are orders, I guess. How's the face -feel?"</p> - -<p>"Can't feel a thing!" Freddy called out and impulsively touched the -bleeding bullet crease on his cheek. "What do we do now, Dave?"</p> - -<p>Dave laughed harshly and pointed down.</p> - -<p>"Three guesses!" he said. "And all of them correct. We go down and play -we're in the Navy. And I.... Oh my gosh, Freddy! Look! That rotten bum -plastered our radio and knocked it haywire. That means our signal's -stopped going out over the air. And that means that the navy ships and -planes will come a-running, and there's not a raider or a U-boat within -miles of here, I bet."</p> - -<p>Freddy looked blank for a moment. Then he threw back his head and -roared with laughter.</p> - -<p>"What a lad, what a lad!" he finally cried. "Yes sir, one in a million. -Sure the planes and ships will come a-running. But won't it make <i>you</i> -feel good to be picked up instead of floating around until you sink?"</p> - -<p>Dave grinned and gave a little shake of his head.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I guess it will at that," he said. "But, heck, once we crashed -the signal would have stopped, and they'd have come anyway. But darn -it, I don't like this, Freddy. Not even a little bit. I've got a funny -feeling that Manners didn't think of <i>this</i> possibility at all."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by that crack?" Freddy exclaimed as he saw the look -on Dave's face.</p> - -<p>The Yank R.A.F. ace slowly raised a hand and pointed ahead and toward -the east. Freddy looked in that direction, gulped, but said nothing. -About a mile away and just beneath the surface of the water was the -tell-tale shadow of a submarine. It was slowly coming to the surface, -and as the boys watched it they saw that it was a Nazi U-boat. Just a -lone Nazi U-boat in an area where they had been expected to sight ten -or fifteen in the company of a powerful surface raider.</p> - -<p>Dave slowly turned and looked Freddy in the eye.</p> - -<p>"And on second thought I like it even worse," he said. "That U-boat -knew that we were coming here. It also knew that a Fairey Swordfish was -going to shoot us down. Catch on to what I mean?"</p> - -<p>"No, I don't quite follow you," Freddy said with a worried shake of his -head.</p> - -<p>"The old double cross, or whatever you want to call it," Dave said -and flattened the glide of the plane even more. "We were going to set -a nice little trap for the Nazis, but they've crossed us up. It's my -guess they have set a nice little trap for the naval ships that are -right now racing to our rescue!"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer's face paled as he looked at the damaged radio.</p> - -<p>"And there isn't a thing we can do about warning them," he said in a -hoarse voice.</p> - -<p>"Not a thing," Dave said as he stared at the submarine again. "But -there's something we can <i>do</i>, Freddy. Hang onto your hat, pal! You -and I are going to crash right on top of that baby! By the time he -gets clear of our wreckage it'll be too late for him to crash dive and -let go with his torpedoes at our navy ships. Hang on, pal!"</p> - -<p>"Right you are!" Freddy sang out. "Give it to the beggar! At least we -can do one more thing to help. Let her rip, Dave, and the heck with our -necks!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIX" id="CHAPTER_SIX">CHAPTER SIX</a><br /> -<small><i>The Dead Don't Fly</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Hunching over the controls, Dave veered the Fulmar around until it was -heading in the direction of the U-boat, and then steepened his dive -to gain extra speed. Unconsciously he felt for the straps of his life -jacket, or Mae West as they call them in the Royal Air Force. Even as -he touched them, however, he grinned and gave a little shake of his -head. If they smacked that surfacing U-boat as they planned, their life -jackets wouldn't be of any use to them. When you're smashed to pulp in -a crash a life jacket is just a souvenir for somebody else to take home.</p> - -<p>"And smack him we're going to!" Dave grated to himself. "Good old -Freddy. I simply told him what I was going to do, and there wasn't a -single yip of complaint out of him. Dear God, if one of us can come -through this thing please make it Freddy Farmer. England needs him, and -alive!"</p> - -<p>As the simple but straight from the heart prayer slid off Dave's lips -he steepened his dive even more. The U-boat had suddenly started acting -strangely. It was half awash and seemed to be hanging half in and half -out of the water. Then as the bow started to go under again the truth -dawned on Dave. The U-boat's commander had sighted them, guessed their -intentions, and was not taking any chances. Instead he had slammed shut -the conning tower hatch and was crash diving as fast as his diving fins -and propellers could take him down.</p> - -<p>"Faster, Dave, faster!" Freddy's voice screamed. "The beggar is trying -to cheat us. He's going to pop down where we can't hit him. Get the -blasted rotter, Dave. Get him, please!"</p> - -<p>"What do you think this is, slow motion?" Dave shouted back over his -shoulder. "Our engine's dead, pal, you know. All we've got is gliding -speed. And it isn't going to be enough, I don't think."</p> - -<p>"It's got to be!" Freddy howled and unconsciously thumped Dave on the -back. "We can't let him cheat us. We just can't!"</p> - -<p>Dave didn't bother to make any further comment. The Fulmar was -streaking down like a comet straight from Heaven, but the U-boat wasn't -losing any time in crash diving. In the last couple of seconds Dave -knew that they had lost. If he dived straight in they would only hit -hard water, and not even touch the U-boat that was now completely -submerged. And so in the last split instant of time Dave hauled up the -nose of the Fulmar in order to save Freddy and himself from certain -instant death.</p> - -<p>The diving speed of the plane was too great, however, to permit him to -pull it completely up onto level keel. The belly of the plane struck -the water with terrific force. The mighty hands of invisible giants -seemed to reach down and jerk the plane up toward the sun flooded sky. -Then suddenly they sent it crashing down again. Twice more the plane -bounced before it finally stayed down. And during that time Dave and -Freddy were tossed about in their double cockpit like a couple of dried -peas in a tin can. A thousand and one fire crackers went off in Dave's -head. Hundreds of bombs exploded, and countless balls of colored light -wheeled and spun around before his eyes. Then as though somebody had -slammed shut a sound proof door, there was nothing but silence all -about him.</p> - -<p>For a moment or so he sat slumped up against the side of the cockpit -where the last crazy lurch of the plane had flung him. Then he gulped -air into his aching lungs, slowly sat up straight and turned around -to look at Freddy. The British youth was upside down in his section -of the cockpit. His head was down by the flooring, and his feet were -sticking up in the air. His safety belt had been snapped in two by the -terrific impact of the plane, but by some miracle he had been spared -serious injury. Even as Dave reached back to lend a hand Freddy wiggled -himself around and came upright, eyes popping and his face the color of -a flaming sunset. It was a second or so before he could drag enough air -into his lungs to speak.</p> - -<p>"Did we get it, Dave?" he finally choked out.</p> - -<p>"Sure we got it!" Dave replied. "But I don't mean the U-boat. You don't -happen to have a nice ocean going cruiser in your hip pocket, do you? -I think this baby is going to sink right from under us in darn short -order."</p> - -<p>As Dave spoke he made a sweeping gesture with one hand. Freddy looked -about and it was not joy and happiness that came into his eyes. The -Fairey Fulmar fighter plane looked as though it had been jammed -through a meat grinder. The tail was completely gone; broken off clean -as though clipped by an axe. The wing was twisted and bent, and the -fuselage was punched full of holes. Sea water was coming in through the -holes, and coming in fast. Freddy shook his head and looked at Dave in -apologetic chagrin.</p> - -<p>"If we get out of this you can kick me around the block six times!" -he said bitterly. "All my fault for not letting you get that blasted -Fairey Swordfish when you had him cold. It wasn't until after that that -he got our engine. Gee, Dave, I could jump overboard and drown myself -for being such a blasted fool. I...."</p> - -<p>"I might have known!" Dave snapped at him. "We no sooner get in a tight -spot and you want to quit me cold!"</p> - -<p>"But, Dave," Freddy protested, "I didn't mean it that way. I simply -meant that I...."</p> - -<p>"Then get a grin on your mug, and stop picking on yourself!" Dave cut -in. "How many times have I got to explain that Freddy Farmer is the -best pal I ever hooked up with, and that I don't allow anybody to ride -him. Not even you, Mister! Get it? Come on, that grin, or I'll toss you -overboard, myself."</p> - -<p>Freddy blinked a couple of times, swallowed, and then forced a faint -smile to his lips.</p> - -<p>"Always right there to put sense into a chap's head," he said softly. -"That's Dave Dawson. But I still say I was a blasted fool. How long, -though, do you think before we'll be in the water with only our Mae -Wests keeping us afloat?"</p> - -<p>Dave shrugged and made a little gesture with both hands.</p> - -<p>"Search me," he grunted. "Your guess is as good as mine. What's -worrying me is that darn U-boat. If we'd only been able to clip it. We -didn't, and now the darn thing's down under some place getting ready -to let loose a brace of torpedoes at the first navy ship that comes -tearing up this way."</p> - -<p>"I wonder about that," Freddy said. "Maybe it just happened to come -to the surface by accident. Ten to one it's making tracks for distant -places right now."</p> - -<p>"No," Dave said firmly. "I'm sure it's hanging around. This thing was -all planned, Freddy. That bum in that Fairey Swordfish proved that to -me."</p> - -<p>"How so?" Freddy questioned with a frown.</p> - -<p>"Gosh, it's simple to figure that one!" Dave cried. "Didn't you see -that bird make a couple of final passes at us and then breeze off? No, -Freddy, that boy had a perfect chance to riddle us both with slugs so -that it would be a waste of time for anybody to pick us up, but he -didn't! His job was just to shoot us down for a forced landing."</p> - -<p>"Good grief, I believe you're right!" Freddy Farmer gasped. "But what -was the idea of that U-boat coming to the surface? Why did it risk -showing itself to the pilots of a forced landing plane? That doesn't -make sense to me."</p> - -<p>"I think it makes sense to me," Dave said after a moment of thoughtful -silence. "I think the U-boat was taking no chances of our signalling -to anybody once we were in the water. Or of our sinking the plane so -that searching craft wouldn't sight it. I think they planned to take us -aboard, let the ship float, and submerge to wait for our navy ships to -arrive."</p> - -<p>"And that is probably what it's doing right now!" Freddy said, tight -lipped. "Dave, we've got to think of something, some way to warn all -surface ships away from here. There may be a dozen U-boats waiting!"</p> - -<p>"You're telling me?" Dave muttered grimly and hoisted himself up on the -seat to keep clear of the mounting water level in the cockpit. "But -what in thunder can we do? The radio's out. And even if we could set -the ship on fire ... which we can't ... the column of smoke would only -attract the navy boats all the more. There's just one chance, one hope. -And it's the slimmest hope you and I ever had, my boy!"</p> - -<p>"Well, what is it?" the English youth cried impatiently. "Anything's -worth a try."</p> - -<p>"We can only hope that a Fleet Air Arm plane will get here well ahead -of any naval craft," Dave said. "The trouble is they may hold back the -planes for fear that they would be sighted before the destroyers and -cruisers arrived. It's the raider they want most, you know. And I don't -think they'd risk showing a plane until the surface ships were close -enough to check the raider from making a run for port and escaping."</p> - -<p>"And there isn't any raider!" Freddy groaned as lines of worry grooved -his face. "We don't know what kind of a trap this is. We don't know -what the navy ships may run into. Phew! What a mess I made of things."</p> - -<p>"Shut up!" Dave growled. "I was as much at fault as you were. A great -deal more, in fact. I should have made a run for it the instant you -sighted that plane, instead of sticking around and trying to outfly -him. No, Freddy, we're in it together. And our only hope is that a -Fleet Air Arm plane will get here first."</p> - -<p>"You mean so's they'll see there's no raider about and suspect that it -is some kind of trap?" Freddy asked hopefully. "And they can radio the -surface ships to stand clear?"</p> - -<p>"Partly that," Dave said with a nod. "But mostly so's we can wig-wag -them with our shirts and <i>tell</i> them to radio the fleet to stand clear. -That's our hope. That they'll spot us first and read what we signal to -them. And...."</p> - -<p>"Dave, look!" Freddy suddenly screamed. "The hope's come true. There's -a plane up there to the northwest. It's a Catalina, too. And they've -spotted us. See? She's starting to slide down from altitude!"</p> - -<p>Dave snapped one quick glance up toward the huge flying boat several -thousand feet overhead and some five or six miles distant. Then he -started tearing off his Mae West life jacket, and ripping off his tunic -to get at the white shirt he wore.</p> - -<p>"Get your shirt off, too, Freddy!" he barked. "Here, give it to me. -Thanks. You wave both arms westward and I'll wig-wag for them to radio -the surface boats to stand clear. Okay, Freddy, start waving. We've got -to make those boys understand that all plans have gone haywire!"</p> - -<p>Hoisting himself up until he was standing straddle legged with a foot -braced on either side of the cockpit, Dave clutched Freddy's shirt in -one hand, his own in the other and started wig-wagging furiously at -the huge Catalina boat that was continuing to lose altitude rapidly. -Seconds passed and his arms ached so much he thought they were going to -drop off at the shoulder sockets, but still the flying boat continued -to come on down toward the water. It was Freddy who finally voiced the -terrible fear that was mounting in his heart.</p> - -<p>"They don't see our signals, or else they don't understand, Dave!" the -English youth groaned. "That boat is coming down to land alongside and -take us aboard."</p> - -<p>"I know," Dave said in a choked voice. "What are they, blind? -Once they're on the water the U-boat can surface and blow them to -kingdom-come. But keep signalling, Freddy. We've got to make sense to -them!"</p> - -<p>It was simply a futile, heartbreaking effort, however. The flying boat -came down until it was almost touching the surface. Then it flattened -out slightly and headed toward the fast sinking Fulmar with throttled -engines. Another moment and the craft had touched the water. Spray -showered up both sides of the hull. Then the craft settled and came -slowly toward them as the engines picked up revs. Dave let his aching -arms drop to his sides and anxiously scanned the surrounding waters. -There was no sign of the U-boat, but that fact didn't make him feel -any better. Deep down inside of him he had the firm conviction that -the under-sea menace was lurking near ready to strike at the first -opportunity.</p> - -<p>Then suddenly came Freddy Farmer's shrill cry.</p> - -<p>"Over there, Dave, to the right! A periscope! The U-boat's going to try -for the Catalina!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVEN">CHAPTER SEVEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Missing Wings</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Dave Dawson didn't so much as bother to turn his head and look in the -direction Freddy Farmer pointed. The Catalina flyingboat had come to -a full stop not twenty yards from the water logged Fairey Fulmar. Its -pilot was keeping it heading into the wind with the aid of his engines -and sea rudder. A hull door had been pushed open and an R.A.F. clad -figure appeared in the opening with a casting line in his hand. Dave -gave him but a single glance, then shoved a hand against the small of -Freddy Farmer's back.</p> - -<p>"We swim for it, and fast, Freddy!" he shouted.</p> - -<p>The English youth shouted a reply but it was cut off short in the -middle as he dived headlong into the water. A split second later Dave -dived in too. He hit the water with arms and legs working furiously. -Perhaps it was a matter of five seconds before he reached the side -of the flying boat's hull, but every second seemed a soul torturing -eternity in length. Every second he expected to hear the thunderous -roar of a U-boat torpedo crashing into the Catalina. Every second he -expected to be his last in this war, and in this world.</p> - -<p>Then suddenly he and Freddy were at the side of the flying boat. -Waiting hands reached down and hauled them scrambling aboard.</p> - -<p>"I say, why the blasted rush?" cried a voice in Dave's ear. "We could -have pulled you aboard dry as a bone. Here there, what the devil, man?"</p> - -<p>The last was because Dave had bounced up on his feet and shoved the -speaker roughly to one side. Without wasting breath to either explain -or apologize Dave dashed along the hull cat-walk leading to the pilots' -compartment. He went through the small compartment door like a twelve -inch shell, fell over the chief pilot's shoulder and rammed both -throttles wide open.</p> - -<p>"Port rudder!" he screamed in the dumbfounded pilot's ear. "Port -rudder, man, for Heaven's sake!"</p> - -<p>Though still completely dumbfounded the pilot was a man trained for -split second action. He jammed on port rudder and the roaring engines -swung the huge craft around to the left. Panting and gasping for air, -Dave turned his head and looked out the compartment window. What he saw -froze every drop of blood in his veins, and made his heart stand still. -No more than fifty yards away a white frothy line was being traced in -the water and the front end of the line was heading straight for the -Catalina.</p> - -<p>He tried to shout out but the words clogged in his throat. He -automatically reached out with his hand again and pressed it hard -against the already wide open throttles, as though in so doing he might -add speed to the flying boat that was slowly getting under way. And -every instant of the time he kept his gaze riveted on the white frothy -line that drew closer and closer to the flying boat. A second, an hour, -or maybe it was ten years dragged by. The sea, the sky, and the whole -world seemed to stand still. Nothing seemed to move save that deadly -white line being traced in the water. It moved right up to the flying -boat and then passed out of Dave's vision. He held his breath, closed -his eyes, and awaited that last horrible second.</p> - -<p>Then came sound. But it was the sound of an excited voice and not that -of a world blasting explosion.</p> - -<p>"Torpedo off our stern, sir!" shouted a figure that suddenly appeared -in the compartment doorway. "Only missed us by inches. Came from dead -starboard, sir!"</p> - -<p>Dave wanted to shout, wanted to cry, wanted to get up and dance a jig -of joy. He did none of those, however. Instead reaction set in and for -a moment turned all of his muscles into so much limp rubber. He slipped -off the back of the pilot's seat and flopped down on the floor boards. -By the time he had been lifted to his feet the huge Catalina was clear -of the water and arcing up toward the sky. Dave wiped sweat and sea -water from his face and grinned crookedly at the pilot at the controls.</p> - -<p>"That was the idea of my haywire actions," he said. "There wasn't time -to explain."</p> - -<p>The pilot grinned, reached out with one hand and pressed Dave's arm -hard.</p> - -<p>"Thank God you didn't take time to explain!" he cried. "We'd all be -shark food now. You're Dawson, aren't you? I'm Featherstone, and my -co-pilot here is Williams."</p> - -<p>"Never so glad to meet two fellows in all my life," Dave said with a -nod and a grin. "But, look, didn't you get my wig-wag stuff? Things -went all haywire. I'll explain later, but right now contact the fleet -and tell it to stand clear of this area. I don't know what's up, but -I'm pretty sure Jerry is trying to spring a trap on us."</p> - -<p>"Hold your horses, my lad!" Featherstone said as Dave started -unconsciously pounding him on the shoulder. "You'll have me black and -blue for a week. The fleet's standing clear, and has been for an hour -or more. The Old Man didn't like the way your signal stopped so soon. -According to our calculations you had no sooner reached the edge of the -suspected area than your signal went off the air. The Old Man got the -idea you had run into Jerry planes, so he sent us off for a look-see. -As we came down I sent back word in code that there was not a thing to -be seen but your plane in the water. What happened, anyway?"</p> - -<p>Dave heaved a long sigh of relief and started to speak but checked -himself as Freddy came through the compartment doorway looking very -much like a half drowned rat. Dave made introductions all around and -then opened his mouth to speak again. But once again he checked himself -and gave Featherstone a hard stare. The flying boat's captain looked -mystified for a moment. Then his face brightened and he laughed -shortly.</p> - -<p>"It's quite all right, Dawson, old chap," he said. "You won't be -telling any state secrets. The Old Man acquainted us with the orders -you received from Air Marshal Manners. Naturally some of us had to -know, you see, in order to carry out our part of the assignment. Of -course, though, if you'd rather not, then don't tell me a thing. I'll -get it later from the Old Man's report."</p> - -<p>"Oh, it's okay by me," Dave said. Then in a sudden excited voice, "Man, -oh, man, am I slipping! That U-boat! We should have been hunting for it -instead of standing here jawing!"</p> - -<p>"Relax, Dawson!" Featherstone said with a good-natured laugh. "Really, -man, give us credit for a little sense! I've been circling ever -since we cleared the water and the crew has maintained a constant -watch. Williams, here, too. See those headphones on him? Intra-plane -communication, you know. What's the word, Williams?"</p> - -<p>The co-pilot shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Not the ghost of a sign," he said. "She probably went right down to -sit on the bottom when she saw she'd missed us."</p> - -<p>"And she'll probably stay there until dark," Featherstone added.</p> - -<p>"Okay, okay, I'm over the jitters," Dave said with a gesture of one -hand. "Well, here's what happened."</p> - -<p>Beginning with the moment they opened their sealed orders Dave gave -Featherstone a detailed account of exactly what had happened.</p> - -<p>"Don't ask me what I think about it," he finished up, "because it sure -has me in a flat spin. It stands to reason, though, that the Jerries -knew more about our little trap than we did. Anyway, something went -haywire."</p> - -<p>Dave emphasized his words with a shrug and looked at Freddy Farmer.</p> - -<p>"Did I leave out anything?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"No, that was the whole story," the English youth said. "But, now that -we're sure the U-boat's gone I think we'd better get back to Plymouth -Base as fast as we can. The Fairey Swordfish had Seventy-Four markings, -you know. And I got the number on the tail. I think the first thing we -should do is check up on that plane at once."</p> - -<p>"I agree," Featherstone said. "But just a minute, lads. I can't take -you back to Plymouth. My orders were to take you back to the Old Man -aboard the Aircraft Carrier Tornado. That is, if I picked you up, and I -did. The Tornado isn't far off, and...."</p> - -<p>"And we'll just be wasting time," cut in Dave. "Look, Featherstone, be -a good guy and radio the Tornado's skipper. Tell him I'm requesting -permission for you to fly us to Plymouth at once. Say that I have -to report to Air Marshal Manners in person at the earliest possible -moment."</p> - -<p>The Catalina's captain looked dubious for a moment, then gave a little -shrug of his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"Right you are, then," he said and nodded at the waiting Co-pilot -Williams. "The Old Man's wrath will be on your shoulders, not mine. And -he's a lad with a sharp tongue, I can tell you. Go ahead, Williams."</p> - -<p>Nobody said anything while the co-pilot got busy on the radio. Two -minutes later he slipped off his headphones and looked at Dave with a -faint trace of awe in his eyes.</p> - -<p>"You must rate with the Old Man, Dawson," he said. "Or perhaps -mentioning Air Marshal Manners was the bit of magic. Anyway, his orders -were to grant your request at once."</p> - -<p>"God bless you for making the suggestion, Dawson!" Featherstone cried. -"Frankly, I've been praying the answer would be yes. We've been in -the air a solid eighteen hours and a bit of rest and an odd spot of -liquid refreshment at Plymouth Base won't make us mad at all. Right-o! -Plymouth it is, and in a hurry. You and Farmer better go aft and get -some dry duds on. The Sergeant Gunner will dig up something for you. -And thanks again for that little bit of haywire action of yours when -you came aboard. Hate like the devil to get shot down by a torpedo, you -know. Would be kind of fantastic, wouldn't it?"</p> - -<p>"Also final," Dave said with a grin. "But if you want the truth, I was -thinking only of my own skin all the time."</p> - -<p>"Liar!" Featherstone snapped, but softened it with a smile and a look -that spoke volumes. "Now, get back there and into some dry things. Both -of you."</p> - -<p>"We're gone," Dave said and pushed Freddy Farmer ahead of him through -the compartment door.</p> - -<p>A little over an hour later the huge Catalina flying boat slid down -toward a landing in the mooring basin at Plymouth Base. Perched on an -empty bomb rack amidships Dave and Freddy watched the basin surface -rise up toward them. During the seventy minute flight they had not -spoken more than a dozen words to each other. They hadn't for the -simple reason there wasn't much to say. Both realized that they could -hash over their close to death adventure until the cows came home, and -still be no nearer to a correct solution. Then, too, the feeling of -depression that had come with failure made the speaking of words seem -futile.</p> - -<p>True, it was not their fault that they had failed. They had carried -out their orders to the letter. They had even gone beyond orders and -attempted to crash into the lone U-boat and disable it at the cost of -their own lives. Yet, in spite of all that they felt depressed; felt -that they had slipped up somewhere and brought failure to what should -have been a successful mission.</p> - -<p>Such thoughts were rambling through Dave's brain when Freddy reached -out and placed a hand on his knee.</p> - -<p>"Chin up, Dave," the English youth said with a smile. "I've been -thinking."</p> - -<p>"Well, I haven't exactly been asleep," Dave grunted. "But what has your -brain been chewing over, pal?"</p> - -<p>"The whole crazy business," Freddy replied with a heavy scowl. "I've -been thinking that all this started back at Adastral House. I mean, the -business was doomed to failure long before we opened our sealed orders. -In fact I'm sure of it. Because, why should that Fairey Swordfish -suddenly start popping up into our lives?"</p> - -<p>"Okay, I'll bite," Dave said. "Why? But speak words I can understand -this time. That last has me all balled up."</p> - -<p>"Well, I figure it this way," Freddy said after a moment's hesitation. -"Some one knew, or found out that we weren't just a couple of -replacements being sent to Seventy-Four. Some one also knew what our -sealed orders were going to be. So when we took off in the Fulmar that -some one tagged after us in that Swordfish. Being in a Seventy-Four -plane, he knew that he could get in close and smack us down without -much danger to himself. And...."</p> - -<p>"And do it without killing us, though he came close in your case!" -Dave interrupted. "I get your train of thought, now. A Nazi spy in -Adastral House. Maybe he's actually on Manners' staff. The Jerries know -everything that is planned. They just sit back and wait for you and me -to go sailing off on our little adventure. A radio message in code to -some U-boat near by, and everything's set. Yeah, I get it. Joe Saps! A -couple of fall guys. That's you and me."</p> - -<p>"Quite," Freddy said with a curt nod. "But don't you get all of it?"</p> - -<p>"Huh?" Dave grunted. "Now what?"</p> - -<p>"Go ahead and laugh at me, but here it is," Freddy said in a deadly -serious voice. "Our little boy friend on the train coming down. Flying -Office Steffins!"</p> - -<p>Dave stiffened, gave Freddy a hard stare, but he didn't laugh.</p> - -<p>"You sure are souped up on that guy, aren't you!" he finally said. Then -with a half shake of his head, "But darned if you're not getting me -thinking the same thoughts. Right! I've got the hunch that Steffins was -the pilot of that Swordfish. He.... You know something, Freddy? The -thing has suddenly hit me like a ton of brick. Yes, sir, I'll bet you -any amount of dough you want to put up!"</p> - -<p>"I don't bet unless I know what I'm betting on," Freddy said. "So why -not tell me first?"</p> - -<p>"Then pin your ears back and listen, my little man!" Dave said with -tense excitement in his voice. "We didn't see Steffins again, did we? -No. And here's why. The guy was waiting until he knew our sealed orders -had come through before he reported to the Base. I'll bet you that -he was reporting to Squadron Leader Hays just about the time we were -taking off in the Fulmar. He probably had faked papers and all the rest -of it. Well, he takes up a Swordfish for a joy hop. Once he's clear -of the field he heads straight for where we're heading. He knows the -U-boat's there. Probably saw it. So, bang, he cracks us down and heads -back for Plymouth knowing that the U-boat will pick us up and take care -of us for keeps. See? Smooth as silk. The tramp double crosses our -plans, gets rid of us, and now he's safe in Seventy-Four Squadron all -set to do more of his dirty work!"</p> - -<p>"But he won't!" Freddy said grimly, and bunched his two hands into rock -hard fists. "We're still alive and kicking. We also got the tail number -of that Swordfish. They have records at the Base that Steffins took it -up. We'll cook that chap's goose for him!"</p> - -<p>"And how!" Dave grated. "Look, what we want to do is to sneak ashore -and get in touch with Squadron Leader Hays as soon as possible and tell -him the whole story. Then he can grab Steffins, and that will make at -least one rat who won't jam up the works next time."</p> - -<p>"Yes, if there is a next time!" Freddy said gloomily.</p> - -<p>Dave started a wise crack but let it slide.</p> - -<p>"Yeah!" he muttered and shook his head slowly. "For a couple of fellows -in the Emergency Command we're doing swell. I mean, terrible!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHT" id="CHAPTER_EIGHT">CHAPTER EIGHT</a><br /> -<small><i>Pilot's Luck</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Right after the Consolidated Catalina flying boat had settled on the -surface of the mooring basin Dave went forward and explained their plan -to Featherstone, though he didn't mention Steffins by name.</p> - -<p>"So you and the crew go ashore, Featherstone," he finished up, "and -Farmer and I will wait here a spell and then slip ashore: Just make -believe that you are returning from a patrol, and sat down because you -were running out of gas. I'll explain to Squadron Leader Hays when I -see him."</p> - -<p>"Right you are," the Catalina's captain said. Then after a moment's -hesitation, "Sure there isn't something I can do to help catch the -chap, wherever he is? I think I'd rather like to bash him one on the -snoot, myself. I'm sure I would when I think of that torpedo that just -missed us."</p> - -<p>"Nix, nothing doing," Dave said with a grin. "If there's any slugging -to be done Freddy and I will take care of it."</p> - -<p>"And in tip-top order, too, I can tell you!" Freddy said over Dave's -shoulder. "But thanks for everything you've done, Featherstone."</p> - -<p>The Catalina's captain laughed.</p> - -<p>"You've got that sentence the wrong way round, my lad," he said. "I'll -remember you chaps in my prayers for the rest of my life. Well, we'll -be off. Good luck, and if you do catch that murdering blighter, at -least bash him one for me."</p> - -<p>"A promise, pal," Dave assured him.</p> - -<p>Dave and Freddy forced themselves to wait twenty minutes after -Featherstone and his crew had gone ashore. That was as long as they -could wait, however. Another minute of sticking there in the plane with -countless thoughts, surmises, and speculations whirling around in their -heads and they would have just naturally up and exploded. And so at the -end of twenty minutes they sneaked ashore unseen and made their way -to Squadron Leader Hays' office by a round about route. It was Dave -who slid into the office first. But once he was inside he pulled up so -short at what he saw that Freddy close at his heels banged right into -him.</p> - -<p>Automatically Dave regained his balance and continued to stare pop eyed -at the officer seated behind the desk. It was the last man in the world -he expected to see at that moment. In short, it was Air Marshal Manners.</p> - -<p>"I say, <i>you</i>, sir?" Dave heard Freddy gasp behind him.</p> - -<p>The Adastral House high ranker nodded, flashed them a quick smile of -greeting and motioned with one hand.</p> - -<p>"Come in, you two, and shut that door," he said. "I've been having a -bad case of heart failure waiting for you. Isn't that 'Cat' boat out in -the basin the one that picked you up? I didn't see you leave it with -the pilot and crew. Fact is, I was just about to hunt them out and ask -questions."</p> - -<p>"We were on it, sir," Dave said, finding his voice. "But we stayed -aboard as part of a plan. Look, sir, there's a Jerry spy here at this -station. We know him by the name of Steffins. A few hours ago he took -up a Fairey Swordfish, Number two-six-nine-seven. He shot us down, sir, -and we have a hunch he returned here."</p> - -<p>Dave stopped talking and his hopes sank as he saw Air Marshal Manners -shake his head.</p> - -<p>"No, he didn't," the Air Ministry official said. "That Swordfish plane -was assigned to one Flight Lieutenant Barker who has been at this -Base for the last six months. His mechanic told Squadron Leader Hays -and myself that he was to take it up for testing this morning. The -mechanic saw the plane take off and believed Barker was in the pit. -Barker wasn't. Two hours ago they found Barker's body hidden in an -old fuselage in the hangar. He had been stabbed through the heart. -Murdered!"</p> - -<p>Dave and Freddy stood there in stunned silence for a moment. Then the -words fairly leaped off Dave's lips.</p> - -<p>"And no replacement by the name of Steffins has joined this squadron -today?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"No one," Manners replied. "Nor has that Fairey Swordfish returned. -It's long overdue right now, as regards fuel. So I think there's just -one answer to that. After he shot you down he probably headed for the -coast of occupied France. But enough of that for the moment. Sit down, -you two, and tell me everything that happened. I know a little of it -from a radio message the commander of the Tornado sent me. That's -one of the reasons why I flew down here from London at once. And I -can guess a little of the rest. However, I want to hear it all from -you two. Go ahead, and don't leave out a single thing no matter how -unimportant it may seem to you. Better start with the moment you left -my office at Adastral House."</p> - -<p>Some fifteen minutes later Dave and Freddy had given a detailed account -of every minute of the time since they had left the Air Ministry in -London. As ordered they didn't leave out a thing. They even related -their own conversations, word for word as near as they could remember. -Air Marshal Manners listened in silence right through to the end. -He didn't interrupt once. He didn't even nod or make any kind of a -gesture. He simply sat in the chair moving his steel blue eyes from one -face to the other.</p> - -<p>"And that's all of it, sir," Dave ended the narration for both of them. -"There's probably a hundred other things we should have done. And maybe -we made ... I mean, I made a mess of that meeting with Steffins on -the train. Perhaps we should have made some kind of a report to you. -But...."</p> - -<p>"Take it easy, Dawson," Air Marshal Manners finally spoke up. "And you, -too, Farmer. You two don't have to apologize for a single thing. Great -guns, your attempt to crash that U-boat deserves the Victoria Cross -in my opinion. No, you don't have to feel badly about a single thing. -Fact is, I'm the one to blame for things going all wrong. At any rate -I'm taking the blame. As for that Steffins meeting, it perhaps really -didn't mean a thing. There's lots of lads who like to go around posing -as officers. He may have been one of them. Then, too, he <i>may</i> have -been Baron von Khole."</p> - -<p>Both Dave and Freddy sat up straight in their chairs.</p> - -<p>"Baron von Khole, sir?" Dave finally asked. "Is he a Nazi agent?"</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners nodded and a look of smouldering anger came into -his eyes.</p> - -<p>"The best, and most deadly one in Hitler's pay," he said presently. -"And a mystery man if there ever was one. What we know of the man you -could write down on a piece of paper the size of a postage stamp. As -a matter of fact, British Intelligence isn't even sure that von Khole -is his right name. And nobody outside of a few in Germany so much as -knows what he looks like. One of the reasons he has been so difficult -to catch is his expert knowledge of make-up and disguise. He can make -himself up to pass for a youth of seventeen or an old man of seventy. -He speaks, reads, and writes a dozen different languages, and what he -doesn't know about Hitler's method of waging unrestricted war isn't -worth knowing."</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners stopped talking and stared flint eyed off into -space. There were a dozen questions hovering on Dave Dawson's lips, -but he refrained from giving them voice. He sat with Freddy waiting -patiently for the chief of the newly formed Emergency Command to -continue.</p> - -<p>"And unless I'm all wrong, and not even worth my salt to my country," -the senior officer finally continued, "this Baron von Khole is behind -all that has happened. I even fancy that he was the one who shot you -down. He is an expert pilot and was in command of the Luftwaffe in the -Polish campaign. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I'd better go back to -the beginning and start there."</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal paused and lighted a cigarette.</p> - -<p>"Shortly before I was put in charge of the Emergency Command," he said, -"they had a bit of a spy scare at Air Ministry. As a matter of fact -it was quite serious. Plans for two new types of plane were stolen, -and also the plans for a new aerial machine gun. In addition to that, -considerable information as to R.A.F. operations in England and in the -Middle East got into the hands of the Germans. In other words it was -discovered that there was a mighty big leak at Air Ministry. Well, to -make the story short, British Air and Army Intelligence got to work -like beavers. Wires were tapped, every bit of incoming and outgoing -mail was censored, and everybody from the Chief Air Marshal down was -watched like a hawk day and night. The result was positive proof and -the arrest of three German agents actually in the Royal Air Force and -assigned to duty at Air Ministry. They were tried and shot in short -order."</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners emphasized the last with a curt nod, and then -puffed on his cigarette for a moment or two before continuing.</p> - -<p>"Of course the activities of this mysterious Baron von Khole were well -known to us long before this last round-up of agents," he went on. -"Facts and what-not showed that he was the supreme head of all Nazi -agents in England. It was also quite evident that since Dunkirk he and -his gang had been concentrating on the Royal Air Force. Let me say -right here that most of our airplane crashes in England during the last -year were not accidents due to the fault of the pilots or the planes. -They were due to deliberate acts of sabotage. And, of course, all on -the order of this Baron von Khole.</p> - -<p>"Well, when the Nazi agents working in Air Ministry were caught -Intelligence gained information which it was believed would lead them -directly to von Khole. It did, but in a round about way, and too late!"</p> - -<p>"Too late, sir?" Freddy Farmer encouraged as the senior officer paused -again.</p> - -<p>"It is incredible, but the truth!" Air Marshal Manners continued as -though he hadn't stopped. "There was a <i>fourth</i> spy serving as a -Personnel Sergeant at Air Ministry. Intelligence didn't catch him in -their round-up of the other three. And yesterday we gained definite -knowledge that he was, and still is, Baron von Khole. Now, wait a -minute before you ask questions. He was known as Sergeant Kinney, -but there <i>used</i> to be a <i>real</i> Sergeant Kinney. The real Sergeant -Kinney had been in the service for years. He lived alone in a flat out -Golder's Green way, and had very few friends. Naturally, we'll never -know the real truth until we catch von Khole and he tells us, which he -probably never would. However, several months ago von Khole, probably -after studying Kinney's mode of life, his way of doing things, and a -million and one things about him, murdered him and took his place at -Air Ministry. And he has been there ever since working side by side -with the whole lot of us. <i>But</i> working for Hitler instead of for the -King!"</p> - -<p>"Boy, what a smooth artist he must be!" Dave breathed. "And even if he -is a Nazi he's sure got plenty of nerve and courage."</p> - -<p>"Plenty of both, and a whole lot of other things," Air Marshal Manners -said grimly. "Much as we'd like to believe it, all Germans are not -nitwits like their Fuehrer, Goering, and a couple of others of the -inner circle. No, von Khole is clever, a genius in his work. Fact -is, the only bad thing I can say about the man is that he is a cold -blooded, ruthless murderer. That is perhaps the only thing he has in -common with his superiors."</p> - -<p>The Air Ministry official made a little gesture with one hand as though -dismissing the subject and lighted a fresh cigarette.</p> - -<p>"But I'm wandering in my story," he said. "Let's get back to facts. -And they are not pleasant ones for me. A week ago I took on some extra -clerical help on my staff. Sergeant Kinney was one of those sent to -me. Yes, none other than Baron von Khole <i>went to work in my office</i>. -How he did it still remains his secret, but he discovered everything -pertaining to the new Emergency Command. The very fact that you had -your little adventure today proves that he knew the contents of your -sealed orders before they even left my office. He must have learned -their contents yesterday. Last night my private secretary ... a man -I've known all my life, and whom I would trust with my own life ... was -murdered in my office. An hour later Intelligence came in to arrest -Sergeant Kinney. A tip had led them to his house. There they had found -code books and a dozen other things used by Nazi agents."</p> - -<p>"But they didn't get Kinney, or this von Khole who posed as Kinney?" -Freddy Farmer asked.</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners made a wiggling motion with his hand like an eel -scurrying away.</p> - -<p>"Not that slippery one!" he said harshly. "As usual, he was a couple of -jumps ahead of us. My sealed orders had already gone out, so I didn't -do anything about checking or stopping them. I simply took the chance -that everything was all right. As we three know, now, everything wasn't -all right regarding your secret assignment! My not countermanding those -orders nearly cost the lives of two of the bravest R.A.F. pilots I ever -had the good fortune to meet. And so, as I said, I alone am taking all -the blame for things going wrong today. It was nobody else's fault but -my own."</p> - -<p>"And to think I had him square in my gun sights!" Dave murmured softly. -"But, tell me this, sir. Was Sergeant Kinney on duty the night you -talked to all of us? Or the next day?"</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal looked thoughtful for a moment, then sat up straight -with a jerk.</p> - -<p>"By the gods, no!" he cried. "He was on thirty hours leave. And I -know what's in back of your question, Dawson. That chap, Steffins! By -George, I guess that Steffins <i>was</i> von Khole."</p> - -<p>"But you said he had courage!" Freddy protested. "And Steffins was -scared pink when that Jerry plane strafed the train."</p> - -<p>"I'm wondering," Dave grunted.</p> - -<p>"About what?" Freddy demanded. "Good grief, you think that was part of -an act, too? But why?"</p> - -<p>"This may be crazy reasoning," Dave said slowly. "But somehow it makes -sense to me. He tried to pump us, and didn't learn a thing. I think -he knew that we weren't telling him the truth. Maybe that made him a -little suspicious of us. So maybe he pulled that yellow belly stunt so -that we wouldn't bother about looking him up at the squadron, here. Or -when we didn't see him again we'd just put it down that he was too -yellow to carry on, and we'd just forget about him. And yet there's -another angle that just occurred to me. Maybe just as screwy."</p> - -<p>"Well, let's hear it anyway," Air Marshal Manners said as the Yank -R.A.F. ace hesitated.</p> - -<p>"That strafing plane," Dave said eventually. "It came down and seemed -to blast away at the rear car of the train. Maybe it wasn't even aiming -at it. Fact is, I forgot all about checking on that when we reached -Plymouth. What I'm getting at is, why strafe just the rear car? Me, if -I had a few slugs left to slap at a train, I start up at the engine and -rake the whole works. That Focke-Wulf plane didn't. I'm wondering if -its pilot knew that von Khole was on the train, and his strafing was -some kind of a message that didn't please von Khole at all."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps," Air Marshal Manners said gravely. "Perhaps either one of -your ideas is the truth. It doesn't help us much, now. Nor does it -help much being pretty sure that your friend Steffins was actually von -Khole. That, like some other items, is all so much water under the -bridge, now. We've taken our beatings and that's that. What we've got -to concentrate on now is the future. Our next move in this game of -death against the survival of England."</p> - -<p>The Air Ministry official stopped talking and a tingling silence seemed -to hover over the room. Dave and Freddy waited breathlessly for the -senior officer to go on. Defeat was behind them, but it was not final -defeat. They not only felt it, but they could see it in Manners' face. -No, they were not yet washed-up with Emergency Command. They both knew -that Manners had another assignment for them. Another tilt against the -Nazis and death. And it was all they could do to refrain from breaking -the silence and begging Manners to tell them of their new assignment. -Finally Freddy Farmer just couldn't stand the suspense any longer. He -cleared his throat nervously and spoke.</p> - -<p>"We're ready for any job you want to give us, sir," he said. "And -regardless of <i>what</i> happens, we'll do better next time."</p> - -<p>"Check!" Dave echoed with feeling. "You can count on that, sir."</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners smiled but before he could say anything the -office door was pushed open and Squadron Leader Hays came inside. The -Commanding Officer of Seventy-Four seemed not to see the two R.A.F. -aces. He looked straight at Air Marshal Manners and gave a savage shake -of his head.</p> - -<p>"Couldn't unearth a single clue," he said, tight lipped. "I've -questioned every mechanic and pilot here at the field, but not one of -them remembers seeing Flight Lieutenant Barker after eight o'clock this -morning. I looked in his hutment but not a thing has been touched. -Honestly, sir, I can't understand it at all. Why should anybody kill -Barker and then steal his plane? He was the best liked officer at the -field."</p> - -<p>"No clue, eh?" the Air Ministry official murmured. "Well, on my -authorization you can order a special investigation. Call on Air -Intelligence if you want to. We lose enough pilots in the air without -having them murdered on the ground. Do everything you think necessary, -Hays, and report to me the minute you discover anything important."</p> - -<p>"Very good, sir, I'll do that," the Squadron Leader said. "I'll appoint -an investigating board at once. And ... I say, where did you two come -from?"</p> - -<p>The Squadron Leader addressed the last to Dave and Freddy as he saw -them for the first time. Dave opened his mouth to speak, but Air -Marshal Manners beat him to the punch.</p> - -<p>"They had no luck on their special mission," he said quietly. "Matter -of fact they were forced down off shore and were luckily picked up by -a Cat-Boat. I ordered their return here at once. They're flying up to -London with me right away, and rejoining their old Fighter Squadron."</p> - -<p>Squadron Leader Hays murmured something that might have been an -expression of sympathy and regret, but Dave wasn't listening. The -verbal bombshell that Air Marshal Manners had suddenly exploded was -still scrambling his brains. Returning to their old Fighter Squadron? -Then they really were all washed up with the Emergency Command? Though -their failure had been through no fault of their own, Manners wasn't -going to give them a second chance? Washed-up? Through? Finished?</p> - -<p>Dave looked at Freddy and saw similar stunned grief in the English -youth's eyes. He looked at Air Marshal Manners and hot blistering words -rose to his lips. He was too good a soldier, however, to let them fly -off. He choked them back, and spoke them instead with his eyes. Manners -seemed completely blind to the look he received. He stared back at -Dave, then made a short dismissal wave with one hand.</p> - -<p>"There's a Staff Lockheed Hudson on the line I came down in," he said. -"You and Farmer go out to it and wait. I'll be with you in a few -minutes, and we'll be off. Oh yes, collect your personal belongings -and put them aboard. That's all."</p> - -<p>It was the hardest thing he ever did for Dave to get to his feet, -click his heels and salute smartly. He wanted more than anything else -right at the moment to jump over the desk and shout what was on his -mind right square in the Air Marshal's face. Of course, though, he -didn't even so much as make a move in that direction. Training and the -instincts of a loyal soldier held him back.</p> - -<p>"Very good, sir," he said.</p> - -<p>Then he and Freddy did an about face and went outside with heads up and -shoulders squared ... but with the whole wide world very much blurred -before them. Never since their very first day in the R.A.F. had their -hearts ached so much, or their spirits sunk so low.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINE" id="CHAPTER_NINE">CHAPTER NINE</a><br /> -<small><i>Vulture Eyes</i></small></h2> - - -<p>"Do you think, Dave? I mean.... Gosh! I'm still whizzing around in -circles. I thought sure Manners understood how things turned out as -they did. And I thought sure he had another assignment to give us. -I ... I don't know what to think. I wish I were dead!"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer groaned, gave a helpless shake of his head, and leaned -wearily back against the bomb compartment wall of the Lockheed Hudson. -Their stuff was all aboard and they had been waiting for Air Marshal -Manners a good half hour. Dave grunted, studied the finger nails on his -right hand and absently started chewing on one.</p> - -<p>"You and me both!" he finally grated. "Of all the let-downs this is -tops. And right after his admitting that it was <i>his</i> fault! Sweet -tripe! What do these brass hats expect? Miracles out of a hat like -rabbits? Boy, did I want to toss his own words back into his teeth, -with Squadron Leader Hays standing right there, too. Freddy, it was the -rottenest trick ever played on us. It was just plain low down and mean. -Praise a fellow, and then cut the world right out from under his feet. -I don't get it. I don't get it even a little bit!"</p> - -<p>"I was dead certain he was about to tell us of a new assignment when -Hays came in," Freddy said, a baffled frown creasing his brows. -"Something must have happened. Maybe something that Hays said. I can't -even begin to guess, but it changed his mind."</p> - -<p>"Yeah, he sure froze up on us like an Arctic winter," Dave growled. "So -it's back to our old Fighter Command squadron, huh? Well, I say, okay. -That suits me fine. And for two cents I'd take off in this crate right -now, and let him walk back to London. I'd...."</p> - -<p>"Too late to do even that, Dave!" Freddy cut in quickly. "Here he -comes!"</p> - -<p>The words were no sooner off Freddy's lips than Air Marshal Manners -came in through the compartment door. He tossed a brief case he -carried on an empty bomb rack and looked at Dave.</p> - -<p>"My pilot's suddenly gone sick," he said. "Take the controls, please, -Dawson. Get us off as soon as possible, and get lots of altitude as you -head for London."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," Dave said, and got to his feet.</p> - -<p>He took one step along the cat-walk leading forward, then stopped and -turned. He knew what he was about to say was childish, foolish, and the -uncensored ravings of a sorehead. But for all the gold in the world he -could not have kept the words back. The seething pot of justified anger -within him had suddenly boiled over on all sides.</p> - -<p>"Do you mind, sir, if I crack us up taking off?" he said evenly.</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners stiffened up straight, gave him a blazing stare, -and opened his mouth to speak. He held back the words, though, and -looked from Dave to Freddy and back again.</p> - -<p>"I see," he said. "Thought you caught on. Yes, I mind very much your -cracking us up, Dawson. Now, you get forward and get us up in the air -before I turn you over my knee. Chase along, lad, now. Explanations -later."</p> - -<p>"Then you mean, sir—" Dave cried joyfully and stopped.</p> - -<p>"I mean get us into the air!" Manners snapped. "And hurry it up!"</p> - -<p>"One Lockheed on the way!" Dave shouted, and dashed forward to the -pilots' compartment.</p> - -<p>In less time than it takes to tell about it he had the twin engines -turning over and was taxiing to the far end of the runway. There he -wheeled around into the wind, waited a moment or so for Freddy and Air -Marshal Manners to come forward and join him, but when they didn't -he opened up the throttles wide and sent the American built plane -rocketing forward. Once the ship was clear he cranked up the wheels and -continued prop clawing upward for altitude.</p> - -<p>When he was above a layer of cloud and well out of sight of the -Plymouth Base, Freddy and Manners stepped through the compartment -doorway. Dave glanced quickly at Freddy only to realize at once from -the wondering look on his pal's face that Manners hadn't told him -anything yet. Then he looked at the Air Marshal and pinked a bit as the -steady steel blue eyes bored into his. But almost immediately the Air -Ministry official grinned crookedly and sighed.</p> - -<p>"You certainly fumbled that one, lad," he said. "After all that's -happened I was sure you'd understand. By George, son, did you think -I was dropping you two chaps like a couple of hot bricks? Of all the -crazy notions!"</p> - -<p>"My error, I guess, sir," Dave replied sheepishly. "But it was sort -of a bolt out of the blue that tossed me over on one wing. I mean.... -Well...."</p> - -<p>"Well, let's forget about it," Manners said. "The reason was simply -that from now on I'm trusting no one but you two. Not that Squadron -Leader Hays isn't the finest type of Englishman you could find. He -is. And in addition he's a very good friend of mine. However, my idea -was to create the impression that I've taken you off this special -convoy mission, and am sending you back to your old squadron. We don't -know where von Khole is. He may be in France or even in Germany. Then -again he may be right back there at Seventy-Four again. The beggar's a -blasted ghost, so I'm not taking any chances whatsoever of his finding -out that you're still connected with Emergency Command."</p> - -<p>Dave blew air out of his lungs and smiled happily.</p> - -<p>"Gosh, do I feel reborn!" he exclaimed. "Sorry, sir, I was such a dope -not to catch on."</p> - -<p>"And that goes for me, too, sir!" Freddy Farmer echoed.</p> - -<p>"Right you are, lads," Air Marshal Manners said with a laugh. "Just -make sure you don't get any crazy ideas any more. I'll be through with -you two just about the time the war's over. And I doubt even then. -Right-o. Now...."</p> - -<p>"Enemy aircraft!" Freddy suddenly yelled and pointed off to the east. -"See it? A Messerschmitt One-Ten and heading our way!"</p> - -<p>Both Dave and Manners snapped their heads around and spotted the Nazi -plane at the same time. The craft was a couple of thousand feet above -their altitude, but even as they spotted it the nose dropped and the -plane came down toward them at terrific speed.</p> - -<p>"Man the tail guns, Freddy!" Dave barked. "Here's our chance to pay -back with a few slugs. We'll...!"</p> - -<p>"No!" Air Marshal Manners said sharply. "No scramble with that plane. -Get us down into those clouds, Dawson, and lose him. We haven't got -time for a fight."</p> - -<p>A wave of rebellion swept through Dave but he curbed it instantly. -Something in Manners' face told him that the Air Marshal hated to run -away just as much as he did, but that he had a very good reason for -ordering it.</p> - -<p>"Right, sir!" Dave cried.</p> - -<p>Even before the words had popped off his lips he shoved the controls -forward, pushed the nose down to almost the vertical, and sent the -Lockheed Hudson wing screaming for the clouds. It was not more than -the matter of a few split seconds before they were plunging through -the billowing mist, but even then he heard the savage snarl of the -Messerschmitt's aerial machine guns, and the heavier, louder note of -its twin 20-mm. cannon. And a split second after that he heard the -yammering reply from Freddy Farmer's guns in the tail turret of the -Lockheed.</p> - -<p>As soon as the Lockheed was completely hidden in the depths of the -cloud layer he pulled out of the dive, leveled off and banked due west. -For some ten or fifteen minutes he flew on the instruments, twisting -this way and that, but always in the general direction of London. And -during all that time Air Marshal Manners didn't say a word. He sat like -a statue of stone in the co-pilot's seat staring out forward as though -his steady gaze might pierce right through the bank after bank of cloud -mist that rushed toward them and was sliced and churned by the whirling -propellers.</p> - -<p>Then suddenly, perhaps a second or two before Dave would have climbed -up on top for a quick look-see around, a blurred shadow came racing in -from the right. It was no more than a shadow tearing in, and Dave only -caught sight of it out the corner of his eye, but his sixth sense told -him at once that it might be the Messerschmitt One-Ten.</p> - -<p>"Dawson! Look out! There's...."</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners' wild cry was just a waste of breath. Dave had -already slammed the Lockheed over and around on wingtip in a wing -shaking vertical bank. The terrific force of the turn cut off the rest -of the Air Marshal's cry and pinned him up against the side of the -compartment as though he were nailed there. Every muscle of his body -braced, and his mouth open to prevent possible blacking-out from the -turn, Dave hung grimly to the controls and prayed in his thoughts as he -had never prayed before.</p> - -<p>A lifetime of agony was his. He lived and died a thousand deaths. Then -suddenly he felt the right wingtip shudder as something ticked it. -His heart stood still and his whole body became bathed in cold sweat. -Nothing happened, though. The wing stayed on and the Lockheed kept on -whanging around.</p> - -<p>"Just brushed us lightly!" Dave heard his own choking voice cry out. -"Another inch and it would have been a sweet mess!"</p> - -<p>"Great guns, they can't come any closer!" Air Marshal Manners gasped. -"Blast him, anyway! I might have expected as much. Look, Dawson, get -off the London course. Head east or west, but not toward London!"</p> - -<p>Dave cut out of the turn, went into a shallow dive that took the plane -down deeper into the cloud layer, then leveled off and banked due -south. Once he was heading south he turned his head and gave the Air -Marshal a questioning look.</p> - -<p>"You expected something like this, sir?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Manners shook his head.</p> - -<p>"No," he said. "I meant that I <i>should</i> have. No way for us to find -out, and we're not going to try, but I'm pretty sure Baron von Khole -was in that Messerschmitt One-Ten."</p> - -<p>At that moment Freddy appeared at the compartment door, and in time to -hear the Air Marshal's words.</p> - -<p>"Von Khole?" he echoed excitedly. "Good grief, sir, what makes you -think so?"</p> - -<p>"For one reason," Manners replied grimly, "because you can expect that -blighter to turn up anywhere. For another reason, because I sighted -that same One-Ten on the way down to Plymouth this noon. Spotted him -soon enough to lose him before he could get close and give any kind -of a chase. And for another reason, because now I happen to be the one -man in all the world von Khole desires most to remove from it. Remember -my saying Intelligence found code books and things at the flat of that -poor devil, Sergeant Kinney?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sure!" Dave said excitedly. "And by the way, was the real -Sergeant Kinney's body found? I mean, you're sure von Khole actually -did murder him, and he isn't the real Sergeant Kinney, himself?"</p> - -<p>"Whether von Khole murdered Kinney, or one of his bunch did it, we -don't know," Manners replied. "But the real Sergeant Kinney was no -dirty Nazi spy. Early this morning some of my men dug up the cellar of -the place. They found a body nobody could recognize, but the old World -War identification tag they found on the wrist belonged to Kinney. No, -there've definitely been two Kinneys serving in the R.A.F. One, the -real chap. The other, Baron von Khole."</p> - -<p>"And you learned something from the code books and stuff you found, eh, -sir?" Freddy questioned eagerly.</p> - -<p>"Enough to worry the Nazis sick!" Manners replied with a curt nod. -"The code books alone are the greatest prize of the war, as far as -I'm concerned. I now know the code signal for every U-boat and surface -raider the Nazis have in the North Atlantic."</p> - -<p>"Hot dog!" Dave cried in a burst of exuberant enthusiasm. "It's -practically in the bag! We can knock them off like clay pigeons, and -make the Atlantic clear sailing for British convoys."</p> - -<p>"No, it isn't going to be as easy as that," Air Marshal Manners said -with a shake of his head. "They'll change those codes as soon as they -can. But with so many of their craft at sea it will take a certain -amount of time. A couple of days, at least. Having failed to trap that -devilish raider and her wolf pack of U-boats this morning, our only -hope is to trap her through the code signals before she can receive a -new set."</p> - -<p>"But couldn't that be done in the matter of a few hours?" Freddy -objected. "A Nazi plane fly out to her with the new code?"</p> - -<p>"No," Manners said bluntly. "A new code that can't be broken down by -the enemy in short order isn't something that you think up over night. -True, every country has emergency codes, but even they need constant -rearranging in order to fool the enemy. And the point is, I feel -pretty sure that I've got hold of the Nazi's emergency code as well as -all of their regular codes. As head of Nazi Intelligence in England -it's only natural that von Khole would have a copy of every existing -code."</p> - -<p>"And leave them around for somebody to pick up?" Dave gasped. "Boy, -that's just about tops for being dumb, I'd say!"</p> - -<p>"It is," Air Marshal Manners agreed. "Incredibly stupid, but that -kind of stupidity is a part of the German make-up that amazes one. -Especially when you consider how thorough and clever they are about -so many other things. You two lads are too young to have been in -this world at the time, but it is a matter of confirmed history that -before the entry of America into the last war, von Papen, the German -ambassador to Washington, left a briefcase on a New York subway train -containing a world of information regarding German sabotage and -espionage activities in the United States!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, my Dad once told me about that boner," Dave said. "Gosh, it's -something like you'd read in a fairy story book!"</p> - -<p>"The Germans are a strange race, for fair," Manners said dryly. "They -lead the world in so many things, and trail it in so many others. Well, -I think we've lost that beggar for good, now, don't you think so, -Dawson?"</p> - -<p>"Unless he's got cat's eyes, or some trick airplane engine detector on -his ship," Dave replied. "Want me to go up on top? We've been heading -south by east for a spell, now. Unless I'm all wet we should be just a -bit off shore from Southampton. We can go up on top and find a hole and -check."</p> - -<p>"Then go on up," Air Marshal Manners ordered. "And if you're right, -then so much the better. Find a hole and locate us, and then I'll give -you further orders. But make it fast. Time is the most precious thing -in the world to us, right now."</p> - -<p>"Up she goes!" Dave cried and pulled the Lockheed's nose toward Heaven.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TEN" id="CHAPTER_TEN">CHAPTER TEN</a><br /> -<small><i>England's Prayer</i></small></h2> - - -<p>No sooner had Dave stuck the Lockheed's nose up through the top of the -cloud layer than he leveled off so that the belly was still in the -stuff. At that same instant also he and Manners started searching the -sun flooded skies ahead and to the left and right. Having scrambled -back aft to his tail turret Freddy Farmer searched the heavens to the -rear. There was no cause for sudden action, however, for there wasn't -a single sign of a Nazi plane in the air. The Messerschmitt One-Ten -had been given the slip, and given it as only a pilot of Dave Dawson's -ability can perform such a feat.</p> - -<p>"Good work!" Manners grunted and relaxed a bit in his seat. "Now find a -hole if you can and spot exactly where we are."</p> - -<p>Dave nodded, climbed up another thousand feet, and in a minute or so -found a hole in the clouds. He peered down through and grinned happily.</p> - -<p>"Not so far wrong at that, sir," he said and pointed. "There's -Southampton. And we're about a mile off-shore."</p> - -<p>The Air Ministry official took a look and nodded his approval.</p> - -<p>"Top hole blind flying, Dawson," he grunted. "Right-o. Bear west and -take us to Lands End. Sit down in the field just north of the flying -boat basin."</p> - -<p>Dave's heart sang a song of joy and the blood began to dance through -his veins. At Lands End was the main base of the Catalina flying boats -that escorted so many merchant convoys in from their danger filled -trips across the broad Atlantic. At Lands End were some of the greatest -heroes in the R.A.F. Youngsters no more than a couple of years older -than himself who fought weather, Nazis, and everything else day and -night that England's bottoms might come safely into port. Twenty or -twenty-five hours in the air at a stretch was routine stuff for those -lads. And for a single Cat-Boat, escorting a dozen merchant ships -and Corvette, to battle ten or a dozen Nazi bombers single handed -and drive them off, was something you didn't even mention except in -your official flight report. Heroes and aces, every one of them, -commissioned and non-commissioned officers alike. High adventure, -unbelievable heroism, and death. Those lads at the Lands End Base took -all three in stride, and without batting an eye.</p> - -<p>"That's an outfit Farmer and I will be mighty glad to serve in, sir!" -Dave suddenly blurted out.</p> - -<p>"You're not going to serve in it," Air Marshal Manners said bluntly. -Then as he stared unwinking ahead, "Fact is, by this time tomorrow, or -sooner, every lad at that Base will be hunting for you, and very eager -to shoot you down. And their squadron will not be the only one out -hunting for your hide. No, you're not going to like your visit to the -Lands End Base!"</p> - -<p>Dave gulped, and couldn't speak for a moment. On sudden impulse he -turned his head and saw Freddy Farmer standing in the compartment -doorway. The English youth's eyes were popping out like marbles on -sticks and he was swallowing rapidly. Dave looked back at Manners.</p> - -<p>"I don't think I get you, sir," he said with an effort.</p> - -<p>"You will soon enough," the senior officer grunted. "You're in for a -venture that will make this morning's doings seem like a solo flight in -a training plane during peace time. But don't get all twisted up, now. -The prayers of England will be flying with you, though the pilots of -the R.A.F. will be hunting you down. It will be an important part of -your job to see that they <i>don't find you</i>!"</p> - -<p>"And how, if they're coming a-gunning!" Dave gulped. "But, sir, -what...?"</p> - -<p>"Later, at Lands End," Air Marshal Manners stopped him. "I'll.... By -George, I must be getting weak in the head, I'm forgetting things so. -I'll take over the controls, Dawson. You and Farmer go aft and get out -of those uniforms. In the flare box you'll find some civilian clothes. -They'll fit. Put them on. Then stuff your uniforms back in the flare -box. Stuff them down deep and cover them up with flare cartridges. -Beginning with now, Dawson, you're Charles Lanier. And you, Farmer, -you're Henry Devoe. You're a couple of aeronautical engineers recently -escaped from occupied France. You don't know a dozen words of English, -so look blank if anybody speaks to you. Got all that?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," Dave managed to get out as a befuddled haze swirled around -in his brain.</p> - -<p>"Oh, quite, sir," Freddy echoed weakly.</p> - -<p>"Good," Manners said and motioned Dave out of the pilot's seat. "Just -act dumb French and take your leads from me. I'd tell you my plan, now, -but you might possibly give it away by an unconscious action. Now, -don't misunderstand, lads. I have absolute faith in you both. However, -as they say in your country, Dawson, I'm going to play this one close -to the chest. What you don't know now won't hurt anybody. Fact is, -it'll probably make it easier for me to play my part in the game. And -by the way, if I act just a bit rude to you, don't pay any attention. -This is an inspection flight on order of a ranking member in the -Government with whom you have connections. I'm supposedly against such -a waste of time, but am only obeying the orders of my superior. You -understand?"</p> - -<p>Though their heads were spinning the two R.A.F. youths nodded instantly.</p> - -<p>"Right-o, then," Manners said and gave them a smile. "Get aft and into -those civilian clothes. And don't go exploding with curiosity. You'll -know all the details in due time. Goodness knows you'll have to be -acquainted with them! Now chase."</p> - -<p>Dave and Freddy scrambled aft to the flare box amidships and pulled -out the assortment of civilian clothing inside. In less than five -minutes they were a couple of French civilians, and their much loved -and honored uniforms had been stuffed down out of sight. Dave looked at -Freddy and grinned broadly.</p> - -<p>"Well, your clothes look Frenchie," he said, "but I can't figure the -nationality of that face you're wearing."</p> - -<p>"Is that so?" Freddy snorted and wrinkled his nose in disgust as he -looked Dave up and down. "Fact is I can't place either your clothes or -your face. The nearest I can come is a touch of Japanese with just a -slight Eskimo resemblance. And, frankly, that's said with apologies to -both races. But, seriously, Dave, what in the world do you think we're -stepping into this time?"</p> - -<p>Dave looked toward the pilot's compartment and slowly shook his head -from side to side.</p> - -<p>"I just tossed my brain overboard," he said. "I gave up trying to -figure out this puzzle. So help me, if anybody had told me I was going -to run into this many blank walls since dawn I'd have told them they -were nuts. Sweet tripe! Spies, stolen planes, secret orders, a swim in -the Atlantic, bullets coming too darn close, mystery planes, French -clothing, no speak the English, the R.A.F. after my hide, and.... Pal, -that's a mess of fish right there. You cook it. I can't!"</p> - -<p>"Well, I gather we're in for some flying," Freddy said with a puzzled -sigh. "And that's something."</p> - -<p>"Yeah," Dave grunted, and jerked a thumb forward, "unless he comes up -with some more cockeyed unfinished business that sends us both to the -bug-house for keeps. Oops! We're heading down. Guess we must be getting -close. Luck, pal!"</p> - -<p>"I'll jolly well double that wish," Freddy breathed and led the way -forward along the cat-walk.</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners had nosed the plane down and as the two youths -reached his side and looked down over the nose they saw the southwest -tip of England pointed like a crooked finger at the little cluster -of Scilly Island and the broad rolling expanse of the North Atlantic -beyond. Dave looked at the mooring basin with a dozen or more battle -tried Consolidated Catalina flying boats at anchor. There were also -two or three Short Sunderland flyingboats. Huge battle wagons of the -air that in peace time serve England's Atlantic air lanes just as the -mighty Clipper flyingboats serve American ocean travel by air. Just -north of the basin was the airfield for land planes and amphibians. -The hangar side was lined with twenty or more different types. And as -Dave peered intently he saw several planes of American design. Bombers -probably ferried from Nova Scotia last night. Right now they were -receiving a check inspection before being flown on to England's active -service fields for final installations and assignment to the ever -growing armada of wings that went hurtling across the Channel day and -night to dump thousands upon thousands of tons of bombs down on Adolf's -head and his bandit hordes striving to wipe humanity and civilization -from the face of the earth.</p> - -<p>Lands End Base! The jumping off point for their greatest aerial -adventure. The jumping off point for glory, and for perhaps death, too!</p> - -<p>"Well, I've seen better dressed Frenchmen, but I guess you look the -part."</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners' outspoken comment brushed the rambling thoughts -away inside Dave's head. He glanced at his superior officer and -gestured in a polite but blank sort of way.</p> - -<p>"Pardon, mon Capitaine?" he murmured. "Ze Eengleesh, I speak no, yes?"</p> - -<p>The Air Ministry official threw back his head and laughed.</p> - -<p>"Fine!" he exclaimed. "Couldn't be better. Be sure and carry it through -no matter what anybody says to you. But I'll take care that nobody says -very much. Well, hang on. Here we go down for the next to the last -landing on this job, please God!"</p> - -<p>Dave and Freddy exchanged muddled glances and steadied themselves as -Manners flew the Lockheed across the field and then circled around -into the wind and slid down the last couple of hundred feet to a -feather-on-velvet landing.</p> - -<p>"Do <i>I</i> hope to be able to fly like <i>that</i> some day!" Dave breathed -without thinking.</p> - -<p>"Shut up, you <i>Frenchman</i>!" Manners growled. "But thanks for the -compliment just the same. On guard, now. Here they come."</p> - -<p>At the sight of a Staff plane with Air Ministry markings landing, the -commanding officer of the field and one or two of his junior officers -hurried out to greet the new arrivals. The C.O. was a Wing Commander, -and the row of ribbons under his R.A.F. wings was proof positive that -he had not earned his rank by sitting in an office chair with his feet -on the desk. He recognized Air Marshal Manners at once, and with his -juniors saluted smartly.</p> - -<p>"Well, welcome to Lands End Base, sir!" he said in pleasant surprise. -"Had no idea you'd be popping down this way for a bit of a visit."</p> - -<p>"Had no idea myself, Otis," Manners said and shook hands. "Not until -this noon, anyway. These two with me are the reason. Couple of French -aeronautical engineers who got out of France somehow. Seems they were -able to pull a few right strings in the Government. Anyway, I was -picked to tootle them about the country for a courtesy inspection trip. -As if I didn't have a thousand more important things to do! Oh, well, -you can't have a war without blasted politics, I suppose."</p> - -<p>"Aren't you right!" Wing Commander Otis sighed and gave Dave and Freddy -a polite but cold nod. "I take it they don't speak English, eh?"</p> - -<p>"Not half a dozen words," Manners replied in a disgusted voice. "And I -rue the day I learned to speak French. However, we'll be off your hands -by morning. Meantime, you carry on with your work, Otis. I'll herd -these two here and there and try to show them as little as possible. -Any hush-hush stuff here you think I should steer clear of?"</p> - -<p>"There's an experimental job in a flight hangar," Otis replied. -"But.... Well, I mean.... That is...."</p> - -<p>"That I wouldn't trust them out of my sight," Manners said as the other -floundered for words. "You're right. Ten to one they're the real true -French, but I'm a bit leery of anything that comes across the Channel -these days. You never can tell, you know. Frankly, I raised merry Ned -about taking them on this inspection tour, but the word came down from -high up, and.... Well, that was that, blast it!"</p> - -<p>"A bloody shame!" Wing Commander Otis growled and gave Dave and Freddy -a look that wasn't even polite. "I'm free for a short spell, and I'll -be glad to lead the parade, if you like. Matter of fact, I wouldn't -mind brushing up on my French. I mean, what there is of it."</p> - -<p>"Fine, splendid!" Manners cried. "That'll make two pairs of eyes we can -keep on them. But first, I guess I'd better make introductions."</p> - -<p>Manners half turned to smile at Dave and Freddy, and then went through -all the flowery business of presenting them to Otis, and presenting the -Wing Commander to them. The two youths bowed and beamed and spouted -perfect French at a mile a minute clip. Otis returned the wishy-washy -compliments in bad French, and with a pained look in his eye.</p> - -<p>And then began two of the most cockeyed hours Dave and Freddy had ever -spent in their young but adventure-crammed lives. With Wing Commander -Otis leading the way they were taken on a round of inspection of the -field and hangars, and then over to the flying boat basin. At every -stop interesting details were explained to them in French by either -Manners or Otis. And in turn they played up to their part by jabbering -out excited comments and compliments. But it was a hard act to play -because Manners and Otis exchanged helpless glances every so often. -And little by little it was plain to see that Otis wished with all his -heart that "these two young Frenchies who talked like lightning had -never got out of France." In other words, Dave and Freddy had to almost -gag themselves to kill a smile or an outburst of laughter in the wrong -place.</p> - -<p>Just before they moved on and away from the flying boat basin Manners -pointed to a battle grey Catalina flying boat some one hundred yards -from shore.</p> - -<p>"You see that craft, Gentlemen?" he said in French. "That is the -fastest flying boat in the entire Coastal Command. And it has a record -of which the entire Air Force is proud. The pilots and crew of that -craft have twelve Nazi planes and a U-boat to their credit. It is of -American design as you doubtless have noticed. I wish we had ten -thousand like her. I've flown her myself, and she is a beautiful craft. -Is that not so, Wing Commander Otis?"</p> - -<p>"Quite right, sir," Otis replied. "That Catalina is our pride and joy. -There isn't a ship here that can touch her for speed, or for standing -up in bad weather. And now, perhaps you'd like to see the repair shops?"</p> - -<p>Dave and Freddy nodded eagerly, but it was Air Marshal Manners who -spoke first.</p> - -<p>"You've done your job, Otis, old fellow," he said switching back to -English. "Don't you bother with these two any more. I'll carry on with -them. You get on back to your office. We'll walk a ways with you, and -then see you later at mess. I'll explain to them that duty calls, and -all that. They won't mind just so long as there's one of us to lead -them around and let them stick their noses in here and in there."</p> - -<p>"Sure you don't mind, sir?" Otis murmured. "Matter of fact I am a -little behind on my patrol reports."</p> - -<p>"Then by all means get on with it, man!" Manners said. Then turning to -Dave and Freddy, he explained to them in French.</p> - -<p>They let understanding light up their forced blank faces, and then went -into a verbal song and dance telling Otis that it was quite all right, -and ten million thanks for showing them so much. Otis mumbled some -polite words in return, and then the trio walked part way back to the -Base office. Finally Otis left them, and hurried away as though scared -to death that he might be called back.</p> - -<p>"By George, you two should be on the stage!" Manners chuckled when Wing -Commander Otis was well out of hearing. "A dirty trick we played on -real Frenchmen, because right now I think Otis is one man who hopes the -Nazis keep France! He never was very strong for the Tri-Color anyway, -but you two certainly finished him for good. The thing to do, though. -The word will get around what pests you are, and I don't think you'll -be bothered much later on. And that's exactly what I want."</p> - -<p>"Why, sir?" Dave asked bluntly, but made gestures with his hands like -a Frenchman in case Otis or somebody else might be watching from a -distance.</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners didn't reply at once. He half turned and glanced -at the sun that was dropping down over the horizon like a giant ball -of livid red flame. Then he glanced at his watch, and then at Dave and -Freddy.</p> - -<p>"Right-o," he said. "You two have certainly earned the whole story -these last two hours. But walk up the shore with me just to make sure -we won't be overheard. Take a good look at that sun, though, and let's -the three of us pray that by the time it sets again tomorrow you two -will have safely accomplished what in my opinion will be the most -daring and dangerous feat of the entire war to date and probably in the -future, too!"</p> - -<p>Neither Dave nor Freddy said anything. They walked along the shore -with their eyes fixed on the red ball of fire slowly sinking down out -of sight below the Atlantic horizon. And in their hearts and in their -very souls was the sacred promise that whether or not they ever saw -that sun again they would exert every effort and make every sacrifice -to accomplish successfully whatever the mission was that lay ahead of -them.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ELEVEN" id="CHAPTER_ELEVEN">CHAPTER ELEVEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Death in the Dark</i></small></h2> - - -<p>"This is a good place," Air Marshal Manners said when the trio had -reached a stretch of sandy beach about half a mile from the Base field. -"Let's sit down here, and act as though we're tired. Frankly, that's no -lie as far as I'm concerned."</p> - -<p>The three seated themselves on the sand and for a moment or so Manners -stared thoughtfully out over the Atlantic as though carefully choosing -the words he was about to speak. Dave and Freddy waited, but not -patiently. Inwardly both were seething with excitement and curiosity. -Neither, however, made so much as the beginning of an attempt to -get the Air Marshal started. They knew that this was the last time -he would force them to wait, so they grimly sat tight and let the -torturing seconds tick by.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Manners raised his right hand and pointed toward the west.</p> - -<p>"Out there some eight or nine hundred miles," he said, "is a convoy of -thirty-five British ships. The most valuable convoy ever to set sail -for a British port. Its cargo contains tons and tons of war materials -most vital to our immediate needs. Food stuffs, raw materials, medical -supplies, guns of all kinds, a thousand crated airplanes made in the -United States and Canada, oil, gasoline ... everything that we need so -badly. I don't need to tell you the staggering losses that Nazi U-boats -and surface raiders have already inflicted upon England's merchant -marine. The whole world knows the great toll that has been taken. -And the whole world knows also that England cannot hope to survive -if such losses continue. And better than any country, save our own, -Adolf Hitler realizes that truth. For that reason he is going all out, -regardless of the cost to his own forces, to force England to her knees -and then crush her with no more emotion or pity than he would crush a -fly."</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal stopped talking, lighted a cigarette but immediately -flung it away after a single puff.</p> - -<p>"What that convoy is bringing to England," he continued eventually, -"is not vital to our needs six months or a year from now. We need it -and need it so terribly much <i>this week</i> ... the very <i>day</i> it can be -unloaded at the docks. It is a large convoy, yes. And a beautiful prize -for the Nazis to go after. That is true, too. And we are not fools -enough to believe they have no knowledge that it is on the high seas -and on its way. Naturally, the ships left different ports on the other -side of the Atlantic, and at different times. Every precaution was -taken to keep secret their dates of departure, the course each ship was -to sail, and the rendezvous point far at sea. We have done everything -save circle it with the ships of the entire British Navy. But that we -could not do. Yes, every possible precaution has been taken to get that -convoy through safely. But we know that every possible precaution is -not enough. We know that the Nazis will bide their time and fall upon -it when least expected. And so, it is up to us to beat the Nazis at -their own game!"</p> - -<p>The Chief of the Emergency Command paused again and in turn looked each -youth straight in the eye.</p> - -<p>"It was my Heaven sent prayer that we would accomplish that very thing -this morning!" he suddenly got out harshly. "For several days we have -known that the Nazis' fastest and most heavily armed raider, and their -most daring and skilled wolf pack of U-boats, was being assembled for -an attack on that convoy almost within sight of England's shores. -Possessing that knowledge, and also knowing the location of their -rendezvous area, we planned a trap for them. A trap with jaws made -of British naval vessels and planes. You two were assigned to act as -bait and to draw our boats and planes straight to the exact rendezvous -point in that same two hundred square mile area. We know now that all -our well laid plans went up in smoke. That the Nazis fooled us, and we -failed to spring the trap."</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners stopped once more, and Dave looking at him seemed -to see the shadow of increased years steal across the man's face. The -Yank wanted to reach out a hand and touch Manners as though to say -that he too shared the bitterness of defeat that was in his heart. -He checked the urge, however, and waited for the senior officer to -continue.</p> - -<p>"Yes, we failed miserably," the Air Marshal spoke again. "But even as -we were failing, the gods were kind to us. They gave us the opportunity -to make a second try. Those code books found in von Khole's flat -near Golder's Green. Not until this morning did I have the chance to -examine those books. Not until after you had taken off did I realize -that a second chance would be ours in case we failed in the first. -It's funny, in a way, when you study the situation. The Germans don't -know where our fleet is, whether it's with the convoy or not, but they -can probably find out. We don't know where the raider and her U-boats -are, but <i>now</i> we can find out. The winner of this deadly game will -be the one who discovers <i>first</i> the locality of the other's prize. -And whether England wins or loses depends upon the skill, daring, and -enduring courage of you two!"</p> - -<p>Silence settled over the sands. There was not a sound save the soft -hiss of the waves lapping the shore. Dave stared at them and in an -abstract crazy sort of way felt that the sound was countless unseen -demons of war and death jeering at Manners' spoken words. He took his -gaze off the waves and looked at the Air Marshal.</p> - -<p>"I can think of no greater reward, sir, than the chance to play my part -no matter what it is, or costs," he said solemnly.</p> - -<p>"And I can think of no better way of expressing my own thoughts too, -sir," Freddy Farmer said in his quiet, steady voice.</p> - -<p>The Air Ministry official smiled, and for a brief moment something -seemed to glisten in each eye. Then his face was grave and his eyes -stern.</p> - -<p>"It may cost you everything!" he said in a hard tone. "But above all -you must not fail. I demand it. England demands it. The whole civilized -part of this world demands that you be successful. And now, here is -the actual part you are to play. Down there somewhere off the coast of -France is that raider and her under-sea wolf pack. Sometime tonight she -will probably put to sea to maneuver into position to make her surprise -attack upon the convoy just before dawn when the light is bad and the -convoy's lookouts are staring into a rising sun. Between midnight and -dawn you will make contact with that raider and her pack, locate her, -and lure her into the waiting arms of British warships. That in a few -words is <i>what</i> you will do, and here is <i>how</i> you will do it!"</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners paused again to get his breath and to clear his -throat.</p> - -<p>"You remember that Catalina flying boat I pointed out to you when we -were with Wing Commander Otis?" he said presently. "Well, that is the -plane you are going to use. What I said about it is true. It's the -fastest and best weather flying boat in the whole Coastal Command. It -is completely equipped and ready for flight right this minute. The guns -are loaded, bombs are in their racks, and food and supplies are all -aboard. I happen to know that because it is a policy of this Station to -have all planes ready for action whether they are scheduled for patrol -or not. In other words, any one of the flying boats in the basin is -all set to take the air, but that particular Catalina is the best of -the lot. Sometime tonight you two will sneak out to it in one of the -tenders moored to the edge of the basin and get into the air and away -as fast as you can."</p> - -<p>"Steal it right from under the noses of the guards, sir?" Freddy gasped.</p> - -<p>"Just that," Air Marshal Manners said with a short nod. "But that won't -be hard. If you noticed, that particular Catalina is farther out toward -open water than any of the others. Also, the guards here are stationed -at the enemy aircraft detectors instead of being stationed about the -basin. You won't need to worry about them. Your toughest job will be to -get up anchor, start the engines, taxi out to open water, and get off -without a light showing. Searchlights, of course, will go after you, -and maybe a couple of land planes or so. However, that will take time, -and if you do your job well you'll be completely lost and headed for -Lord knows where before any of them can pick you up."</p> - -<p>"It's going to be close, darn close," Dave murmured softly.</p> - -<p>"Exactly why I'm glad you two are tackling the job," the Air Marshal -grunted with a faint gesture. "Yes, it will be close, and beginning -with the moment you get her into the air you will be hunted high and -low by every plane and flying boat the Station can spare. And by planes -and boats from other squadrons, too. I say that because it is instantly -going to become known that you are two of Germany's cleverest espionage -agents who hoodwinked us completely by posing as French aeronautical -experts recently escaped from the occupied zone on the other side of -the Channel."</p> - -<p>"But, sir!" Freddy objected and then stopped short as the senior -officer made a sharp motion with one hand.</p> - -<p>"Questions later!" Manners snapped. "Let me finish first. Don't -worry; complete information about you will go out over the air to all -listening stations. I'll see to that. However, the real reason your -daring escape will go out over the air is because we want German radio -stations to be sure and pick it up. And most of all, that raider's -radio. We want the Nazis to swallow the story, and we think they will. -You see, a couple of weeks ago, Intelligence did pick up two notorious -German spies. They don't publicize feats like that, and for an obvious -reason. When you don't tell the enemy you have one of their agents they -naturally assume that the agent is still operating. At least for a -certain length of time. Fact is, often when we pick up an enemy agent -we send a few useless bits of information through to the Germans in -such a way they believe he is still serving them. And oftentimes we get -messages in return that lead us to other agents we did not even know -existed. It's a tricky game, Intelligence, and dangerous, too. But I -don't need to tell you chaps about Intelligence work!"<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners paused to light another cigarette and to cast a -casual glance about to make sure they were not being observed.</p> - -<p>"Anyway," he continued at length, "to the English, and to the Germans -we most certainly hope and pray, you will be regarded as those two -German spies. The fact that you stole a Catalina from this Base will -excite the Germans all the more. Particularly the raider's commander, -if he picks up our SOS broadcasts, which he undoubtedly will. The -Germans, of course know that this Base is in touch with that convoy. -Also that planes from this Base will be sent out to meet it at a -certain point and escort it in. Therefore they will assume that, having -stolen the Catalina from here, you of course must know all the secrets -about that convoy. And so, when you contact the raider its commander -should fairly leap at the bait ... and, please God, sail right into the -arms of the British Navy!"</p> - -<p>"You're supplying us with copies of the codes to use, sir?" Dave asked.</p> - -<p>"Of course!" the other replied. "I have them right here in my pocket. -I'll also give you the exact locations of the various units of the -Fleet now at sea. Once you have made contact with the raider and her -wolf pack you will feed her as many lies as possible and bit by bit -lead her into the arms of one of the Fleet units. But, here is the -important thing, and pay strict attention. The Nazis will of course -have their own planes out hunting for that convoy, so it will be up -to you to contact the raider <i>first</i>, and establish definitely in -her commander's mind that <i>you know where the convoy is</i>! Mind you! -Nazi aircraft will also pick up your signals, and they will all come -a-running to that locality. I don't know how much lee-way in time -you'll have but during that time, however, you've got to lead the -raider and her U-boats close enough to the British Fleet units for them -to jump and finish the business. Well, there it is, lads. The toughest -assignment I ever gave to any one. Frankly, you've one chance in a -hundred of leading that raider into the range of British guns. And, -frankly, you've got about one chance in a billion of coming through -alive. It's only fair that I should tell you that. The instant you've -betrayed the raider, and perhaps even before then, you'll have half the -Nazi over-water Air Force on your neck. And that's not to mention the -British lads who'll be looking for you right from the start. The only -bit of advice I can give you is, <i>keep clear of all aircraft and hide -in clouds as much as you can</i>! Oh yes, one more thing. Try first the -regular code signals I'll give you, and if you get no response switch -immediately to the emergency code. It is possible that von Khole's loss -of his code books has been made known to the raider. It's possible but -not likely because of the short period of time. Now, any questions?"</p> - -<p>"It's really a suggestion, sir," Dave said slowly after a moment's deep -thought.</p> - -<p>"Then let's have it!" Manners exclaimed impatiently. "After all, it's -your necks, you know. What is it?"</p> - -<p>"It's about making sure the Fleet units learn the exact location of the -raider once we sight her, and are perhaps jumped by enemy aircraft too -darn soon," Dave said. "There's a second radio on every Catalina, so -why don't we tune it to the directional finder wave-length the instant -we spot the raider. Then if anything does happen to us the Fleet units -will know her location and be able to circle her before she can head -for the convoy in case a real Nazi scouting plane sends her the true -location of the convoy."</p> - -<p>"That's a good suggestion," Manners said with a frown, "except that...."</p> - -<p>"I know what you're going to say, sir," Dave cut in hurriedly. "Except -that we're supposed to have stolen a plane, and even the British are -hunting us? Well, here's a way to get around that. You, through ways -you know best, inform the commander of each Fleet unit tonight that -they are to keep their sets open for that directional finder signal and -to act the instant they hear it and plot our position. They don't need -to know that it's coming from the supposedly stolen plane. Just let -them think that you've got real scouting planes out after that raider. -In short, the same idea as we tried to work this morning. It's simply -to make doubly sure of nailing that raider and her wolf-pack in case -Freddy and I run into bad trouble we can't lick."</p> - -<p>"I doubt you two not being able to lick anything," the Air Marshal -grunted and grinned. "But that is a darn good suggestion, Dawson. I'll -do it, don't worry. I'll get word to those Fleet unit commanders in -plenty of time. Well, Farmer, have you any suggestions to offer?"</p> - -<p>Freddy shook his head and shot a side glance at Dave.</p> - -<p>"He does all the talking for us, sir," he said. "He can't help it. A -habit he can't break. However, I agree with him completely this time."</p> - -<p>"The miracle has come to pass!" Dave chuckled. "The little man agrees -with me! The best omen of good luck possible. We can't lose, now!"</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners smiled, but in his eyes there was the glow of warm -and frank admiration. And his heart was bursting with pride. Here -indeed was the true expression of the unbeatable spirit of the Royal -Air Force. With death awaiting them out over the Atlantic these two -youths, with the minds, and skill, and courage of full grown men, were -enjoying themselves in a bit of horse-play. Manners swallowed hard, -then drew some papers from his tunic pocket and slid them across the -sand.</p> - -<p>"The codes and the locations of the Fleet units," he said as Dave -closed his hand over them. "Well, I guess we'd better be starting back. -It's close to mess time. Continue your act, and after mess ease outside -whenever you think the time best. Play sleepy and heading for your -quarters if you like. You probably won't be noticed, and most certainly -not missed. Except by me. And my prayers will be with you every single -second of the time. And.... God bless you!"</p> - -<p>The Air Marshal's voice was heavy and husky as he finished. He looked -the boys straight in the eye for a brief moment, then shook himself -slightly and got briskly up onto his feet.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWELVE" id="CHAPTER_TWELVE">CHAPTER TWELVE</a><br /> -<small><i>The Midnight Phantom</i></small></h2> - - -<p>The dark of night had come again to war besieged England, and from the -northern most tip of Scotland clear south to the Isle of Wight British -eyes and ears were on the alert for any and all surprise moves by -Hitler's devilish hordes on the other side of the English Channel and -the North Sea. Men stood waiting at their searchlight batteries. Others -stood ready at their anti-aircraft guns. And the night flying pilots -of the Royal Air Force stood within jumping distance of their swift, -deadly fighter planes. A whole nation of some forty five millions of -people ready and waiting for the next trick Adolf "Death" would pull -out of his bag.</p> - -<p>At Lands End Base, however, there were two who were not waiting for -"Satan," with his trick mustache and ever drooping lock of greasy hair, -to make the next move. On the contrary they were waiting for the right -time to make a move themselves. They were blended in with the darkness -within a hand's touch of a light small tender tied up at the southwest -side of the flying boat basin. They had been there for a good half hour -virtually holding their breath every instant of the time, straining -their ears for the slightest sound close by, and raking the darkness -with their eyes.</p> - -<p>"What say, shall we go?" Freddy Farmer presently breathed in Dave -Dawson's ear. "There's nobody within a quarter of a mile, and that wind -that's freshening may swing the Cat on her mooring line so's we'll have -the devil's own job heading out toward open water."</p> - -<p>"Okay it is," Dave breathed back and gripped Freddy's arm. "Down on -your belly, pal, and into the tender. I've got her free. I'll feather -paddle her out Indian style. Right! Here we go!"</p> - -<p>Cautiously the two youths wormed inch by inch down over the lip of -the basin wall toward the small tender. And then suddenly there came -a sound that froze them stiff and turned the blood in their veins to -ice. It was the muffled crack of a rifle shot. The muffled bark from -a rifle obviously fitted with a silencer. And ages before the echo was -gone an angry metal hornet buzzed squarely between them and buried -itself in the wall.</p> - -<p>In an infinitesimal period of time a million heart shredding thoughts -leaped and raced through Dave's brain. The basin guard! They had not -fooled the ever watchful guard at all! They had been spotted and a -warning shot had been fired right between them. The next shot would -find warm human flesh. What to do? Go on and be shot at like a helpless -clay pigeon? Go on in the tender and suddenly have every searchlight in -the place played squarely on them, and be riddled with British bullets -before they could so much as fling up their hands in surrender? Or -should they give up, now? Give up and reveal their true identities? -Should...?</p> - -<p>"No! No, we can't. We've got to carry on. There's everything at stake. -We've got to carry on. We promised. We vowed to Manners, to England, -and to God. We can't give up now. <i>We can't!</i>"</p> - -<p>Dave did not speak the words aloud, but they boomed through his brain -with all the roaring thunder of heavy cannon fire. Hardly realizing he -was doing so he reached out and touched Freddy's arm.</p> - -<p>"Never mind the tender!" he breathed. "We've got to get to that plane -by swimming for it. Slide down into the water and swim under water as -long as you can. Keep heading straight for the Cat-boat."</p> - -<p>"Right!" came the hushed reply. "It's only sixty yards, anyway. But -watch the slash going in."</p> - -<p>Faint movement told Dave that Freddy was already on his way. He waited -a few brief seconds until the English youth slid into the water without -causing a ripple and disappeared. Then Dave slid down in with all the -silence and swiftness of an eel. Yet a split second before the chilly -water closed over him he once more heard the muffled bark of a silencer -fitted gun, and a tiny twinge of pain rippled across the instep of -his left foot. It was so brief and short in duration that he hardly -felt it. Then he was underwater, air locked tightly in his lungs, and -swimming straight out from the wall with every ounce of his strength.</p> - -<p>With every stroke he took a hundred more maddening thoughts came to -torture his brain. Was he heading for the Cat-boat? Where was Freddy? -Was he all right? Was Freddy keeping true direction? Would they lose -each other, lose the Cat-boat, and flounder about in the dark until -they were spotted from shore and shot? Thoughts, thoughts, and more -thoughts. And each one like the white hot blade of a knife cutting away -a part of his brain.</p> - -<p>Seconds dragged by, hours, weeks, and years. Finally, his burning lungs -were on the point of bursting right out through his ribs. Blinding -light danced before his closed eyes, and in his whirling head was the -mighty roar of a world coming to an end. With a final desperate effort -he pushed his way up toward the surface and got his head above water. -For a few precious seconds he was forced to rest there slowly treading -water until the blinding light passed away, and the roaring thunder -faded down into silence.</p> - -<p>Finally, his bulging eyes were back in their sockets and he could see. -Dead ahead was nothing but water, and beyond the horizon marked by -a few faint glimmering stars. He looked to the right and saw a huge -darker shadow looming up. Then suddenly his straining eyes picked out -a small object that seemed to be floating motionless on the surface -of the basin. It was not five feet away and it was all he could do to -refrain from letting out a wild yell. He curbed the urge and faintly -breathed the name.</p> - -<p>"Freddy?"</p> - -<p>The small object on the water moved slightly and a whisper came -stealing back to him.</p> - -<p>"Right-o! What took you so long? This is it!"</p> - -<p>Dave didn't answer. Instead he glided through the water until he was at -Freddy Farmer's side. The English youth raised a hand and pointed above -and ahead.</p> - -<p>"Hull door, it's open," he whispered. "Manners must have slipped out -and done that to make it easier for us."</p> - -<p>"Well, thanks to whoever did it, anyway," Dave breathed back. "And I -guess we've fooled those guards. Boy, does it give you a chill to be -popped at by your own kind. Gosh, I...!"</p> - -<p>"Tell me later!" Freddy hissed. "This water is what's giving <i>me</i> a -chill. Come on, in we go. For goodness' sake, don't lose your hold and -fall back into the water. It'll rouse the whole Station!"</p> - -<p>"Okay!" Dave growled and pushed Freddy toward the flying boat's hull. -"Don't you be greasy fingers either!"</p> - -<p>Perhaps it was a minute, or perhaps it was two before the two youths -were inside the Catalina flying boat, had the hull door shut and were -up forward. Dave slid into the pilot's seat and reached for the engine -switches, and starter buttons. He was about to snap and press them when -a terrible thought crashed through his brain.</p> - -<p>"Man, oh, man, are we starting off fine!" he choked out. "The mooring -line, Freddy! Hop down and cast us free!"</p> - -<p>"Well, can you beat that?" Freddy gasped and instantly ducked down out -of sight and went forward to the gunner's nook in the nose of the hull.</p> - -<p>A couple of moments later Dave felt the flying boat ride free. And an -instant after that Freddy was back in the seat at his side. He reached -for the switches and starter buttons again.</p> - -<p>"If you've led a good life, pray hard, Freddy!" he said. "If you -haven't, pray hard, anyway!"</p> - -<p>No sooner had the last slipped off his lips than Dave whipped up the -switches and jabbed the starter buttons. There was an eternity of -silence. Then the silence was shattered by the whining grind of the -starter gears. Then the port engine roared into life, and a split -second later the starboard engine thundered into action. Fingers flying -about in the dark, Dave adjusted fuel pressure, oil, propeller pitch -and engine synchronization. And at the same time he applied the sea -rudder and swung the huge craft a quarter turn and headed out toward -open sea beyond the basin breakwater.</p> - -<p>All that took but a matter of split seconds, yet to Dave and Freddy -a thousand years seemed to drag by. It seemed to them as though the -Catalina was not moving an inch seaward; as though invisible hands were -holding it back. And all the time the thunder of the powerful engines -was enough to wake up the dead in China.</p> - -<p>"She's not moving, Dave!" Freddy shouted. "There must be another -mooring line we didn't see! There.... Oh, thank the Lord, we <i>are</i> -moving!"</p> - -<p>It was true. The huge flying boat had picked up speed and was now -kicking frothy spray back up over the compartment window as the snub -nose of the hull plowed through mounting rollers. And then, suddenly, -as the big craft came up onto the "step," a beam of brilliant white -left cut out at them from the right rear and filled the compartment -with an eerie shimmering light.</p> - -<p>"Now or never!" Dave shouted. "We've got to get off and shake that -beam, or we're in for another swim. Work those fuel adjustments, -Freddy! The port engine's lagging bad, and we need plenty of take-off -speed!"</p> - -<p>As Freddy got to work on the adjustments, Dave held the Cat-boat on a -course dead ahead. Though the presence of the searchlight was proof -positive their escape was now known to the entire base, it helped in -guiding the craft by lighting up the waters ahead. A moment later the -port engine started doing its full share and the flying boat thundered -forward at increased speed. But at the same time a second searchlight -beam, this one to the left rear, caught them, and they went roaring out -toward open sea pinned perfectly in the crossed beams of light.</p> - -<p>Dave waited until the craft had touched maximum take-off speed, then he -virtually lifted the Catalina into the air and curved up and around to -the east. The two searchlights followed him like two lighted fingers -of glue. But a couple of moments later, when he had gained sufficient -altitude, he suddenly shoved the flying boat down in a steep dive. No -sooner had he dropped out of the searchlight beams than he pulled out -of his dive, curved around toward the west and hauled the hull's nose -up toward the star dusted sky high overhead. It was a near maneuver, -and it was also successful. As soon as his eyes became accustomed to -the change from brilliant light to inky darkness, Dave turned his head -and looked down back. There were three searchlights, now, and they were -frantically probing about just off the surface of the open sea.</p> - -<p>"Right-o, very neat, my man!" came Freddy's voice. "But stop patting -yourself on the back. Get us away from here, <i>not</i> high above it! -They're bound to send off land planes, you know."</p> - -<p>"Sure as shooting," Dave replied in a tone of apology. "What we do need -is distance, and not altitude. Okay, my fine feathered friend. What'll -it be, South Africa or South America, huh?"</p> - -<p>"Further than that will make me feel much better!" Freddy replied. -"Jeepers, it gives you the creeps knowing that your own comrades are -after you, doesn't it?"</p> - -<p>"It sure doesn't make a fellow feel happy," Dave said soberly and took -a quick look at the searchlight beams that were fast falling far astern -of the flying boat. "Fact is, if you want the truth from me, I don't -feel so happy about any of this business."</p> - -<p>"What's that, Dave?" Freddy cried sharply and turned his head to stare -hard in the darkness. "You mean you don't honestly think there's a -chance in the world for us to do the job?"</p> - -<p>"No," Dave said. "Not that. We'll do it, or else. What bothers me is -that it seems too easy. I mean, it's all cut and dried. We do this and -we do that, and such and such happens. Just think back, pal. Did any of -the jobs we've tackled ever go off like clockwork according to plan?"</p> - -<p>The English youth didn't answer for a moment. He sat peering out the -forward window at the star dust far ahead on the horizon.</p> - -<p>"Okay, sleep, if you don't feel like talking," Dave growled after the -silence had stretched out to over a minute.</p> - -<p>"I was just trying to recall, that's all," Freddy said. "No, I can't -think of single job that didn't run into a snag before we had it all -tucked away."</p> - -<p>"Well, that's what I mean," Dave said and automatically trimmed ship a -bit finer. "On paper it doesn't look so very tough. True, we may run -into a flock of Nazi planes, but we've met Nazis before. And we may hit -some weather, or maybe get a plastering from the raider's anti-aircraft -guns once she gets wise to us. Then, too, we may stub our toes come -dawn, and run smack dab into a mess of British planes out hunting for -us. And, boy, I wouldn't like that at all. However, it's not those kind -of possibilities that bother me."</p> - -<p>"What other possibility is there?" Freddy asked. "Heaven knows you've -named enough to bother me, I fancy!"</p> - -<p>"The unsuspected possibility," Dave said and banked slightly more out -toward the broad bosom of the North Atlantic. "I mean, something that -neither of us, or Manners, dreamed would happen, I can't name it. I've -just got a hunch, that's all. You know, the old feeling?"</p> - -<p>"I say, cut it!" Freddy groaned. "You and your blasted hunches!"</p> - -<p>"Well, they've tinkled the bell in the past a few times," Dave said -with feeling.</p> - -<p>"Exactly why I say, cut it!" Freddy moaned. "Your blessed hunches -always turn out to be fact; cold fact, with bullets for trimming! Let's -talk about the weather and let the future bring what it will. I...."</p> - -<p>"It's brought something already!" Dave shouted and pointed off to the -right. "See those twin moving lights way over there? Those lights -belong to an airplane, my little man. And between you, me, and the -gatepost that plane belongs to the Royal Air Force. And the lad ain't -out joyriding, nohow! Hold your hat, I'm going down low just so's he -can't spot our moving shadow against the stars. Yes, sir, Manners sure -called the turn when he said they'd come a-running and fast!"</p> - -<p>"Do I know what a wild duck in hunting season must feel like!" Freddy -breathed as Dave throttled the engines to reduce the exhaust plumes to -nil, and sent the Catalina sliding down toward the waters of the North -Atlantic.</p> - -<p>"Pal, you ain't even begun to feel things, yet!" Dave cried. "Know -something? If we come through this session alive we'll probably be -retired from the Air Force on a pension."</p> - -<p>"Not likely!" Freddy said scornfully. "There's loads and loads of chaps -who risk their necks just as much as we do. Stop fishing for another -medal and a visit to Buckingham Palace!"</p> - -<p>"Medal, my eye!" Dave snorted. "I don't mean we'll be retired as a -reward for our glorious deeds. Nuts! We'll be retired on account of old -age! Don't know about you, but I've already aged twenty years since we -dived into the mooring basin. Get what I mean?"</p> - -<p>"Oh quite," Freddy said with a chuckle. "And you're lucky. I've added -thirty years, I swear! I.... Watch it, Dave! There's some kind of a -surface craft right below us. Maybe one of our Channel patrol boats. -Better pull out!"</p> - -<p>Dave, however, had already seen the moving shadow of something down -below them, and even before Freddy had finished shouting he had the -Catalina leveled out of its glide and was climbing up and off toward -the south. Luck or fast action saved them some tight moments, because -a moment later a surface ship broke out its searchlight and started -raking the heavens. Dave zig-zagged, however, and kept out of the beam -and finally passed on beyond its range.</p> - -<p>An hour later they were far at sea and high in the air and just under -some patches of clouds. Dave switched on the automatic pilot device, -and then took the copies of the Nazi codes and the data of the British -Fleet units locations from his pocket. He smoothed them out and trained -a single compartment light on them.</p> - -<p>"Close to midnight, Freddy," he said. "And we've got some home work to -do before we get going in earnest. So dust your brains out and get all -this stuff down pat. After all, you've got to work the radio, you know. -Besides, your German is twice as good as mine."</p> - -<p>"Liar!" Freddy growled. Then with a sigh, "Oh well, just as you say, -then. It's happened before. You get all the fun flying, and I get all -the dirty work!"</p> - -<p>"Brain work, chum!" Dave corrected with a laugh. "Me, I'm dumb. That's -why I always have to take you along on these jaunts, see?"</p> - -<p>"Next time don't feel you <i>have</i> to!" Freddy sighed and started digging -into the mess of Nazi code signals.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN" id="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN">CHAPTER THIRTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Satan Flies West</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Dawn sunshine rippled along the broad wings of the American built -Consolidated Catalina flying boat, but ominous coal black clouds were -beginning to pile up high in the western sky. Even as Dave Dawson -stared at them they seemed to fling a dark shadow far out over the -rolling swells of the North Atlantic. He gave an angry shake of his -head and impulsively took a tighter grip on the controls of the flying -boat.</p> - -<p>"That storm ahead looks pretty bad, Freddy," he said wearily out the -corner of his mouth. "What do you think?"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer stirred in the co-pilot's seat and glanced haggard eyed -at the altimeter. The needle pointed to exactly nine thousand feet.</p> - -<p>"We'll just have to hit it on the nose and pray," he said after a -moment. "If we climb over it we might just as well go back to port and -give up. I'm positive the raider's under it somewhere. Those signals -were so weak I couldn't make head or tail of them. All we can do is -take a chance we're right this time. If we aren't then...."</p> - -<p>Freddy shrugged and left the rest hanging in midair, and bent forward -to recheck the radio's adjustments for the umpty-umpteenth time in the -last six hours. Dave nodded absently and kept his gaze fixed on the -mountainous coal black clouds ahead. There was a dull throbbing in -his head, his eyes smarted and ached, and his whole body felt stiff -and sore. But what bothered him most was the bitter, empty feeling of -helpless despair in his heart.</p> - -<p>He and Freddy had been aloft in the Catalina for a good eight hours, -and for the last six of those hours they had done everything within -their power to make radio contact with the mystery raider and her -wolf-pack of U-boats somewhere on the vast expanse of the Atlantic -below them. Several times they had received code signals in answer to -their call, but because of a static band the signals had been too weak -for Freddy to understand. The very fact, though, that they had picked -up bits of the same signals several times convinced them both that they -had made contact. No definite proof, however, and hour after hour they -had cruised about in the dark shrouded sky groping like a blind man in -a strange room.</p> - -<p>That alone was enough to fray their nerves and put them on edge, but -to add to their helpless misery was the fact that they picked up spots -of other signals they knew did not come from the raider. Some were in -British code, and it was easy to guess that aircraft on the hunt for -them were communicating with each other and their shore bases. And -then there were signals in German code that were obviously being sent -out from Nazi aircraft. Those signals worried them more than the fact -they could not establish definite contact with the raider. The same -question burned through their brains in letters of fire a foot high. -Had scouting Nazi aircraft spotted the all important convoy and were -they establishing contact with the raider? And were the raider and her -wolf-pack already sneaking into position to pounce upon those precious -cargoes destined for England?</p> - -<p>Hours of groping blindly about in the dark. Hours when at any minute -they might plow headlong into R.A.F. planes searching them out. Hours -of heart crushing failure to achieve their all important goal, contact -with the raider. Hours during which every tantalizing thought possible -rose up to peck at their tired brains like vultures over a dead steer.</p> - -<p>And, now, dawn! Dawn and light. Light that would reveal them to the -pilots of other planes that might come across them in the air. The eyes -of British pilots. And the eyes of Nazi pilots. Dawn and one last hope, -a final prayer. That the mystery raider was hugging the area below -that storm ahead, and the static created by the storm was the reason -they couldn't contact the raider. One last hope. One last fight, not -against aircraft, but against the raging fury of an Atlantic storm. If -they could not find the raider somewhere in that storm area then their -mission was doomed to failure. Time's sands were running out in the -glass. If they did not find the raider this time, it would mean that -the raider was nowhere about. That it was far away, in contact with -a real Nazi scouting plane, and ... and perhaps in the very act of -pouncing upon the convoy.</p> - -<p>Dave shuddered and wiped sweat from his brow as the last thought -whipped across his brain. Then almost instantly he gritted his teeth, -got his chin up, and squared his jaw.</p> - -<p>"Nuts to that storm!" he muttered. "This Cat-boat can take worse than -that. We'll find that darn raider if we have to hunt it out from pole -to pole. Got your safety belt fastened tight, Freddy? We're going to -get a nice tossing."</p> - -<p>"As tight as it'll go," the English youth replied. "I'll be okay as -long as the wings stay on."</p> - -<p>"They'll stay on," Dave said grimly. "This job is Yank built, and good. -Make a check on our course. I want to head into that mess ahead in -the direction of the nearest British Fleet unit to our position. The -direction signals you last flashed out to the raider. I'm just banking -on a hope she caught them and is heading that way, too."</p> - -<p>"That would almost be too good to be true," Freddy sighed. "But hold -your horses a minute and I'll make a definite check."</p> - -<p>Freddy busied himself with his charts and navigation for a moment or -so, then straightened up and nodded.</p> - -<p>"Keep her as she goes, Dave," he reported. "We're right on the old -beam, now. And...."</p> - -<p>The English youth didn't finish the rest. He didn't for the plain -reason that an invisible express train seemed to come roaring out of -nowhere and crash into the right wing. The flying boat heeled over -drunkenly to that side, shivered and shook from stem to stern, and -then tried to drop by the nose and plunge madly seaward. Dave's face -paled and the cords of his neck stood out like taut steel cables as he -battled with the controls, and by sheer strength fought the flying boat -up onto even keel.</p> - -<p>"And that's the starter!" he panted. "Just a puff of air compared to -what's coming. But I'm going straight in to the middle and then down as -low as we dare. We may find a hole underneath that will give us enough -visibility. When we find it, keep your eyes open. Don't close them for -a second. And keep working that radio for all it's worth. Try every -darn code in the book, including the emergency one. The instant you get -a definite contact let me know."</p> - -<p>"I'll let you know, never fear!" Freddy Farmer bellowed as a sudden -roaring sound closed in from all sides to make the thunder of the -engines little more than a murmur. "I'll let you know ... but it may be -in the next world!"</p> - -<p>Dave hardly heard the last, and he didn't bother to make any comment. -He had no strength to waste trying to yell above the world of sound -into which they had plunged. Every ounce of strength was needed to hold -the controls firm, and keep the crazy crisscross tornado of wind from -spinning the huge Catalina up on wingtip as though it were bit of -torn paper in the air. The sun was now gone, swallowed up behind them, -and the flying boat was rocking, and bucking, and pitching through a -swirling world of slate grey and eerie shades of purple. Every so often -the roaring of the wind would die away as though by magic. There would -be only the powerful roar of their sturdy engines. And the craft would -tear forward without so much as a tremor in either wingtip.</p> - -<p>And then just as suddenly a coal black mass of cloud would zoom up -straight in front of the nose of the hull, and the fury of the weather -gods would crash in on them with terrifying force. A wall of slashing -rain would fall down upon them, and it would be impossible to see an -inch ahead or in any direction. The nose of the hull, where the forward -gunner ordinarily sat, would disappear from their view completely. -Tossed and heaved this way and that, they would hurtle onward -completely blind.</p> - -<p>A hundred times the flying boat would give a sharp lurch and Dave's -heart would stop cold in fear that something had given way, and that -the Catalina was breaking up in midair. Or a hundred times the engine -instrument needles would go on a crazy rampage about the dials, and -either the starboard or port engine would cough and sputter for a -second or two that was a whole lifetime to Dave Dawson's jangling -nerves. But always, no matter what, the Catalina kept on valiantly -fighting its way toward the center of the storm.</p> - -<p>Finally a sudden calm and a flood of grey light told Dave that they had -hit the center. He winked sweat from his eyes, sweat that had streamed -down off his forehead, and took a look below. He saw an expanse of thin -fleecy cloud that was traveling in a slow circle as the result of the -whirling movement at the core of the storm. He shot a quick hopeful -glance at Freddy, but the English youth had phones clamped to his ears -and was working frantically at the radio. His face was grim and set, -but there was a dull, defeated look in his eyes.</p> - -<p>Dave turned front, throttled the engines slightly and nosed the flying -boat down toward the layer of fleecy cloud. He could see gobs of black -cloud underneath, but the stuff was not solid, and hope zoomed high in -his breast. There were bound to be holes in the stuff. Holes through -which he could look down into the calm area under the center of the -storm. There, if any place, would be the raider. Stealing along in -the calm center while the real fury of the storm protected her on all -sides.</p> - -<p>Would she be there? Would she be heading in the right direction? For a -brief moment Dave was filled with the crazy desire to pull up out of -his dive and ride on through the other side of the storm without so -much as taking a single look for the raider. Crazy, insane? Sure! But -if he did go on down, and the raider was nowhere to be seen, the bitter -defeat might be more than his already singing nerves could take.</p> - -<p>"Cut it, you dope!" he grated at himself. "If she isn't there, then she -isn't there. What are you, anyway? A low down dirty quitter? No nerve -to stick your chin out, and take it? Get down there, Dawson, and get -down darn fast!"</p> - -<p>The sound of his own voice helped. The crazy desire to quit and run -faded away into thin air. His grip on the controls tightened and he -held the Catalina in its downward plunge. In the matter of seconds he -reached the layer of fleecy cloud. There he pulled out of his dive -slightly, kept the nose down just a hair, and started circling about. -The altimeter read three thousand feet. It was probably correct, but -after what the craft had passed through, every instrument on the panel -might be all cockeyed. And there were still black clouds below him. -For all he knew they might be sitting right on top of the storm swept -water. Death would have the last laugh if he should fly the Catalina -right down into the wet stuff. No, the thing to do was to circle slowly -and drop down foot by foot, and keep both eyes skinned for the first -hole in the black stuff below. And, please God, he would be able to -find a hole! If not....</p> - -<p>He didn't finish the thought. At that instant something hit him a sharp -blow on the right arm, and his own name was screamed in his ears.</p> - -<p>"<i>Dave</i>, I've made contact! Positive this time. I got the raider's -number signal as clear as a bell. She's close by, I'm positive. She -wants a repeat on the convoy's location!"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer's face was flaming red with excitement, and his eyes -seemed to shoot out sparks as he yelled at Dave and continued to thump -a fist on his right arm. Dave yanked his arm away and scowled.</p> - -<p>"Hey, lay off!" he shouted. "But swell, Freddy! Give her direction X -Dash M. That will take her out of this storm. She's moving with it now, -that's a cinch. And it'll be tough for the navy boats to find her in -that sea. The U-boats could scatter and skip away at will. Give her X -Dash M direction signal and get her out into open sea. We'll go on back -up for plenty altitude and pick her up when she comes out of the storm. -Boy, I guess we're tops, huh?"</p> - -<p>Freddy grinned like an imp but he didn't say anything. He was hard -at work at his set again, sending out the misleading signals to the -marauder of the high seas somewhere down there below the storm. For a -couple of minutes longer curiosity, burning curiosity, forced Dave to -continue circling downward searching for a hole that would give him a -view of the surface of the ocean. However, before he could find a hole -the sudden realization that he might spoil everything snapped him out -of his trance, and made him pull the nose up, feed full fuel to his -engines and start climbing the Catalina up through the center of the -storm.</p> - -<p>"Spoil things, and how!" he echoed the thought aloud. "If that raider -should spot us, ten to one her commander would wonder plenty how-come -we were so close. Use your head, Dave, and keep using it!"</p> - -<p>"I quite agree, though I don't know what you mean," he heard Freddy -shout. "A bad sign, though, when a chap starts talking to himself, you -know. That tossing around didn't get you, did it?"</p> - -<p>The English youth was grinning broadly and there was the old sparkle -in his eyes. Gone was the haggard, worn out look. That they had made -contact with the raider in their last desperate try had made a new man -of Freddy. Dave grinned back at him and felt ten times better himself. -Now they had something they could dig their teeth into. No more -stumbling around hoping against hope, and meeting with defeat at every -turn. Once they reached high altitude and spotted the raider when she -came out beyond the rim of the storm, everything would be all to the -merry. True, maybe whirlwind action lay just ahead, but that was okay. -It would be action with a purpose, not useless unfinished action.</p> - -<p>"I'm okay!" he said to Freddy. "I mean, no more goofy than usual. But -I do feel tops, now. As soon as we sight that baby send her a course -correction and get her headed once again toward that Fleet unit. And -once she's on course get set for anything."</p> - -<p>Freddy arched an eyebrow and looked puzzled.</p> - -<p>"Meaning exactly what?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Dave shrugged and made a little gesture with one hand.</p> - -<p>"I feel a million times better," he said, "but I've still got that old -hunch the unexpected's going to suddenly pop up with a bang. Gosh, -Freddy! Just suppose this ship you've contacted isn't the raider at -all!"</p> - -<p>The English youth paled but almost immediately he shook his head -vigorously.</p> - -<p>"Impossible!" he said bluntly. "I got her call signals as clear as -anything. Don't worry, she identified herself by code. She's the -raider, all right. And at least we've got a full hour."</p> - -<p>"Full hour?" Dave echoed and looked blank.</p> - -<p>"Certainly," Freddy replied. "From the convoy's position I radioed him -the commander knows that he can't get within striking distance at least -for an hour. So that gives us a full hour to work her dead away from -the convoy's route and into the hands of the Navy. If only the Nazi -planes don't show up. That's what worries me. That they'll show up, and -things will go wrong, and the murdering blighter and her steel fish -will still be able to get at the convoy. I don't want to return to port -if that happens, Dave."</p> - -<p>The two exchanged looks, and Dave impulsively reached out his hand and -pressed Freddy's knee.</p> - -<p>"Neither of us will be returning to port if things go all wrong, -Freddy," he said in a steady voice. "We're armed, and if the Navy and -Fleet Air Arm lads don't show up in time, then you and I'll fight the -whole lot of them alone ... and keep on fighting to the end. Now, pull -up your socks, my lad, and stop thinking crazy things. In another ten -minutes we should be taking our first look at her. Hang on, now. We're -going to be tossed around a bit, but not as much as before. I'm going -to climb up through to the top instead of barging right through to the -outside. We'll miss the bad part, I hope."</p> - -<p>With a nod for emphasis, Dave gave the Catalina's engines full throttle -and steepened his climb up through the comparatively calm area in the -center of the storm. Near the top, at an altitude of some fourteen -thousand feet, they ran into some rough air. The flying boat bucked -and quivered and threatened to fall off on one wing and plunged down. -There was a real pilot at the controls, though. An ace pilot, and he -fought the mad actions of the plane tooth and nail. And he won! Engines -laboring, due to the excess strain, the flying boat finally prop clawed -up through the last of the storm clouds and into a world flooded with -golden sunlight.</p> - -<p>"That's the nice girl!" Dave cried and affectionately patted the -controls with one hand. "Manners and Otis weren't shooting any line -when they said you were good. You are, and plenty more!"</p> - -<p>"Good grief!" Freddy gasped. "Have we actually been down in that stuff?"</p> - -<p>Dave turned his head to see Freddy peering downward out the -compartment window. He took a look, himself, and unconsciously gulped -and swallowed hard. Below was an angry mass of boiling black cloud. -It seemed to extend to the four horizons and completely blot out the -waters of the North Atlantic underneath. A whirling black mass that -changed to brown, then grey, then an eerie purple streaked with lacy -white. And then black to a turbulent, seething black mass again.</p> - -<p>"Sweet tripe!" Dave breathed in awe. "And the wings are still on? -Freddy, don't put that storm in your report, if you ever write one. -Nobody would believe you. And you couldn't blame them. Well, we're -out of it and above, anyway. So three cheers for us.... I mean, this -Catalina. Now, to get more altitude and start eye hunting for that -raider. Boy, if our good luck will only continue to hold out."</p> - -<p>"It's got to, and it's going to!" Freddy said firmly. "Just don't give -it another thought. Just skin your eyes and I'll skin mine. And I'll -bet you five pounds I spot her first."</p> - -<p>"A bet!" Dave shouted happily and swung the Catalina around toward the -west. "I know I'm going to lose, though. Heck, with those sharp eyes -you've got, you could read tomorrow's newspaper from here! And I don't -mean maybe!"</p> - -<p>After that the two youths lapsed into silence, and each bent forward -and eagerly fixed his gaze on the western rim of the savage storm and -the rain blurred stretches of the Atlantic they could see far beyond. -Their spirits were high, and their hearts were light. The job was still -to be done. The task was still to be accomplished, yet somehow they -felt they had reached the home stretch, and that their goal was almost -in sight.</p> - -<p>It was a wonderful feeling that filled their fighting hearts and -tingled their blood, but somewhere up on high the gods of war shrilled -in high glee, for they knew something that neither Dave Dawson or -Freddy Farmer or so much as even dreamed. The war gods knew that death -was close to those two R.A.F. aces. Close, real close. The matter of -only a few feet. And even as they strained their eyes for their very -first glimpse of the Atlantic raider, death moved one step closer, and -another, and another....</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN">CHAPTER FOURTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Sky Doom</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Angry black storm clouds swept far to the roar of the Consolidated -Catalina flying boat. Brilliant sunshine bathed the craft in its warm -glow from the hull nose clear back to the tail, and from wingtip to -wingtip. Below and just ahead heaving seas caused by the passing storm -were slowly subsiding. Patches of white foam were fast disappearing; -dissolving into thin air under the steady rays of the sun.</p> - -<p>"It should be soon, Dave," Freddy presently broke the silence in a -strained voice. "And if it isn't, I swear I'll blessed well blow my -topper!"</p> - -<p>"Keep your shirt on, pal," Dave grunted good-naturedly. "We can travel -plenty fast, remember. That raider is in the water, not in the air -with wings. It'll take time for her to get clear. How about trying a -check on her?"</p> - -<p>"I did just a moment ago," the English youth replied. "The signals were -clear as a bell. She's traveling under forced draft, and her commander -begged me not to lose touch with the convoy. He also wanted to know if -British navy boats and aircraft were escorting the convoy."</p> - -<p>"And you told him?" Dave murmured.</p> - -<p>"Same as the first message I tried to get through to him, of course," -Freddy said in a slightly hurt tone. "No escorting aircraft as yet, as -the convoy hasn't reached the rendezvous point. And that there're only -two Corvettes leading the merchant ships."</p> - -<p>"Beautiful, if he only swallows it, which I guess he's done," Dave said -with a chuckle. "Boy, what a nice surprise that guy's going to get! He -figures that he's going to sneak up on the unprotected rear of that -convoy and go through it like hot coals through snow. Instead, though, -he's going to plow right into a mess of screaming shells from British -navy guns, and depth charges, and bombs, and everything else. If only -they can ring those U-boats before they duck down deep and skip away."</p> - -<p>"The boys of the Fleet Air Arm will take care of that," Freddy said -confidently. "They'll be up aloft, and they'll spot the raider long -before she spots them. They'll give the range to the gunners on the -ships, and then dive bomb the U-boats before they hardly have time to -stick their noses under."</p> - -<p>"Well, you sure make it listen good," Dave grinned. "And I'm keeping my -fingers crossed that you're right. <i>Eureka!</i> Pay me the five pounds, -Freddy! Look off down there. Just to the left of that patch of cloud -scud. It's a ship. It's our raider, Freddy! See? See? Her U-boats are -all on the surface. See those globs of grey in fan shape formation a -quarter of a mile astern of her. Freddy! That's her, and no kidding -about it!"</p> - -<p>The English youth didn't utter a sound. He hunched forward and sighted -along Dave's trembling pointed finger. Then he saw her, too. Saw the -wolf-pack of U-boats running at top speed on the surface astern of the -raider. Smoke from the raider's single funnel was streaming back low -over the stern of the craft. A clear indication that she was getting -every ounce of drive out of her propellers. She was low in the water -and rather than ride up over each roller, her sharp bow cut through -it like a knife and sent sheets of frothing water mounting high over -her forecastle. A ship of speed, and deadly fighting power, yet ugly -and repulsive looking even though you did not know of the mission of -murdering destruction on which she was bent.</p> - -<p>"And there you are, you dirty sea rat!" Dave grated through clenched -teeth. "Think you're on your way to hurt England, eh? Well, you've got -another...."</p> - -<p><i>Crack!</i></p> - -<p>The bark of the gun was like the world exploding apart to Dave and -Freddy. And even as the sharp sound came to their ears they both saw -the tiny hole and mass of cracks that appeared as though by magic in -the forward window. For a brief instant they both stared at it as -though hypnotized. Then as one man they whirled around in their seats -and gaped aft.</p> - -<p>If the bark of a gun and a bullet hole in the forward window surprised -them, then sight of the figure clutching the gun stunned them -completely. He wore the uniform of an R.A.F. Flying Officer, but the -uniform was splotched with dirt, and grease, and oil. He wore no cap -and his hair dangled down over his forehead. On the right cheek of his -not too bad looking face was an ugly gash that ran straight up and -down. A few tiny drops of blood seeped out the lower end and dribbled -down to the line of his jaw and dropped off to stain the front of his -tunic. Apparently he had stowed away in an aft compartment of the -plane.</p> - -<p>Ten thousand exclamations surged up to Dave's lips but for the life -of him he could not speak a word. His throat was bone dry, and his -tongue was as big as a baseball bat in his mouth. It was the same -with Freddy Farmer, and it seemed almost to be the same with the man -holding the gun, for he said not a word either. He simply stood braced -on the cat-walk leading aft, a cruel twist to his lips, a burning look -of hatred in his eyes, and the Luger in his hand held rock steady and -unwavering.</p> - -<p>And then sound exploded from Dave Dawson's lips.</p> - -<p>"<i>Baron von Khole!</i>" he cried.</p> - -<p>The man with the gun stiffened slightly. Startled surprise and -annoyance flashed across his face. Then suddenly he relaxed, smiled -tight lipped, and made a short little bow from the waist.</p> - -<p>"But, of course," he said in perfect English, as though talking to -himself. "That swine, Manners, must have spoken to you. Anyway, you are -correct, my young friend. I don't mind admitting it, <i>now</i>!"</p> - -<p>"And we first met you as Steffins!" Freddy cried as he suddenly found -his own tongue.</p> - -<p>The German agent flecked a glance at the English youth and nodded -faintly.</p> - -<p>"Splendid!" he said with a chuckle. "You two children really aren't -fools, are you? You have brains, and you use them. Yes, that is true. I -met you as Steffins."</p> - -<p>"Steffins, the yellow belly!" Dave blurted out before he could cut off -the words.</p> - -<p>A cold deadly look leaped into the Nazi's eyes, and his finger crooked -about the Luger's trigger seemed to tighten a hair.</p> - -<p>"You are asking for death sooner than I had planned it, little boy!" he -spat out harshly. "No one who desires to live even for a minute should -call me a coward. That little affair on the train was as I planned it."</p> - -<p>"And the strafing plane was some kind of a signal for you, too, wasn't -it?" Dave shot out the question.</p> - -<p>"<i>Donder and Blitzen!</i>" the German exclaimed in a whisper. "It is too -bad you do not belong to German Intelligence. Yes, we could make good -use of you. It was a signal, yes. And you can probably guess why. That -doddering fool, Manners, has probably told you the whole story."</p> - -<p>"I know what you mean!" Freddy cried. "That rotten business you were -doing in London. The diving plane was a signal that your hide-out in -London had been found, and that they were after you!"</p> - -<p>"My, my, never have I met such clever little boys!" von Khole said with -a marked sneer. "However, that's just about correct. It was a warning. -So that is why I did not report to Squadron Seventy-Four. But it wasn't -necessary, anyway. <i>Don't</i>, my young Dawson! Don't be a foolish child -and think you can move faster than I can shoot!"</p> - -<p>Dave had moved slightly in his seat, but he froze stiff as the Nazi's -gun muzzle bored straight at a point between his eyes. A smarting -retort rose to his lips, but common sense made him choke it back. So -long as they kept the German talking, so long would they have the -chance to do something about their predicament. <i>Predicament?</i> That -was indeed putting it mildly. Not since that day in war blasted France -when he and Freddy had first met had they been in such a tight corner -as now.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> And never had death been so close and so certain. No, their -only hope was to stall for time. For while there is time there is hope, -and while there is hope there is life.</p> - -<p>"So you didn't report to Plymouth Base, eh?" he murmured and forced a -puzzled note into his voice. "Then how in the world were you able to -steal that Fairey Swordfish plane and follow us down to that rendezvous -area for the raider and her wolf-pack of U-boats? You sure must have -taken plenty of chances."</p> - -<p>"Yes, you certainly must have!" Freddy cried eagerly and twitched in -his seat. "Ouch, my elbow! But tell us, von Khole. How in the world did -you manage that?"</p> - -<p>The German's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but when he saw the eager -and excited looks on the boys' faces he relaxed and smirked in triumph. -He drew himself up straight but didn't take the gun off them for a -single instant.</p> - -<p>"There is nothing too difficult for Baron von Khole!" he cried in a -loud voice and thumped his chest with his free hand. "It was nothing, -that little bit at Plymouth. It was so simple. I merely made myself up -as a mechanic and walked in through the main gates and past the stupid -guards. A question here and there, and I learned of a plane that was -going to be tested. I hid in the hangar and took care of the pilot when -he arrived! I saw you two little ones take off. Of course I already -knew the contents of your sealed orders, and I had made arrangements -for the raider and her U-boats to be elsewhere. However, I had decided -that Manners should be made to realize what a fool he was to think he -could outwit us Germans. So I arranged for one U-boat to remain. A -single U-boat to remain and sink the very first British warship that -came to the spot. And so...."</p> - -<p>"And so that idea fell flat," Dave interrupted with a grim nod.</p> - -<p>Von Khole shrugged.</p> - -<p>"You were lucky," he grunted. "And the U-boat's commander was a fool -to come to the surface before you were in the water. But it does not -matter, now. Your precious Air Marshal Manners knows what a fool he -made of himself. And by the by, you two owe me your thanks. I could -have killed you very easily, you know. But we Germans do not like to -make war on mere boys ... unless we are forced to."</p> - -<p>The deadly undernote of the last sent a chill cutting straight through -Dave's heart. Von Khole didn't have to write him a letter to explain -that the moment to "make war on mere boys" <i>had now arrived</i>!</p> - -<p>He covered up his inner feelings however with a beautiful Bronx cheer.</p> - -<p>"Says you, von Khole!" he jeered. "You owe us that kind of a vote of -thanks. I had you in my sights cold, and you know darn well I did. I -could have shot the pants right off you, and with both eyes shut, too."</p> - -<p>"And you didn't?" the German echoed in mock surprise. "How strange! Or -perhaps it was that your guns jammed at that very crucial moment, eh? I -have heard that sort of explanation many times."</p> - -<p>"It was my fault!" Freddy Farmer blurted out, and moved some more in -his seat. "I was the one who stopped him. And I was a blasted fool for -doing it, I can tell you. Rubbish to what you think! Dawson could have -shot you down as easy as pie."</p> - -<p>Von Khole nodded his head in mock patience.</p> - -<p>"Well, well, what a shame!" he sighed. "And what a shame, my young -Dawson, we'll never have another chance to see who is the better pilot. -Yes, too bad, but one cannot expect everything in war, you know."</p> - -<p>As the Nazi finished the last he leaned forward slightly and shot a -quick glance down over the bow of the hull. Regardless of orders not to -move, Dave turned his head and took a look himself. His heart leaped up -into his throat when he saw that the raider had altered her course, and -with her wolf-pack of U-boats in tow was steaming at full draft <i>due -north</i>! He turned back and shot a quizzical look at von Khole. The -German accepted the look with a smile and a nod.</p> - -<p>"Yes, your little game is over, my young ones," he said. "There is -work, great work for that raider to perform, and so she is hurrying on -her way."</p> - -<p>"What's that?" Freddy cried and spun front in his own seat to look. -"Good grief, it can't be! What made that raider change her course? She -headed directly for...!"</p> - -<p>The English youth choked himself off and turned back to stare wide eyed -at von Khole. The Nazi laughed out loud at the horror and misery on -Freddy's face.</p> - -<p>"Did you think this was the only airplane in the world?" he cried in a -taunting voice. "Do you think all German pilots are asleep? <i>Himmel!</i> -What fools to even hope you could be successful! What dunces to even -think you could outwit me, Baron von Khole. Mere children! Bah!"</p> - -<p>The Nazi agent made as though to spit as he spoke the last, and his -whole face flamed red with withering scorn and contempt. A thousand -cannons began booming in Dave's brain. He trembled from head to foot -with the furious desire to leap at von Khole, and the heck with the -Luger pointed his way. But with all his raging fury he still retained -his common sense. And so he stayed right where he was.</p> - -<p>"I get it," he said suddenly. "Your scouting planes have known the -raider's position all along, huh?"</p> - -<p>"But naturally," the German said. "And the way that ship is now headed -means that <i>our aircraft have sighted your precious convoy and have -communicated its position to the raider</i>! True, you contacted her -first. I suspected that you probably would, but I didn't care. I -decided to wait until you had actually sighted her and then put an end -to your little game. From this moment on she will receive the true -location and course of the convoy. She will close in and strike at the -proper moment. The raider, her U-boats, and our long range bombers. -It will be a great victory for Der Fuehrer, and a crushing blow to -your doomed England. <i>Himmel!</i> Do you think I would have stayed hidden -aboard this flying boat listening to you two children jabber about the -British Fleet units and the wonderful things they were going to do, if -I did not know for certain that this moment of triumph would arrive? -But of course not. I only wish I could see the face of your naval ship -commanders as they wait <i>and wait</i> for a raider to come sailing into -their gun range. A raider that will be hundreds of miles away, and her -work well done, before they even start combing the ocean!"</p> - -<p>The Nazi was almost screaming by the time he finally came to a pause. -Dave, looking at his flushed face, spittle drooling mouth, and popping -eyes, knew that he was not looking at just one man but at a living -symbol of the whole rotten to the core Nazi breed. Just as Air Marshal -Manners had said, "Clever, cunning, and a genius at his work, but a -black hearted, ruthless murderer."</p> - -<p>"Your raider will not even get in sight of that convoy!" Freddy cried, -his face white and strained. "It's well guarded. I can assure you of -that."</p> - -<p>"Now, can you, my little fellow?" von Khole sneered at him. "You are -completely wrong. Perhaps you do not know it, but you <i>are</i>! Until -the rendezvous point is reached, only two Corvettes are guarding that -convoy. That is another stupid blunder on the part of your willy-nilly -superiors. They decided to let the convoy come across with but two -Corvettes to protect her until close off shore, instead of sending out -naval ships to a rendezvous far at sea. But, no. They decided to spread -their navy ships about the ocean and trap our powerful raider and her -U-boats. Clever, they thought. Fool the Germans completely. Ah, yes! -They thought it was a wonderful idea. Well, you see what a wonderful -idea it turned out to be? Long before the convoy reaches the rendezvous -point with your Catalinas and your destroyers it will be at the bottom -of the Atlantic. Every ship. <i>All of them!</i>"</p> - -<p>For a second Dave thought Freddy was going to hurl himself right out of -the seat and lunge for the Nazi's throat. Instead, the English youth -suddenly threw back his head and roared with laughter. Von Khole's face -went dark, a scowl creased his brows, and a puzzled glint came into his -eyes.</p> - -<p>"So, you laugh when your countrymen are about to die?" he snarled as -Freddy subsided a little.</p> - -<p>"<i>My</i> countrymen die?" Freddy shot at him. "Why, you balmy Jerry, if -they do, it will be from laughing. Laughing at you, and your blessed -Fuehrer, at the whole lot of you silly Nazis. Shall we tell him, Dave?"</p> - -<p>Freddy looked at Dave and winked the eye turned away from von Khole. -Dave had no idea what the act was about, but he played up to it -instantly. He shrugged and made a little gesture with his hands.</p> - -<p>"Why bother?" he grunted. "Let him find out for himself."</p> - -<p>Freddy pursed his lips, half turned and gave von Khole an accusing look.</p> - -<p>"I say, let's stop playing with this stupid game," Freddy said. "I -jolly well fancy you know all about it. Good grief, man, you <i>must</i> -know if you're as clever as they say you are."</p> - -<p>"I think you are talking in riddles," the Nazi said in a wary tone. -"And I do not like riddles. What is this interesting thing you feel -positive I should know?"</p> - -<p>Freddy gave an exasperated shake of his head.</p> - -<p>"The convoy, of course!" he snapped. "Its arrival! What else, my dear -fellow?"</p> - -<p>"Arrival?" von Khole echoed in a harsh voice.</p> - -<p>"Certainly!" Freddy snapped at him again. "It docked at English ports -early last night. All this business is simply an attempt to remove your -wonder raider and her school of tin fish out of this blasted war once -and for all."</p> - -<p>"You little lying swine!" the German hissed as his eyes clouded up with -thunder heads of berserk rage. "Do you think I'd believe that for an -instant? No, my little boy. Your precious convoy has not made port, -yet. And it never will! I can see that you have learned some things -from your American friend, Dawson, here. He has taught you how to -bluff. But I am one you cannot bluff."</p> - -<p>"Okay, have it your way," Dave said, catching on to Freddy's effort to -stall for time, and keep stalling. "You know your own codes, don't you? -Your aircraft codes?"</p> - -<p>"But naturally," the German said. "What of it?"</p> - -<p>Dave lifted his hand enough to indicate the main radio fitted to its -panel in front of Freddy Farmer's seat.</p> - -<p>"Then get to work on that thing, and check," Dave said in a defiant -tone. "Call your scouting aircraft and find out if they've spotted a -big convoy. Yes, I said <i>big</i> convoy. Go on! Contact them and find out -how many ships there are in the convoy <i>you think</i> that raider's headed -toward. Go on, I dare you!"</p> - -<p>Baron von Khole raked Dave's face with his eyes as though he were -attempting to look right into the brain and read the truth there. Dave -returned his stare and grinned a challenge.</p> - -<p>"Farmer and I know that we're all washed up, von Khole," he said. "You -beat us to the punch before we could guide the raider to within range -of the British warships. Okay, you win that one. But if you think -there's any big convoy waiting to be picked off, you're all wet. And I -mean, all wet!"</p> - -<p>The German continued to glare at them out of half closed eyes, and Dave -kept the taunting grin on his face though his heart was pounding like -a trip hammer against his ribs. Perhaps von Khole's next move would -be the break that he and Freddy needed so desperately. If the German -took up the challenge and bent forward to take the head phones from -Freddy and use the radio the movement would bring him close. Please, -God, close enough to make a wild grab for that Luger. It was their only -chance. To overpower von Khole and get back on the job. The raider and -her U-boats were moving northward fast. She had to be stopped. She -<i>had</i> to be stopped! Please, God, make von Khole move closer ... move -just a couple of feet closer!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN">CHAPTER FIFTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>High Adventure</i></small></h2> - - -<p>One, two, three seconds ticked by as Dave kept his eyes locked with von -Khole's. A conglomeration of expressions flitted across the man's face. -Four, five, six seconds! Anger, wonder, suspicion, and scorn showed -in the German's face. He made as though to move, checked himself, and -remained where he was. Seven, eight, nine seconds!</p> - -<p>And then Dave wanted to weep with rage. Von Khole smiled and shook his -head.</p> - -<p>"No, my little fools!" he said with a dry chuckle. "I am not as stupid -as that. You would like to grab for this gun, eh, as I reached for the -radio? Bah! I can see the desire in your faces. But that is not why I -know you lie. You, my little Farmer! Your bluff was almost convincing. -Perhaps it even would have convinced me if you had not made that slip -of the tongue when you first saw that the raider was heading north. Ah, -yes! You were about to say she was heading directly for the convoy, -when you cut yourself off. Your radio? I shall have plenty of time to -use it later. Right now it amuses me to see the misery and the defeat -in your faces."</p> - -<p>As the German stopped talking a strange sensation began to ripple -through Dave. It was as though something were definitely wrong with the -picture. It was as though von Khole were hesitating for some mysterious -reason. As though he wanted to act but couldn't make up his mind -whether to act or not. Dave knew that the Nazi intended to rid himself -of them both. He was positive that von Khole had a bullet for each of -them in that Luger held steady in his hand. Yet the man seemed in no -hurry to shoot. Instead he was waiting. Why? Waiting for what? Dave -stared hard at the Nazi's face but there was absolutely nothing there -to give him an inkling of what was going on in the brain behind it.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Dave thought of the two shots that had been fired in the dark -back at the Lands End Base. Two shots that sounded as though they had -come from a rifle fitted with a silencer. Had that been the case, or -had shooting across water given him that impression? And, also, he and -Freddy had found the hull door of the Catalina swung wide open. A split -second later he was sure he knew the truth about that incident.</p> - -<p>"You fired those shots at us from the mooring basin!" he blurted out. -"You were already in this flying boat, and you fired from inside -through the open hull door so that the flash would not be seen ashore!"</p> - -<p>"Splendid, splendid!" von Khole cried. Then with an annoyed toss of -his head, "And I am ashamed of myself. I am a perfect shot, but I was -not last night. I missed you both completely. However, the darkness -made accurate shooting impossible. Too bad I missed. It would have been -quite a shock for your wonderful Air Marshal Manners to find you two -dead, and this Catalina flying boat stolen <i>anyway</i>!"</p> - -<p>"You certainly don't like that guy, do you?" Dave said to keep the Nazi -talking.</p> - -<p>"The swine has caused me much trouble!" von Khole bit off savagely. -"But I will have plenty of time to deal with him when this little -affair is finished."</p> - -<p>As the German spoke the words his eyes left Dave's face for a brief -instant and he shot a scowling glance at the radio panel. That glance -made Dave's heart loop over. Was the radio the reason why von Khole was -hesitating in pulling the Luger's trigger, and waiting? If so, why? -Dave wracked his brain for an answer to that one, but there was none to -be found.</p> - -<p>"How the heck did you know we were going to use this Catalina?" he -asked quickly as a sudden look of anger leaped into the Nazi's eyes. -"And as far as that goes, how in thunder did you know we were at Lands -End Base? Of course you were in that Messerschmitt that tried to trail -us?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I was in that plane," von Khole said absently.</p> - -<p>"But that was a Nazi plane!" Freddy exclaimed. "And.... Wait! I get -it! You flew that Fairey Swordfish to occupied France and returned in -a Messerschmitt to trail Air Marshal Manners down from London. You had -got word he was heading for Plymouth?"</p> - -<p>"Correct!" von Khole snapped. "I am informed of everything as soon as -it happens. We intercepted your aircraft carrier's message to Manners -saying that you two had been picked up. I decided to remove the real -menace to my future plans, Air Marshal Manners! However, he reached -Plymouth before I could meet him in the air. Too bad. However, there -is tomorrow, and the next day, and lots of days after that. I have -promised myself that Air Marshal Manners shall feel my bullets cutting -into his swine hide. And I do not break, a promise to myself!"</p> - -<p>"But I lost you cold as we were returning to London!" Dave said with -a puzzled frown. "And, Mister, we darn near washed each other out -in those clouds. Another foot the wrong way and it would have been -curtains for the lot of us. Parachutes wouldn't have done any of us -any good with those two ships smacking each other at that speed. But -it wasn't until <i>after</i> that that Manners ordered me to head for Lands -End. I said you maybe had cat's eyes, and you certainly must have had -them then. Did you actually trail us to Lands End Base?"</p> - -<p>The sudden beam of vanity that lighted up von Khole's face sent a warm -glow of new hope surging through Dave. If he could only keep the Nazi -talking for a little longer. If he only could! A wild, crazy plan had -come into his head all of a sudden. There was just about one chance -in six billion that he could carry it out successfully. But the odds -against him didn't matter. It was a chance, and that was the all -important thing. But he must keep von Khole talking on. Praise the -dirty rat. Flatter him! Do anything just to keep him talking!</p> - -<p>"No kidding?" Dave pressed his question in an awed tone. "Did you -really and truly trail us down to Lands End Base?"</p> - -<p>The German laughed softly and shook his head and gestured with his free -hand, palm upward.</p> - -<p>"No, because I didn't have to," he said. "I have brains, and so I -simply used them. I realized that Manners must know I was in the -Messerschmitt. I realized that he would of course change his course, -and not head for London. Then where would he head? Back to Plymouth? -No. Then where? It was obvious that he would head for another Coastal -Command Base. That he would head in the opposite direction from London. -And that would be? Toward Southampton, of course. So I flew in that -direction, myself, and circled about until I saw your plane. And when I -saw that you were heading west, the answer was simple. Where else but -Lands End? So I went to Lands End, myself!"</p> - -<p>"In a Nazi Messerschmitt?" Freddy Farmer gasped before he could check -himself.</p> - -<p>Von Khole gave him a reproachful look, and shook his head sadly from -side to side.</p> - -<p>"You stupid English!" he groaned. "You do not have the imagination -of a fly. But of course not. I stayed in the clouds for a bit longer -and worked back over land between Southampton and Lands End. Then I -pointed my plane northward with the controls set for level flight, and -jumped with my parachute. By the time I reached earth the Messerschmitt -was many miles away. And a time bomb in it eventually blew it into -a million pieces so that it would never be recognized for what it -really was. Soldiers rushed me when I landed, but of course I carry -identification papers that nobody would ever question. I told them that -my plane had caught fire in the air and that I had been forced to jump. -I even told them I was on a special courier mission, and...."</p> - -<p>The German paused to laugh heartily.</p> - -<p>"What stupid swine, the English!" he cried. "Be polite, be the -gentleman, and they will believe anything you say. The soldiers took -me to their commanding officer where I repeated my story. He believed -me, also. And he actually loaned me his car in which to continue my -journey. <i>Himmel!</i> After the war I shall write a book on the English. -It will be the funniest thing ever written. Anyway, I abandoned the -car just before I reached Lands End, and made the rest of the way on -foot. The field guards saluted me as I walked past them, and that was -all there was to it. And now...."</p> - -<p>"Not quite all, von Khole," Dave spoke up quickly. "There's still the -most mysterious part of it all that I can't figure. I mean, how in heck -did you find out that Farmer and I were going to steal this plane? Or -maybe you just watched us, and guessed, huh? That sure was a bit of -smart guessing, is all I can say."</p> - -<p>"Quite!" Freddy echoed. "It's almost unbelievable!"</p> - -<p>The Nazi spy snorted in scorn.</p> - -<p>"Guess?" he said sharply. "Of course not. I saw Manners talking to you -on that strip of sandy beach. I simply listened to what he told you, -and learned everything."</p> - -<p>"You listened?" Dave cried. "Hey! Don't try to stuff that one down my -throat. There wasn't anybody within two hundred yards of us. And don't -say that Manners bellowed at us through a megaphone, because that's -out, too. What do you mean, listened?"</p> - -<p>"Not with my ears, with my eyes, my simple one!" the Nazi clipped at -him. "For years I have been an expert lip reader. I hid in the shore -grass a good quarter of a mile from where you sat, trained a powerful -pair of binoculars on Manners' face and read every word he spoke to -you. After that I simply watched you two every instant of the time. -<i>Himmel!</i> It was child's play compared to lots of other tasks I have -accomplished for my Fatherland."</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll be cow-kicked!" Dave breathed in frank admiration. -"Lip-read every word Air Marshal spoke! Boy oh boy! Did we have two -strikes on us before we even got started!"</p> - -<p>"What?" von Khole echoed with a puzzled frown. "Two strikes? You speak -of labor trouble in the United States?"</p> - -<p>"No," Dave said. Then with a grin, "Brooklyn Dodger trouble when Ernie -White of the St. Louis Cards is pitching against them. But skip it. -What happened to your face? Did you run into a door that wasn't shut?"</p> - -<p>Baron von Khole scowled and impulsively reached up and touched his cut -cheek with his free hand. It was not until then that Dave saw that the -German had a beautiful goose egg on the left side of his head.</p> - -<p>"I can thank you for that!" the German said sharply. "You and this -cursed plane that bucks like a wild horse. About two hours after your -take-off a movement of the plane hurled me out of my hiding place aft -and I struck my head on one of the bracing girders, and a bolt end cut -my cheek. But it is nothing."</p> - -<p>A glimmer of truth suddenly flashed through Dave's brain.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I remember that tough air pocket we smacked into," he said with -an understanding nod. "It bounced Farmer and me around plenty, too. It -was just before we sighted those signal lights of some craft down on -the water."</p> - -<p>The German seemed to look blank for the tiniest part of a split second. -Then he nodded his head vigorously.</p> - -<p>"Yes, it was shortly before then," he said. "But it's nothing. And now, -my little boys, we have done enough talking, you and I. There is more -for me to do, and unfortunately for you, you are in my way. I cannot -waste any more time. What happens, must happen."</p> - -<p>Dave looked blank, but his brain was clicking over at lightning like -speed. The truth, and he was sure it was the truth, was as clear as -high noon in his brain. Yes, he knew, now, why von Khole had hesitated -using the Luger, and had waited, casting expectant glances at the -radio every now and then. The reason was because the Nazi was worried. -Worried about what messages Dave and Freddy had sent and received -<i>while Baron von Khole was out cold from the crack he received on his -head</i>. And the man <i>had</i> been knocked unconscious. Dave knew that for a -certainty. He knew it, because he had lied about sighting signal lights -from a boat below them. <i>There hadn't been any signal lights!</i> They -hadn't even sighted a boat!</p> - -<p>Yes, von Khole had delayed action because he was worried. Ten to one -the man had only gained consciousness when the Catalina was climbing -up out of the storm to make eye contact with the raider. He didn't -know what had happened during the hours he was unconscious. He knew, -of course, that radio contact had been made with the raider, but who -else had Freddy contacted over the ether waves? British planes? British -Navy ships? The Nazi didn't know. He had no way of knowing. So he had -delayed and waited, hoping that the radio might start crackling, and he -could snatch the phones from Freddy Farmer and perhaps gain an inkling -of what had transpired during his unconscious hours.</p> - -<p>However, the radio had remained silent, and the Nazi did not dare wait -any longer. Whatever his next move was in his devilish game, he had to -get on with it, and soon!</p> - -<p>The blood began to pound at Dave's temples, and for one awful instant -every muscle and nerve in his body seemed to turn into water. He -wanted to look at Freddy, but he didn't dare take his eyes off Baron -von Khole's face. Gone was the smirk, the scorn, and the look of -delighted triumph from the German's face. It had become set, hard and -cruel, and the light of a born killer glowed in his eyes. Dave knew -that it was only a matter of split seconds. Perhaps not even that -length of time. He tried to speak, but the horrible moment froze his -tongue to the roof of his mouth. Then with desperate effort he tore -his eyes from von Khole's face and shot a quick glance out the side -compartment window.</p> - -<p>"Planes coming!" he cried in a hoarse voice.</p> - -<p>Von Khole stiffened and half turned his head. In that infinitesimal -split second of time Dave Dawson staked his life, Freddy's life, -and the success or complete failure of their mission, on a single -lightning-like action. With every ounce of his strength he shoved -forward the foot he had eased up to rest against the control column of -the plane. The mighty effort rammed the column forward, and sent the -craft lurching down by the nose. As a result the tail surged upward and -the cat-walk practically fell away from under von Khole's feet.</p> - -<p>The German half toppled over backwards and then seemed to rise right -straight up in the air. A horrible curse of rage spilled from his lips, -and the Luger in his hand barked three times. His backward movement -however had tilted the gun barrel upward and all three bullets ripped -harmlessly through the roof of the compartment. Then the German crashed -the top of his head against the strong cross brace girder of the top -section of the fuselage. Even above the howl of the engines Dave heard -the sickening crunching sound. Baron von Khole's eyes went glassy. Then -they closed shut, and he tumbled down on the cat-walk, limp and still -as a wet dish rag.</p> - -<p>"At him, Freddy!" Dave screamed and hurled himself backward out of his -seat.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN">CHAPTER SIXTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Atlantic Madness</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Dave's cry to Freddy Farmer was just a waste of breath, for the English -youth was already out of his seat with all the speed of a bullet -leaving the muzzle of a gun. And it was also a waste of effort for -either of them to dive down on the limp Baron von Khole. The German was -completely unconscious and the deep bleeding cut in the top of his head -made by contact with the fuselage girder was proof positive that he -would remain unconscious for a long, long time to come. Just the same, -the two fighting aces of the Royal Air Force took no chances. They took -the Luger from von Khole's limp fingers, and then trussed him up tight -with a length of spare mooring line.</p> - -<p>"Beautiful, Dave!" Freddy panted as they got to their feet. "I never -dreamed you had that in mind. I saw you inching your foot up but it -didn't even dawn on me that you were trying to get it braced against -the control column so that you could shove the nose down and spill him -off his feet."</p> - -<p>"Thank goodness it didn't even dawn on von Khole, what I was up to," -Dave said with a big sigh. "But just a tap would have laid him out -cold. He was still a bit punch drunk from that other crack he got on -his dome."</p> - -<p>"And to think he's been aboard and hiding aft all the time we've been -in the air!" Freddy said in a slightly shaky voice. "Good grief, it -gives a chap the creeps! I...."</p> - -<p>"Let it ride, and stop thinking about it!" Dave snapped and vaulted -back into the pilot's seat. "Get going on that radio, and see if we can -get that raider to change her course. If we can't, then there's just -one thing left for us to do."</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer didn't bother to ask what that was. He leaped into the -co-pilot's seat and went hammer and tongs at the radio. Dave hauled the -Catalina out of the dive into which he had kicked her with his foot, -and climbed her up and around in the direction of the steaming raider -and her flock of U-boats. Every second the raider kept on steaming -northward he was filled with a great desire to yell at Freddy for -speed, and more speed. But he knew that the English youth was doing his -level best to reestablish contact by radio.</p> - -<p>And then, when perhaps a year or two had dragged by, Dave suddenly -looked out the window on Freddy's side of the compartment, sat up -straight and yelled.</p> - -<p>"Too late, now, Freddy!" he bellowed and rapped his pal on the arm with -his free hand. "She won't listen to us, now. There's planes coming, and -they're Nazis. Get aft to the tail gun. Action coming up, and coming up -fast!"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer jerked up his head, tore off the earphones and shot a -look out the window. In practically a continuation of the general -movement he started scrambling out of the seat.</p> - -<p>"It's going to be hot, Dave!" he shouted, but there was no note of fear -in his voice. "Hot as blazes. But what about the raider? We can't let -her get away from us! Blast von Khole from breaking into our party. The -Fleet planes and...."</p> - -<p>"Skip it!" Dave barked. "Too late for that stuff, now. It's up to us, -Freddy. Keep them off our tail as long as you can. I'm going down and -dump our eggs on that raider. If we can't sink her maybe we can at -least cripple her. Get aft, pal, and give the bums jumping blue blazes -for the good old Royal Air Force!"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer hesitated a moment, snapped a quick glance at the raider -they were now fast overhauling, and then gripped Dave hard on the arm.</p> - -<p>"Right you are, old thing!" he shouted. "You plaster her, and I'll -jolly well plaster them! See you sometime, somewhere!"</p> - -<p>"I'll be there, pal!" Dave cried as Freddy ducked aft.</p> - -<p>Jerking his head front Dave fastened his gaze on the raider, shoved -the control column forward and sent the Catalina thundering down in a -long dive. Even before he had lost a couple of hundred feet of altitude -he heard the savage ear splitting chatter of many aerial machine guns -going into action. Their sound told him they were German guns. Then -an instant later he heard the sharper and louder chatter of Freddy -Farmer's guns giving answer.</p> - -<p>"With Freddy back there picking them off, we're as safe as in church!" -he muttered through set lips. "There isn't a guy in the whole Royal Air -Force who can shoot like Freddy. He...."</p> - -<p><i>Br-r-r-r-at!</i></p> - -<p>The smack of a burst of bullets slapping against one of the compartment -windows cut off Dave's sentence as though with a knife. He swallowed -and instinctively ducked.</p> - -<p>"And there's some lug flying for Hitler who isn't so bad himself!" he -breathed and ruddered sharply to get out of the line of fire.</p> - -<p>As the movement took him around slightly he caught sight of the raging -ball of fire tumbling down out of the air toward the sea. He couldn't -tell the exact type of the plane, but he knew that it was German. -Freddy Farmer had scored first blood.</p> - -<p>"And that's only the beginning, you tramps!" he howled and ruddered -back toward the raider. "So why don't you guys get wise and go on home? -Freddy...."</p> - -<p>For the second time in as many minutes sound choked off the rest of -what Dave was about to say. This time it was not the crack or slap of -German aerial machine gun bullets. It was louder, and deeper, like the -earth trembling bark of a gigantic dog. And even as the thunderous -sound came to his ears he caught sight of the flame centered globs of -ugly black smoke that appeared just off the right wing. And a snap, -glance downward at the raider and her U-boats told him what he already -knew. The German boats had broken out their anti-aircraft guns and were -trying desperately to finish what the attacking long range German sea -raiding planes had started.</p> - -<p>The sky raking fire from below blasted Dave's last hope that they might -still be able to fool the raider. A slim, crazy hope in view of the -fact that those aboard the raider could most certainly see him roaring -down at them. However, he had clung to that hope, crazy as it was. -But now it was gone. Now it was a fight to the finish. German planes, -U-boats, and a heavily armed sea raider against a lone R.A.F. Catalina -flying boat of the Coastal Command manned by two stout hearted, -do-or-die youths still in their teens.</p> - -<p>"Okay, you've got the idea!" Dave shouted at the raider. "So here we -come with the old one-two punch."</p> - -<p>As the words rushed off his lips, Dave steepened his wing howling dive -slightly, then took one hand from the Dep control wheel and grabbed the -bomb release toggles especially fitted to the side of the compartment -so that the pilot could still release eggs in case the bombing officer -was killed during an action. One hand gripping the Dep wheel, and -the other gripping the bomb release toggles, he sent the Catalina -rocketing down lower and lower, straight through a sea of bursting, -roaring flame that rose up from the guns of the raider and the U-boats.</p> - -<p>Split seconds whipped by. He felt the Catalina buck and tremble as bits -of archie shell crashed into her. He heard the steady chatter of Freddy -Farmer's guns aft, and he saw two more balls of flame go tumbling -seaward off to his right. And then it seemed as though the hull nose -of the Catalina was going to smash right down into the black smoke -belching funnel of the raider. He was so close he could see the white -faces of the raider's crew crouched behind their guns and frantically -striving to bring their weapons to bear right on him. He even saw some -members of the crew banging away at him with machine guns, and even -rifles.</p> - -<p>He heard and saw all those things as in a dream. Then in the last -split second to spare he hauled the nose of the Catalina up out of -its mad dive. The instant it came up level and was rocketing forward -at terrific speed he yanked back a brace of bomb release toggles. No -sooner had he dropped his eggs than he pulled back on the Dep wheel -control, dropped the right wing slightly and went careening around and -up toward the sun flooded heavens.</p> - -<p>No sooner had he started up than his sharp eyes caught the flash of -German wings cutting in at him from an angle. His free hand flew to the -forward machine gun trigger button on the stick. He booted the Catalina -around a bit more at the same time, and then let go with his forward -guns. Through a blur he saw that the German craft was a Junkers Ju -88, one of the most deadly type of raiders Hitler was sending against -British convoys. It had both bomb power and great fire power as well. -It was nothing to fool around with, and Dave didn't waste time fooling. -He plastered the nose of the craft, and forced the pilot to turn away. -That was the German's fatal mistake. It gave Dave a belly shot, and he -took full advantage of the opportunity. He gave the Junkers everything. -And a split second later it was all over for the plane and its crew. -It exploded in a billion flaming pieces that seemed to go arching out -toward the four horizons.</p> - -<p>"My regards to Satan!" Dave howled at the top of his voice. "You'll be -seeing him before I do, and how!"</p> - -<p>That off his chest, Dave hauled the nose even higher and plowed -straight for a long range Focke-Wulf 187 twin engined job that was -trying to cut down under Freddy Farmer's withering fire from the tail -turret of the Catalina. That too was a bad maneuver on the part of -another one of Goering's little boys. Dave's slashing burst practically -cut the Focke-Wulf in two. It stopped dead in midair as though it had -smacked straight into an invisible brick wall. Then it buckled in the -middle, and started slowly spinning seaward.</p> - -<p>"Cheating on you, Freddy!" Dave shouted. "But the shot was too good to -pass up. I...."</p> - -<p>Dave stopped short as the whole sky seemed to suddenly turn into a -sea of blinding red, and orange, and yellow. The Catalina shook and -trembled as a thunderous blast of sound rushed in upon it from all -sides. For one horrible heart stopping second Dave thought that an -anti-aircraft shell from the raider or one of the U-boats below had -scored a direct hit on them and that the Catalina was going up in -flame. In the next instant he saw the truth; saw the mighty sheet -of flame off to the left that was sliding straight down to the sea -leaving behind a towering column of oily black smoke and flaming bits -of debris. A second look at it and his heart burst with pride. Freddy -hadn't even been paying any attention to the Focke-Wulf trying to get -in at him. Instead he had ignored it for bigger game. The largest and -most powerful of Hitler's aerial sea raiders. A mighty four engined -Focke-Wulf "Kurier." The so-called Flying Fortress of the Nazi Air -Force with tremendous bomb, and cannon, and machine gun fire power. -And Freddy Farmer had brought it down. Sent it hurtling down in flames -never to fly again in this war, or in this world.</p> - -<p>In spite of the showers of death that were still whining and howling -about the Catalina as it prop-clawed up for altitude, Dave threw back -his head and laughed.</p> - -<p>"And I thought <i>I</i> was taking a Nazi away from under your nose, -Freddy!" he shouted aloud. "Heck! I should have realized that you -couldn't be bothered with small fry. What a man, what a man!"</p> - -<p>Nodding his head in vigorous emphasis, Dave cut out of his zoom, curved -around on wingtip to throw off the aim of another Focke-Wulf trying -to cut in at him, and snapped a glance down at the water. What he saw -brought a yell of wild joy to his lips. Flame and smoke were belching -up out of the raider's vitals amidships. And a bit astern of her two -U-boats were lunging helplessly in a whirlpool of frothy water. But his -joy was short lived. Though the raider had been hit, and was obviously -afire, her engines were still doing their work. She was still cutting -through the foam flecked rollers at top speed. Even as Dave realized -the truth the belching smoke and flame diminished considerably. The -raider's crew had got the bomb fire under control, and the raider was -still hurling tons of anti-aircraft steel skyward.</p> - -<p>At that moment Dave felt rather than saw movement at his side. He -snapped his head around a bit to see Freddy Farmer scramble over and -into the co-pilot's seat. The English youth's face was paper white but -there was a wild determined look in his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Rear gun ammo all gone!" he shouted before Dave could ask the -question. "There wasn't half enough aboard! What did they think we -might have to fight? A few training planes? It's up to you, Dave! You -hit her once. Now hit her again and finish the blighter, and be-darned -to these Jerry buzzards whizzing around us. Go on, Dave! Go on down and -get her good this time. It's our last chance. You'll never have time to -make a third bomb dive on her!"</p> - -<p>"Last chance!" Dave echoed and shoved the Catalina's nose almost down -to the vertical. "Last chance! And we'll make it final for that baby, -too!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN">CHAPTER SEVENTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Wings of Victory</i></small></h2> - - -<p>As though the very air were greased the Catalina flying boat went -streaking down at the raider. Dave felt her tremble and vibrate from -hull nose to tail, and from wingtip to wingtip. He felt parts of -the plane let go. A brace girder or perhaps a strip of her fuselage -covering, but he didn't give it a second thought. This was the last -dive on the raider. This time he would release every bomb in the -special hull racks. This time it was the raider, or the Catalina, and -maybe both.</p> - -<p>"Nice day, isn't it?" he suddenly shouted inanely at Freddy. "Is that -shooting I hear?"</p> - -<p>"A beautiful day!" Freddy shouted back automatically. "Oh, my, no! -That's not shooting. Just some old geezer in the next room rattling -his evening paper. And I say, Dave, could we stop for a bite to eat? -I'm famished!"</p> - -<p>At that instant a shell from the raider's forward gun seemed to explode -right on the hull nose of the Catalina. There was a mighty roar of -sound, and a cloud of vivid red flame. Then the flying boat was down -through it and still going.</p> - -<p>"Like fish?" Dave yelled out.</p> - -<p>"Hate it!" Freddy cried and made a face.</p> - -<p>"Too bad!" Dave yelled. "Chances are that's all you're going to get, -pal. Fish, and all kinds!"</p> - -<p>"Right-o!" the English youth echoed. "But get that blasted raider, -first!"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer's remark ended the bit of by-play between them. The -raider was looming up large below the nose of their diving plane, and -the air all about them quivered and shuddered with a terrific bedlam of -sound. So great was the din, Dave could hardly hear the screaming howl -of the Catalina's over-revving engines. And although he held a thumb -jabbed against the trigger release on the Dep wheel he could not hear -his forward guns firing. He could only see the stabbing jets of flame -that spewed out from the nose and streaked down toward the raider.</p> - -<p>A mighty power dive straight down into a whole world exploding sound -and flames. Time ceased to exist. Time stood still. A hundred thousand -crazy, inane thoughts raced across Dave Dawson's brain, but they were -forgotten almost before they were registered on the screen of his mind. -And then suddenly the raider was once more directly under the nose. -Another instant and the Catalina would go hurtling in to its own doom. -In that last remaining instant Dave pulled out of the dive, roared -straight along the entire length of the raider and pounded down the -last load of the flying boat's bombs. And then like before he was once -again zooming up and away.</p> - -<p>This time, though, it was different. The American built flying boat -had taken a terrific beating from Nazi guns. It had taken enough -bullets and screaming fragments of anti-aircraft shells to break up -a half dozen planes. Yet it still held together. Still held together -and valiantly climbed upward, though it shook like rotten timber -under strain from nose to tail, and though both engines coughed and -sputtered, and threatened to quit cold in the very next second. Dave -could sense the flying boat failing in its mighty effort to keep on -going, and an icy hand closed over his heart as he wondered just how -long she would last. How long before she would break up and they would -go tumbling down into that inferno of gunfire below?</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact he felt as though a miracle had actually come to -pass. The miracle that Freddy and he still lived. The miracle that they -had been able to hold off the Nazi aircraft this long, and to have been -able to make that last do-or-die bomb dive on the raider. A Catalina -was not a bomb diver. That wasn't her job. But this old girl had proved -that she could tackle anything when necessary. The ship of ships, but -she was doomed. Doomed just as sure as there was the golden blue of the -heavens above and the raging fury of war below.</p> - -<p>"Did it, Dave, did it!" Freddy's voice suddenly screamed in his ears. -"Right on the topper this time. Look, she's heeling over! No, she's -coming back up on even keel. But she's really on fire this time, and -she's losing headway fast!"</p> - -<p>Even as the English youth screamed the words Dave was staring downward -at the raider. Though still plowing sluggishly forward, the raider -didn't look much like a surface ship any more. She looked little more -than a narrow stream of fire that bulged out slightly in the middle. -About her sides water boiled and foamed white. And in the next instant -there was a blast of red and a sheet of flame up toward the bow. The -raider seemed to stop dead and rear up by the prow. She settled back -almost immediately and continued to stagger onward like some wounded -beast of prey half lurching and half walking toward its hole.</p> - -<p>"The U-Boats!" Dave heard his own voice cry out hoarsely. "Look! -They're starting to scatter. They're quitting the raider cold. Running -away from her like so many rats. And we haven't any more bombs left. -Darn those rats! If only there were British planes around to give us a -hand. If only...."</p> - -<p>At that exact instant came the mighty blast of worlds colliding. Red -fire and clouds of smoke seemed to completely envelop Dave and blot out -all else. The Catalina lurched drunkenly off onto the left wing. In the -next instant it seemed to roll completely over. Instinct and instinct -alone caused Dave to grab the controls with both hands and fight to get -the craft back onto even keel. Yet, no matter which way he moved the -Dep wheel and control column, the Catalina continued to roll over like -a huge tired bird.</p> - -<p>Then, as though by magic, the red fire and the smoke cleared away, -and they both saw the jagged hole in the hull nose. Hole? There just -wasn't any hull nose left! And as Dave looked out to the left he saw -the left wingtip let go and go sailing off into oblivion. With a part -of its lifting surface gone, the Catalina began to lurch and stagger -crazily about in the air. No matter what Dave did with the controls it -just didn't seem to make any difference.</p> - -<p>"A direct hit on us!" he heard his own voice faintly. "The bums. They -had to get in one last lucky shot!"</p> - -<p>"The raider's stern gun!" came Freddy Farmer's voice through the -terrible din of sound that still raged on all sides. "I saw the flash -just before it hit us. We're sunk!"</p> - -<p>"We will be darn soon!" Dave panted and struggled with the controls to -counteract the flying boat's crazy maneuvers.</p> - -<p>However, for all the good it did him, he might just as well have -walked out on the wing and patched up the damaged tip. The Catalina -just wasn't flyable any more and she was flip flopping seaward at an -alarming rate.</p> - -<p>"Cold meat for those Jerry planes!" Dave said savagely. "They'll have -great sport picking us off like a helpless clay pigeon, now. Okay, do -your darnedest, you vultures. We got some of you first, and your raider -is junk ticketed for the bottom of the Atlantic. Go on and...."</p> - -<p>Dave cut himself off short, gasped and hunched forward to gape down at -the water. It looked as though a couple of dozen subterranean volcanoes -had let go and were belching their fury up to the surface of the -Atlantic. The area covered by the crippled raider and her wolf-pack of -U-boats was virtually alive with mounting columns of water and flame. -Even as Dave gaped downward the raider disappeared completely in a -mighty geyser of foaming water and flame and smoke. An instant later -when he saw it again the raider was broken in two pieces and plunging -down under the waves.</p> - -<p>"Dave, <i>the Fleet</i>!" Freddy shrilled and pounded him on the shoulder. -"They're shelling them. And look. Planes. <i>Our</i> planes! From the Fleet -Air Arm. They're giving those U-boats everything. Just look, will you! -Nothing can live in that sea, now! We win, Dave. <i>We win!</i>"</p> - -<p>Not quite sure whether he was alive or dreaming, Dave stared down at -the holocaust of war being created on the surface of that part of the -Atlantic. Hundreds of shells were raining down to explode among the -fleeing U-boats and turn the waters into an oily froth. Shells from -British battleship guns still out of sight below the horizon. And -hundreds of bombs were dropping down upon the U-boat flotilla from the -planes of the Fleet Air Arm. Dave looked up at the sky filled with -British wings and could hardly believe his eyes. Flight after flight -of them had appeared as though by magic. As though the heavens had -split apart and the Fleet Air Arm ships had come tearing down through. -While the bombers concentrated on the U-boats below the escort fighters -tore into the Nazi planes swarming about the helpless Catalina and -practically shot them out of the sky with their withering bursts of -fire. In less than nothing flat, bombs were not only tumbling down into -the Atlantic, but Nazi planes as well.</p> - -<p>"<i>Our</i> planes?" Dave shouted when he found his voice. "But how the heck -did they...?"</p> - -<p>He didn't have the chance to finish the question. At that instant a -lone remaining German plane wheeled in close and let fire at almost -point blank range at the stumbling Catalina. Dave saw it coming out -the corner of his eye, and sight and action were one for him. He let -go of the Dep wheel, lunged out and hooked Freddy about the neck and -then ducked forward and down. The compartment windows gave way like -tissue paper before the furious blast of bullets. A sound akin to that -of somebody tearing a strip off a tin roof filled Dave's ears as the -shower of bullets raked the instrument panels and turned the thing -into a shambles.</p> - -<p>"Hey, what the dickens!" came Freddy's choked cry as the youth -struggled to free himself from Dave's bear hug hold.</p> - -<p>Dave let go and straightened up. So did Freddy, and the English youth's -face turned from beet red to paper white as he saw the instrument panel.</p> - -<p>"Good grief!" he got out in a tight voice. "I'd have been punched full -of holes, Dave, if you hadn't grabbed...."</p> - -<p>A short sharp explosion to their left cut off Freddy Farmer's voice. -Almost instantly a spear of fire shot down across the shattered front -window. Then in the next split second there was an unearthly whine and -something glistening sliced right down through the anti-aircraft shell -blasted hull nose. Both boys turned their heads quickly to look, but -both knew instinctively what had happened.</p> - -<p>It was Dave who shouted the truth.</p> - -<p>"Port engine's exploded, and the prop blades have let go!" he cried. -"And the wing's on fire."</p> - -<p>"And we're too low to jump!" Freddy echoed. "Blast it! What more hard -luck is going to pick on us?"</p> - -<p>"We'll soon find out!" Dave yelled and hauled back on the control -column with every ounce of his strength. "One ocean coming up! Brace -yourself, Freddy, and be set to scramble out fast. She's so full of -holes she'll probably sink like a rock as soon as we touch. I'm going -to try and belly flop us in, but I can't guarantee a thing, pal!"</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer made some reply to that, but Dave didn't catch what it -was. The blood was roaring in his head as he exerted the very last -ounce of strength to get the Catalina's shell blasted nose up so that -they would not crash head on into the water. It was like trying to -pull over the side of a building. His lungs felt ready to burst. His -arms felt ready to snap right out of the shoulder sockets. And a weird -conglomeration of colored stars danced and spun around before his eyes. -He couldn't see anything. He could only feel the heartbreaking sluggish -upward movement of the plane.</p> - -<p>He was positive that the nose was not coming up enough, and his heart -stood still in his chest as he waited for the sickening, terrifying -sound of the shell battered nose crashing straight into the water. -Then suddenly the compartment roof seemed to drop down to hit him a -stunning blow on the top of the head. He heard Freddy yell as though -from a thousand miles away. Then in the next instant unseen iron fists -pounded and pummeled his body from head to toe. He tried to hang onto -the Dep wheel for support but his hands were wrenched free. He had the -crazy sensation of sailing head over heels off into space. Then just -as suddenly all movement stopped, and for an instant his ears heard no -sound but that of gurgling water.</p> - -<p>Water! The very thought of the word cleared his brain. His head ceased -pounding and the dancing colored lights faded away from in front of his -eyes. He turned impulsively and saw Freddy Farmer sitting bolt upright, -blinking stupidly, and clutching a broken section of the radio panel -between his two hands. Dave reached out and shook him roughly by the -shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Drop it, Freddy!" he barked. "It came loose and the darn thing's no -life preserver. You okay?"</p> - -<p>The English youth stopped blinking and gaped down at the section -of panel he held in his hands as though it were some strange and -mysterious discovery. Then he shook himself and dropped the section of -panel into the water that was pouring onto the compartment floor.</p> - -<p>"I grabbed the panel for support," he choked out. "It must have come -free, and...."</p> - -<p>"And did!" Dave cut him off. "Now, out on the wing, pal. This thing's -going to be an express elevator headed down in darn short order, I'm -afraid. We've got to get out on the wing so's we can jump clear. Now, -up with you, Freddy!"</p> - -<p>The English youth scrambled up onto his seat, then wiggled out through -the compartment window and onto the forward hull. Bracing himself as -best he could, he reached back to give Dave a hand. The Yank started -out through the window, then suddenly checked himself and shook -Freddy's hand free.</p> - -<p>"Oh my gosh!" he cried. "Von Khole!"</p> - -<p>"Hey!" Freddy screamed. "Where the...?"</p> - -<p>By then Dave had ducked back into the compartment again. Freddy saw him -through the bullet and crash shattered window. Saw him plunge aft along -the cat-walk and then go right out of sight under a couple of feet of -water that was rising fast. A moment later Dave reappeared spouting sea -water and clutching the limp form of von Khole in his arms. He waded -forward along the cat-walk and hoisted the Nazi's head and shoulders up -through the window.</p> - -<p>"Catch hold, and pull him through, Freddy!" he shouted. "He's still -breathing."</p> - -<p>The English youth didn't bother to argue. He grabbed hold of the German -and pulled him through onto the forward hull hatch. A couple of moments -later and Dave was through the window and standing beside him.</p> - -<p>"Don't say it, Freddy," Dave growled. "I didn't do it to save his -rotten hide. He's a present for Manners. Besides, we couldn't let him -drown even if he is a Nazi. Here, give me a hand undoing these ropes. I -can keep him afloat better if his arms and legs are free."</p> - -<p>"Of all the crazy, balmy idiots!" Freddy growled, but there was a warm -glow in his eyes as he bent over to fumble with the water soaked knots. -"With the bus liable to sink like a rock any second, the blighter goes -fishing for a Nazi. Next time do it for me, but try and come up with -Adolf, himself. I ... Watch it, Dave! She's settling fast. Come on! Up -on the top center section of the wing. She may not go completely down -under, yet."</p> - -<p>Dave didn't waste breath making comment. His head was swimming and he -had hardly the strength left to move. Somehow, though, he and Freddy -managed to hoist the unconscious von Khole up onto the top center -section of the wing between the mangled engines, and then scrambled up -there themselves. No sooner were they up there than they stretched out -flat and panted for air, and fought back the waves of black oblivion -that tried to engulf them.</p> - -<p>The roar of aircraft engines came faintly to Dave's singing ears. He -turned his head as much as strength would allow and looked up through a -whirling mist at a brace of British planes circling around overhead. He -saw a hand waving from one of the planes, and he tried to raise his own -hand to wave back. But the strength just wasn't there. His hand fell -down on Baron von Khole's limp figure. He curled his fingers in water -soaked uniform cloth, and then the half sunken Catalina was lifted -skyward on the crest of a swell, and Dave had the crazy belief that he -was flying again.</p> - -<p>When he next opened his eyes it was to find himself in a hospital bunk. -There was a strange motion to the bunk. Then suddenly he knew that -he was in hospital bay aboard ship. He turned his head to see Freddy -Farmer in the next bunk. The English youth's eyes met his and they both -grinned broadly. Then Freddy Farmer heaved a deep sigh.</p> - -<p>"Well, thank goodness you've regained consciousness!" he exclaimed. -"Now, perhaps you'll shut up and not talk so much. Man, what a gabber! -I couldn't get a word in edgeways, and mind you <i>I</i> was conscious -every minute after they took us aboard."</p> - -<p>"Talking?" Dave mumbled. "Me? What do you mean, took us aboard? Where -are we?"</p> - -<p>"Aboard the cruiser Hampden," Freddy replied. "She came up and lowered -a boat and took us off the Cat-boat just in time. But every blessed -minute you've been aboard you've done nothing but babble out all the -details of the show. Thank goodness a German ship didn't pick us up, is -all I can say!"</p> - -<p>Dave started to gulp a question, then saw Freddy Farmer look up and -grin toward the other side of his bed. He turned over to stare up into -the smiling face of Air Marshal Manners.</p> - -<p>"You, sir?" he gasped. "How did you get here?"</p> - -<p>"By plane, of course," the Air Ministry official said with a chuckle. -"Heard you two had done the job and had been saved. I couldn't wait for -you to come ashore. Flew out in a Cat-boat to give you two my blessing, -and all that sort of thing. Don't let Farmer pull your leg too much, -though. You didn't rave much in your sleep. Mostly about von Khole, -anyway. You...."</p> - -<p>"Hey, von Khole!" Dave yelped and sat up straight in his bunk before -anybody could stop him. "What happened to him? Last thing I remember I -had hold of him!"</p> - -<p>"And from what they tell me, here aboard," Manners said with a chuckle, -"it must have been quite a hold! Took two sailors to pry him loose -from you. But don't worry. He's safely aboard, and put on ice, as they -say in the States. And still alive, of course. To tell you the truth, -Dawson, I've never received such a welcome present in all my life. I -owe you a debt I'm sure I'll never be able to repay."</p> - -<p>"Maybe it would have been okay to let him drown," Dave murmured. "But -somehow I think it would be better to let the whole world know about -his trial, and what comes after. Particularly for Adolf to know. Funny, -but I guess maybe that's the real reason I did save his hide. Just to -let Adolf know for sure that we got his ace rat."</p> - -<p>"Well, we've got him, and he'll do no more damage in this world," -Manners said grimly. "Now, if there's anything...?"</p> - -<p>"Say, there <i>is</i> something!" Dave blurted out. "Maybe you can tell -me, sir? How in heck did the ships of the Fleet and the Fleet Air Arm -planes show up so unexpectedly? Things popped so fast that we didn't -have a chance to contact them. But there they were, Johnny on the spot. -I don't understand that."</p> - -<p>Air Marshal Manners chuckled and looked at Freddy.</p> - -<p>"Farmer understands perfectly," he said. "I know he can explain."</p> - -<p>"<i>Freddy?</i>" Dave shouted and turned around to stare at his pal. "Hey! -What's all this about?"</p> - -<p>The English youth blushed to the ears, and looked as though he wanted -to sink right down thorough the bunk out of sight.</p> - -<p>"Well, good grief, I had to do a little something to help!" he said -in a fussed voice. "You were doing practically everything, you know. -So ... Well, remember when I said, 'Ouch, my arm'? That was to cover -up what I was trying to do. The second radio under the seat. When von -Khole wasn't looking I simply slipped my hand down and tuned the set to -the directional finder wave length. The Fleet operators picked it up, -and came a-steaming. And got there in time, thank goodness!"</p> - -<p>Dave blinked, gulped and then grinned broadly.</p> - -<p>"If that doesn't beat anything I've heard!" he cried. "And me sitting -there dumb as an ox, not even guessing. I ... Aw, gee! And I thought I -was the great hero. Doggone it, guy! You've got to cut out making me -come in second all the time. You've got to let me be the big noise, at -least just once, or I'll quit and find me another pal who really <i>is</i> -dumb!"</p> - -<p>"Well, I fancy there's no choice between you two heroes!" Air Marshal -Manners said as they all stopped laughing. "The convoy is safely on its -way to port. Nothing can harm it now. England will never forget what -you two have done today. Not only England, but the entire civilized -world. And if there is any request you want to make, state it and I -give you my word it shall be granted."</p> - -<p>Dave scowled thoughtfully for a moment, then brightened and looked at -Freddy.</p> - -<p>"I've got one, but go ahead and state yours first, Freddy," he said.</p> - -<p>The English youth looked blank and shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Can't think of a blessed thing," he said. "What's yours?"</p> - -<p>Dave grinned at Air Marshal Manners.</p> - -<p>"It's a request you can grant easily, sir," he said. "Me, I'd like to -be assigned to a land plane squadron for a while. I'm sure fed up with -falling into the water."</p> - -<p>"Me, too!" Freddy cried. "Oh, but definitely, sir!"</p> - - -<p class="ph3">THE END</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>Dave Dawson in Libya.</i></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> <i>Dave Dawson with the R.A.F.</i></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <i>Dave Dawson at Dunkirk.</i></p></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3"><i>A Page from</i><br /> -DAVE DAWSON, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT</p> - - -<p>Suddenly, without the slightest sign of warning, the inky darkness of -night was shattered apart by a thunderous roar of sound and a seething -ocean of red, yellow, and orange flame that came boiling upward from -the ground. The plane bucked, and shivered, and lurched crazily -forward. And for one horrible second a mighty invisible force tore -Dave Dawson's hands from the controls. Head whirling, and his lungs -seeming to burst out through his ribs, he fought with every ounce of -his strength to keep the plane from plunging wildly downward.</p> - -<p>Freddy Farmer! Where was Freddy? Did he get through? Was Freddy all -right? The radio! Was it working? Would that secret signal come through -in time? Darn the blasted thing! Would it never speak, and....</p> - -<p>At that instant a planet of fire rushed up out of nowhere. It seemed to -crash straight into the nose of the plane and explode in a roar that -split the very heavens apart. Dave felt as though unseen steel claws -were tearing strips of flesh from his bones, and hammering his brains -to pulp. He didn't know what it was. He didn't know what had happened. -He only knew that he was spinning head over heels down into a limitless -void of roaring thunder and boiling flame.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Dawson on Convoy Patrol, by R. Sidney Bowen - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON ON CONVOY PATROL *** - -***** This file should be named 50960-h.htm or 50960-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/6/50960/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/50960-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/50960-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4b98cd8..0000000 --- a/old/50960-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50960.txt b/old/50960.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7621bc0..0000000 --- a/old/50960.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5859 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Dave Dawson on Convoy Patrol, by R. Sidney Bowen - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Dave Dawson on Convoy Patrol - -Author: R. Sidney Bowen - -Release Date: January 18, 2016 [EBook #50960] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON ON CONVOY PATROL *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - DAVE DAWSON ON CONVOY PATROL - - By R. SIDNEY BOWEN - - THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY - - AKRON, OHIO - - NEW YORK - - - COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY CROWN PUBLISHERS - - PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - [Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not - uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright - on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - CONTENTS - - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I SECRET ORDERS 11 - - II DAREDEVIL WINGS 22 - - III SATAN'S AGENT 34 - - IV ATLANTIC FURY 47 - - V MYSTERY WINGS 57 - - VI THE DEAD DON'T FLY 75 - - VII MISSING WINGS 86 - - VIII PILOT'S LUCK 99 - - IX VULTURE EYES 116 - - X ENGLAND'S PRAYER 129 - - XI DEATH IN THE DARK 144 - - XII THE MIDNIGHT PHANTOM 158 - - XIII SATAN FLIES WEST 172 - - XIV SKY DOOM 188 - - XV HIGH ADVENTURE 205 - - XVI ATLANTIC MADNESS 218 - - XVII WINGS OF VICTORY 229 - - - - -CHAPTER ONE - -_Secret Orders_ - - -The savage fury of the Nazi Luftwaffe was once again raining down -upon the brave and stubborn city of London. Wave after wave of German -bombers roared in over the city from every possible direction, dumped -their tons of life blasting missiles, and then went streaking away -toward safety with British searchlights, anti-aircraft shells, and -night flying Spitfires and Hurricanes of the R.A.F. hot on their tails. -Some made it, but some others were caught by the two fisted hard -fighting boys of the R.A.F., and once caught the Nazis didn't stand a -chance against such flying skill, daring, and perfect marksmanship. -One after another the German planes burst into flame and went hurtling -downward to complete destruction. - -Down on the ground in the city, London's millions squared their -shoulders and grimly took the terrific blasting from the night skies. -Air raid wardens went about their jobs with a look on their haggard -faces that told the whole world that a thousand such raids as this one -would not even begin to crack England apart. The gallant fire fighters -went about their dangerous tasks with the same expression on their -faces, and the same confident belief in their hearts that England would -forever survive. In the air raid shelters it was the same. In hotels, -too, and apartment buildings, and restaurants, and theatres. All London -was one huge fortress that nothing made by man or devil could destroy. -And in that fortress the men, the women, and the children stood ready -and waiting to take the worst unflinching. - -In the basement restaurant of the Savoy Hotel were two youths who ate -their meal outwardly calm, but seethed inwardly as the faint dull boom -of each exploding bomb echoed through the thick walls and ceiling. -Both wore the uniform of the Royal Air Force, and both held the rank -of Flying Officer which is equal to the rank of First Lieutenant in -the U.S. Army Air Corps. One was Dave Dawson, American born, but now -offering his life and his all in serving England's cause. The other -youth, a year younger, was Freddy Farmer, Dave's dearest friend and -squadron pal, and true British from the soles of his shoes all the way -up to the top of his head. - -For several moments they had been eating in silence, each contentedly -occupied with his own thoughts. But as a louder roar seeped down into -the room, Dave put down his fork and clenched both fists in a gesture -of raging helplessness. - -"I can't eat any more," he said. "Every bite chokes in my throat, I -feel such a heel." - -Freddy Farmer put down his own fork and gave a slight lift of his head -to indicate altitude. - -"Because of the business up there, you mean?" he grunted. - -"Yes," Dave replied through clenched teeth. "I feel that I should be up -there helping the boys dust off the baby killing rats, instead of being -down here shoveling food into my mouth." - -"Feel exactly the same way," Freddy agreed. "But, after all, there's no -sense wasting good food, you know. Blessed little of it around these -days. Besides, orders are orders. We have to stick right here. So I say -eat while the eating is good." - -Dave grinned and heaved a long sigh. - -"You and that stomach of yours!" he exclaimed. "It's a darn good thing -they've got the ration card system here. Let you loose and you'd have -the rest of the country starving in a week. And when you're not eating -you're sleeping. What a man, what a man!" - -The young English youth forced a stern look to his face. He pointed a -finger at the blue and white Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon under -the wings on Dawson's tunic. - -"Watch your tongue, my good fellow!" he said. "One more crack like that -last one and I'll go straight to the Air Ministry and tell them the -truth. Quite right! I'll tell them you didn't do a blessed thing to win -that ribbon. That I did all the work, but simply said that you helped a -little so's you could get a medal, too. And frankly, that's really the -way it was, you know." - -Dave grinned then put up his hands in mock terror. - -"Please don't!" he pleaded. "Now that I've got it I want to keep the -medal. So help me, you spill a word and I'll tell them how you were -always falling on your face in the sand, and that I had to carry you -halfway across the Libyan Desert on my back."[1] - -[Footnote 1: _Dave Dawson in Libya._] - -"Oh is that so!" Freddy cried. "Well, you didn't carry me a single -yard, and you know it. In fact, I...." - -The thunder of a Nazi "egg" striking much much too close for comfort -cut off the rest of Freddy's words. They both stiffened slightly, and -sat perfectly motionless half expecting to see the ceiling split open -and spill plaster and brick down upon them. However, the ceiling was -thick and well constructed, and after a brief moment or so the building -stopped shaking and trembling. The two youths instantly relaxed but -there was hot anger in their eyes. - -"Bang away, Adolf!" Dave grated softly. "For every one you drop we'll -be dropping two on your neck of the woods soon. And that'll be only the -beginning." - -"Check!" Freddy breathed fiercely. "And when that time comes I think -I'll ask for a transfer from fighters to bombers. I'd love to dump -bombs on Berlin." - -"Me, too," Dave agreed absently. Then as a frown creased his brows, -"What do you make of it, Freddy? You got any ideas? Boy, if anybody can -send a fellow's curiosity sky high it's those Brass Hats who run the -Air Ministry!" - -"Meaning what?" Freddy asked with a blank look on his face. "Have I got -any ideas about what?" - -"For you I should draw pictures on paper!" Dave groaned. "What do you -think I mean? Why were we suddenly recalled from service with the Fleet -Air Arm in the Mediterranean back here to England? Why have we been -skipping all over England flying everything from kites to four engined -transports? And why when we're only back with our old Fighter Squadron -for a day do we suddenly receive mysterious orders to come here to -London, and take rooms in this hotel, and stick here day and night -until we receive further orders? Answer me those, my pal!" - -"Simple," Freddy said with a straight face. "Air Ministry just can't -believe that a chap like you can actually fly an airplane. But before -kicking you out they decided to give you one last chance to prove it. -Right now you are waiting for them to decide whether to keep you on, or -kick you back to Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. But don't lose heart, my -little man, you may...." - -"Nuts!" Dave snorted. "You were with me, pal, and...." - -"And I was simply along to check and make a personal report on your -flying ability," the English youth interrupted in an easy voice. "And -if you must know, I said that you weren't too bad. A little ragged on -the turns, but that you usually do manage to get into a field after -shooting for it five or six times." - -"Then everything will be jake!" Dave breathed in mock relief. "But now -that you've got that side splitting humor off your chest, get over on -the sane and intelligent side for a change. What do you think it's all -about anyway?" - -Freddy Farmer didn't say anything for a minute or so. He stared -thoughtfully down at the last piece of meat. He nudged it a couple of -times with his fork, then presently speared it and put it into his -mouth. - -"Next week'll be okay!" Dave growled. "There's no hurry." - -"We English never talk with food in our mouths," Freddy said after he -had swallowed. "But what do I think? Frankly, nothing, Dave." - -"Well, that's acting natural, for you," the Yank born R.A.F. ace said -with a grin. "But I had hoped that a bright idea or two had wormed -into that thick skull of yours. At least, that you might have heard -a hint dropped here and there. After all, Freddy, it all seems so -screwy. Look, a little over five weeks ago we were doing daily patrols -off an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. Since then we've flown -everything they've got over here on this island, but not once have we -had the chance to take a crack at a German ship. Holy smoke! What are -they trying to make out of us? Test pilots, or something? I asked a -million questions, but I always got a sweet little blank for an answer. -And between you, me, and that dab of mashed potato on your chin, I -don't think the birds I asked knew the answers either." - -"Now that you've confessed," Freddy said and automatically wiped -his chin with his napkin, "I might as well admit that I asked a few -questions, myself. And like you, got nothing for an answer. No, Dave, -I'm afraid I can't help you at all. I'm practically passing out with -curiosity, myself. It's been a queer business these last five weeks, -and no doubt about it. All that I can even guess at is that Adastral -House has something up its sleeve. And we'll not find out until they're -darn good and ready to tell us." - -"It's always like that," Dave grumbled. "Gee, sitting here is driving -me bats. For two cents I'd go out and take a walk, and the heck with -the bombs. But I...." - -Dave cut himself off short as he suddenly became conscious of the -waiter standing at his elbow. He looked up. - -"Yes?" he grunted. - -"Beg pardon, sir," the waiter said, "but would you two gentlemen be -Flying Officers Dawson and Farmer?" - -"Right," Dave said with a nod. "I'm Dawson." - -The waiter held out a folded slip of paper. - -"A phone call just received, sir," he said. "The party at the other end -said that either of you two gentlemen was to call this number at once. -It took a moment or two to find you. The manager thought you might be -in your rooms. He tried there first." - -As the waiter spoke the last he gave the pair a look that seemed to -say that men in uniform shouldn't scurry down to the basement just on -account of a mere bomb raid. - -"We would be, but we're hungry," Freddy Farmer said quietly. - -"Yes, of course, sir," the waiter said as his face got beet red. Then -he hastily shoved the paper into Dave Dawson's hand and hurried away. - -Dave unfolded the paper and looked at the phone number. It was a London -exchange but the number was completely unfamiliar. He handed the paper -to Freddy. - -"Any of your girl friends know you're here?" he asked. - -Freddy glanced at the number, himself, and shook his head. - -"Clear as mud to me," he said. "I haven't the faintest idea. But we'd -better call it before a Jerry bomb flattens the telephone company. -There's a booth over there. You want to call it?" - -"And maybe get one of your girls?" Dave chuckled and shook his head. -"And you tell her it was your valet? Nix, pal. You go call her. I'll -stand outside and make faces. Boy! Love in an air raid. Now ain't that -something!" - -Freddy blushed slightly but made no return comment. They got up and -crossed the dining room to the phone booth built into the wall. The -young Englishman stepped inside, closed the door, and put through the -call. Dave watching him say his eyes pop, and his jaw drop, and the -light of eager excitement leap into his eyes. In less than a minute -Freddy was out of the booth and as breathless as though he had just run -a couple of miles at top speed. - -"Guess what?" he gasped. - -"You just tell me instead," Dave said. "What's up? An armistice been -signed?" - -"That was an Air Ministry number, Dave!" Freddy breathed. "As soon as -the All-Clear sounds you and I are to report to Room Five Hundred, -Fifth Floor, Air Ministry!" - -"No kidding?" Dave echoed as the familiar tingling sensation came to -the back of his neck. An eerie tingling that had always proved in the -past to be an advance warning of action and danger just ahead. "Who has -Room Five Hundred?" - -"The chap who talked to me on the phone just now," Freddy said. "None -other than Air Marshal Manners!" - -"Manners?" Dave gasped. "The man who led the R.A.F. at Dunkirk? Hey, -wait a minute! Before we went out for service with the Fleet Air Arm in -the Middle East I heard some kind of a rumor that he was going to be -put in charge of something very big, and very hush-hush. Boy, oh boy! -Do you think, Freddy?" - -"I'm not thinking," Freddy said and fished in his pocket for money to -pay for his meal. "I'm heading for Adastral House right now." - -"You mean you're following me!" Dave cried and bolted from the dining -room. - - - - -CHAPTER TWO - -_Daredevil Wings_ - - -As Dave Dawson and Freddy Farmer stepped through the door of Room Five -Hundred on the Fifth Floor of the Air Ministry their first impression -was that they were stepping into a concert hall, and that the place was -almost filled up. The room was huge, tremendous in size, and at least -thirty or forty men in R.A.F. uniform were seated in chairs. At the far -end Air Marshal Manners, the R.A.F. hero of Dunkirk, sat at a table on -a small raised platform. - -"Name, rank, and papers, please!" - -Dave stopped short and jerked his head around to stare into the -inquiring eyes of a Staff Sergeant. The non-com held a sheet of paper -in one hand, and a pencil in the other. - -"Must make sure you're supposed to be here, you know," he said as Dave -continued to stare. - -"Oh sure, sorry," Dave grinned, snapping out of his trance. "Flying -Officer Dawson, Former Flight Squadron Two-ten. Here's my pass and -papers." - -The Staff Sergeant checked the papers with what was on the sheet he -held in his hand. Then he gave Dave a searching look and nodded. - -"Check, sir," he said. "Take any seat." - -Dave put his papers back in his pocket, and waited for Freddy to pass -examination. Then they walked farther into the room and found a couple -of vacant chairs. For some ten or fifteen minutes they just sat there -looking around and wondering what was up. They were not alone in -wondering either. They could tell that all of the others were as much -in the dark as they were. One thing struck an important and intriguing -note, however. Both of them saw many faces they had seen during the -last month flying off at least fifty different airdromes about England -in as many different types of planes. It wasn't until then that it -dawned on them that they had not been the only ones to take that -unusual and mysterious advanced flying course. - -And then when general curiosity was just about ready to burst wide open -like an exploding bomb, Air Marshal Manners stood up, rapped on the -table and grinned down into the sea of faces. - -"All right, chaps," he said. "I guess we can get on with it. Relax, -all of you. Smoke if you wish. I know this must look like some blasted -school room, but it isn't. I decided this was the best place to get you -all together, so that was that." - -The Air Marshal paused, cleared his throat, and took a perch on a -corner of the table. Then for a moment or two he let his wide set steel -blue eyes roam from face to face. As Dave locked looks with the famous -ace he had the sudden impression that Manners was looking straight into -his brain and reading all that was there. - -"In case you don't know," the Air Marshal spoke again, "I hate blasted -speech making. So don't expect anything polished from me. And if what I -say doesn't make sense, don't hesitate to interrupt me with questions. -First, though, I've got to ask you a question. And, lads, don't try -to be heroes. Everybody is a hero in this confounded mess. It doesn't -mean a thing. Find the answer to what I ask deep down inside of you. -Be honest with yourself, and with me. Now, here's the question. Is -there any one here who would rather return to his squadron for regular -service in place of accepting assignments that may call for service and -performance far beyond the ordinary call of duty? Think it over, chaps, -and if you would prefer to return to your squadron and your pals it -will be perfectly all right. It will mean nothing to me one way or the -other. And I will give you my word on that." - -The Air Marshal stopped talking and a pin dropping silence settled -over the room. If anybody actually debated whether to return to his -squadron, or remain, nobody else realized it. Every pair of eyes was -fixed steadfastly on Air Marshal Manners' face. And every pair of lips -remained still for two long minutes. It was the Air Ministry high -ranker who finally broke the silence. He grinned and made a little -gesture with one hand. - -"Knew perfectly well it would be a waste of breath to ask it," he said. -"Okay, right you are, then. We're all in it together, come what may. -Now, you don't have to tell me you've been close to blowing your top -with curiosity these last few weeks. I can see it in your faces right -now. Well, I'll put an end to the mystery. A few weeks ago I was put -in charge of what is to be known as the Emergency Command. In simple -language the Emergency Command is to be made up of proven pilots who -can fly anything, at any time, and at any place. That's why you chaps -have been buzzing from drome to drome these last few weeks. I made a -list of a hundred pilots I'd like to have in my Command. Those pilots -were sent through the special training courses. And you thirty-five -lads qualified for service in the Emergency Command. And by the way, -congratulations to each and every one of you. You all proved you have -the kind of stuff I'm going to need." - -The Air Marshal paused for breath and to grin at the sea of eager faces -before him. The pilots grinned back, and in the breast of each was the -tingling warmth that comes with the knowledge of having accomplished -something above the ordinary. - -"And now to get down to serious business," the famous ace of Dunkirk -said in a grave tone. "The jobs you'll get will be tough ones. All of -them. I fancy that no two jobs will be the same. You'll be flying one -type of ship one day, and another type the next. Maybe one day you'll -go on a special Berlin bomb raid. And perhaps when you return ... if -you do ... you'll be assigned the task of ferrying War Office officials -to Canada, or goodness knows where. In case you're wondering just why -such a Command should be formed, just give a thought or two to the -name. That's the whole explanation. An Emergency Command. Pilots ready -to do any kind of a job at a moment's notice. A suicide command, if -you like. The point is, though, you will not act as a unit. You'll be -assigned to a number of established squadrons, but your job there will -be special, and you will follow my orders as given you through the O.C. -of the squadron to which you happen to be assigned at the time. All -clear up to now?" - -Air Marshal Manners paused again and ran his eyes over the group. Heads -nodded and the murmur of assent passed from lip to lip. He grinned and -heaved a sigh of mock relief. - -"Well, so much for that, then," he said. "Now, something else. The -Emergency Command is to be something that is very hush-hush, and for -very good reason, I think. Because of your work you will soon learn -many, many important secrets about R.A.F. operation. Adolf's little -Intelligence and Gestapo boys would love to find out some of those -things themselves. So to check any attempt on their part to find out, -the identity of you chaps is going to remain a secret. By that, I mean -that on the records you will join a squadron as a replacement, and only -the O.C. of that squadron will know that you are there for a certain -purpose. And when you leave it will go in the records as a routine -transfer or some other suitable explanation. So naturally you lads have -got to live up to it all the time. Act the part of a replacement, and -don't say a thing to anybody. - -"And now, thank heavens, I come to the last part of this speech making. -Here on this table are thirty-five sealed envelopes. In each envelop is -the number of an R.A.F. squadron, the name of its O.C., and its present -location. As all of you have qualified for any kind of a job there is -no sense in my designating a certain job for a certain chap. In short, -you'll pick your first assignment blind. Some assignments are solo, -meaning that you'll go alone. And some will be for two of three of you -chaps. It all depends. So step up here and each of you take an envelop. -However, don't open it at once. I've got a few more words to say first. -Right-o. Step up, all of you." - -The Air Marshal finished the sentence with a gesture of his hand-toward -the table. There was a shuffling of feet as the pilots stood up and -walked towards the table on the raised platform. Dave turned his head -to look at Freddy, and in his pal's eyes he read the same thought that -was in his own brain. Was this night to see them split up? To see them -sent to opposite ends of the British Isles? Perhaps to opposite ends -of the earth? It was a thought that cut deep, and though each forced a -cheery grin to his lips there was the beginning of a dull ache of dread -and fear in his heart. - -"I've got my fingers crossed, if you know what I mean," Dave whispered -out the corner of his mouth. - -"I've had mine crossed since we came in," Freddy replied. "Had a -feeling that something like this might pop up. Luck, Dave, old boy!" - -"Luck to us both!" Dave breathed fervently and took his place in the -line that was forming. - -Some ten minutes later each pilot held a sealed envelop in his hands, -and he held it as gingerly as though it were a delayed action bomb that -might go off any second. Air Marshal Manners crushed out the cigarette -he was smoking and faced them again. - -"More rubbish talk, chaps," he said, "but I owe it to you and to myself -to give you all a fair chance. Don't take what I say lightly. This -is serious business. Mighty serious. Maybe half of you will be dead -by this time tomorrow night. There is no telling. When you open your -envelopes you'll jolly well be thumbing your nose at death. The odds -will be all against you. That's why I had to pick the best I could -find. Pilots with all around ability, courage, and fighting spirit. -The Emergency Command, and just that. Pilots who have the choice of -two things. Doing the well nigh impossible, or getting a wooden cross. -And so, if any of you want to change your minds now, go ahead. It will -still be perfectly all right with me." - -As Air Marshal Manners spoke the last he looked at each man in turn, -and his eyes repeated sincerely what his lips had just said. Nobody -made a single move. Not a pilot so much as licked his lips as though to -say something. Thirty-five steel clawed birdmen of the R.A.F. stared -him right back in the eye, and waited. - -"God bless you all," the famous ace said softly. "Right-o. Open your -sealed assignments. Orders as to what you are to do will be awaiting -you at the Squadron you join." - -Almost before the Air Marshal had finished the room was filled with the -crackling sound of sealed envelopes being ripped open. However, neither -Freddy nor Dave opened theirs at once. Invisible hands seemed to stay -them, and they looked once more at each other. For some crazy reason -Dave's throat choked up, and for a moment Freddy's face became a sort -of a blur. It was clear again in his vision almost instantly, however. -He grinned and shrugged. - -"Well, it's got to be done, and so here goes," he said. - -With that he ripped open his envelop, and drew out the card inside. The -few words were printed by typewriter, and read: - - Squadron No. 74, - Coastal Command, - Squadron Leader Hays, - Plymouth, England. - -Dave stared at the printed words, and was almost afraid to raise his -eyes and look at Freddy. He heard the ripping sound that the English -youth made. And then there was a moment of silence as Freddy read of -his own assignment. Then suddenly both acted as though by silent and -mutual agreement. They stepped close and placed their cards side by -side. The whole world seemed to stand still as they stared at each -other's cards. A moment later unconfined joy filled their hearts, for -the printing on the cards was identical. - -"Boy, do I feel ninety years younger!" Dave finally breathed. - -"That's putting it mildly," Freddy echoed in a voice choked with -emotion. "Phew! I feel like I had just died a thousand times, and come -to life again. Wonder if any other chaps are going to Coastal Command?" - -A few minutes later they found that they were the only two assigned to -the Coastal Command Squadron stationed at Plymouth. And just before -they left to head for their new station Air Marshal Manners drew them -to one side. - -"You're either lucky, or mighty _un_lucky, lads," he said. "I wondered -what two would get that assignment. The toughest of the lot, in my -opinion. Means everything to England. Everything. But that's all I've -got to say, now. Good luck, you two. And happy landings!" - -The famous ace of Dunkirk gripped them both hard by the hand, then -abruptly turned on his heel and walked away. Dave and Freddy looked -at each other, but neither spoke. There was no need to speak. Each -knew what the other was thinking, for he was thinking the same thing. -High adventure and furious action awaited them just ahead. And perhaps -death, too. But what they did about it would mean everything to -England. Air Marshal Manners had said so. And knowing the man and his -reputation for abrupt frankness they realized that he had not purposely -painted the picture black. He had told them straight from the shoulder, -and he had meant every word he said. England was counting on them, and -there could be no such thing as failure. Not even in death. - -"Well, what are we waiting for?" Dave finally grunted. "Let's go!" - - - - -CHAPTER THREE - -_Satan's Agent_ - - -All Nazi bombing aircraft had gone scurrying back across the Channel to -their funk holes in Occupied France, and a new dawn was sliding up out -of the east as the train bearing Dave and Freddy raced along the track -toward the great British naval base at Plymouth on the south coast. -By a bit of luck they had managed to get an apartment to themselves. -And as soon as the train had pulled out of the London station they had -stretched out on the seats with the idea of getting in as much sleep as -possible before tearing into the mysterious task that lay ahead of them. - -Their intentions and their efforts were fine, but that's about as far -as things went. Sleep completely ignored and abandoned them. There was -too much in their brains, and in their hearts to permit sleep a single -chance to take charge. And so after an hour they both gave it up, sat -up, and switched on the dome light in the car ceiling. - -"Boy, that did me a world of good!" Dave breathed and rubbed knuckles -in his eyes. "Feel like a new man, and rarin' to go." - -"Liar, you didn't sleep a wink," Freddy said scornfully. - -"Yeah?" Dave shot at him. "Who says so?" - -"I do!" Freddy shot back. "I was awake every second of the time, and I -didn't hear a thing." - -"Hear a thing?" Dave questioned without thinking. "What do you mean?" - -"You," Freddy said. "When you sleep you snore loud enough to shatter -windows. And there was hardly a murmur out of you." - -"Ouch!" Dave yelped. "Strike three on me! I sure walked right into that -one. Okay, I was kidding. I didn't get in a wink, either. Boy, if you -must know, this suspense is wearing me down." - -"Practically exhausted, I am," Freddy murmured. "Coastal Command, eh? I -guess that means those Yank built Consolidated "Catalina" flyingboats." - -"Or maybe those big four engined British Short "Sunderland" flying -boats," Dave added in a speculative manner. "Well, either one suits me. -Both are tip-top crates. But that means patrolling over coastal waters -hunting for submarines. Heck, unless the bus falls apart and you drop -into the drink I can't see much danger in that kind of work." - -"Neither can I," Freddy said. Then thoughtfully rubbing the palms of -his hands together, "Somehow, though, I have the hunch that it's going -to be a bit more than tootling a flyingboat around from here to there -and back again. The way Manners said happy landings to us makes.... -Well, the way he said it made me sort of feel my stomach was suddenly -filled with cracked ice. You know, sort of cold and shivery?" - -"Right on the nose!" Dave said and nodded vigorously. "And there was a -look in his eye, too. Gave me the feeling he knew darn well he'd never -see us again." - -"What a pleasant thought!" Freddy groaned. "I say, let's talk about -something else. Any more of this and I swear I'll leap off the train -and walk back." - -"That will be the day, when Freddy Farmer back-tracks on anything!" -Dave said with a chuckle. "But maybe it's best to talk of other -things. After all, in this game talking about the unknown doesn't help -at all. Like other jobs we've had, we've just simply got to take this -one in stride as it comes along. And let it go like that." - -"Oh quite," Freddy murmured. Then wistfully, "But I'd still jolly well -like to know what we're going up against." - -"You'll find out, and soon!" Dave said. "Right now, skip it. Tell me. -What do you think of the Dodgers' chances to cop the flag this year?" - -Freddy Farmer sat up a bit, blinked, and looked blank. - -"Eh?" he echoed. "Dodgers? What country is that, and who are they -fighting? I don't believe I ever heard...." - -The English youth cut himself off short as Dave rolled over on the seat -and collapsed with laughter. Then before Freddy could draw in breath to -demand an explanation, the compartment door was rolled aside and a tall -moon faced youth in the uniform of an R.A.F. flying officer stood in -the doorway. Dave cut short his laughter, and both looked up into the -grinning face of the man in the doorway. - -"Am I interrupting something, chaps?" he asked in a north of England -accent. "Just passing as I heard the outburst of humor, and saw -you were R.A.F., too. Name's Steffins. Heading for Coastal Command, -Plymouth." - -"Come in, come in, Steffins," Dave said and moved over to make a place. -"I'm Dawson, and my son, here, is named Freddy Farmer. Don't pay any -attention to those wings and D.F.C. ribbon on his tunic. He stole them." - -"All lies, Steffins," Freddy said, extending his hand. "The truth is, -Dawson's really wearing my extra tunic. Likes to put on a show, you -know. Look, Dave, have you cleaned those field boots of mine, yet? And -don't forget to change back into your corporal's uniform before we -reach Plymouth." - -"Oh, you chaps going to Plymouth, too?" Steffins asked in a delighted -tone. "By any chance is it Seventy-Four, Coastal Command? That's where -I'm headed. Been up north on Lockheed Hudsons for the last two months. -Got dropped in the water twice." - -"Yeah, we're heading for Seventy-Four, too," Dave said. "We were -in Sixty-Two on the west coast. Catalinas. What do they fly in -Seventy-Four, anyway? Do you know?" - -Dave wasn't sure but he got the impression that Steffins flashed him a -searching, puzzled look. It was gone in an instant, however. - -"Most everything, so I've been told," he said, "I say, you're a Yank, -aren't you?" - -"R.A.F. for the duration, anyway," Dave replied with a nod. "What was -your Lockheed squadron? I know some chaps on Lockheeds up North." - -Steffins seemed to hesitate, but perhaps it was only to draw air into -his lungs. - -"Squadron One Hundred and Twenty," he said. "A fairly new outfit. -Squadron Leader Clancy was O.C. But I'm keen to get to Plymouth. Never -been there before. And I'm blasted sick of the North Sea, I can tell -you. Funny thing, though, about leaving my old squadron. Thought I was -set there for good. Then suddenly yesterday the O.C. told me I had been -assigned to Seventy-Four at Plymouth. Seemed to hint it was special -duty, or something. Wouldn't say a thing, though. Just gave me my -traveling papers, and such, and sent me off." - -A suddenly liking for Steffins shot through Dave Dawson. Perhaps the -lad was on the same kind of a mission as he and Freddy. He started -to open his mouth to speak, but at that instant he happened to catch -Freddy's eye. The English youth gave a hair width shake of his head, -and said the rest in a look. Dave closed his mouth and started again. - -"It wasn't like that with us," he lied. "Freddy and I asked for a -transfer. Change of scenery, and all that kind of stuff. I guess -there's more action off the south coast anyway. For the last two weeks -we didn't do anything but use up gas and oil. I hope...." - -At that moment all three of them heard the ungodly wail of a plane -coming down in an all out power dive. It was not the wail but the sound -of the plane's engine that brought them to their feet and diving for -the compartment windows. It was not the steady beat of a British or an -American engine. It was the throbbing pulsating roar of a German made -engine. In fact, the unsynchronized throb of two engines. Even as they -reached the window and stared up into the dawn sky they saw that the -plane was a long range Nazi Focke-Wulf 187 destroyer plane. The craft -was low down and racing in toward the moving train. An instant later -the savage yammer of machine gun fire sounded above the beat of the -engines. - -"Strafing us!" Dave shouted unconsciously. "Why, that tramp! Do I wish -I was in a Spitfire or a Hurricane! I'd soon...." - -Dave stopped short, half turned and saw Steffins striving frantically -to crawl under one of the seats. The man's face was paper white and he -was biting into his lower lip hard. Another yammering burst from the -strafing plane and jerked Dave's eyes back to the window. He started -to duck himself but checked it as he saw that the pilot of the plane -seemed to be concentrating on the rear car of the train. He looked at -Freddy and saw the veiled contempt in the English youth's eyes. Freddy -half jerked a thumb at Steffins still trying to crawl under the seat, -and shrugged. - -Dave laughed, and called out to Steffins. - -"Give it up, Steffins! Those things are bolted to the floor. Besides, -the lug isn't shooting our way." - -"And also he has gone on his merry way!" Freddy said, turning away from -the window. "The blighter just thought he'd have a bit of murdering -sport on the way home. If I was in my old Hurricane he'd jolly well get -a bellyful of his kind of sport." - -Very red of face and twice as sheepish looking, Steffins stopped trying -to crawl through bolted wood, and got up onto his feet. He gave Freddy -a hard stare, then smiled slowly. - -"Sorry I made such a fool of myself," he said with an effort. "Truth -is, though, I got peppered a bit by one of those lads back in the -September show. Turns my blood cold every time I hear one of the -beggars come down. Well, I guess I'd better buzz back to my compartment -and get my stuff together. Must be getting near there, now. Nice to -meet you two. Hope we see a lot of each other." - -"Sure, I guess we will, Steffins," Dave said pleasantly. - -"Right you are," Freddy murmured as the pilot slid through the door and -closed it shut. - -"A nice guy to have around in the clutch," Dave grunted when he and -Freddy were alone. "Ask me and I'll tell you the guy is yellow. Hey, -why the heavy scowl, pal? What's suddenly on that thing you call a -mind?" - -"Your nice little friend," Freddy said with a jerk of his head toward -the door. "It doesn't quite check. The lad is a bit queer, I'd say." - -The opening was too perfect for Dave to let it slip by unnoticed. - -"What Englishman isn't?" he cracked. - -"I'll remember that one," Freddy growled. Then grave of face, "No, -serious, Dave. I wish the devil the lad hadn't come in here. I'd -feel better right now. I think I've seen him someplace before, but -blessed if I can remember where. And the beggar lied to us, unless I'm -completely wrong on my R.A.F. squadrons." - -Dave started another smart remark but cut it off at the look on -Freddy's face. He hitched forward a bit on the edge of the seat. - -"How come?" he asked. "What are you driving at? I didn't notice -anything unusual, but I really wasn't listening very hard. What do you -mean?" - -"A friend of mine _used_ to be in One-Twenty Lockheed Hudsons," Freddy -said with meaningful emphasis. "I ran into him a couple of weeks ago, -when you and I were at Hull for that spell. He told me then that -One-Twenty was _washed out three months ago_. Rather it was hooked up -with One-Thirty-Six and they were doing coastal patrol around the Dover -area." - -"No kidding?" Dave exclaimed. Then with a puzzled frown, "But what was -the point in the guy lying to us? He.... Say, I had a hunch at first -when he came in. Maybe he's on some hush-hush thing like we are." - -"I doubt it, and a lot!" Freddy said tight lipped. "I'm sure the chap -was trying to pump us for all he was worth. Remember that time I shook -my head at you? Well, he was fairly falling over on his face waiting -for you to speak. And the way he tried to crawl under the seat! No, -the lad has something very queer about him. Blast it! I wish I could -remember where I've seen him before. I.... Wait! Let me think. I -almost had it that time!" - -Freddy scowled hard and pressed both palms against his forehead as -though that would help memory to come back. As Dave watched him the -tingling sensation came to the back of his neck once again. He sat as a -man turned to stone, hardly daring to breathe. - -"Well?" he finally got out after several tormenting minutes dragged by. - -Freddy shook his head, started to gesture for silence with one hand, -and then gasped and sat up straight. - -"Got it, of course!" he cried. "Unless I'm completely balmy." - -"Could be," Dave grunted. "But spill it anyway." - -"Earlier tonight just as we were leaving Adastral House," Freddy said -in a strained voice. "You were ahead of me yelling for that cabby, so -you didn't see. In the blasted blackout I flew full tilt into a chap. -We both went flat. I used my flash to help us both get up. And I got a -look at the other chap's face. Dave, I swear to you that the chap was -this Steffins. I can see his face now as clear as day!" - -"So what?" Dave grunted as a sense of disappointment rippled through -him. "The guy was in London to catch this train, and you just happened -to collide with him in the blackout. Maybe he didn't get a look at your -mug, so didn't recognize you just now." - -"Let me finish!" Freddy snapped angrily. "When I bumped into him -outside Air Ministry _he was wearing the uniform of a captain in the -Fifth Londonshire Infantry_!" - -"Sweet jumping tripe!" Dave breathed softly. "And he pops up again on -this train wearing an R.A.F. uniform? Heck, Freddy, you must have made -a mistake. It doesn't add up to make sense!" - -"Perhaps it doesn't," Freddy said with a shrug. "But I still don't like -that chap. And what's more, when we get to Plymouth I'm going to make -it my job to find out more about him." - -Dave made no reply. He turned his head and stared absently out the car -window. For reasons he couldn't possibly explain to himself at the -time he suddenly had the feeling that Freddy Farmer had spoken words -of truth. That the English youth had looked into the future, seen what -the war gods were brewing, and spoken an advance warning for them both. -Dave shivered slightly and turned from the window. - -"I wonder what it will be like when peace comes to this cockeyed world -again," he grunted. - -"I wonder how many of us will be around to find out," Freddy murmured -as though talking to himself. - - - - -CHAPTER FOUR - -_Atlantic Fury_ - - -With her twin engines thundering out their duet of mighty power, the -American built Consolidated "Catalina" flying boat patrolled back and -forth over the convoy of fifteen merchant ships plowing through the -Atlantic swells toward the southwest coast of England. At the controls -sat Dave Dawson, and at his side in the co-pilot and navigator's seat -was Freddy Farmer. Aft at their respective stations were the three -other members of the plane's crew. For seven long hours the flying -boat had been escorting the convoy through dangerous waters. And every -instant of that time five pairs of R.A.F. eyes had been searching the -waters below for signs of a lurking group of Nazi "steel fish," and -scanning the heavens for the first glimpse of a Nazi air raider winging -out from its base in occupied France. - -Nine solid hours of being constantly on the alert, and not so much as -a single floating hunk of wood sighted. It was as though the Germans -had no idea that valuable cargoes of war material were headed for -England. Or else the presence of the Catalina flying boat and the small -but heavily armed "Corvette" escort freighter leading the convoy made -them decide to leave it alone. At any rate the merchant ships had not -received a single scare, and soon they would be through the danger zone -and unloading their war stuffs at England's docks. - -Taking one hand from the controls, Dave dug knuckles into his tired -eyes and sighed heavily. - -"If this is the British idea of a joke," he growled, "all that I can -say is that it smells out loud." - -"Meaning what?" Freddy asked and made a few final marks on his -navigation charts. "Mad because all those ships down there are going to -get through safely?" - -"Nuts, of course not!" Dave snapped and gave him a scornful side -glance. "And you know darn well what I mean." - -"That's true, I do," Freddy said and scowled out over the nose of the -flying boat's hull. "Certainly is funny. Do you think by chance that -something's gone haywire?" - -"All I know is that _I'm_ getting close to going haywire!" Dave replied -savagely. "For two days now, we've been attached to Seventy-Four -Squadron of the Coastal Command, and what have we done? Nothing but -toot these big babies out over the Atlantic, pick up a merchant convoy, -and toot back with them. Not a sign of a U-boat, not a sign of a Nazi -plane, and.... Heck! Not a sign of anything. And we were two chaps who -were to tackle a do-or-die mission and receive secret orders from our -new O.C. You know, Freddy, I'm beginning to think, it's all a lot of -hog wash. But why Air Marshal Manners should hand out all that fancy -stuff sure beats me." - -"I'm just as much in the dark myself," Freddy grunted. "But somehow -I don't think that it was supposed to be this way. I think that -something went wrong some place, and Manners had to hold up our special -orders. Or perhaps he wanted us to get well acquainted with things. -I mean, make it definitely look as though we were just a couple of -replacements." - -"Maybe so," Dave sighed and stared at the flock of British destroyers -steaming out to take over and lead the convoy into port. "Maybe so, -but I still don't like it. So help me, I doubt I'd be able to recognize -a Nazi plane now if one should fall into my lap. Well, there're the -destroyers, so this trick is over. Send the code signal to Plymouth -Base that we've made contact and are coming in. And tell Sergeant Black -aft that I'll have another slub of that coffee before we go in. And -tell him I mean coffee, _not_ tea!" - -"A regular barbarian, drinking that horrible stuff!" Freddy groaned and -adjusted his radio mike. "I swear, we'll never be able to make you a -real Englishman!" - -"It's still coffee!" Dave said with a grin. "And hurry it along, my -little man." - -A few minutes later the Catalina flyingboat had left the convoy far -behind and safely in the charge of the destroyers. A cup of warm coffee -was in Dave's stomach, and he was almost becoming slightly satisfied -with the world again. Now, if only about forty-'leven Nazi planes would -show up and give them a little action everything would be all to the -merry. No hope of that, though, he reflected gloomily. They were too -near to Base, and any Jerry lad who showed his nose around Plymouth -Base just naturally didn't get back to Germany. The Jerries knew that -and so they stayed well clear of that little bit of England. - -"And what about the great mystery, Dave?" Freddy suddenly spoke up to -break his train of thought. "Do you think we should go to Squadron -Leader Hays and tell him our story?" - -"Meaning your boy friend, Flying Officer Steffins?" Dave echoed with a -frown. - -"None other," the English youth replied. "I told you there was -something queer about that chap. I really think we should speak to -Squadron Leader Hays about him." - -Dave made no comment for a few moments. During these two days at -Plymouth Base he had thought a lot of thoughts about the queer acting -R.A.F. pilot they had met on the train coming down. And the most -important thought was the fact that neither he nor Freddy had so much -as set eyes on the man since the moment he had picked himself up off -the compartment floor after the Nazi plane strafe and gone forward -to his own seat. The man had simply vanished into thin air. He most -certainly had not reported at Plymouth Base. Freddy had made sure of -that by asking all around. As a matter of fact, nobody at Plymouth -Base had even heard of the man. And the bulletin board in the mess had -said in so much black type that Dawson and Farmer were the only two -replacements posted to Seventy-Four. - -"Sorry to wake you up, Dave," Freddy spoke again. "But what do you -think about the situation?" - -"Pipe down, I was thinking," Dave growled. "But I can't even get to -first base. Maybe we should speak to the Squadron Leader, yet that -might make us look like a couple of saps. If there's one thing that -gets a fellow's goat in this war it's the dizzy unfounded spy scares -that pop up every time you turn a corner. And after all, to us he was -just a yellow belly who shot off his face and asked a lot of questions. -Maybe he was just some bird posing as an R.A.F. officer just for the -heck of it. That sort of thing's happened before. You know, some bird -wants to make an impression on his girl and he goes calling all dolled -up as an officer, when he really should be wearing his private's -uniform. No, Freddy, I don't think Squadron Leader Hays would love us -extra much if we went to him with such a crazy story." - -"I'm afraid you're right," Freddy grunted. "It is just a little bit -crazy. But I still swear he's the same chap I bumped into in front of -Adastral House." - -"Well, maybe that time he was calling on a girl who likes the Army -best," Dave chuckled. "Anyway, let's skip it for the time being. -There's Base, and here we go down to a stack of warm food, and a little -shut eye." - -Dave's statement was half truth and half falsehood. They did put away -a stack of food, but there was to be no shut-eye for either of them. -They had hardly finished their meal when an orderly appeared with word -that they were to report at once to Squadron Leader Hays' office. They -exchanged looks, grinned happily, and instantly lost all desire for -sleep. - -"Hot dog!" Dave breathed and pushed back from the table. "Maybe this is -it!" - -"I'm saying nothing until I'm dead sure," Freddy grunted and got up, -too. "The way things are going perhaps we're to be favored with the -special honor of washing dishes." - -"Boy, can you make a guy feel good!" Dave growled and gave his best pal -a playful poke in the ribs. - -When they reached the Squadron Leader's their hopes dropped a little -for the simple reason that they were not the only two summoned. There -were ten other pilots there as well. Squadron Leader Hays waited until -Dave and Freddy had settled themselves in chairs and then started to -speak. - -"Special job for you fellows," he said. "Coastal Command is testing -out a new type of plane to be used on short range work. It's the new -Fairey "Fulmar" fighter. It's powered with a Bristol Pegasus engine -that's been jacked up a bit to give a couple of hundred more horsepower -than the ordinary Pegasus. It's a land job, of course, but it's been -fitted with extra tanks, and sections of the wings are sealed so that -you'll float for quite a bit of time in case you fall down into the -drink. Whether these Fulmars will give us the service Coastal Command -demands remains to be seen. Anyway, six of them arrived last night, and -I've selected you chaps to give them a good testing. If you can find -any off-shore Nazi planes then so much the better. However, don't go -too far out, and don't get too close to the French coast. You can be -sure that the Jerries are just aching to shoot down a Fulmar and get a -good look at it. Well, that's all. They're out on the line now, and the -mechanics are waiting. You can take off any time you want." - -The Squadron Leader made a little gesture with his hand that dismissed -the group. Disappointment tugging at their hearts, Dave and Freddy -started toward the Squadron Office door, but pulled up short as the -Commanding Officer spoke again. - -"Oh, Dawson and Farmer!" he called out. "Wait a moment, will you?" - -Both youths wheeled around with hope soaring up anew. The Squadron -Leader waited until all the others had left, then grimaced and sighed -unhappily. - -"Darnedest war I ever fought in!" he growled and motioned to the boys -to step closer. "There's enough blasted hush-hush stuff to smother the -whole Empire. Of course what I told the others was plain rot. We've got -Fulmars here, and they are to stay for keeps. This testing idea is all -bosh. But orders are orders. So there's nothing I can do about it." - -The Squadron Leader made another face and took a sealed envelop from -out of his inside tunic pocket. He handed it to Dave. - -"Your orders for something or other," he said. "Don't read them until -you're in the air. And don't bother asking me questions. I don't know -a blessed thing about them. What's more, I don't want to know. This -arrived from Air Marshal Manners an hour ago. Here, take it, and get on -with your job. Stuff it in your tunic pocket and keep it there until -you're in the air. And.... Well, naturally, good luck and all that sort -of thing. Now, buzz off, both of you." - -Dave and Freddy saluted, executed a snappy about face and walked on -air out of the squadron office and over toward the south side of the -field where Six Fairey Fulmar fighter planes were lined up with engines -ticking over. From the depths of dread and despair they had soared -up to a new high. The long awaited event had come to pass at last. -The sealed orders in Dave's pocket seemed to turn into a white hot -coal that burned right through his clothing to his skin. He couldn't -speak because excitement and eager expectation was like a hand of -steel clutching at his throat. Sealed orders. For what? For life, or -for death? Right now neither of them cared very much. One thing was -certain. Those sealed orders meant action, and action was all that -mattered to those two fisted, stout hearted, steel clawed birdmen of -the Royal Air Force. - - - - -CHAPTER FIVE - -_Mystery Wings_ - - -It took every ounce of his will-power, but Dave Dawson forced himself -to wait until he and Freddy had the Fulmar clear and well out of sight -of the Plymouth Base before he took the sealed orders out of his -pocket. He turned in the seat so that Freddy could read them at the -same time, but he didn't rip open the envelop at once. He held it up -and looked at Freddy. - -"Let's fool Manners," he said with a straight face. "Let's just toss -this over the side and go on down back and land. There's probably -nothing in it anyway. What say, huh?" - -Freddy's jaw dropped, his eyes popped, and his face turned white as a -sheet. - -"Good grief, Dave, have you gone mad?" he gasped and grabbed for the -envelop. "Don't you dare...!" - -The English youth cut himself off short and turned beet red as he saw -the grin on Dave's lips. He swallowed hard and balled one hand into a -hard fist. - -"Some day you'll pull one of your bad jokes just once too often!" he -growled. "Open that letter before I throw you out bag and baggage. -Phew! What years you took off my life, you ... you...!" - -"Naughty, naughty, don't say it!" Dave said with a laugh as Freddy -floundered around for a suitable word. "Mama wash your mouth out with -soap! Okay, pal. Sorry you almost had heart failure. Guess it is a bum -time to pull one like that." - -"Shut up and open that letter!" Freddy shouted in a fuming voice. - -Dave nodded and tore open the envelop and pulled out two typewritten -sheets of paper. He smoothed them out, let the ship fly itself, and -then started reading the orders. They read: - - Flying Officers Dawson And Farmer - - You are to first make sure that no aircraft either British or Nazi - are in sight. Then you are to set a course for the area off the - French coast as indicated on the second sheet of these orders. En - route you will tune your radio to wave length reading 429-6B and - _leave it at that reading regardless of what happens_. For your - information when your radio is set at that reading it will be in - constant contact with special directional finder apparatus aboard - certain British naval craft in surrounding waters. They will know - your exact location every second of the time, but your signal will - not be heard by any enemy aircraft or surface vessels. - - When you reach the area marked on the second sheet you will cruise - about and _maintain a constant look-out_ for a single funneled Nazi - surface sea raider of some seven thousand tons. The craft will - probably be painted a dull grey, and may be flying the flag of - almost any country. The craft has flat decks from bow to stern and - sets low in the water. Even from close range she looks like an - ordinary tramp. She is, however, heavily armed and is fitted with - hidden guns that can be hoisted above decks at an instant's notice. - - Most important of all she is the fuel ship for a wolf pack of some - ten to fifteen Nazi U-boats. They will be close to the ship but - will submerge the instant your plane is sighted. You probably will - not even see them. So concentrate only on the surface raider. - - _Make no attempt to attack the raider! Do not touch your radio!_ - The raider's set will be open and although it will not be able to - hear your directional finder signal it will pick up anything else. - - Even though you are attacked by enemy aircraft do not give battle! - - You are to act as though you are lost. As though you are having - engine trouble, or are out of fuel. When you sight the raider start - down and keep on going down. You are to make a crash landing in - the water. - - As soon as you have crash landed your signal will stop going out - over the air. British naval craft in that area will then head - under full draft for the spot. And Fleet Air Arm craft will be - launched with torpedoes and bombs. The two units will attempt to - trap the raider and her U-boats and blow them out of the water. - - When you have landed your job is done, and you are to save your own - lives as best you can. This area is believed to be the rendezvous - point of the most dangerous raiding pack England has yet battled. - It is absolutely essential that this pack be destroyed. And it is - hoped ... and expected ... that you will fulfill your orders to - the letter. The success of the entire venture depends upon your - causing the raider no alarm, keeping your directional finder signal - going out over the air all the time ... and creating the impression - that you are lost and making a forced landing in the water without - being able to send out your position. - - Good luck, and God bless you! - - Manners - Emergency Command - -Dave waited until Freddy nodded to indicate that he was through -reading, and then took a look at the second sheet. It contained a -complete navigation course that led to an area of the Atlantic about -seventy-five miles west-south-west of Brest on the coast of occupied -France. One glance was enough to tell them both that surface and -under-sea raiders working out of that rendezvous area could fan through -England's trade lanes with Canada and the United States in the matter -of a few hours and then go scooting back to any one of a number of -bases on the French coast. - -"Well, Manners certainly wasn't kidding when he gave us that little -pep talk," Dave finally broke the silence. "Boy, he sure did hand us -something sweet, didn't he?" - -Freddy didn't reply at once. He swallowed a couple of times and ran a -finger around the strap of his helmet as though it had suddenly become -a little bit too tight. - -"And not a chance to fire a shot!" he groaned. "Blasted clay pigeons, -that's what we've got to be." - -"Dead ducks, and how!" Dave breathed. "Nope, I don't think it's going -to be nice at all sitting in the water with the British navy and Fleet -Air Arm lads heaving everything at the raider and her subs. Of course, -though, I can still pitch this thing overboard, and we can swear Hays -didn't give us a thing." - -"Never mind that!" Freddy growled. "As you would say, we stuck our -chins out, and we've got to keep them out. Set the course, my little -man, and tune in on that wave length. No, wait, I'll do that little -thing. Who knows but what you might get Manners on the thing and start -offering brighter suggestions. Blast it, though, I hate swimming. -Specially in mid Atlantic this time of year." - -"Cheer up, pal!" Dave laughed. "I'll save you, my boy!" - -"In that case I'm doomed for sure!" the English youth groaned and -turned his attention to the radio. - -For the next several minutes neither lad spoke. Each was busy with his -own thoughts. And be it said they were not pleasant ones. However, -they were not unpleasant thoughts simply because almost certain death -awaited them out over the Atlantic. That their chances of surviving -this assignment were almost nil didn't bother them a bit. What rankled -was that they had to go down to whatever kind of doom awaited them -without so much as starting to put up a show of resistance. Aerial -decoys, that's what they were. Just a couple of lads sent out to act -as helpless enemy bait, and when they had done their job probably get -blown to atoms forty ways from Sunday. It wasn't right, and it wasn't -fair. But it was orders, and that was that! - -"A penny for your thoughts, Freddy!" Dave suddenly called out. "If -they're the same as mine they're not worth that much." - -"Matter of fact, I was thinking about that directional finder gadget," -the English youth replied as he stared at the radio. "It sure must be -something pretty neat. Just think, British war craft know where we are -right now. The chaps at the other end can put a dot on their navigation -charts marking the spot of water we're over now. What will this war -bring out next?" - -"Don't ask," Dave grunted and fixed his eyes on the distant horizon. -"One thing I hope, though. When we crash land and our signal -automatically stops, I hope those boys will get to the spot in a hurry. -The Jerries are no dopes. They may smell something fishy. And they -sure will once they spot naval craft smoke on the horizon." - -"The bombers will be on top of them long before that," Freddy said. -"Besides, though Manners didn't say so, it's up to us to delay the -raider as long as we can. Ten to one she'll hove to to pick us up. -Particularly the plane. This Fulmar is a new job, you know, and it -would be a feather in the raider captain's cap to take one back to -port." - -"Sure, that's true," Dave nodded. Then with a frown, "But the set-up -doesn't appeal to me so much. No, I don't mean about our necks. I mean, -Manners' hope that the navy and Fleet Air Arm will wipe out the raider -and her tin fish children. Seems too much to hope for, the way I figure -it. Frankly, I wish we could have talked with Manners instead of only -being able to read what he wrote. I've got ideas that...." - -"Don't I know it!" Freddy cut in. "But forget them, my friend. You'd -have Manners tearing out his hair in two minutes. Don't worry, he's -considered this thing from every angle, and picked the best way to do -the job." - -"Maybe," Dave grumbled reluctantly. "But I still would like to have -been able to talk to the guy." - -"And that's a break Manners will never know about," Freddy chuckled. -"Anyway it's no good now. The area's just ahead, and who knows what -else. And by the way, Dave, did I ever tell you that it's been nice -knowing you? I'm afraid I'll have to admit it's true." - -As the English youth's quiet voice came to Dave's ears a hard lump -formed in his throat and for a brief instant the horizon ahead became -just a little bit blurred. - -"Well, I guess I've got to admit that you're aces, too, Freddy," Dave -said, a moment later and reached back a hand. - -Freddy took the hand in his own and gripped it hard. Neither spoke a -word. They didn't have to. All the words in the world meant nothing -compared to the real meaning and significance of that handclasp. It was -Freddy who finally broke the silence. - -"What am I?" he said gruffly. "Your precious little girl friend, or -something? Let go, and get to work." - -"Now isn't that just like the guy?" Dave sighed and kept his eyes on -the sea and horizon ahead. "I hold his hand to help stop him shaking -and trembling with fright, and he bawls me out. Yes, the English are a -screwy race, no fooling. I...." - -"Shut up, Dave!" Freddy cut in sharply. "Take a look to the left! What -in the world do you make of that?" - -"Huh?" Dave echoed and bent forward slightly to stare down over the -left wing of the plane at the rolling grey green swells of the North -Atlantic. "What do you mean, look? I don't see a thing but water." - -Freddy reached forward and rapped him sharply on the shoulder. - -"Not down, _up_!" he shouted. "Off to the left about three miles, and a -couple of thousand feet above us. It's a plane!" - -Dave jerked his head up and stared hard in the direction indicated. -For a couple of seconds he saw nothing but sun bathed blue sky and -scattered patches of clouds. Then suddenly he saw the flash of sunlight -on wings. He took a good second look and gave an angry shake of his -head. - -"Now what?" he grated. "Aren't we ever going to get started on -anything? That's a British plane. From here it looks like a Fairey -'Swordfish' torpedo plane of the Fleet Air Arm. It's a biplane, and not -a low wing monoplane job like this one we're in." - -"It is a Swordfish torpedo plane!" Freddy cried excitedly. "And look, -Dave. There! See? See its markings? What in the world?" - -"Boy, what eyes you've got, pal!" Dave grunted and squinted hard at -the distant plane. "I can't see a thing. That darn sun is.... Hey! -Holy smoke, Freddy! That ship is carrying the markings of Seventy-Four -Squadron! Our own outfit!" - -"Exactly!" Freddy echoed. "It means that somebody was sent out to -signal us that the show was all off. Or else some lad has been trailing -us just to find out what we're up to." - -"Well, it can't be the first," Dave said as a tiny tingle of worry -rippled through him. "Our orders were sealed, you know. Nobody at the -Plymouth Base knows where we are." - -"Well, one chap does," Freddy said and pointed. "That chap up there." - -Dave made no comment to that. He turned his head front and searched -the rolling swells all the way south to the horizon line. And to the -east and to the west as well. But that was all he saw. Just miles and -miles of rolling grey green swells. There wasn't the sign of a single -thing on the surface, nor the faint shadow of a U-boat lurking under -the surface. In fact, there wasn't so much as a single puff of smoke to -denote the presence of surface craft. - -"Somebody's either taking us for a sweet sleigh ride," he grunted to -himself. "Or else we just naturally read those orders wrong. My guess -is that...." - -Dave never stated what his guess was. At that moment the savage yammer -of aerial machine gun fire crackled against his ear drums above the -roar of the Bristol engine. He jerked his head around just in time -to see Freddy Farmer clutch at his left cheek and slump over against -the side of the cockpit. The English youth straightened up almost -immediately and took his hand away from his cheek. Dave's heart started -beating again when he saw the thin narrow red line that cut down from -the lobe of the ear toward the point of the jaw. Freddy had been -slightly creased by a bullet. An inch or so more to the right, however, -and the English R.A.F. ace would have been stone dead. - -In practically the same instant that Dave looked at Freddy he jerked -his gaze skyward. The strange plane from Seventy-Four Squadron was -racing down at them with all guns blazing. The thick glass hood over -the Fulmar's two place cockpit was being turned into a mass of millions -and millions of tiny cracks as the bullets from the Fairey Swordfish's -guns slammed against it. Hardly realizing that he was doing so, Dave -jumped hard on the controls and whipped the Fulmar up over and down in -a wing screaming half roll. The maneuver took them clear of the other -plane's gun for a moment or so. But no longer. The biplane followed -through in a similar maneuver and came tearing down in again. - -"You dirty rat, what gives?" Dave bellowed angrily and slid off the -safety catch of his gun triggers. "If you're asking for trouble you're -getting it now ... and plenty!" - -Even as the words raced off his lips he kicked the Fulmar through a -vicious half roll and then hung it on its prop. The Swordfish's pilot -was caught cold and a ten year old kid could have picked him off at -that distance. It so happened, though, that Dave didn't have the chance -to fire a single shot. Quick as a flash Freddy leaned forward and -knocked his thumb off the trigger button. - -"Don't, Dave!" Freddy screamed. "Are you crazy? Our orders were not to -shoot even if we were attacked!" - -"But this is different!" Dave roared. "That bird...." - -"No!" Freddy cried insistently and hung onto Dave's hand. "We've got to -follow orders. Fake that you've been hit, and try to get away from him. -Gosh, Dave, we haven't even sighted the raider yet. Get away from this -chap. A Fulmar can fly rings around a Swordfish. Get away from him and -let's continue with the patrol." - -Whether it was Freddy's convincing argument, or whether it was the fact -that the Swordfish was no longer a perfect target, Dave didn't really -know. Anyway, he kicked the Fulmar off its stall and went sliding off -and down to the right. However, the stall had cut the Fulmar's speed -to practically nothing. Also there was more than just an average run -of the mill pilot flying the strange plane with Seventy-Four Squadron -markings. Before Dave could pick up sufficient speed to do any fast -maneuvering the Swordfish came ripping in again with its guns spewing -out jetting streams of flame. - -Dave felt the plane tremble as it was hit in a hundred different -places. Then suddenly the Bristol in the nose began to cough and -sputter, and the controls went wishy-washy in his grasp. A cold lump of -ice took the place of his heart, and a load of buckshot began to bounce -around in his stomach. For a moment he couldn't move a single muscle. -He simply sat there like a man of stone waiting for the next burst from -the Swordfish's guns to rip and tear into his body. Instinct, however, -took charge where his brain failed. The next thing he realized he had -put the plane into a tight spiral and was working down toward the -surface of the water as fast as he dared. - -It was not enough, though, for the mysterious Swordfish pilot to know -that the Fulmar was crippled and going down. The plane tore in for -three more bursts before it zoomed up for altitude and went thundering -away at full throttle toward the east. Luckily the parting burst did no -further damage to the Fulmar. The plane was finished for good, however. -The engine made one last gasping sound and then died completely. Dave -gingerly worked the wabbly controls and eased the craft out of its -tight spiral and put it into a long flat glide. Then he turned around -and glared at Freddy. - -"Right or wrong, we should have plugged that tramp!" he growled. "I had -him pinned to a cloud when you knocked my hand away from the trigger -button. But skip it, pal. Orders are orders, I guess. How's the face -feel?" - -"Can't feel a thing!" Freddy called out and impulsively touched the -bleeding bullet crease on his cheek. "What do we do now, Dave?" - -Dave laughed harshly and pointed down. - -"Three guesses!" he said. "And all of them correct. We go down and play -we're in the Navy. And I.... Oh my gosh, Freddy! Look! That rotten bum -plastered our radio and knocked it haywire. That means our signal's -stopped going out over the air. And that means that the navy ships and -planes will come a-running, and there's not a raider or a U-boat within -miles of here, I bet." - -Freddy looked blank for a moment. Then he threw back his head and -roared with laughter. - -"What a lad, what a lad!" he finally cried. "Yes sir, one in a million. -Sure the planes and ships will come a-running. But won't it make _you_ -feel good to be picked up instead of floating around until you sink?" - -Dave grinned and gave a little shake of his head. - -"Yes, I guess it will at that," he said. "But, heck, once we crashed -the signal would have stopped, and they'd have come anyway. But darn -it, I don't like this, Freddy. Not even a little bit. I've got a funny -feeling that Manners didn't think of _this_ possibility at all." - -"What do you mean by that crack?" Freddy exclaimed as he saw the look -on Dave's face. - -The Yank R.A.F. ace slowly raised a hand and pointed ahead and toward -the east. Freddy looked in that direction, gulped, but said nothing. -About a mile away and just beneath the surface of the water was the -tell-tale shadow of a submarine. It was slowly coming to the surface, -and as the boys watched it they saw that it was a Nazi U-boat. Just a -lone Nazi U-boat in an area where they had been expected to sight ten -or fifteen in the company of a powerful surface raider. - -Dave slowly turned and looked Freddy in the eye. - -"And on second thought I like it even worse," he said. "That U-boat -knew that we were coming here. It also knew that a Fairey Swordfish was -going to shoot us down. Catch on to what I mean?" - -"No, I don't quite follow you," Freddy said with a worried shake of his -head. - -"The old double cross, or whatever you want to call it," Dave said -and flattened the glide of the plane even more. "We were going to set -a nice little trap for the Nazis, but they've crossed us up. It's my -guess they have set a nice little trap for the naval ships that are -right now racing to our rescue!" - -Freddy Farmer's face paled as he looked at the damaged radio. - -"And there isn't a thing we can do about warning them," he said in a -hoarse voice. - -"Not a thing," Dave said as he stared at the submarine again. "But -there's something we can _do_, Freddy. Hang onto your hat, pal! You -and I are going to crash right on top of that baby! By the time he -gets clear of our wreckage it'll be too late for him to crash dive and -let go with his torpedoes at our navy ships. Hang on, pal!" - -"Right you are!" Freddy sang out. "Give it to the beggar! At least we -can do one more thing to help. Let her rip, Dave, and the heck with our -necks!" - - - - -CHAPTER SIX - -_The Dead Don't Fly_ - - -Hunching over the controls, Dave veered the Fulmar around until it was -heading in the direction of the U-boat, and then steepened his dive -to gain extra speed. Unconsciously he felt for the straps of his life -jacket, or Mae West as they call them in the Royal Air Force. Even as -he touched them, however, he grinned and gave a little shake of his -head. If they smacked that surfacing U-boat as they planned, their life -jackets wouldn't be of any use to them. When you're smashed to pulp in -a crash a life jacket is just a souvenir for somebody else to take home. - -"And smack him we're going to!" Dave grated to himself. "Good old -Freddy. I simply told him what I was going to do, and there wasn't a -single yip of complaint out of him. Dear God, if one of us can come -through this thing please make it Freddy Farmer. England needs him, and -alive!" - -As the simple but straight from the heart prayer slid off Dave's lips -he steepened his dive even more. The U-boat had suddenly started acting -strangely. It was half awash and seemed to be hanging half in and half -out of the water. Then as the bow started to go under again the truth -dawned on Dave. The U-boat's commander had sighted them, guessed their -intentions, and was not taking any chances. Instead he had slammed shut -the conning tower hatch and was crash diving as fast as his diving fins -and propellers could take him down. - -"Faster, Dave, faster!" Freddy's voice screamed. "The beggar is trying -to cheat us. He's going to pop down where we can't hit him. Get the -blasted rotter, Dave. Get him, please!" - -"What do you think this is, slow motion?" Dave shouted back over his -shoulder. "Our engine's dead, pal, you know. All we've got is gliding -speed. And it isn't going to be enough, I don't think." - -"It's got to be!" Freddy howled and unconsciously thumped Dave on the -back. "We can't let him cheat us. We just can't!" - -Dave didn't bother to make any further comment. The Fulmar was -streaking down like a comet straight from Heaven, but the U-boat wasn't -losing any time in crash diving. In the last couple of seconds Dave -knew that they had lost. If he dived straight in they would only hit -hard water, and not even touch the U-boat that was now completely -submerged. And so in the last split instant of time Dave hauled up the -nose of the Fulmar in order to save Freddy and himself from certain -instant death. - -The diving speed of the plane was too great, however, to permit him to -pull it completely up onto level keel. The belly of the plane struck -the water with terrific force. The mighty hands of invisible giants -seemed to reach down and jerk the plane up toward the sun flooded sky. -Then suddenly they sent it crashing down again. Twice more the plane -bounced before it finally stayed down. And during that time Dave and -Freddy were tossed about in their double cockpit like a couple of dried -peas in a tin can. A thousand and one fire crackers went off in Dave's -head. Hundreds of bombs exploded, and countless balls of colored light -wheeled and spun around before his eyes. Then as though somebody had -slammed shut a sound proof door, there was nothing but silence all -about him. - -For a moment or so he sat slumped up against the side of the cockpit -where the last crazy lurch of the plane had flung him. Then he gulped -air into his aching lungs, slowly sat up straight and turned around -to look at Freddy. The British youth was upside down in his section -of the cockpit. His head was down by the flooring, and his feet were -sticking up in the air. His safety belt had been snapped in two by the -terrific impact of the plane, but by some miracle he had been spared -serious injury. Even as Dave reached back to lend a hand Freddy wiggled -himself around and came upright, eyes popping and his face the color of -a flaming sunset. It was a second or so before he could drag enough air -into his lungs to speak. - -"Did we get it, Dave?" he finally choked out. - -"Sure we got it!" Dave replied. "But I don't mean the U-boat. You don't -happen to have a nice ocean going cruiser in your hip pocket, do you? -I think this baby is going to sink right from under us in darn short -order." - -As Dave spoke he made a sweeping gesture with one hand. Freddy looked -about and it was not joy and happiness that came into his eyes. The -Fairey Fulmar fighter plane looked as though it had been jammed -through a meat grinder. The tail was completely gone; broken off clean -as though clipped by an axe. The wing was twisted and bent, and the -fuselage was punched full of holes. Sea water was coming in through the -holes, and coming in fast. Freddy shook his head and looked at Dave in -apologetic chagrin. - -"If we get out of this you can kick me around the block six times!" -he said bitterly. "All my fault for not letting you get that blasted -Fairey Swordfish when you had him cold. It wasn't until after that that -he got our engine. Gee, Dave, I could jump overboard and drown myself -for being such a blasted fool. I...." - -"I might have known!" Dave snapped at him. "We no sooner get in a tight -spot and you want to quit me cold!" - -"But, Dave," Freddy protested, "I didn't mean it that way. I simply -meant that I...." - -"Then get a grin on your mug, and stop picking on yourself!" Dave cut -in. "How many times have I got to explain that Freddy Farmer is the -best pal I ever hooked up with, and that I don't allow anybody to ride -him. Not even you, Mister! Get it? Come on, that grin, or I'll toss you -overboard, myself." - -Freddy blinked a couple of times, swallowed, and then forced a faint -smile to his lips. - -"Always right there to put sense into a chap's head," he said softly. -"That's Dave Dawson. But I still say I was a blasted fool. How long, -though, do you think before we'll be in the water with only our Mae -Wests keeping us afloat?" - -Dave shrugged and made a little gesture with both hands. - -"Search me," he grunted. "Your guess is as good as mine. What's -worrying me is that darn U-boat. If we'd only been able to clip it. We -didn't, and now the darn thing's down under some place getting ready -to let loose a brace of torpedoes at the first navy ship that comes -tearing up this way." - -"I wonder about that," Freddy said. "Maybe it just happened to come -to the surface by accident. Ten to one it's making tracks for distant -places right now." - -"No," Dave said firmly. "I'm sure it's hanging around. This thing was -all planned, Freddy. That bum in that Fairey Swordfish proved that to -me." - -"How so?" Freddy questioned with a frown. - -"Gosh, it's simple to figure that one!" Dave cried. "Didn't you see -that bird make a couple of final passes at us and then breeze off? No, -Freddy, that boy had a perfect chance to riddle us both with slugs so -that it would be a waste of time for anybody to pick us up, but he -didn't! His job was just to shoot us down for a forced landing." - -"Good grief, I believe you're right!" Freddy Farmer gasped. "But what -was the idea of that U-boat coming to the surface? Why did it risk -showing itself to the pilots of a forced landing plane? That doesn't -make sense to me." - -"I think it makes sense to me," Dave said after a moment of thoughtful -silence. "I think the U-boat was taking no chances of our signalling -to anybody once we were in the water. Or of our sinking the plane so -that searching craft wouldn't sight it. I think they planned to take us -aboard, let the ship float, and submerge to wait for our navy ships to -arrive." - -"And that is probably what it's doing right now!" Freddy said, tight -lipped. "Dave, we've got to think of something, some way to warn all -surface ships away from here. There may be a dozen U-boats waiting!" - -"You're telling me?" Dave muttered grimly and hoisted himself up on the -seat to keep clear of the mounting water level in the cockpit. "But -what in thunder can we do? The radio's out. And even if we could set -the ship on fire ... which we can't ... the column of smoke would only -attract the navy boats all the more. There's just one chance, one hope. -And it's the slimmest hope you and I ever had, my boy!" - -"Well, what is it?" the English youth cried impatiently. "Anything's -worth a try." - -"We can only hope that a Fleet Air Arm plane will get here well ahead -of any naval craft," Dave said. "The trouble is they may hold back the -planes for fear that they would be sighted before the destroyers and -cruisers arrived. It's the raider they want most, you know. And I don't -think they'd risk showing a plane until the surface ships were close -enough to check the raider from making a run for port and escaping." - -"And there isn't any raider!" Freddy groaned as lines of worry grooved -his face. "We don't know what kind of a trap this is. We don't know -what the navy ships may run into. Phew! What a mess I made of things." - -"Shut up!" Dave growled. "I was as much at fault as you were. A great -deal more, in fact. I should have made a run for it the instant you -sighted that plane, instead of sticking around and trying to outfly -him. No, Freddy, we're in it together. And our only hope is that a -Fleet Air Arm plane will get here first." - -"You mean so's they'll see there's no raider about and suspect that it -is some kind of trap?" Freddy asked hopefully. "And they can radio the -surface ships to stand clear?" - -"Partly that," Dave said with a nod. "But mostly so's we can wig-wag -them with our shirts and _tell_ them to radio the fleet to stand clear. -That's our hope. That they'll spot us first and read what we signal to -them. And...." - -"Dave, look!" Freddy suddenly screamed. "The hope's come true. There's -a plane up there to the northwest. It's a Catalina, too. And they've -spotted us. See? She's starting to slide down from altitude!" - -Dave snapped one quick glance up toward the huge flying boat several -thousand feet overhead and some five or six miles distant. Then he -started tearing off his Mae West life jacket, and ripping off his tunic -to get at the white shirt he wore. - -"Get your shirt off, too, Freddy!" he barked. "Here, give it to me. -Thanks. You wave both arms westward and I'll wig-wag for them to radio -the surface boats to stand clear. Okay, Freddy, start waving. We've got -to make those boys understand that all plans have gone haywire!" - -Hoisting himself up until he was standing straddle legged with a foot -braced on either side of the cockpit, Dave clutched Freddy's shirt in -one hand, his own in the other and started wig-wagging furiously at -the huge Catalina boat that was continuing to lose altitude rapidly. -Seconds passed and his arms ached so much he thought they were going to -drop off at the shoulder sockets, but still the flying boat continued -to come on down toward the water. It was Freddy who finally voiced the -terrible fear that was mounting in his heart. - -"They don't see our signals, or else they don't understand, Dave!" the -English youth groaned. "That boat is coming down to land alongside and -take us aboard." - -"I know," Dave said in a choked voice. "What are they, blind? -Once they're on the water the U-boat can surface and blow them to -kingdom-come. But keep signalling, Freddy. We've got to make sense to -them!" - -It was simply a futile, heartbreaking effort, however. The flying boat -came down until it was almost touching the surface. Then it flattened -out slightly and headed toward the fast sinking Fulmar with throttled -engines. Another moment and the craft had touched the water. Spray -showered up both sides of the hull. Then the craft settled and came -slowly toward them as the engines picked up revs. Dave let his aching -arms drop to his sides and anxiously scanned the surrounding waters. -There was no sign of the U-boat, but that fact didn't make him feel -any better. Deep down inside of him he had the firm conviction that -the under-sea menace was lurking near ready to strike at the first -opportunity. - -Then suddenly came Freddy Farmer's shrill cry. - -"Over there, Dave, to the right! A periscope! The U-boat's going to try -for the Catalina!" - - - - -CHAPTER SEVEN - -_Missing Wings_ - - -Dave Dawson didn't so much as bother to turn his head and look in the -direction Freddy Farmer pointed. The Catalina flyingboat had come to -a full stop not twenty yards from the water logged Fairey Fulmar. Its -pilot was keeping it heading into the wind with the aid of his engines -and sea rudder. A hull door had been pushed open and an R.A.F. clad -figure appeared in the opening with a casting line in his hand. Dave -gave him but a single glance, then shoved a hand against the small of -Freddy Farmer's back. - -"We swim for it, and fast, Freddy!" he shouted. - -The English youth shouted a reply but it was cut off short in the -middle as he dived headlong into the water. A split second later Dave -dived in too. He hit the water with arms and legs working furiously. -Perhaps it was a matter of five seconds before he reached the side -of the flying boat's hull, but every second seemed a soul torturing -eternity in length. Every second he expected to hear the thunderous -roar of a U-boat torpedo crashing into the Catalina. Every second he -expected to be his last in this war, and in this world. - -Then suddenly he and Freddy were at the side of the flying boat. -Waiting hands reached down and hauled them scrambling aboard. - -"I say, why the blasted rush?" cried a voice in Dave's ear. "We could -have pulled you aboard dry as a bone. Here there, what the devil, man?" - -The last was because Dave had bounced up on his feet and shoved the -speaker roughly to one side. Without wasting breath to either explain -or apologize Dave dashed along the hull cat-walk leading to the pilots' -compartment. He went through the small compartment door like a twelve -inch shell, fell over the chief pilot's shoulder and rammed both -throttles wide open. - -"Port rudder!" he screamed in the dumbfounded pilot's ear. "Port -rudder, man, for Heaven's sake!" - -Though still completely dumbfounded the pilot was a man trained for -split second action. He jammed on port rudder and the roaring engines -swung the huge craft around to the left. Panting and gasping for air, -Dave turned his head and looked out the compartment window. What he saw -froze every drop of blood in his veins, and made his heart stand still. -No more than fifty yards away a white frothy line was being traced in -the water and the front end of the line was heading straight for the -Catalina. - -He tried to shout out but the words clogged in his throat. He -automatically reached out with his hand again and pressed it hard -against the already wide open throttles, as though in so doing he might -add speed to the flying boat that was slowly getting under way. And -every instant of the time he kept his gaze riveted on the white frothy -line that drew closer and closer to the flying boat. A second, an hour, -or maybe it was ten years dragged by. The sea, the sky, and the whole -world seemed to stand still. Nothing seemed to move save that deadly -white line being traced in the water. It moved right up to the flying -boat and then passed out of Dave's vision. He held his breath, closed -his eyes, and awaited that last horrible second. - -Then came sound. But it was the sound of an excited voice and not that -of a world blasting explosion. - -"Torpedo off our stern, sir!" shouted a figure that suddenly appeared -in the compartment doorway. "Only missed us by inches. Came from dead -starboard, sir!" - -Dave wanted to shout, wanted to cry, wanted to get up and dance a jig -of joy. He did none of those, however. Instead reaction set in and for -a moment turned all of his muscles into so much limp rubber. He slipped -off the back of the pilot's seat and flopped down on the floor boards. -By the time he had been lifted to his feet the huge Catalina was clear -of the water and arcing up toward the sky. Dave wiped sweat and sea -water from his face and grinned crookedly at the pilot at the controls. - -"That was the idea of my haywire actions," he said. "There wasn't time -to explain." - -The pilot grinned, reached out with one hand and pressed Dave's arm -hard. - -"Thank God you didn't take time to explain!" he cried. "We'd all be -shark food now. You're Dawson, aren't you? I'm Featherstone, and my -co-pilot here is Williams." - -"Never so glad to meet two fellows in all my life," Dave said with a -nod and a grin. "But, look, didn't you get my wig-wag stuff? Things -went all haywire. I'll explain later, but right now contact the fleet -and tell it to stand clear of this area. I don't know what's up, but -I'm pretty sure Jerry is trying to spring a trap on us." - -"Hold your horses, my lad!" Featherstone said as Dave started -unconsciously pounding him on the shoulder. "You'll have me black and -blue for a week. The fleet's standing clear, and has been for an hour -or more. The Old Man didn't like the way your signal stopped so soon. -According to our calculations you had no sooner reached the edge of the -suspected area than your signal went off the air. The Old Man got the -idea you had run into Jerry planes, so he sent us off for a look-see. -As we came down I sent back word in code that there was not a thing to -be seen but your plane in the water. What happened, anyway?" - -Dave heaved a long sigh of relief and started to speak but checked -himself as Freddy came through the compartment doorway looking very -much like a half drowned rat. Dave made introductions all around and -then opened his mouth to speak again. But once again he checked himself -and gave Featherstone a hard stare. The flying boat's captain looked -mystified for a moment. Then his face brightened and he laughed -shortly. - -"It's quite all right, Dawson, old chap," he said. "You won't be -telling any state secrets. The Old Man acquainted us with the orders -you received from Air Marshal Manners. Naturally some of us had to -know, you see, in order to carry out our part of the assignment. Of -course, though, if you'd rather not, then don't tell me a thing. I'll -get it later from the Old Man's report." - -"Oh, it's okay by me," Dave said. Then in a sudden excited voice, "Man, -oh, man, am I slipping! That U-boat! We should have been hunting for it -instead of standing here jawing!" - -"Relax, Dawson!" Featherstone said with a good-natured laugh. "Really, -man, give us credit for a little sense! I've been circling ever -since we cleared the water and the crew has maintained a constant -watch. Williams, here, too. See those headphones on him? Intra-plane -communication, you know. What's the word, Williams?" - -The co-pilot shook his head. - -"Not the ghost of a sign," he said. "She probably went right down to -sit on the bottom when she saw she'd missed us." - -"And she'll probably stay there until dark," Featherstone added. - -"Okay, okay, I'm over the jitters," Dave said with a gesture of one -hand. "Well, here's what happened." - -Beginning with the moment they opened their sealed orders Dave gave -Featherstone a detailed account of exactly what had happened. - -"Don't ask me what I think about it," he finished up, "because it sure -has me in a flat spin. It stands to reason, though, that the Jerries -knew more about our little trap than we did. Anyway, something went -haywire." - -Dave emphasized his words with a shrug and looked at Freddy Farmer. - -"Did I leave out anything?" he asked. - -"No, that was the whole story," the English youth said. "But, now that -we're sure the U-boat's gone I think we'd better get back to Plymouth -Base as fast as we can. The Fairey Swordfish had Seventy-Four markings, -you know. And I got the number on the tail. I think the first thing we -should do is check up on that plane at once." - -"I agree," Featherstone said. "But just a minute, lads. I can't take -you back to Plymouth. My orders were to take you back to the Old Man -aboard the Aircraft Carrier Tornado. That is, if I picked you up, and I -did. The Tornado isn't far off, and...." - -"And we'll just be wasting time," cut in Dave. "Look, Featherstone, be -a good guy and radio the Tornado's skipper. Tell him I'm requesting -permission for you to fly us to Plymouth at once. Say that I have -to report to Air Marshal Manners in person at the earliest possible -moment." - -The Catalina's captain looked dubious for a moment, then gave a little -shrug of his shoulders. - -"Right you are, then," he said and nodded at the waiting Co-pilot -Williams. "The Old Man's wrath will be on your shoulders, not mine. And -he's a lad with a sharp tongue, I can tell you. Go ahead, Williams." - -Nobody said anything while the co-pilot got busy on the radio. Two -minutes later he slipped off his headphones and looked at Dave with a -faint trace of awe in his eyes. - -"You must rate with the Old Man, Dawson," he said. "Or perhaps -mentioning Air Marshal Manners was the bit of magic. Anyway, his orders -were to grant your request at once." - -"God bless you for making the suggestion, Dawson!" Featherstone cried. -"Frankly, I've been praying the answer would be yes. We've been in -the air a solid eighteen hours and a bit of rest and an odd spot of -liquid refreshment at Plymouth Base won't make us mad at all. Right-o! -Plymouth it is, and in a hurry. You and Farmer better go aft and get -some dry duds on. The Sergeant Gunner will dig up something for you. -And thanks again for that little bit of haywire action of yours when -you came aboard. Hate like the devil to get shot down by a torpedo, you -know. Would be kind of fantastic, wouldn't it?" - -"Also final," Dave said with a grin. "But if you want the truth, I was -thinking only of my own skin all the time." - -"Liar!" Featherstone snapped, but softened it with a smile and a look -that spoke volumes. "Now, get back there and into some dry things. Both -of you." - -"We're gone," Dave said and pushed Freddy Farmer ahead of him through -the compartment door. - -A little over an hour later the huge Catalina flying boat slid down -toward a landing in the mooring basin at Plymouth Base. Perched on an -empty bomb rack amidships Dave and Freddy watched the basin surface -rise up toward them. During the seventy minute flight they had not -spoken more than a dozen words to each other. They hadn't for the -simple reason there wasn't much to say. Both realized that they could -hash over their close to death adventure until the cows came home, and -still be no nearer to a correct solution. Then, too, the feeling of -depression that had come with failure made the speaking of words seem -futile. - -True, it was not their fault that they had failed. They had carried -out their orders to the letter. They had even gone beyond orders and -attempted to crash into the lone U-boat and disable it at the cost of -their own lives. Yet, in spite of all that they felt depressed; felt -that they had slipped up somewhere and brought failure to what should -have been a successful mission. - -Such thoughts were rambling through Dave's brain when Freddy reached -out and placed a hand on his knee. - -"Chin up, Dave," the English youth said with a smile. "I've been -thinking." - -"Well, I haven't exactly been asleep," Dave grunted. "But what has your -brain been chewing over, pal?" - -"The whole crazy business," Freddy replied with a heavy scowl. "I've -been thinking that all this started back at Adastral House. I mean, the -business was doomed to failure long before we opened our sealed orders. -In fact I'm sure of it. Because, why should that Fairey Swordfish -suddenly start popping up into our lives?" - -"Okay, I'll bite," Dave said. "Why? But speak words I can understand -this time. That last has me all balled up." - -"Well, I figure it this way," Freddy said after a moment's hesitation. -"Some one knew, or found out that we weren't just a couple of -replacements being sent to Seventy-Four. Some one also knew what our -sealed orders were going to be. So when we took off in the Fulmar that -some one tagged after us in that Swordfish. Being in a Seventy-Four -plane, he knew that he could get in close and smack us down without -much danger to himself. And...." - -"And do it without killing us, though he came close in your case!" -Dave interrupted. "I get your train of thought, now. A Nazi spy in -Adastral House. Maybe he's actually on Manners' staff. The Jerries know -everything that is planned. They just sit back and wait for you and me -to go sailing off on our little adventure. A radio message in code to -some U-boat near by, and everything's set. Yeah, I get it. Joe Saps! A -couple of fall guys. That's you and me." - -"Quite," Freddy said with a curt nod. "But don't you get all of it?" - -"Huh?" Dave grunted. "Now what?" - -"Go ahead and laugh at me, but here it is," Freddy said in a deadly -serious voice. "Our little boy friend on the train coming down. Flying -Office Steffins!" - -Dave stiffened, gave Freddy a hard stare, but he didn't laugh. - -"You sure are souped up on that guy, aren't you!" he finally said. Then -with a half shake of his head, "But darned if you're not getting me -thinking the same thoughts. Right! I've got the hunch that Steffins was -the pilot of that Swordfish. He.... You know something, Freddy? The -thing has suddenly hit me like a ton of brick. Yes, sir, I'll bet you -any amount of dough you want to put up!" - -"I don't bet unless I know what I'm betting on," Freddy said. "So why -not tell me first?" - -"Then pin your ears back and listen, my little man!" Dave said with -tense excitement in his voice. "We didn't see Steffins again, did we? -No. And here's why. The guy was waiting until he knew our sealed orders -had come through before he reported to the Base. I'll bet you that -he was reporting to Squadron Leader Hays just about the time we were -taking off in the Fulmar. He probably had faked papers and all the rest -of it. Well, he takes up a Swordfish for a joy hop. Once he's clear -of the field he heads straight for where we're heading. He knows the -U-boat's there. Probably saw it. So, bang, he cracks us down and heads -back for Plymouth knowing that the U-boat will pick us up and take care -of us for keeps. See? Smooth as silk. The tramp double crosses our -plans, gets rid of us, and now he's safe in Seventy-Four Squadron all -set to do more of his dirty work!" - -"But he won't!" Freddy said grimly, and bunched his two hands into rock -hard fists. "We're still alive and kicking. We also got the tail number -of that Swordfish. They have records at the Base that Steffins took it -up. We'll cook that chap's goose for him!" - -"And how!" Dave grated. "Look, what we want to do is to sneak ashore -and get in touch with Squadron Leader Hays as soon as possible and tell -him the whole story. Then he can grab Steffins, and that will make at -least one rat who won't jam up the works next time." - -"Yes, if there is a next time!" Freddy said gloomily. - -Dave started a wise crack but let it slide. - -"Yeah!" he muttered and shook his head slowly. "For a couple of fellows -in the Emergency Command we're doing swell. I mean, terrible!" - - - - -CHAPTER EIGHT - -_Pilot's Luck_ - - -Right after the Consolidated Catalina flying boat had settled on the -surface of the mooring basin Dave went forward and explained their plan -to Featherstone, though he didn't mention Steffins by name. - -"So you and the crew go ashore, Featherstone," he finished up, "and -Farmer and I will wait here a spell and then slip ashore: Just make -believe that you are returning from a patrol, and sat down because you -were running out of gas. I'll explain to Squadron Leader Hays when I -see him." - -"Right you are," the Catalina's captain said. Then after a moment's -hesitation, "Sure there isn't something I can do to help catch the -chap, wherever he is? I think I'd rather like to bash him one on the -snoot, myself. I'm sure I would when I think of that torpedo that just -missed us." - -"Nix, nothing doing," Dave said with a grin. "If there's any slugging -to be done Freddy and I will take care of it." - -"And in tip-top order, too, I can tell you!" Freddy said over Dave's -shoulder. "But thanks for everything you've done, Featherstone." - -The Catalina's captain laughed. - -"You've got that sentence the wrong way round, my lad," he said. "I'll -remember you chaps in my prayers for the rest of my life. Well, we'll -be off. Good luck, and if you do catch that murdering blighter, at -least bash him one for me." - -"A promise, pal," Dave assured him. - -Dave and Freddy forced themselves to wait twenty minutes after -Featherstone and his crew had gone ashore. That was as long as they -could wait, however. Another minute of sticking there in the plane with -countless thoughts, surmises, and speculations whirling around in their -heads and they would have just naturally up and exploded. And so at the -end of twenty minutes they sneaked ashore unseen and made their way -to Squadron Leader Hays' office by a round about route. It was Dave -who slid into the office first. But once he was inside he pulled up so -short at what he saw that Freddy close at his heels banged right into -him. - -Automatically Dave regained his balance and continued to stare pop eyed -at the officer seated behind the desk. It was the last man in the world -he expected to see at that moment. In short, it was Air Marshal Manners. - -"I say, _you_, sir?" Dave heard Freddy gasp behind him. - -The Adastral House high ranker nodded, flashed them a quick smile of -greeting and motioned with one hand. - -"Come in, you two, and shut that door," he said. "I've been having a -bad case of heart failure waiting for you. Isn't that 'Cat' boat out in -the basin the one that picked you up? I didn't see you leave it with -the pilot and crew. Fact is, I was just about to hunt them out and ask -questions." - -"We were on it, sir," Dave said, finding his voice. "But we stayed -aboard as part of a plan. Look, sir, there's a Jerry spy here at this -station. We know him by the name of Steffins. A few hours ago he took -up a Fairey Swordfish, Number two-six-nine-seven. He shot us down, sir, -and we have a hunch he returned here." - -Dave stopped talking and his hopes sank as he saw Air Marshal Manners -shake his head. - -"No, he didn't," the Air Ministry official said. "That Swordfish plane -was assigned to one Flight Lieutenant Barker who has been at this -Base for the last six months. His mechanic told Squadron Leader Hays -and myself that he was to take it up for testing this morning. The -mechanic saw the plane take off and believed Barker was in the pit. -Barker wasn't. Two hours ago they found Barker's body hidden in an -old fuselage in the hangar. He had been stabbed through the heart. -Murdered!" - -Dave and Freddy stood there in stunned silence for a moment. Then the -words fairly leaped off Dave's lips. - -"And no replacement by the name of Steffins has joined this squadron -today?" he asked. - -"No one," Manners replied. "Nor has that Fairey Swordfish returned. -It's long overdue right now, as regards fuel. So I think there's just -one answer to that. After he shot you down he probably headed for the -coast of occupied France. But enough of that for the moment. Sit down, -you two, and tell me everything that happened. I know a little of it -from a radio message the commander of the Tornado sent me. That's -one of the reasons why I flew down here from London at once. And I -can guess a little of the rest. However, I want to hear it all from -you two. Go ahead, and don't leave out a single thing no matter how -unimportant it may seem to you. Better start with the moment you left -my office at Adastral House." - -Some fifteen minutes later Dave and Freddy had given a detailed account -of every minute of the time since they had left the Air Ministry in -London. As ordered they didn't leave out a thing. They even related -their own conversations, word for word as near as they could remember. -Air Marshal Manners listened in silence right through to the end. -He didn't interrupt once. He didn't even nod or make any kind of a -gesture. He simply sat in the chair moving his steel blue eyes from one -face to the other. - -"And that's all of it, sir," Dave ended the narration for both of them. -"There's probably a hundred other things we should have done. And maybe -we made ... I mean, I made a mess of that meeting with Steffins on -the train. Perhaps we should have made some kind of a report to you. -But...." - -"Take it easy, Dawson," Air Marshal Manners finally spoke up. "And you, -too, Farmer. You two don't have to apologize for a single thing. Great -guns, your attempt to crash that U-boat deserves the Victoria Cross -in my opinion. No, you don't have to feel badly about a single thing. -Fact is, I'm the one to blame for things going all wrong. At any rate -I'm taking the blame. As for that Steffins meeting, it perhaps really -didn't mean a thing. There's lots of lads who like to go around posing -as officers. He may have been one of them. Then, too, he _may_ have -been Baron von Khole." - -Both Dave and Freddy sat up straight in their chairs. - -"Baron von Khole, sir?" Dave finally asked. "Is he a Nazi agent?" - -Air Marshal Manners nodded and a look of smouldering anger came into -his eyes. - -"The best, and most deadly one in Hitler's pay," he said presently. -"And a mystery man if there ever was one. What we know of the man you -could write down on a piece of paper the size of a postage stamp. As -a matter of fact, British Intelligence isn't even sure that von Khole -is his right name. And nobody outside of a few in Germany so much as -knows what he looks like. One of the reasons he has been so difficult -to catch is his expert knowledge of make-up and disguise. He can make -himself up to pass for a youth of seventeen or an old man of seventy. -He speaks, reads, and writes a dozen different languages, and what he -doesn't know about Hitler's method of waging unrestricted war isn't -worth knowing." - -Air Marshal Manners stopped talking and stared flint eyed off into -space. There were a dozen questions hovering on Dave Dawson's lips, -but he refrained from giving them voice. He sat with Freddy waiting -patiently for the chief of the newly formed Emergency Command to -continue. - -"And unless I'm all wrong, and not even worth my salt to my country," -the senior officer finally continued, "this Baron von Khole is behind -all that has happened. I even fancy that he was the one who shot you -down. He is an expert pilot and was in command of the Luftwaffe in the -Polish campaign. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I'd better go back to -the beginning and start there." - -The Air Marshal paused and lighted a cigarette. - -"Shortly before I was put in charge of the Emergency Command," he said, -"they had a bit of a spy scare at Air Ministry. As a matter of fact -it was quite serious. Plans for two new types of plane were stolen, -and also the plans for a new aerial machine gun. In addition to that, -considerable information as to R.A.F. operations in England and in the -Middle East got into the hands of the Germans. In other words it was -discovered that there was a mighty big leak at Air Ministry. Well, to -make the story short, British Air and Army Intelligence got to work -like beavers. Wires were tapped, every bit of incoming and outgoing -mail was censored, and everybody from the Chief Air Marshal down was -watched like a hawk day and night. The result was positive proof and -the arrest of three German agents actually in the Royal Air Force and -assigned to duty at Air Ministry. They were tried and shot in short -order." - -Air Marshal Manners emphasized the last with a curt nod, and then -puffed on his cigarette for a moment or two before continuing. - -"Of course the activities of this mysterious Baron von Khole were well -known to us long before this last round-up of agents," he went on. -"Facts and what-not showed that he was the supreme head of all Nazi -agents in England. It was also quite evident that since Dunkirk he and -his gang had been concentrating on the Royal Air Force. Let me say -right here that most of our airplane crashes in England during the last -year were not accidents due to the fault of the pilots or the planes. -They were due to deliberate acts of sabotage. And, of course, all on -the order of this Baron von Khole. - -"Well, when the Nazi agents working in Air Ministry were caught -Intelligence gained information which it was believed would lead them -directly to von Khole. It did, but in a round about way, and too late!" - -"Too late, sir?" Freddy Farmer encouraged as the senior officer paused -again. - -"It is incredible, but the truth!" Air Marshal Manners continued as -though he hadn't stopped. "There was a _fourth_ spy serving as a -Personnel Sergeant at Air Ministry. Intelligence didn't catch him in -their round-up of the other three. And yesterday we gained definite -knowledge that he was, and still is, Baron von Khole. Now, wait a -minute before you ask questions. He was known as Sergeant Kinney, -but there _used_ to be a _real_ Sergeant Kinney. The real Sergeant -Kinney had been in the service for years. He lived alone in a flat out -Golder's Green way, and had very few friends. Naturally, we'll never -know the real truth until we catch von Khole and he tells us, which he -probably never would. However, several months ago von Khole, probably -after studying Kinney's mode of life, his way of doing things, and a -million and one things about him, murdered him and took his place at -Air Ministry. And he has been there ever since working side by side -with the whole lot of us. _But_ working for Hitler instead of for the -King!" - -"Boy, what a smooth artist he must be!" Dave breathed. "And even if he -is a Nazi he's sure got plenty of nerve and courage." - -"Plenty of both, and a whole lot of other things," Air Marshal Manners -said grimly. "Much as we'd like to believe it, all Germans are not -nitwits like their Fuehrer, Goering, and a couple of others of the -inner circle. No, von Khole is clever, a genius in his work. Fact -is, the only bad thing I can say about the man is that he is a cold -blooded, ruthless murderer. That is perhaps the only thing he has in -common with his superiors." - -The Air Ministry official made a little gesture with one hand as though -dismissing the subject and lighted a fresh cigarette. - -"But I'm wandering in my story," he said. "Let's get back to facts. -And they are not pleasant ones for me. A week ago I took on some extra -clerical help on my staff. Sergeant Kinney was one of those sent to -me. Yes, none other than Baron von Khole _went to work in my office_. -How he did it still remains his secret, but he discovered everything -pertaining to the new Emergency Command. The very fact that you had -your little adventure today proves that he knew the contents of your -sealed orders before they even left my office. He must have learned -their contents yesterday. Last night my private secretary ... a man -I've known all my life, and whom I would trust with my own life ... was -murdered in my office. An hour later Intelligence came in to arrest -Sergeant Kinney. A tip had led them to his house. There they had found -code books and a dozen other things used by Nazi agents." - -"But they didn't get Kinney, or this von Khole who posed as Kinney?" -Freddy Farmer asked. - -Air Marshal Manners made a wiggling motion with his hand like an eel -scurrying away. - -"Not that slippery one!" he said harshly. "As usual, he was a couple of -jumps ahead of us. My sealed orders had already gone out, so I didn't -do anything about checking or stopping them. I simply took the chance -that everything was all right. As we three know, now, everything wasn't -all right regarding your secret assignment! My not countermanding those -orders nearly cost the lives of two of the bravest R.A.F. pilots I ever -had the good fortune to meet. And so, as I said, I alone am taking all -the blame for things going wrong today. It was nobody else's fault but -my own." - -"And to think I had him square in my gun sights!" Dave murmured softly. -"But, tell me this, sir. Was Sergeant Kinney on duty the night you -talked to all of us? Or the next day?" - -The Air Marshal looked thoughtful for a moment, then sat up straight -with a jerk. - -"By the gods, no!" he cried. "He was on thirty hours leave. And I -know what's in back of your question, Dawson. That chap, Steffins! By -George, I guess that Steffins _was_ von Khole." - -"But you said he had courage!" Freddy protested. "And Steffins was -scared pink when that Jerry plane strafed the train." - -"I'm wondering," Dave grunted. - -"About what?" Freddy demanded. "Good grief, you think that was part of -an act, too? But why?" - -"This may be crazy reasoning," Dave said slowly. "But somehow it makes -sense to me. He tried to pump us, and didn't learn a thing. I think -he knew that we weren't telling him the truth. Maybe that made him a -little suspicious of us. So maybe he pulled that yellow belly stunt so -that we wouldn't bother about looking him up at the squadron, here. Or -when we didn't see him again we'd just put it down that he was too -yellow to carry on, and we'd just forget about him. And yet there's -another angle that just occurred to me. Maybe just as screwy." - -"Well, let's hear it anyway," Air Marshal Manners said as the Yank -R.A.F. ace hesitated. - -"That strafing plane," Dave said eventually. "It came down and seemed -to blast away at the rear car of the train. Maybe it wasn't even aiming -at it. Fact is, I forgot all about checking on that when we reached -Plymouth. What I'm getting at is, why strafe just the rear car? Me, if -I had a few slugs left to slap at a train, I start up at the engine and -rake the whole works. That Focke-Wulf plane didn't. I'm wondering if -its pilot knew that von Khole was on the train, and his strafing was -some kind of a message that didn't please von Khole at all." - -"Perhaps," Air Marshal Manners said gravely. "Perhaps either one of -your ideas is the truth. It doesn't help us much, now. Nor does it -help much being pretty sure that your friend Steffins was actually von -Khole. That, like some other items, is all so much water under the -bridge, now. We've taken our beatings and that's that. What we've got -to concentrate on now is the future. Our next move in this game of -death against the survival of England." - -The Air Ministry official stopped talking and a tingling silence seemed -to hover over the room. Dave and Freddy waited breathlessly for the -senior officer to go on. Defeat was behind them, but it was not final -defeat. They not only felt it, but they could see it in Manners' face. -No, they were not yet washed-up with Emergency Command. They both knew -that Manners had another assignment for them. Another tilt against the -Nazis and death. And it was all they could do to refrain from breaking -the silence and begging Manners to tell them of their new assignment. -Finally Freddy Farmer just couldn't stand the suspense any longer. He -cleared his throat nervously and spoke. - -"We're ready for any job you want to give us, sir," he said. "And -regardless of _what_ happens, we'll do better next time." - -"Check!" Dave echoed with feeling. "You can count on that, sir." - -Air Marshal Manners smiled but before he could say anything the -office door was pushed open and Squadron Leader Hays came inside. The -Commanding Officer of Seventy-Four seemed not to see the two R.A.F. -aces. He looked straight at Air Marshal Manners and gave a savage shake -of his head. - -"Couldn't unearth a single clue," he said, tight lipped. "I've -questioned every mechanic and pilot here at the field, but not one of -them remembers seeing Flight Lieutenant Barker after eight o'clock this -morning. I looked in his hutment but not a thing has been touched. -Honestly, sir, I can't understand it at all. Why should anybody kill -Barker and then steal his plane? He was the best liked officer at the -field." - -"No clue, eh?" the Air Ministry official murmured. "Well, on my -authorization you can order a special investigation. Call on Air -Intelligence if you want to. We lose enough pilots in the air without -having them murdered on the ground. Do everything you think necessary, -Hays, and report to me the minute you discover anything important." - -"Very good, sir, I'll do that," the Squadron Leader said. "I'll appoint -an investigating board at once. And ... I say, where did you two come -from?" - -The Squadron Leader addressed the last to Dave and Freddy as he saw -them for the first time. Dave opened his mouth to speak, but Air -Marshal Manners beat him to the punch. - -"They had no luck on their special mission," he said quietly. "Matter -of fact they were forced down off shore and were luckily picked up by -a Cat-Boat. I ordered their return here at once. They're flying up to -London with me right away, and rejoining their old Fighter Squadron." - -Squadron Leader Hays murmured something that might have been an -expression of sympathy and regret, but Dave wasn't listening. The -verbal bombshell that Air Marshal Manners had suddenly exploded was -still scrambling his brains. Returning to their old Fighter Squadron? -Then they really were all washed up with the Emergency Command? Though -their failure had been through no fault of their own, Manners wasn't -going to give them a second chance? Washed-up? Through? Finished? - -Dave looked at Freddy and saw similar stunned grief in the English -youth's eyes. He looked at Air Marshal Manners and hot blistering words -rose to his lips. He was too good a soldier, however, to let them fly -off. He choked them back, and spoke them instead with his eyes. Manners -seemed completely blind to the look he received. He stared back at -Dave, then made a short dismissal wave with one hand. - -"There's a Staff Lockheed Hudson on the line I came down in," he said. -"You and Farmer go out to it and wait. I'll be with you in a few -minutes, and we'll be off. Oh yes, collect your personal belongings -and put them aboard. That's all." - -It was the hardest thing he ever did for Dave to get to his feet, -click his heels and salute smartly. He wanted more than anything else -right at the moment to jump over the desk and shout what was on his -mind right square in the Air Marshal's face. Of course, though, he -didn't even so much as make a move in that direction. Training and the -instincts of a loyal soldier held him back. - -"Very good, sir," he said. - -Then he and Freddy did an about face and went outside with heads up and -shoulders squared ... but with the whole wide world very much blurred -before them. Never since their very first day in the R.A.F. had their -hearts ached so much, or their spirits sunk so low. - - - - -CHAPTER NINE - -_Vulture Eyes_ - - -"Do you think, Dave? I mean.... Gosh! I'm still whizzing around in -circles. I thought sure Manners understood how things turned out as -they did. And I thought sure he had another assignment to give us. -I ... I don't know what to think. I wish I were dead!" - -Freddy Farmer groaned, gave a helpless shake of his head, and leaned -wearily back against the bomb compartment wall of the Lockheed Hudson. -Their stuff was all aboard and they had been waiting for Air Marshal -Manners a good half hour. Dave grunted, studied the finger nails on his -right hand and absently started chewing on one. - -"You and me both!" he finally grated. "Of all the let-downs this is -tops. And right after his admitting that it was _his_ fault! Sweet -tripe! What do these brass hats expect? Miracles out of a hat like -rabbits? Boy, did I want to toss his own words back into his teeth, -with Squadron Leader Hays standing right there, too. Freddy, it was the -rottenest trick ever played on us. It was just plain low down and mean. -Praise a fellow, and then cut the world right out from under his feet. -I don't get it. I don't get it even a little bit!" - -"I was dead certain he was about to tell us of a new assignment when -Hays came in," Freddy said, a baffled frown creasing his brows. -"Something must have happened. Maybe something that Hays said. I can't -even begin to guess, but it changed his mind." - -"Yeah, he sure froze up on us like an Arctic winter," Dave growled. "So -it's back to our old Fighter Command squadron, huh? Well, I say, okay. -That suits me fine. And for two cents I'd take off in this crate right -now, and let him walk back to London. I'd...." - -"Too late to do even that, Dave!" Freddy cut in quickly. "Here he -comes!" - -The words were no sooner off Freddy's lips than Air Marshal Manners -came in through the compartment door. He tossed a brief case he -carried on an empty bomb rack and looked at Dave. - -"My pilot's suddenly gone sick," he said. "Take the controls, please, -Dawson. Get us off as soon as possible, and get lots of altitude as you -head for London." - -"Yes, sir," Dave said, and got to his feet. - -He took one step along the cat-walk leading forward, then stopped and -turned. He knew what he was about to say was childish, foolish, and the -uncensored ravings of a sorehead. But for all the gold in the world he -could not have kept the words back. The seething pot of justified anger -within him had suddenly boiled over on all sides. - -"Do you mind, sir, if I crack us up taking off?" he said evenly. - -Air Marshal Manners stiffened up straight, gave him a blazing stare, -and opened his mouth to speak. He held back the words, though, and -looked from Dave to Freddy and back again. - -"I see," he said. "Thought you caught on. Yes, I mind very much your -cracking us up, Dawson. Now, you get forward and get us up in the air -before I turn you over my knee. Chase along, lad, now. Explanations -later." - -"Then you mean, sir--" Dave cried joyfully and stopped. - -"I mean get us into the air!" Manners snapped. "And hurry it up!" - -"One Lockheed on the way!" Dave shouted, and dashed forward to the -pilots' compartment. - -In less time than it takes to tell about it he had the twin engines -turning over and was taxiing to the far end of the runway. There he -wheeled around into the wind, waited a moment or so for Freddy and Air -Marshal Manners to come forward and join him, but when they didn't -he opened up the throttles wide and sent the American built plane -rocketing forward. Once the ship was clear he cranked up the wheels and -continued prop clawing upward for altitude. - -When he was above a layer of cloud and well out of sight of the -Plymouth Base, Freddy and Manners stepped through the compartment -doorway. Dave glanced quickly at Freddy only to realize at once from -the wondering look on his pal's face that Manners hadn't told him -anything yet. Then he looked at the Air Marshal and pinked a bit as the -steady steel blue eyes bored into his. But almost immediately the Air -Ministry official grinned crookedly and sighed. - -"You certainly fumbled that one, lad," he said. "After all that's -happened I was sure you'd understand. By George, son, did you think -I was dropping you two chaps like a couple of hot bricks? Of all the -crazy notions!" - -"My error, I guess, sir," Dave replied sheepishly. "But it was sort -of a bolt out of the blue that tossed me over on one wing. I mean.... -Well...." - -"Well, let's forget about it," Manners said. "The reason was simply -that from now on I'm trusting no one but you two. Not that Squadron -Leader Hays isn't the finest type of Englishman you could find. He -is. And in addition he's a very good friend of mine. However, my idea -was to create the impression that I've taken you off this special -convoy mission, and am sending you back to your old squadron. We don't -know where von Khole is. He may be in France or even in Germany. Then -again he may be right back there at Seventy-Four again. The beggar's a -blasted ghost, so I'm not taking any chances whatsoever of his finding -out that you're still connected with Emergency Command." - -Dave blew air out of his lungs and smiled happily. - -"Gosh, do I feel reborn!" he exclaimed. "Sorry, sir, I was such a dope -not to catch on." - -"And that goes for me, too, sir!" Freddy Farmer echoed. - -"Right you are, lads," Air Marshal Manners said with a laugh. "Just -make sure you don't get any crazy ideas any more. I'll be through with -you two just about the time the war's over. And I doubt even then. -Right-o. Now...." - -"Enemy aircraft!" Freddy suddenly yelled and pointed off to the east. -"See it? A Messerschmitt One-Ten and heading our way!" - -Both Dave and Manners snapped their heads around and spotted the Nazi -plane at the same time. The craft was a couple of thousand feet above -their altitude, but even as they spotted it the nose dropped and the -plane came down toward them at terrific speed. - -"Man the tail guns, Freddy!" Dave barked. "Here's our chance to pay -back with a few slugs. We'll...!" - -"No!" Air Marshal Manners said sharply. "No scramble with that plane. -Get us down into those clouds, Dawson, and lose him. We haven't got -time for a fight." - -A wave of rebellion swept through Dave but he curbed it instantly. -Something in Manners' face told him that the Air Marshal hated to run -away just as much as he did, but that he had a very good reason for -ordering it. - -"Right, sir!" Dave cried. - -Even before the words had popped off his lips he shoved the controls -forward, pushed the nose down to almost the vertical, and sent the -Lockheed Hudson wing screaming for the clouds. It was not more than -the matter of a few split seconds before they were plunging through -the billowing mist, but even then he heard the savage snarl of the -Messerschmitt's aerial machine guns, and the heavier, louder note of -its twin 20-mm. cannon. And a split second after that he heard the -yammering reply from Freddy Farmer's guns in the tail turret of the -Lockheed. - -As soon as the Lockheed was completely hidden in the depths of the -cloud layer he pulled out of the dive, leveled off and banked due west. -For some ten or fifteen minutes he flew on the instruments, twisting -this way and that, but always in the general direction of London. And -during all that time Air Marshal Manners didn't say a word. He sat like -a statue of stone in the co-pilot's seat staring out forward as though -his steady gaze might pierce right through the bank after bank of cloud -mist that rushed toward them and was sliced and churned by the whirling -propellers. - -Then suddenly, perhaps a second or two before Dave would have climbed -up on top for a quick look-see around, a blurred shadow came racing in -from the right. It was no more than a shadow tearing in, and Dave only -caught sight of it out the corner of his eye, but his sixth sense told -him at once that it might be the Messerschmitt One-Ten. - -"Dawson! Look out! There's...." - -Air Marshal Manners' wild cry was just a waste of breath. Dave had -already slammed the Lockheed over and around on wingtip in a wing -shaking vertical bank. The terrific force of the turn cut off the rest -of the Air Marshal's cry and pinned him up against the side of the -compartment as though he were nailed there. Every muscle of his body -braced, and his mouth open to prevent possible blacking-out from the -turn, Dave hung grimly to the controls and prayed in his thoughts as he -had never prayed before. - -A lifetime of agony was his. He lived and died a thousand deaths. Then -suddenly he felt the right wingtip shudder as something ticked it. -His heart stood still and his whole body became bathed in cold sweat. -Nothing happened, though. The wing stayed on and the Lockheed kept on -whanging around. - -"Just brushed us lightly!" Dave heard his own choking voice cry out. -"Another inch and it would have been a sweet mess!" - -"Great guns, they can't come any closer!" Air Marshal Manners gasped. -"Blast him, anyway! I might have expected as much. Look, Dawson, get -off the London course. Head east or west, but not toward London!" - -Dave cut out of the turn, went into a shallow dive that took the plane -down deeper into the cloud layer, then leveled off and banked due -south. Once he was heading south he turned his head and gave the Air -Marshal a questioning look. - -"You expected something like this, sir?" he asked. - -Manners shook his head. - -"No," he said. "I meant that I _should_ have. No way for us to find -out, and we're not going to try, but I'm pretty sure Baron von Khole -was in that Messerschmitt One-Ten." - -At that moment Freddy appeared at the compartment door, and in time to -hear the Air Marshal's words. - -"Von Khole?" he echoed excitedly. "Good grief, sir, what makes you -think so?" - -"For one reason," Manners replied grimly, "because you can expect that -blighter to turn up anywhere. For another reason, because I sighted -that same One-Ten on the way down to Plymouth this noon. Spotted him -soon enough to lose him before he could get close and give any kind -of a chase. And for another reason, because now I happen to be the one -man in all the world von Khole desires most to remove from it. Remember -my saying Intelligence found code books and things at the flat of that -poor devil, Sergeant Kinney?" - -"Yes, sure!" Dave said excitedly. "And by the way, was the real -Sergeant Kinney's body found? I mean, you're sure von Khole actually -did murder him, and he isn't the real Sergeant Kinney, himself?" - -"Whether von Khole murdered Kinney, or one of his bunch did it, we -don't know," Manners replied. "But the real Sergeant Kinney was no -dirty Nazi spy. Early this morning some of my men dug up the cellar of -the place. They found a body nobody could recognize, but the old World -War identification tag they found on the wrist belonged to Kinney. No, -there've definitely been two Kinneys serving in the R.A.F. One, the -real chap. The other, Baron von Khole." - -"And you learned something from the code books and stuff you found, eh, -sir?" Freddy questioned eagerly. - -"Enough to worry the Nazis sick!" Manners replied with a curt nod. -"The code books alone are the greatest prize of the war, as far as -I'm concerned. I now know the code signal for every U-boat and surface -raider the Nazis have in the North Atlantic." - -"Hot dog!" Dave cried in a burst of exuberant enthusiasm. "It's -practically in the bag! We can knock them off like clay pigeons, and -make the Atlantic clear sailing for British convoys." - -"No, it isn't going to be as easy as that," Air Marshal Manners said -with a shake of his head. "They'll change those codes as soon as they -can. But with so many of their craft at sea it will take a certain -amount of time. A couple of days, at least. Having failed to trap that -devilish raider and her wolf pack of U-boats this morning, our only -hope is to trap her through the code signals before she can receive a -new set." - -"But couldn't that be done in the matter of a few hours?" Freddy -objected. "A Nazi plane fly out to her with the new code?" - -"No," Manners said bluntly. "A new code that can't be broken down by -the enemy in short order isn't something that you think up over night. -True, every country has emergency codes, but even they need constant -rearranging in order to fool the enemy. And the point is, I feel -pretty sure that I've got hold of the Nazi's emergency code as well as -all of their regular codes. As head of Nazi Intelligence in England -it's only natural that von Khole would have a copy of every existing -code." - -"And leave them around for somebody to pick up?" Dave gasped. "Boy, -that's just about tops for being dumb, I'd say!" - -"It is," Air Marshal Manners agreed. "Incredibly stupid, but that -kind of stupidity is a part of the German make-up that amazes one. -Especially when you consider how thorough and clever they are about -so many other things. You two lads are too young to have been in -this world at the time, but it is a matter of confirmed history that -before the entry of America into the last war, von Papen, the German -ambassador to Washington, left a briefcase on a New York subway train -containing a world of information regarding German sabotage and -espionage activities in the United States!" - -"Yes, my Dad once told me about that boner," Dave said. "Gosh, it's -something like you'd read in a fairy story book!" - -"The Germans are a strange race, for fair," Manners said dryly. "They -lead the world in so many things, and trail it in so many others. Well, -I think we've lost that beggar for good, now, don't you think so, -Dawson?" - -"Unless he's got cat's eyes, or some trick airplane engine detector on -his ship," Dave replied. "Want me to go up on top? We've been heading -south by east for a spell, now. Unless I'm all wet we should be just a -bit off shore from Southampton. We can go up on top and find a hole and -check." - -"Then go on up," Air Marshal Manners ordered. "And if you're right, -then so much the better. Find a hole and locate us, and then I'll give -you further orders. But make it fast. Time is the most precious thing -in the world to us, right now." - -"Up she goes!" Dave cried and pulled the Lockheed's nose toward Heaven. - - - - -CHAPTER TEN - -_England's Prayer_ - - -No sooner had Dave stuck the Lockheed's nose up through the top of the -cloud layer than he leveled off so that the belly was still in the -stuff. At that same instant also he and Manners started searching the -sun flooded skies ahead and to the left and right. Having scrambled -back aft to his tail turret Freddy Farmer searched the heavens to the -rear. There was no cause for sudden action, however, for there wasn't -a single sign of a Nazi plane in the air. The Messerschmitt One-Ten -had been given the slip, and given it as only a pilot of Dave Dawson's -ability can perform such a feat. - -"Good work!" Manners grunted and relaxed a bit in his seat. "Now find a -hole if you can and spot exactly where we are." - -Dave nodded, climbed up another thousand feet, and in a minute or so -found a hole in the clouds. He peered down through and grinned happily. - -"Not so far wrong at that, sir," he said and pointed. "There's -Southampton. And we're about a mile off-shore." - -The Air Ministry official took a look and nodded his approval. - -"Top hole blind flying, Dawson," he grunted. "Right-o. Bear west and -take us to Lands End. Sit down in the field just north of the flying -boat basin." - -Dave's heart sang a song of joy and the blood began to dance through -his veins. At Lands End was the main base of the Catalina flying boats -that escorted so many merchant convoys in from their danger filled -trips across the broad Atlantic. At Lands End were some of the greatest -heroes in the R.A.F. Youngsters no more than a couple of years older -than himself who fought weather, Nazis, and everything else day and -night that England's bottoms might come safely into port. Twenty or -twenty-five hours in the air at a stretch was routine stuff for those -lads. And for a single Cat-Boat, escorting a dozen merchant ships -and Corvette, to battle ten or a dozen Nazi bombers single handed -and drive them off, was something you didn't even mention except in -your official flight report. Heroes and aces, every one of them, -commissioned and non-commissioned officers alike. High adventure, -unbelievable heroism, and death. Those lads at the Lands End Base took -all three in stride, and without batting an eye. - -"That's an outfit Farmer and I will be mighty glad to serve in, sir!" -Dave suddenly blurted out. - -"You're not going to serve in it," Air Marshal Manners said bluntly. -Then as he stared unwinking ahead, "Fact is, by this time tomorrow, or -sooner, every lad at that Base will be hunting for you, and very eager -to shoot you down. And their squadron will not be the only one out -hunting for your hide. No, you're not going to like your visit to the -Lands End Base!" - -Dave gulped, and couldn't speak for a moment. On sudden impulse he -turned his head and saw Freddy Farmer standing in the compartment -doorway. The English youth's eyes were popping out like marbles on -sticks and he was swallowing rapidly. Dave looked back at Manners. - -"I don't think I get you, sir," he said with an effort. - -"You will soon enough," the senior officer grunted. "You're in for a -venture that will make this morning's doings seem like a solo flight in -a training plane during peace time. But don't get all twisted up, now. -The prayers of England will be flying with you, though the pilots of -the R.A.F. will be hunting you down. It will be an important part of -your job to see that they _don't find you_!" - -"And how, if they're coming a-gunning!" Dave gulped. "But, sir, -what...?" - -"Later, at Lands End," Air Marshal Manners stopped him. "I'll.... By -George, I must be getting weak in the head, I'm forgetting things so. -I'll take over the controls, Dawson. You and Farmer go aft and get out -of those uniforms. In the flare box you'll find some civilian clothes. -They'll fit. Put them on. Then stuff your uniforms back in the flare -box. Stuff them down deep and cover them up with flare cartridges. -Beginning with now, Dawson, you're Charles Lanier. And you, Farmer, -you're Henry Devoe. You're a couple of aeronautical engineers recently -escaped from occupied France. You don't know a dozen words of English, -so look blank if anybody speaks to you. Got all that?" - -"Yes, sir," Dave managed to get out as a befuddled haze swirled around -in his brain. - -"Oh, quite, sir," Freddy echoed weakly. - -"Good," Manners said and motioned Dave out of the pilot's seat. "Just -act dumb French and take your leads from me. I'd tell you my plan, now, -but you might possibly give it away by an unconscious action. Now, -don't misunderstand, lads. I have absolute faith in you both. However, -as they say in your country, Dawson, I'm going to play this one close -to the chest. What you don't know now won't hurt anybody. Fact is, -it'll probably make it easier for me to play my part in the game. And -by the way, if I act just a bit rude to you, don't pay any attention. -This is an inspection flight on order of a ranking member in the -Government with whom you have connections. I'm supposedly against such -a waste of time, but am only obeying the orders of my superior. You -understand?" - -Though their heads were spinning the two R.A.F. youths nodded instantly. - -"Right-o, then," Manners said and gave them a smile. "Get aft and into -those civilian clothes. And don't go exploding with curiosity. You'll -know all the details in due time. Goodness knows you'll have to be -acquainted with them! Now chase." - -Dave and Freddy scrambled aft to the flare box amidships and pulled -out the assortment of civilian clothing inside. In less than five -minutes they were a couple of French civilians, and their much loved -and honored uniforms had been stuffed down out of sight. Dave looked at -Freddy and grinned broadly. - -"Well, your clothes look Frenchie," he said, "but I can't figure the -nationality of that face you're wearing." - -"Is that so?" Freddy snorted and wrinkled his nose in disgust as he -looked Dave up and down. "Fact is I can't place either your clothes or -your face. The nearest I can come is a touch of Japanese with just a -slight Eskimo resemblance. And, frankly, that's said with apologies to -both races. But, seriously, Dave, what in the world do you think we're -stepping into this time?" - -Dave looked toward the pilot's compartment and slowly shook his head -from side to side. - -"I just tossed my brain overboard," he said. "I gave up trying to -figure out this puzzle. So help me, if anybody had told me I was going -to run into this many blank walls since dawn I'd have told them they -were nuts. Sweet tripe! Spies, stolen planes, secret orders, a swim in -the Atlantic, bullets coming too darn close, mystery planes, French -clothing, no speak the English, the R.A.F. after my hide, and.... Pal, -that's a mess of fish right there. You cook it. I can't!" - -"Well, I gather we're in for some flying," Freddy said with a puzzled -sigh. "And that's something." - -"Yeah," Dave grunted, and jerked a thumb forward, "unless he comes up -with some more cockeyed unfinished business that sends us both to the -bug-house for keeps. Oops! We're heading down. Guess we must be getting -close. Luck, pal!" - -"I'll jolly well double that wish," Freddy breathed and led the way -forward along the cat-walk. - -Air Marshal Manners had nosed the plane down and as the two youths -reached his side and looked down over the nose they saw the southwest -tip of England pointed like a crooked finger at the little cluster -of Scilly Island and the broad rolling expanse of the North Atlantic -beyond. Dave looked at the mooring basin with a dozen or more battle -tried Consolidated Catalina flying boats at anchor. There were also -two or three Short Sunderland flyingboats. Huge battle wagons of the -air that in peace time serve England's Atlantic air lanes just as the -mighty Clipper flyingboats serve American ocean travel by air. Just -north of the basin was the airfield for land planes and amphibians. -The hangar side was lined with twenty or more different types. And as -Dave peered intently he saw several planes of American design. Bombers -probably ferried from Nova Scotia last night. Right now they were -receiving a check inspection before being flown on to England's active -service fields for final installations and assignment to the ever -growing armada of wings that went hurtling across the Channel day and -night to dump thousands upon thousands of tons of bombs down on Adolf's -head and his bandit hordes striving to wipe humanity and civilization -from the face of the earth. - -Lands End Base! The jumping off point for their greatest aerial -adventure. The jumping off point for glory, and for perhaps death, too! - -"Well, I've seen better dressed Frenchmen, but I guess you look the -part." - -Air Marshal Manners' outspoken comment brushed the rambling thoughts -away inside Dave's head. He glanced at his superior officer and -gestured in a polite but blank sort of way. - -"Pardon, mon Capitaine?" he murmured. "Ze Eengleesh, I speak no, yes?" - -The Air Ministry official threw back his head and laughed. - -"Fine!" he exclaimed. "Couldn't be better. Be sure and carry it through -no matter what anybody says to you. But I'll take care that nobody says -very much. Well, hang on. Here we go down for the next to the last -landing on this job, please God!" - -Dave and Freddy exchanged muddled glances and steadied themselves as -Manners flew the Lockheed across the field and then circled around -into the wind and slid down the last couple of hundred feet to a -feather-on-velvet landing. - -"Do _I_ hope to be able to fly like _that_ some day!" Dave breathed -without thinking. - -"Shut up, you _Frenchman_!" Manners growled. "But thanks for the -compliment just the same. On guard, now. Here they come." - -At the sight of a Staff plane with Air Ministry markings landing, the -commanding officer of the field and one or two of his junior officers -hurried out to greet the new arrivals. The C.O. was a Wing Commander, -and the row of ribbons under his R.A.F. wings was proof positive that -he had not earned his rank by sitting in an office chair with his feet -on the desk. He recognized Air Marshal Manners at once, and with his -juniors saluted smartly. - -"Well, welcome to Lands End Base, sir!" he said in pleasant surprise. -"Had no idea you'd be popping down this way for a bit of a visit." - -"Had no idea myself, Otis," Manners said and shook hands. "Not until -this noon, anyway. These two with me are the reason. Couple of French -aeronautical engineers who got out of France somehow. Seems they were -able to pull a few right strings in the Government. Anyway, I was -picked to tootle them about the country for a courtesy inspection trip. -As if I didn't have a thousand more important things to do! Oh, well, -you can't have a war without blasted politics, I suppose." - -"Aren't you right!" Wing Commander Otis sighed and gave Dave and Freddy -a polite but cold nod. "I take it they don't speak English, eh?" - -"Not half a dozen words," Manners replied in a disgusted voice. "And I -rue the day I learned to speak French. However, we'll be off your hands -by morning. Meantime, you carry on with your work, Otis. I'll herd -these two here and there and try to show them as little as possible. -Any hush-hush stuff here you think I should steer clear of?" - -"There's an experimental job in a flight hangar," Otis replied. -"But.... Well, I mean.... That is...." - -"That I wouldn't trust them out of my sight," Manners said as the other -floundered for words. "You're right. Ten to one they're the real true -French, but I'm a bit leery of anything that comes across the Channel -these days. You never can tell, you know. Frankly, I raised merry Ned -about taking them on this inspection tour, but the word came down from -high up, and.... Well, that was that, blast it!" - -"A bloody shame!" Wing Commander Otis growled and gave Dave and Freddy -a look that wasn't even polite. "I'm free for a short spell, and I'll -be glad to lead the parade, if you like. Matter of fact, I wouldn't -mind brushing up on my French. I mean, what there is of it." - -"Fine, splendid!" Manners cried. "That'll make two pairs of eyes we can -keep on them. But first, I guess I'd better make introductions." - -Manners half turned to smile at Dave and Freddy, and then went through -all the flowery business of presenting them to Otis, and presenting the -Wing Commander to them. The two youths bowed and beamed and spouted -perfect French at a mile a minute clip. Otis returned the wishy-washy -compliments in bad French, and with a pained look in his eye. - -And then began two of the most cockeyed hours Dave and Freddy had ever -spent in their young but adventure-crammed lives. With Wing Commander -Otis leading the way they were taken on a round of inspection of the -field and hangars, and then over to the flying boat basin. At every -stop interesting details were explained to them in French by either -Manners or Otis. And in turn they played up to their part by jabbering -out excited comments and compliments. But it was a hard act to play -because Manners and Otis exchanged helpless glances every so often. -And little by little it was plain to see that Otis wished with all his -heart that "these two young Frenchies who talked like lightning had -never got out of France." In other words, Dave and Freddy had to almost -gag themselves to kill a smile or an outburst of laughter in the wrong -place. - -Just before they moved on and away from the flying boat basin Manners -pointed to a battle grey Catalina flying boat some one hundred yards -from shore. - -"You see that craft, Gentlemen?" he said in French. "That is the -fastest flying boat in the entire Coastal Command. And it has a record -of which the entire Air Force is proud. The pilots and crew of that -craft have twelve Nazi planes and a U-boat to their credit. It is of -American design as you doubtless have noticed. I wish we had ten -thousand like her. I've flown her myself, and she is a beautiful craft. -Is that not so, Wing Commander Otis?" - -"Quite right, sir," Otis replied. "That Catalina is our pride and joy. -There isn't a ship here that can touch her for speed, or for standing -up in bad weather. And now, perhaps you'd like to see the repair shops?" - -Dave and Freddy nodded eagerly, but it was Air Marshal Manners who -spoke first. - -"You've done your job, Otis, old fellow," he said switching back to -English. "Don't you bother with these two any more. I'll carry on with -them. You get on back to your office. We'll walk a ways with you, and -then see you later at mess. I'll explain to them that duty calls, and -all that. They won't mind just so long as there's one of us to lead -them around and let them stick their noses in here and in there." - -"Sure you don't mind, sir?" Otis murmured. "Matter of fact I am a -little behind on my patrol reports." - -"Then by all means get on with it, man!" Manners said. Then turning to -Dave and Freddy, he explained to them in French. - -They let understanding light up their forced blank faces, and then went -into a verbal song and dance telling Otis that it was quite all right, -and ten million thanks for showing them so much. Otis mumbled some -polite words in return, and then the trio walked part way back to the -Base office. Finally Otis left them, and hurried away as though scared -to death that he might be called back. - -"By George, you two should be on the stage!" Manners chuckled when Wing -Commander Otis was well out of hearing. "A dirty trick we played on -real Frenchmen, because right now I think Otis is one man who hopes the -Nazis keep France! He never was very strong for the Tri-Color anyway, -but you two certainly finished him for good. The thing to do, though. -The word will get around what pests you are, and I don't think you'll -be bothered much later on. And that's exactly what I want." - -"Why, sir?" Dave asked bluntly, but made gestures with his hands like -a Frenchman in case Otis or somebody else might be watching from a -distance. - -Air Marshal Manners didn't reply at once. He half turned and glanced -at the sun that was dropping down over the horizon like a giant ball -of livid red flame. Then he glanced at his watch, and then at Dave and -Freddy. - -"Right-o," he said. "You two have certainly earned the whole story -these last two hours. But walk up the shore with me just to make sure -we won't be overheard. Take a good look at that sun, though, and let's -the three of us pray that by the time it sets again tomorrow you two -will have safely accomplished what in my opinion will be the most -daring and dangerous feat of the entire war to date and probably in the -future, too!" - -Neither Dave nor Freddy said anything. They walked along the shore -with their eyes fixed on the red ball of fire slowly sinking down out -of sight below the Atlantic horizon. And in their hearts and in their -very souls was the sacred promise that whether or not they ever saw -that sun again they would exert every effort and make every sacrifice -to accomplish successfully whatever the mission was that lay ahead of -them. - - - - -CHAPTER ELEVEN - -_Death in the Dark_ - - -"This is a good place," Air Marshal Manners said when the trio had -reached a stretch of sandy beach about half a mile from the Base field. -"Let's sit down here, and act as though we're tired. Frankly, that's no -lie as far as I'm concerned." - -The three seated themselves on the sand and for a moment or so Manners -stared thoughtfully out over the Atlantic as though carefully choosing -the words he was about to speak. Dave and Freddy waited, but not -patiently. Inwardly both were seething with excitement and curiosity. -Neither, however, made so much as the beginning of an attempt to -get the Air Marshal started. They knew that this was the last time -he would force them to wait, so they grimly sat tight and let the -torturing seconds tick by. - -Suddenly Manners raised his right hand and pointed toward the west. - -"Out there some eight or nine hundred miles," he said, "is a convoy of -thirty-five British ships. The most valuable convoy ever to set sail -for a British port. Its cargo contains tons and tons of war materials -most vital to our immediate needs. Food stuffs, raw materials, medical -supplies, guns of all kinds, a thousand crated airplanes made in the -United States and Canada, oil, gasoline ... everything that we need so -badly. I don't need to tell you the staggering losses that Nazi U-boats -and surface raiders have already inflicted upon England's merchant -marine. The whole world knows the great toll that has been taken. -And the whole world knows also that England cannot hope to survive -if such losses continue. And better than any country, save our own, -Adolf Hitler realizes that truth. For that reason he is going all out, -regardless of the cost to his own forces, to force England to her knees -and then crush her with no more emotion or pity than he would crush a -fly." - -The Air Marshal stopped talking, lighted a cigarette but immediately -flung it away after a single puff. - -"What that convoy is bringing to England," he continued eventually, -"is not vital to our needs six months or a year from now. We need it -and need it so terribly much _this week_ ... the very _day_ it can be -unloaded at the docks. It is a large convoy, yes. And a beautiful prize -for the Nazis to go after. That is true, too. And we are not fools -enough to believe they have no knowledge that it is on the high seas -and on its way. Naturally, the ships left different ports on the other -side of the Atlantic, and at different times. Every precaution was -taken to keep secret their dates of departure, the course each ship was -to sail, and the rendezvous point far at sea. We have done everything -save circle it with the ships of the entire British Navy. But that we -could not do. Yes, every possible precaution has been taken to get that -convoy through safely. But we know that every possible precaution is -not enough. We know that the Nazis will bide their time and fall upon -it when least expected. And so, it is up to us to beat the Nazis at -their own game!" - -The Chief of the Emergency Command paused again and in turn looked each -youth straight in the eye. - -"It was my Heaven sent prayer that we would accomplish that very thing -this morning!" he suddenly got out harshly. "For several days we have -known that the Nazis' fastest and most heavily armed raider, and their -most daring and skilled wolf pack of U-boats, was being assembled for -an attack on that convoy almost within sight of England's shores. -Possessing that knowledge, and also knowing the location of their -rendezvous area, we planned a trap for them. A trap with jaws made -of British naval vessels and planes. You two were assigned to act as -bait and to draw our boats and planes straight to the exact rendezvous -point in that same two hundred square mile area. We know now that all -our well laid plans went up in smoke. That the Nazis fooled us, and we -failed to spring the trap." - -Air Marshal Manners stopped once more, and Dave looking at him seemed -to see the shadow of increased years steal across the man's face. The -Yank wanted to reach out a hand and touch Manners as though to say -that he too shared the bitterness of defeat that was in his heart. -He checked the urge, however, and waited for the senior officer to -continue. - -"Yes, we failed miserably," the Air Marshal spoke again. "But even as -we were failing, the gods were kind to us. They gave us the opportunity -to make a second try. Those code books found in von Khole's flat -near Golder's Green. Not until this morning did I have the chance to -examine those books. Not until after you had taken off did I realize -that a second chance would be ours in case we failed in the first. -It's funny, in a way, when you study the situation. The Germans don't -know where our fleet is, whether it's with the convoy or not, but they -can probably find out. We don't know where the raider and her U-boats -are, but _now_ we can find out. The winner of this deadly game will -be the one who discovers _first_ the locality of the other's prize. -And whether England wins or loses depends upon the skill, daring, and -enduring courage of you two!" - -Silence settled over the sands. There was not a sound save the soft -hiss of the waves lapping the shore. Dave stared at them and in an -abstract crazy sort of way felt that the sound was countless unseen -demons of war and death jeering at Manners' spoken words. He took his -gaze off the waves and looked at the Air Marshal. - -"I can think of no greater reward, sir, than the chance to play my part -no matter what it is, or costs," he said solemnly. - -"And I can think of no better way of expressing my own thoughts too, -sir," Freddy Farmer said in his quiet, steady voice. - -The Air Ministry official smiled, and for a brief moment something -seemed to glisten in each eye. Then his face was grave and his eyes -stern. - -"It may cost you everything!" he said in a hard tone. "But above all -you must not fail. I demand it. England demands it. The whole civilized -part of this world demands that you be successful. And now, here is -the actual part you are to play. Down there somewhere off the coast of -France is that raider and her under-sea wolf pack. Sometime tonight she -will probably put to sea to maneuver into position to make her surprise -attack upon the convoy just before dawn when the light is bad and the -convoy's lookouts are staring into a rising sun. Between midnight and -dawn you will make contact with that raider and her pack, locate her, -and lure her into the waiting arms of British warships. That in a few -words is _what_ you will do, and here is _how_ you will do it!" - -Air Marshal Manners paused again to get his breath and to clear his -throat. - -"You remember that Catalina flying boat I pointed out to you when we -were with Wing Commander Otis?" he said presently. "Well, that is the -plane you are going to use. What I said about it is true. It's the -fastest and best weather flying boat in the whole Coastal Command. It -is completely equipped and ready for flight right this minute. The guns -are loaded, bombs are in their racks, and food and supplies are all -aboard. I happen to know that because it is a policy of this Station to -have all planes ready for action whether they are scheduled for patrol -or not. In other words, any one of the flying boats in the basin is -all set to take the air, but that particular Catalina is the best of -the lot. Sometime tonight you two will sneak out to it in one of the -tenders moored to the edge of the basin and get into the air and away -as fast as you can." - -"Steal it right from under the noses of the guards, sir?" Freddy gasped. - -"Just that," Air Marshal Manners said with a short nod. "But that won't -be hard. If you noticed, that particular Catalina is farther out toward -open water than any of the others. Also, the guards here are stationed -at the enemy aircraft detectors instead of being stationed about the -basin. You won't need to worry about them. Your toughest job will be to -get up anchor, start the engines, taxi out to open water, and get off -without a light showing. Searchlights, of course, will go after you, -and maybe a couple of land planes or so. However, that will take time, -and if you do your job well you'll be completely lost and headed for -Lord knows where before any of them can pick you up." - -"It's going to be close, darn close," Dave murmured softly. - -"Exactly why I'm glad you two are tackling the job," the Air Marshal -grunted with a faint gesture. "Yes, it will be close, and beginning -with the moment you get her into the air you will be hunted high and -low by every plane and flying boat the Station can spare. And by planes -and boats from other squadrons, too. I say that because it is instantly -going to become known that you are two of Germany's cleverest espionage -agents who hoodwinked us completely by posing as French aeronautical -experts recently escaped from the occupied zone on the other side of -the Channel." - -"But, sir!" Freddy objected and then stopped short as the senior -officer made a sharp motion with one hand. - -"Questions later!" Manners snapped. "Let me finish first. Don't -worry; complete information about you will go out over the air to all -listening stations. I'll see to that. However, the real reason your -daring escape will go out over the air is because we want German radio -stations to be sure and pick it up. And most of all, that raider's -radio. We want the Nazis to swallow the story, and we think they will. -You see, a couple of weeks ago, Intelligence did pick up two notorious -German spies. They don't publicize feats like that, and for an obvious -reason. When you don't tell the enemy you have one of their agents they -naturally assume that the agent is still operating. At least for a -certain length of time. Fact is, often when we pick up an enemy agent -we send a few useless bits of information through to the Germans in -such a way they believe he is still serving them. And oftentimes we get -messages in return that lead us to other agents we did not even know -existed. It's a tricky game, Intelligence, and dangerous, too. But I -don't need to tell you chaps about Intelligence work!"[2] - -[Footnote 2: _Dave Dawson with the R.A.F._] - -Air Marshal Manners paused to light another cigarette and to cast a -casual glance about to make sure they were not being observed. - -"Anyway," he continued at length, "to the English, and to the Germans -we most certainly hope and pray, you will be regarded as those two -German spies. The fact that you stole a Catalina from this Base will -excite the Germans all the more. Particularly the raider's commander, -if he picks up our SOS broadcasts, which he undoubtedly will. The -Germans, of course know that this Base is in touch with that convoy. -Also that planes from this Base will be sent out to meet it at a -certain point and escort it in. Therefore they will assume that, having -stolen the Catalina from here, you of course must know all the secrets -about that convoy. And so, when you contact the raider its commander -should fairly leap at the bait ... and, please God, sail right into the -arms of the British Navy!" - -"You're supplying us with copies of the codes to use, sir?" Dave asked. - -"Of course!" the other replied. "I have them right here in my pocket. -I'll also give you the exact locations of the various units of the -Fleet now at sea. Once you have made contact with the raider and her -wolf pack you will feed her as many lies as possible and bit by bit -lead her into the arms of one of the Fleet units. But, here is the -important thing, and pay strict attention. The Nazis will of course -have their own planes out hunting for that convoy, so it will be up -to you to contact the raider _first_, and establish definitely in -her commander's mind that _you know where the convoy is_! Mind you! -Nazi aircraft will also pick up your signals, and they will all come -a-running to that locality. I don't know how much lee-way in time -you'll have but during that time, however, you've got to lead the -raider and her U-boats close enough to the British Fleet units for them -to jump and finish the business. Well, there it is, lads. The toughest -assignment I ever gave to any one. Frankly, you've one chance in a -hundred of leading that raider into the range of British guns. And, -frankly, you've got about one chance in a billion of coming through -alive. It's only fair that I should tell you that. The instant you've -betrayed the raider, and perhaps even before then, you'll have half the -Nazi over-water Air Force on your neck. And that's not to mention the -British lads who'll be looking for you right from the start. The only -bit of advice I can give you is, _keep clear of all aircraft and hide -in clouds as much as you can_! Oh yes, one more thing. Try first the -regular code signals I'll give you, and if you get no response switch -immediately to the emergency code. It is possible that von Khole's loss -of his code books has been made known to the raider. It's possible but -not likely because of the short period of time. Now, any questions?" - -"It's really a suggestion, sir," Dave said slowly after a moment's deep -thought. - -"Then let's have it!" Manners exclaimed impatiently. "After all, it's -your necks, you know. What is it?" - -"It's about making sure the Fleet units learn the exact location of the -raider once we sight her, and are perhaps jumped by enemy aircraft too -darn soon," Dave said. "There's a second radio on every Catalina, so -why don't we tune it to the directional finder wave-length the instant -we spot the raider. Then if anything does happen to us the Fleet units -will know her location and be able to circle her before she can head -for the convoy in case a real Nazi scouting plane sends her the true -location of the convoy." - -"That's a good suggestion," Manners said with a frown, "except that...." - -"I know what you're going to say, sir," Dave cut in hurriedly. "Except -that we're supposed to have stolen a plane, and even the British are -hunting us? Well, here's a way to get around that. You, through ways -you know best, inform the commander of each Fleet unit tonight that -they are to keep their sets open for that directional finder signal and -to act the instant they hear it and plot our position. They don't need -to know that it's coming from the supposedly stolen plane. Just let -them think that you've got real scouting planes out after that raider. -In short, the same idea as we tried to work this morning. It's simply -to make doubly sure of nailing that raider and her wolf-pack in case -Freddy and I run into bad trouble we can't lick." - -"I doubt you two not being able to lick anything," the Air Marshal -grunted and grinned. "But that is a darn good suggestion, Dawson. I'll -do it, don't worry. I'll get word to those Fleet unit commanders in -plenty of time. Well, Farmer, have you any suggestions to offer?" - -Freddy shook his head and shot a side glance at Dave. - -"He does all the talking for us, sir," he said. "He can't help it. A -habit he can't break. However, I agree with him completely this time." - -"The miracle has come to pass!" Dave chuckled. "The little man agrees -with me! The best omen of good luck possible. We can't lose, now!" - -Air Marshal Manners smiled, but in his eyes there was the glow of warm -and frank admiration. And his heart was bursting with pride. Here -indeed was the true expression of the unbeatable spirit of the Royal -Air Force. With death awaiting them out over the Atlantic these two -youths, with the minds, and skill, and courage of full grown men, were -enjoying themselves in a bit of horse-play. Manners swallowed hard, -then drew some papers from his tunic pocket and slid them across the -sand. - -"The codes and the locations of the Fleet units," he said as Dave -closed his hand over them. "Well, I guess we'd better be starting back. -It's close to mess time. Continue your act, and after mess ease outside -whenever you think the time best. Play sleepy and heading for your -quarters if you like. You probably won't be noticed, and most certainly -not missed. Except by me. And my prayers will be with you every single -second of the time. And.... God bless you!" - -The Air Marshal's voice was heavy and husky as he finished. He looked -the boys straight in the eye for a brief moment, then shook himself -slightly and got briskly up onto his feet. - - - - -CHAPTER TWELVE - -_The Midnight Phantom_ - - -The dark of night had come again to war besieged England, and from the -northern most tip of Scotland clear south to the Isle of Wight British -eyes and ears were on the alert for any and all surprise moves by -Hitler's devilish hordes on the other side of the English Channel and -the North Sea. Men stood waiting at their searchlight batteries. Others -stood ready at their anti-aircraft guns. And the night flying pilots -of the Royal Air Force stood within jumping distance of their swift, -deadly fighter planes. A whole nation of some forty five millions of -people ready and waiting for the next trick Adolf "Death" would pull -out of his bag. - -At Lands End Base, however, there were two who were not waiting for -"Satan," with his trick mustache and ever drooping lock of greasy hair, -to make the next move. On the contrary they were waiting for the right -time to make a move themselves. They were blended in with the darkness -within a hand's touch of a light small tender tied up at the southwest -side of the flying boat basin. They had been there for a good half hour -virtually holding their breath every instant of the time, straining -their ears for the slightest sound close by, and raking the darkness -with their eyes. - -"What say, shall we go?" Freddy Farmer presently breathed in Dave -Dawson's ear. "There's nobody within a quarter of a mile, and that wind -that's freshening may swing the Cat on her mooring line so's we'll have -the devil's own job heading out toward open water." - -"Okay it is," Dave breathed back and gripped Freddy's arm. "Down on -your belly, pal, and into the tender. I've got her free. I'll feather -paddle her out Indian style. Right! Here we go!" - -Cautiously the two youths wormed inch by inch down over the lip of -the basin wall toward the small tender. And then suddenly there came -a sound that froze them stiff and turned the blood in their veins to -ice. It was the muffled crack of a rifle shot. The muffled bark from -a rifle obviously fitted with a silencer. And ages before the echo was -gone an angry metal hornet buzzed squarely between them and buried -itself in the wall. - -In an infinitesimal period of time a million heart shredding thoughts -leaped and raced through Dave's brain. The basin guard! They had not -fooled the ever watchful guard at all! They had been spotted and a -warning shot had been fired right between them. The next shot would -find warm human flesh. What to do? Go on and be shot at like a helpless -clay pigeon? Go on in the tender and suddenly have every searchlight in -the place played squarely on them, and be riddled with British bullets -before they could so much as fling up their hands in surrender? Or -should they give up, now? Give up and reveal their true identities? -Should...? - -"No! No, we can't. We've got to carry on. There's everything at stake. -We've got to carry on. We promised. We vowed to Manners, to England, -and to God. We can't give up now. _We can't!_" - -Dave did not speak the words aloud, but they boomed through his brain -with all the roaring thunder of heavy cannon fire. Hardly realizing he -was doing so he reached out and touched Freddy's arm. - -"Never mind the tender!" he breathed. "We've got to get to that plane -by swimming for it. Slide down into the water and swim under water as -long as you can. Keep heading straight for the Cat-boat." - -"Right!" came the hushed reply. "It's only sixty yards, anyway. But -watch the slash going in." - -Faint movement told Dave that Freddy was already on his way. He waited -a few brief seconds until the English youth slid into the water without -causing a ripple and disappeared. Then Dave slid down in with all the -silence and swiftness of an eel. Yet a split second before the chilly -water closed over him he once more heard the muffled bark of a silencer -fitted gun, and a tiny twinge of pain rippled across the instep of -his left foot. It was so brief and short in duration that he hardly -felt it. Then he was underwater, air locked tightly in his lungs, and -swimming straight out from the wall with every ounce of his strength. - -With every stroke he took a hundred more maddening thoughts came to -torture his brain. Was he heading for the Cat-boat? Where was Freddy? -Was he all right? Was Freddy keeping true direction? Would they lose -each other, lose the Cat-boat, and flounder about in the dark until -they were spotted from shore and shot? Thoughts, thoughts, and more -thoughts. And each one like the white hot blade of a knife cutting away -a part of his brain. - -Seconds dragged by, hours, weeks, and years. Finally, his burning lungs -were on the point of bursting right out through his ribs. Blinding -light danced before his closed eyes, and in his whirling head was the -mighty roar of a world coming to an end. With a final desperate effort -he pushed his way up toward the surface and got his head above water. -For a few precious seconds he was forced to rest there slowly treading -water until the blinding light passed away, and the roaring thunder -faded down into silence. - -Finally, his bulging eyes were back in their sockets and he could see. -Dead ahead was nothing but water, and beyond the horizon marked by -a few faint glimmering stars. He looked to the right and saw a huge -darker shadow looming up. Then suddenly his straining eyes picked out -a small object that seemed to be floating motionless on the surface -of the basin. It was not five feet away and it was all he could do to -refrain from letting out a wild yell. He curbed the urge and faintly -breathed the name. - -"Freddy?" - -The small object on the water moved slightly and a whisper came -stealing back to him. - -"Right-o! What took you so long? This is it!" - -Dave didn't answer. Instead he glided through the water until he was at -Freddy Farmer's side. The English youth raised a hand and pointed above -and ahead. - -"Hull door, it's open," he whispered. "Manners must have slipped out -and done that to make it easier for us." - -"Well, thanks to whoever did it, anyway," Dave breathed back. "And I -guess we've fooled those guards. Boy, does it give you a chill to be -popped at by your own kind. Gosh, I...!" - -"Tell me later!" Freddy hissed. "This water is what's giving _me_ a -chill. Come on, in we go. For goodness' sake, don't lose your hold and -fall back into the water. It'll rouse the whole Station!" - -"Okay!" Dave growled and pushed Freddy toward the flying boat's hull. -"Don't you be greasy fingers either!" - -Perhaps it was a minute, or perhaps it was two before the two youths -were inside the Catalina flying boat, had the hull door shut and were -up forward. Dave slid into the pilot's seat and reached for the engine -switches, and starter buttons. He was about to snap and press them when -a terrible thought crashed through his brain. - -"Man, oh, man, are we starting off fine!" he choked out. "The mooring -line, Freddy! Hop down and cast us free!" - -"Well, can you beat that?" Freddy gasped and instantly ducked down out -of sight and went forward to the gunner's nook in the nose of the hull. - -A couple of moments later Dave felt the flying boat ride free. And an -instant after that Freddy was back in the seat at his side. He reached -for the switches and starter buttons again. - -"If you've led a good life, pray hard, Freddy!" he said. "If you -haven't, pray hard, anyway!" - -No sooner had the last slipped off his lips than Dave whipped up the -switches and jabbed the starter buttons. There was an eternity of -silence. Then the silence was shattered by the whining grind of the -starter gears. Then the port engine roared into life, and a split -second later the starboard engine thundered into action. Fingers flying -about in the dark, Dave adjusted fuel pressure, oil, propeller pitch -and engine synchronization. And at the same time he applied the sea -rudder and swung the huge craft a quarter turn and headed out toward -open sea beyond the basin breakwater. - -All that took but a matter of split seconds, yet to Dave and Freddy -a thousand years seemed to drag by. It seemed to them as though the -Catalina was not moving an inch seaward; as though invisible hands were -holding it back. And all the time the thunder of the powerful engines -was enough to wake up the dead in China. - -"She's not moving, Dave!" Freddy shouted. "There must be another -mooring line we didn't see! There.... Oh, thank the Lord, we _are_ -moving!" - -It was true. The huge flying boat had picked up speed and was now -kicking frothy spray back up over the compartment window as the snub -nose of the hull plowed through mounting rollers. And then, suddenly, -as the big craft came up onto the "step," a beam of brilliant white -left cut out at them from the right rear and filled the compartment -with an eerie shimmering light. - -"Now or never!" Dave shouted. "We've got to get off and shake that -beam, or we're in for another swim. Work those fuel adjustments, -Freddy! The port engine's lagging bad, and we need plenty of take-off -speed!" - -As Freddy got to work on the adjustments, Dave held the Cat-boat on a -course dead ahead. Though the presence of the searchlight was proof -positive their escape was now known to the entire base, it helped in -guiding the craft by lighting up the waters ahead. A moment later the -port engine started doing its full share and the flying boat thundered -forward at increased speed. But at the same time a second searchlight -beam, this one to the left rear, caught them, and they went roaring out -toward open sea pinned perfectly in the crossed beams of light. - -Dave waited until the craft had touched maximum take-off speed, then he -virtually lifted the Catalina into the air and curved up and around to -the east. The two searchlights followed him like two lighted fingers -of glue. But a couple of moments later, when he had gained sufficient -altitude, he suddenly shoved the flying boat down in a steep dive. No -sooner had he dropped out of the searchlight beams than he pulled out -of his dive, curved around toward the west and hauled the hull's nose -up toward the star dusted sky high overhead. It was a near maneuver, -and it was also successful. As soon as his eyes became accustomed to -the change from brilliant light to inky darkness, Dave turned his head -and looked down back. There were three searchlights, now, and they were -frantically probing about just off the surface of the open sea. - -"Right-o, very neat, my man!" came Freddy's voice. "But stop patting -yourself on the back. Get us away from here, _not_ high above it! -They're bound to send off land planes, you know." - -"Sure as shooting," Dave replied in a tone of apology. "What we do need -is distance, and not altitude. Okay, my fine feathered friend. What'll -it be, South Africa or South America, huh?" - -"Further than that will make me feel much better!" Freddy replied. -"Jeepers, it gives you the creeps knowing that your own comrades are -after you, doesn't it?" - -"It sure doesn't make a fellow feel happy," Dave said soberly and took -a quick look at the searchlight beams that were fast falling far astern -of the flying boat. "Fact is, if you want the truth from me, I don't -feel so happy about any of this business." - -"What's that, Dave?" Freddy cried sharply and turned his head to stare -hard in the darkness. "You mean you don't honestly think there's a -chance in the world for us to do the job?" - -"No," Dave said. "Not that. We'll do it, or else. What bothers me is -that it seems too easy. I mean, it's all cut and dried. We do this and -we do that, and such and such happens. Just think back, pal. Did any of -the jobs we've tackled ever go off like clockwork according to plan?" - -The English youth didn't answer for a moment. He sat peering out the -forward window at the star dust far ahead on the horizon. - -"Okay, sleep, if you don't feel like talking," Dave growled after the -silence had stretched out to over a minute. - -"I was just trying to recall, that's all," Freddy said. "No, I can't -think of single job that didn't run into a snag before we had it all -tucked away." - -"Well, that's what I mean," Dave said and automatically trimmed ship a -bit finer. "On paper it doesn't look so very tough. True, we may run -into a flock of Nazi planes, but we've met Nazis before. And we may hit -some weather, or maybe get a plastering from the raider's anti-aircraft -guns once she gets wise to us. Then, too, we may stub our toes come -dawn, and run smack dab into a mess of British planes out hunting for -us. And, boy, I wouldn't like that at all. However, it's not those kind -of possibilities that bother me." - -"What other possibility is there?" Freddy asked. "Heaven knows you've -named enough to bother me, I fancy!" - -"The unsuspected possibility," Dave said and banked slightly more out -toward the broad bosom of the North Atlantic. "I mean, something that -neither of us, or Manners, dreamed would happen, I can't name it. I've -just got a hunch, that's all. You know, the old feeling?" - -"I say, cut it!" Freddy groaned. "You and your blasted hunches!" - -"Well, they've tinkled the bell in the past a few times," Dave said -with feeling. - -"Exactly why I say, cut it!" Freddy moaned. "Your blessed hunches -always turn out to be fact; cold fact, with bullets for trimming! Let's -talk about the weather and let the future bring what it will. I...." - -"It's brought something already!" Dave shouted and pointed off to the -right. "See those twin moving lights way over there? Those lights -belong to an airplane, my little man. And between you, me, and the -gatepost that plane belongs to the Royal Air Force. And the lad ain't -out joyriding, nohow! Hold your hat, I'm going down low just so's he -can't spot our moving shadow against the stars. Yes, sir, Manners sure -called the turn when he said they'd come a-running and fast!" - -"Do I know what a wild duck in hunting season must feel like!" Freddy -breathed as Dave throttled the engines to reduce the exhaust plumes to -nil, and sent the Catalina sliding down toward the waters of the North -Atlantic. - -"Pal, you ain't even begun to feel things, yet!" Dave cried. "Know -something? If we come through this session alive we'll probably be -retired from the Air Force on a pension." - -"Not likely!" Freddy said scornfully. "There's loads and loads of chaps -who risk their necks just as much as we do. Stop fishing for another -medal and a visit to Buckingham Palace!" - -"Medal, my eye!" Dave snorted. "I don't mean we'll be retired as a -reward for our glorious deeds. Nuts! We'll be retired on account of old -age! Don't know about you, but I've already aged twenty years since we -dived into the mooring basin. Get what I mean?" - -"Oh quite," Freddy said with a chuckle. "And you're lucky. I've added -thirty years, I swear! I.... Watch it, Dave! There's some kind of a -surface craft right below us. Maybe one of our Channel patrol boats. -Better pull out!" - -Dave, however, had already seen the moving shadow of something down -below them, and even before Freddy had finished shouting he had the -Catalina leveled out of its glide and was climbing up and off toward -the south. Luck or fast action saved them some tight moments, because -a moment later a surface ship broke out its searchlight and started -raking the heavens. Dave zig-zagged, however, and kept out of the beam -and finally passed on beyond its range. - -An hour later they were far at sea and high in the air and just under -some patches of clouds. Dave switched on the automatic pilot device, -and then took the copies of the Nazi codes and the data of the British -Fleet units locations from his pocket. He smoothed them out and trained -a single compartment light on them. - -"Close to midnight, Freddy," he said. "And we've got some home work to -do before we get going in earnest. So dust your brains out and get all -this stuff down pat. After all, you've got to work the radio, you know. -Besides, your German is twice as good as mine." - -"Liar!" Freddy growled. Then with a sigh, "Oh well, just as you say, -then. It's happened before. You get all the fun flying, and I get all -the dirty work!" - -"Brain work, chum!" Dave corrected with a laugh. "Me, I'm dumb. That's -why I always have to take you along on these jaunts, see?" - -"Next time don't feel you _have_ to!" Freddy sighed and started digging -into the mess of Nazi code signals. - - - - -CHAPTER THIRTEEN - -_Satan Flies West_ - - -Dawn sunshine rippled along the broad wings of the American built -Consolidated Catalina flying boat, but ominous coal black clouds were -beginning to pile up high in the western sky. Even as Dave Dawson -stared at them they seemed to fling a dark shadow far out over the -rolling swells of the North Atlantic. He gave an angry shake of his -head and impulsively took a tighter grip on the controls of the flying -boat. - -"That storm ahead looks pretty bad, Freddy," he said wearily out the -corner of his mouth. "What do you think?" - -Freddy Farmer stirred in the co-pilot's seat and glanced haggard eyed -at the altimeter. The needle pointed to exactly nine thousand feet. - -"We'll just have to hit it on the nose and pray," he said after a -moment. "If we climb over it we might just as well go back to port and -give up. I'm positive the raider's under it somewhere. Those signals -were so weak I couldn't make head or tail of them. All we can do is -take a chance we're right this time. If we aren't then...." - -Freddy shrugged and left the rest hanging in midair, and bent forward -to recheck the radio's adjustments for the umpty-umpteenth time in the -last six hours. Dave nodded absently and kept his gaze fixed on the -mountainous coal black clouds ahead. There was a dull throbbing in -his head, his eyes smarted and ached, and his whole body felt stiff -and sore. But what bothered him most was the bitter, empty feeling of -helpless despair in his heart. - -He and Freddy had been aloft in the Catalina for a good eight hours, -and for the last six of those hours they had done everything within -their power to make radio contact with the mystery raider and her -wolf-pack of U-boats somewhere on the vast expanse of the Atlantic -below them. Several times they had received code signals in answer to -their call, but because of a static band the signals had been too weak -for Freddy to understand. The very fact, though, that they had picked -up bits of the same signals several times convinced them both that they -had made contact. No definite proof, however, and hour after hour they -had cruised about in the dark shrouded sky groping like a blind man in -a strange room. - -That alone was enough to fray their nerves and put them on edge, but -to add to their helpless misery was the fact that they picked up spots -of other signals they knew did not come from the raider. Some were in -British code, and it was easy to guess that aircraft on the hunt for -them were communicating with each other and their shore bases. And -then there were signals in German code that were obviously being sent -out from Nazi aircraft. Those signals worried them more than the fact -they could not establish definite contact with the raider. The same -question burned through their brains in letters of fire a foot high. -Had scouting Nazi aircraft spotted the all important convoy and were -they establishing contact with the raider? And were the raider and her -wolf-pack already sneaking into position to pounce upon those precious -cargoes destined for England? - -Hours of groping blindly about in the dark. Hours when at any minute -they might plow headlong into R.A.F. planes searching them out. Hours -of heart crushing failure to achieve their all important goal, contact -with the raider. Hours during which every tantalizing thought possible -rose up to peck at their tired brains like vultures over a dead steer. - -And, now, dawn! Dawn and light. Light that would reveal them to the -pilots of other planes that might come across them in the air. The eyes -of British pilots. And the eyes of Nazi pilots. Dawn and one last hope, -a final prayer. That the mystery raider was hugging the area below -that storm ahead, and the static created by the storm was the reason -they couldn't contact the raider. One last hope. One last fight, not -against aircraft, but against the raging fury of an Atlantic storm. If -they could not find the raider somewhere in that storm area then their -mission was doomed to failure. Time's sands were running out in the -glass. If they did not find the raider this time, it would mean that -the raider was nowhere about. That it was far away, in contact with -a real Nazi scouting plane, and ... and perhaps in the very act of -pouncing upon the convoy. - -Dave shuddered and wiped sweat from his brow as the last thought -whipped across his brain. Then almost instantly he gritted his teeth, -got his chin up, and squared his jaw. - -"Nuts to that storm!" he muttered. "This Cat-boat can take worse than -that. We'll find that darn raider if we have to hunt it out from pole -to pole. Got your safety belt fastened tight, Freddy? We're going to -get a nice tossing." - -"As tight as it'll go," the English youth replied. "I'll be okay as -long as the wings stay on." - -"They'll stay on," Dave said grimly. "This job is Yank built, and good. -Make a check on our course. I want to head into that mess ahead in -the direction of the nearest British Fleet unit to our position. The -direction signals you last flashed out to the raider. I'm just banking -on a hope she caught them and is heading that way, too." - -"That would almost be too good to be true," Freddy sighed. "But hold -your horses a minute and I'll make a definite check." - -Freddy busied himself with his charts and navigation for a moment or -so, then straightened up and nodded. - -"Keep her as she goes, Dave," he reported. "We're right on the old -beam, now. And...." - -The English youth didn't finish the rest. He didn't for the plain -reason that an invisible express train seemed to come roaring out of -nowhere and crash into the right wing. The flying boat heeled over -drunkenly to that side, shivered and shook from stem to stern, and -then tried to drop by the nose and plunge madly seaward. Dave's face -paled and the cords of his neck stood out like taut steel cables as he -battled with the controls, and by sheer strength fought the flying boat -up onto even keel. - -"And that's the starter!" he panted. "Just a puff of air compared to -what's coming. But I'm going straight in to the middle and then down as -low as we dare. We may find a hole underneath that will give us enough -visibility. When we find it, keep your eyes open. Don't close them for -a second. And keep working that radio for all it's worth. Try every -darn code in the book, including the emergency one. The instant you get -a definite contact let me know." - -"I'll let you know, never fear!" Freddy Farmer bellowed as a sudden -roaring sound closed in from all sides to make the thunder of the -engines little more than a murmur. "I'll let you know ... but it may be -in the next world!" - -Dave hardly heard the last, and he didn't bother to make any comment. -He had no strength to waste trying to yell above the world of sound -into which they had plunged. Every ounce of strength was needed to hold -the controls firm, and keep the crazy crisscross tornado of wind from -spinning the huge Catalina up on wingtip as though it were bit of -torn paper in the air. The sun was now gone, swallowed up behind them, -and the flying boat was rocking, and bucking, and pitching through a -swirling world of slate grey and eerie shades of purple. Every so often -the roaring of the wind would die away as though by magic. There would -be only the powerful roar of their sturdy engines. And the craft would -tear forward without so much as a tremor in either wingtip. - -And then just as suddenly a coal black mass of cloud would zoom up -straight in front of the nose of the hull, and the fury of the weather -gods would crash in on them with terrifying force. A wall of slashing -rain would fall down upon them, and it would be impossible to see an -inch ahead or in any direction. The nose of the hull, where the forward -gunner ordinarily sat, would disappear from their view completely. -Tossed and heaved this way and that, they would hurtle onward -completely blind. - -A hundred times the flying boat would give a sharp lurch and Dave's -heart would stop cold in fear that something had given way, and that -the Catalina was breaking up in midair. Or a hundred times the engine -instrument needles would go on a crazy rampage about the dials, and -either the starboard or port engine would cough and sputter for a -second or two that was a whole lifetime to Dave Dawson's jangling -nerves. But always, no matter what, the Catalina kept on valiantly -fighting its way toward the center of the storm. - -Finally a sudden calm and a flood of grey light told Dave that they had -hit the center. He winked sweat from his eyes, sweat that had streamed -down off his forehead, and took a look below. He saw an expanse of thin -fleecy cloud that was traveling in a slow circle as the result of the -whirling movement at the core of the storm. He shot a quick hopeful -glance at Freddy, but the English youth had phones clamped to his ears -and was working frantically at the radio. His face was grim and set, -but there was a dull, defeated look in his eyes. - -Dave turned front, throttled the engines slightly and nosed the flying -boat down toward the layer of fleecy cloud. He could see gobs of black -cloud underneath, but the stuff was not solid, and hope zoomed high in -his breast. There were bound to be holes in the stuff. Holes through -which he could look down into the calm area under the center of the -storm. There, if any place, would be the raider. Stealing along in -the calm center while the real fury of the storm protected her on all -sides. - -Would she be there? Would she be heading in the right direction? For a -brief moment Dave was filled with the crazy desire to pull up out of -his dive and ride on through the other side of the storm without so -much as taking a single look for the raider. Crazy, insane? Sure! But -if he did go on down, and the raider was nowhere to be seen, the bitter -defeat might be more than his already singing nerves could take. - -"Cut it, you dope!" he grated at himself. "If she isn't there, then she -isn't there. What are you, anyway? A low down dirty quitter? No nerve -to stick your chin out, and take it? Get down there, Dawson, and get -down darn fast!" - -The sound of his own voice helped. The crazy desire to quit and run -faded away into thin air. His grip on the controls tightened and he -held the Catalina in its downward plunge. In the matter of seconds he -reached the layer of fleecy cloud. There he pulled out of his dive -slightly, kept the nose down just a hair, and started circling about. -The altimeter read three thousand feet. It was probably correct, but -after what the craft had passed through, every instrument on the panel -might be all cockeyed. And there were still black clouds below him. -For all he knew they might be sitting right on top of the storm swept -water. Death would have the last laugh if he should fly the Catalina -right down into the wet stuff. No, the thing to do was to circle slowly -and drop down foot by foot, and keep both eyes skinned for the first -hole in the black stuff below. And, please God, he would be able to -find a hole! If not.... - -He didn't finish the thought. At that instant something hit him a sharp -blow on the right arm, and his own name was screamed in his ears. - -"_Dave_, I've made contact! Positive this time. I got the raider's -number signal as clear as a bell. She's close by, I'm positive. She -wants a repeat on the convoy's location!" - -Freddy Farmer's face was flaming red with excitement, and his eyes -seemed to shoot out sparks as he yelled at Dave and continued to thump -a fist on his right arm. Dave yanked his arm away and scowled. - -"Hey, lay off!" he shouted. "But swell, Freddy! Give her direction X -Dash M. That will take her out of this storm. She's moving with it now, -that's a cinch. And it'll be tough for the navy boats to find her in -that sea. The U-boats could scatter and skip away at will. Give her X -Dash M direction signal and get her out into open sea. We'll go on back -up for plenty altitude and pick her up when she comes out of the storm. -Boy, I guess we're tops, huh?" - -Freddy grinned like an imp but he didn't say anything. He was hard -at work at his set again, sending out the misleading signals to the -marauder of the high seas somewhere down there below the storm. For a -couple of minutes longer curiosity, burning curiosity, forced Dave to -continue circling downward searching for a hole that would give him a -view of the surface of the ocean. However, before he could find a hole -the sudden realization that he might spoil everything snapped him out -of his trance, and made him pull the nose up, feed full fuel to his -engines and start climbing the Catalina up through the center of the -storm. - -"Spoil things, and how!" he echoed the thought aloud. "If that raider -should spot us, ten to one her commander would wonder plenty how-come -we were so close. Use your head, Dave, and keep using it!" - -"I quite agree, though I don't know what you mean," he heard Freddy -shout. "A bad sign, though, when a chap starts talking to himself, you -know. That tossing around didn't get you, did it?" - -The English youth was grinning broadly and there was the old sparkle -in his eyes. Gone was the haggard, worn out look. That they had made -contact with the raider in their last desperate try had made a new man -of Freddy. Dave grinned back at him and felt ten times better himself. -Now they had something they could dig their teeth into. No more -stumbling around hoping against hope, and meeting with defeat at every -turn. Once they reached high altitude and spotted the raider when she -came out beyond the rim of the storm, everything would be all to the -merry. True, maybe whirlwind action lay just ahead, but that was okay. -It would be action with a purpose, not useless unfinished action. - -"I'm okay!" he said to Freddy. "I mean, no more goofy than usual. But -I do feel tops, now. As soon as we sight that baby send her a course -correction and get her headed once again toward that Fleet unit. And -once she's on course get set for anything." - -Freddy arched an eyebrow and looked puzzled. - -"Meaning exactly what?" he asked. - -Dave shrugged and made a little gesture with one hand. - -"I feel a million times better," he said, "but I've still got that old -hunch the unexpected's going to suddenly pop up with a bang. Gosh, -Freddy! Just suppose this ship you've contacted isn't the raider at -all!" - -The English youth paled but almost immediately he shook his head -vigorously. - -"Impossible!" he said bluntly. "I got her call signals as clear as -anything. Don't worry, she identified herself by code. She's the -raider, all right. And at least we've got a full hour." - -"Full hour?" Dave echoed and looked blank. - -"Certainly," Freddy replied. "From the convoy's position I radioed him -the commander knows that he can't get within striking distance at least -for an hour. So that gives us a full hour to work her dead away from -the convoy's route and into the hands of the Navy. If only the Nazi -planes don't show up. That's what worries me. That they'll show up, and -things will go wrong, and the murdering blighter and her steel fish -will still be able to get at the convoy. I don't want to return to port -if that happens, Dave." - -The two exchanged looks, and Dave impulsively reached out his hand and -pressed Freddy's knee. - -"Neither of us will be returning to port if things go all wrong, -Freddy," he said in a steady voice. "We're armed, and if the Navy and -Fleet Air Arm lads don't show up in time, then you and I'll fight the -whole lot of them alone ... and keep on fighting to the end. Now, pull -up your socks, my lad, and stop thinking crazy things. In another ten -minutes we should be taking our first look at her. Hang on, now. We're -going to be tossed around a bit, but not as much as before. I'm going -to climb up through to the top instead of barging right through to the -outside. We'll miss the bad part, I hope." - -With a nod for emphasis, Dave gave the Catalina's engines full throttle -and steepened his climb up through the comparatively calm area in the -center of the storm. Near the top, at an altitude of some fourteen -thousand feet, they ran into some rough air. The flying boat bucked -and quivered and threatened to fall off on one wing and plunged down. -There was a real pilot at the controls, though. An ace pilot, and he -fought the mad actions of the plane tooth and nail. And he won! Engines -laboring, due to the excess strain, the flying boat finally prop clawed -up through the last of the storm clouds and into a world flooded with -golden sunlight. - -"That's the nice girl!" Dave cried and affectionately patted the -controls with one hand. "Manners and Otis weren't shooting any line -when they said you were good. You are, and plenty more!" - -"Good grief!" Freddy gasped. "Have we actually been down in that stuff?" - -Dave turned his head to see Freddy peering downward out the -compartment window. He took a look, himself, and unconsciously gulped -and swallowed hard. Below was an angry mass of boiling black cloud. -It seemed to extend to the four horizons and completely blot out the -waters of the North Atlantic underneath. A whirling black mass that -changed to brown, then grey, then an eerie purple streaked with lacy -white. And then black to a turbulent, seething black mass again. - -"Sweet tripe!" Dave breathed in awe. "And the wings are still on? -Freddy, don't put that storm in your report, if you ever write one. -Nobody would believe you. And you couldn't blame them. Well, we're -out of it and above, anyway. So three cheers for us.... I mean, this -Catalina. Now, to get more altitude and start eye hunting for that -raider. Boy, if our good luck will only continue to hold out." - -"It's got to, and it's going to!" Freddy said firmly. "Just don't give -it another thought. Just skin your eyes and I'll skin mine. And I'll -bet you five pounds I spot her first." - -"A bet!" Dave shouted happily and swung the Catalina around toward the -west. "I know I'm going to lose, though. Heck, with those sharp eyes -you've got, you could read tomorrow's newspaper from here! And I don't -mean maybe!" - -After that the two youths lapsed into silence, and each bent forward -and eagerly fixed his gaze on the western rim of the savage storm and -the rain blurred stretches of the Atlantic they could see far beyond. -Their spirits were high, and their hearts were light. The job was still -to be done. The task was still to be accomplished, yet somehow they -felt they had reached the home stretch, and that their goal was almost -in sight. - -It was a wonderful feeling that filled their fighting hearts and -tingled their blood, but somewhere up on high the gods of war shrilled -in high glee, for they knew something that neither Dave Dawson or -Freddy Farmer or so much as even dreamed. The war gods knew that death -was close to those two R.A.F. aces. Close, real close. The matter of -only a few feet. And even as they strained their eyes for their very -first glimpse of the Atlantic raider, death moved one step closer, and -another, and another.... - - - - -CHAPTER FOURTEEN - -_Sky Doom_ - - -Angry black storm clouds swept far to the roar of the Consolidated -Catalina flying boat. Brilliant sunshine bathed the craft in its warm -glow from the hull nose clear back to the tail, and from wingtip to -wingtip. Below and just ahead heaving seas caused by the passing storm -were slowly subsiding. Patches of white foam were fast disappearing; -dissolving into thin air under the steady rays of the sun. - -"It should be soon, Dave," Freddy presently broke the silence in a -strained voice. "And if it isn't, I swear I'll blessed well blow my -topper!" - -"Keep your shirt on, pal," Dave grunted good-naturedly. "We can travel -plenty fast, remember. That raider is in the water, not in the air -with wings. It'll take time for her to get clear. How about trying a -check on her?" - -"I did just a moment ago," the English youth replied. "The signals were -clear as a bell. She's traveling under forced draft, and her commander -begged me not to lose touch with the convoy. He also wanted to know if -British navy boats and aircraft were escorting the convoy." - -"And you told him?" Dave murmured. - -"Same as the first message I tried to get through to him, of course," -Freddy said in a slightly hurt tone. "No escorting aircraft as yet, as -the convoy hasn't reached the rendezvous point. And that there're only -two Corvettes leading the merchant ships." - -"Beautiful, if he only swallows it, which I guess he's done," Dave said -with a chuckle. "Boy, what a nice surprise that guy's going to get! He -figures that he's going to sneak up on the unprotected rear of that -convoy and go through it like hot coals through snow. Instead, though, -he's going to plow right into a mess of screaming shells from British -navy guns, and depth charges, and bombs, and everything else. If only -they can ring those U-boats before they duck down deep and skip away." - -"The boys of the Fleet Air Arm will take care of that," Freddy said -confidently. "They'll be up aloft, and they'll spot the raider long -before she spots them. They'll give the range to the gunners on the -ships, and then dive bomb the U-boats before they hardly have time to -stick their noses under." - -"Well, you sure make it listen good," Dave grinned. "And I'm keeping my -fingers crossed that you're right. _Eureka!_ Pay me the five pounds, -Freddy! Look off down there. Just to the left of that patch of cloud -scud. It's a ship. It's our raider, Freddy! See? See? Her U-boats are -all on the surface. See those globs of grey in fan shape formation a -quarter of a mile astern of her. Freddy! That's her, and no kidding -about it!" - -The English youth didn't utter a sound. He hunched forward and sighted -along Dave's trembling pointed finger. Then he saw her, too. Saw the -wolf-pack of U-boats running at top speed on the surface astern of the -raider. Smoke from the raider's single funnel was streaming back low -over the stern of the craft. A clear indication that she was getting -every ounce of drive out of her propellers. She was low in the water -and rather than ride up over each roller, her sharp bow cut through -it like a knife and sent sheets of frothing water mounting high over -her forecastle. A ship of speed, and deadly fighting power, yet ugly -and repulsive looking even though you did not know of the mission of -murdering destruction on which she was bent. - -"And there you are, you dirty sea rat!" Dave grated through clenched -teeth. "Think you're on your way to hurt England, eh? Well, you've got -another...." - -_Crack!_ - -The bark of the gun was like the world exploding apart to Dave and -Freddy. And even as the sharp sound came to their ears they both saw -the tiny hole and mass of cracks that appeared as though by magic in -the forward window. For a brief instant they both stared at it as -though hypnotized. Then as one man they whirled around in their seats -and gaped aft. - -If the bark of a gun and a bullet hole in the forward window surprised -them, then sight of the figure clutching the gun stunned them -completely. He wore the uniform of an R.A.F. Flying Officer, but the -uniform was splotched with dirt, and grease, and oil. He wore no cap -and his hair dangled down over his forehead. On the right cheek of his -not too bad looking face was an ugly gash that ran straight up and -down. A few tiny drops of blood seeped out the lower end and dribbled -down to the line of his jaw and dropped off to stain the front of his -tunic. Apparently he had stowed away in an aft compartment of the -plane. - -Ten thousand exclamations surged up to Dave's lips but for the life -of him he could not speak a word. His throat was bone dry, and his -tongue was as big as a baseball bat in his mouth. It was the same -with Freddy Farmer, and it seemed almost to be the same with the man -holding the gun, for he said not a word either. He simply stood braced -on the cat-walk leading aft, a cruel twist to his lips, a burning look -of hatred in his eyes, and the Luger in his hand held rock steady and -unwavering. - -And then sound exploded from Dave Dawson's lips. - -"_Baron von Khole!_" he cried. - -The man with the gun stiffened slightly. Startled surprise and -annoyance flashed across his face. Then suddenly he relaxed, smiled -tight lipped, and made a short little bow from the waist. - -"But, of course," he said in perfect English, as though talking to -himself. "That swine, Manners, must have spoken to you. Anyway, you are -correct, my young friend. I don't mind admitting it, _now_!" - -"And we first met you as Steffins!" Freddy cried as he suddenly found -his own tongue. - -The German agent flecked a glance at the English youth and nodded -faintly. - -"Splendid!" he said with a chuckle. "You two children really aren't -fools, are you? You have brains, and you use them. Yes, that is true. I -met you as Steffins." - -"Steffins, the yellow belly!" Dave blurted out before he could cut off -the words. - -A cold deadly look leaped into the Nazi's eyes, and his finger crooked -about the Luger's trigger seemed to tighten a hair. - -"You are asking for death sooner than I had planned it, little boy!" he -spat out harshly. "No one who desires to live even for a minute should -call me a coward. That little affair on the train was as I planned it." - -"And the strafing plane was some kind of a signal for you, too, wasn't -it?" Dave shot out the question. - -"_Donder and Blitzen!_" the German exclaimed in a whisper. "It is too -bad you do not belong to German Intelligence. Yes, we could make good -use of you. It was a signal, yes. And you can probably guess why. That -doddering fool, Manners, has probably told you the whole story." - -"I know what you mean!" Freddy cried. "That rotten business you were -doing in London. The diving plane was a signal that your hide-out in -London had been found, and that they were after you!" - -"My, my, never have I met such clever little boys!" von Khole said with -a marked sneer. "However, that's just about correct. It was a warning. -So that is why I did not report to Squadron Seventy-Four. But it wasn't -necessary, anyway. _Don't_, my young Dawson! Don't be a foolish child -and think you can move faster than I can shoot!" - -Dave had moved slightly in his seat, but he froze stiff as the Nazi's -gun muzzle bored straight at a point between his eyes. A smarting -retort rose to his lips, but common sense made him choke it back. So -long as they kept the German talking, so long would they have the -chance to do something about their predicament. _Predicament?_ That -was indeed putting it mildly. Not since that day in war blasted France -when he and Freddy had first met had they been in such a tight corner -as now.[3] And never had death been so close and so certain. No, their -only hope was to stall for time. For while there is time there is hope, -and while there is hope there is life. - -[Footnote 3: _Dave Dawson at Dunkirk._] - -"So you didn't report to Plymouth Base, eh?" he murmured and forced a -puzzled note into his voice. "Then how in the world were you able to -steal that Fairey Swordfish plane and follow us down to that rendezvous -area for the raider and her wolf-pack of U-boats? You sure must have -taken plenty of chances." - -"Yes, you certainly must have!" Freddy cried eagerly and twitched in -his seat. "Ouch, my elbow! But tell us, von Khole. How in the world did -you manage that?" - -The German's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but when he saw the eager -and excited looks on the boys' faces he relaxed and smirked in triumph. -He drew himself up straight but didn't take the gun off them for a -single instant. - -"There is nothing too difficult for Baron von Khole!" he cried in a -loud voice and thumped his chest with his free hand. "It was nothing, -that little bit at Plymouth. It was so simple. I merely made myself up -as a mechanic and walked in through the main gates and past the stupid -guards. A question here and there, and I learned of a plane that was -going to be tested. I hid in the hangar and took care of the pilot when -he arrived! I saw you two little ones take off. Of course I already -knew the contents of your sealed orders, and I had made arrangements -for the raider and her U-boats to be elsewhere. However, I had decided -that Manners should be made to realize what a fool he was to think he -could outwit us Germans. So I arranged for one U-boat to remain. A -single U-boat to remain and sink the very first British warship that -came to the spot. And so...." - -"And so that idea fell flat," Dave interrupted with a grim nod. - -Von Khole shrugged. - -"You were lucky," he grunted. "And the U-boat's commander was a fool -to come to the surface before you were in the water. But it does not -matter, now. Your precious Air Marshal Manners knows what a fool he -made of himself. And by the by, you two owe me your thanks. I could -have killed you very easily, you know. But we Germans do not like to -make war on mere boys ... unless we are forced to." - -The deadly undernote of the last sent a chill cutting straight through -Dave's heart. Von Khole didn't have to write him a letter to explain -that the moment to "make war on mere boys" _had now arrived_! - -He covered up his inner feelings however with a beautiful Bronx cheer. - -"Says you, von Khole!" he jeered. "You owe us that kind of a vote of -thanks. I had you in my sights cold, and you know darn well I did. I -could have shot the pants right off you, and with both eyes shut, too." - -"And you didn't?" the German echoed in mock surprise. "How strange! Or -perhaps it was that your guns jammed at that very crucial moment, eh? I -have heard that sort of explanation many times." - -"It was my fault!" Freddy Farmer blurted out, and moved some more in -his seat. "I was the one who stopped him. And I was a blasted fool for -doing it, I can tell you. Rubbish to what you think! Dawson could have -shot you down as easy as pie." - -Von Khole nodded his head in mock patience. - -"Well, well, what a shame!" he sighed. "And what a shame, my young -Dawson, we'll never have another chance to see who is the better pilot. -Yes, too bad, but one cannot expect everything in war, you know." - -As the Nazi finished the last he leaned forward slightly and shot a -quick glance down over the bow of the hull. Regardless of orders not to -move, Dave turned his head and took a look himself. His heart leaped up -into his throat when he saw that the raider had altered her course, and -with her wolf-pack of U-boats in tow was steaming at full draft _due -north_! He turned back and shot a quizzical look at von Khole. The -German accepted the look with a smile and a nod. - -"Yes, your little game is over, my young ones," he said. "There is -work, great work for that raider to perform, and so she is hurrying on -her way." - -"What's that?" Freddy cried and spun front in his own seat to look. -"Good grief, it can't be! What made that raider change her course? She -headed directly for...!" - -The English youth choked himself off and turned back to stare wide eyed -at von Khole. The Nazi laughed out loud at the horror and misery on -Freddy's face. - -"Did you think this was the only airplane in the world?" he cried in a -taunting voice. "Do you think all German pilots are asleep? _Himmel!_ -What fools to even hope you could be successful! What dunces to even -think you could outwit me, Baron von Khole. Mere children! Bah!" - -The Nazi agent made as though to spit as he spoke the last, and his -whole face flamed red with withering scorn and contempt. A thousand -cannons began booming in Dave's brain. He trembled from head to foot -with the furious desire to leap at von Khole, and the heck with the -Luger pointed his way. But with all his raging fury he still retained -his common sense. And so he stayed right where he was. - -"I get it," he said suddenly. "Your scouting planes have known the -raider's position all along, huh?" - -"But naturally," the German said. "And the way that ship is now headed -means that _our aircraft have sighted your precious convoy and have -communicated its position to the raider_! True, you contacted her -first. I suspected that you probably would, but I didn't care. I -decided to wait until you had actually sighted her and then put an end -to your little game. From this moment on she will receive the true -location and course of the convoy. She will close in and strike at the -proper moment. The raider, her U-boats, and our long range bombers. -It will be a great victory for Der Fuehrer, and a crushing blow to -your doomed England. _Himmel!_ Do you think I would have stayed hidden -aboard this flying boat listening to you two children jabber about the -British Fleet units and the wonderful things they were going to do, if -I did not know for certain that this moment of triumph would arrive? -But of course not. I only wish I could see the face of your naval ship -commanders as they wait _and wait_ for a raider to come sailing into -their gun range. A raider that will be hundreds of miles away, and her -work well done, before they even start combing the ocean!" - -The Nazi was almost screaming by the time he finally came to a pause. -Dave, looking at his flushed face, spittle drooling mouth, and popping -eyes, knew that he was not looking at just one man but at a living -symbol of the whole rotten to the core Nazi breed. Just as Air Marshal -Manners had said, "Clever, cunning, and a genius at his work, but a -black hearted, ruthless murderer." - -"Your raider will not even get in sight of that convoy!" Freddy cried, -his face white and strained. "It's well guarded. I can assure you of -that." - -"Now, can you, my little fellow?" von Khole sneered at him. "You are -completely wrong. Perhaps you do not know it, but you _are_! Until -the rendezvous point is reached, only two Corvettes are guarding that -convoy. That is another stupid blunder on the part of your willy-nilly -superiors. They decided to let the convoy come across with but two -Corvettes to protect her until close off shore, instead of sending out -naval ships to a rendezvous far at sea. But, no. They decided to spread -their navy ships about the ocean and trap our powerful raider and her -U-boats. Clever, they thought. Fool the Germans completely. Ah, yes! -They thought it was a wonderful idea. Well, you see what a wonderful -idea it turned out to be? Long before the convoy reaches the rendezvous -point with your Catalinas and your destroyers it will be at the bottom -of the Atlantic. Every ship. _All of them!_" - -For a second Dave thought Freddy was going to hurl himself right out of -the seat and lunge for the Nazi's throat. Instead, the English youth -suddenly threw back his head and roared with laughter. Von Khole's face -went dark, a scowl creased his brows, and a puzzled glint came into his -eyes. - -"So, you laugh when your countrymen are about to die?" he snarled as -Freddy subsided a little. - -"_My_ countrymen die?" Freddy shot at him. "Why, you balmy Jerry, if -they do, it will be from laughing. Laughing at you, and your blessed -Fuehrer, at the whole lot of you silly Nazis. Shall we tell him, Dave?" - -Freddy looked at Dave and winked the eye turned away from von Khole. -Dave had no idea what the act was about, but he played up to it -instantly. He shrugged and made a little gesture with his hands. - -"Why bother?" he grunted. "Let him find out for himself." - -Freddy pursed his lips, half turned and gave von Khole an accusing look. - -"I say, let's stop playing with this stupid game," Freddy said. "I -jolly well fancy you know all about it. Good grief, man, you _must_ -know if you're as clever as they say you are." - -"I think you are talking in riddles," the Nazi said in a wary tone. -"And I do not like riddles. What is this interesting thing you feel -positive I should know?" - -Freddy gave an exasperated shake of his head. - -"The convoy, of course!" he snapped. "Its arrival! What else, my dear -fellow?" - -"Arrival?" von Khole echoed in a harsh voice. - -"Certainly!" Freddy snapped at him again. "It docked at English ports -early last night. All this business is simply an attempt to remove your -wonder raider and her school of tin fish out of this blasted war once -and for all." - -"You little lying swine!" the German hissed as his eyes clouded up with -thunder heads of berserk rage. "Do you think I'd believe that for an -instant? No, my little boy. Your precious convoy has not made port, -yet. And it never will! I can see that you have learned some things -from your American friend, Dawson, here. He has taught you how to -bluff. But I am one you cannot bluff." - -"Okay, have it your way," Dave said, catching on to Freddy's effort to -stall for time, and keep stalling. "You know your own codes, don't you? -Your aircraft codes?" - -"But naturally," the German said. "What of it?" - -Dave lifted his hand enough to indicate the main radio fitted to its -panel in front of Freddy Farmer's seat. - -"Then get to work on that thing, and check," Dave said in a defiant -tone. "Call your scouting aircraft and find out if they've spotted a -big convoy. Yes, I said _big_ convoy. Go on! Contact them and find out -how many ships there are in the convoy _you think_ that raider's headed -toward. Go on, I dare you!" - -Baron von Khole raked Dave's face with his eyes as though he were -attempting to look right into the brain and read the truth there. Dave -returned his stare and grinned a challenge. - -"Farmer and I know that we're all washed up, von Khole," he said. "You -beat us to the punch before we could guide the raider to within range -of the British warships. Okay, you win that one. But if you think -there's any big convoy waiting to be picked off, you're all wet. And I -mean, all wet!" - -The German continued to glare at them out of half closed eyes, and Dave -kept the taunting grin on his face though his heart was pounding like -a trip hammer against his ribs. Perhaps von Khole's next move would -be the break that he and Freddy needed so desperately. If the German -took up the challenge and bent forward to take the head phones from -Freddy and use the radio the movement would bring him close. Please, -God, close enough to make a wild grab for that Luger. It was their only -chance. To overpower von Khole and get back on the job. The raider and -her U-boats were moving northward fast. She had to be stopped. She -_had_ to be stopped! Please, God, make von Khole move closer ... move -just a couple of feet closer! - - - - -CHAPTER FIFTEEN - -_High Adventure_ - - -One, two, three seconds ticked by as Dave kept his eyes locked with von -Khole's. A conglomeration of expressions flitted across the man's face. -Four, five, six seconds! Anger, wonder, suspicion, and scorn showed -in the German's face. He made as though to move, checked himself, and -remained where he was. Seven, eight, nine seconds! - -And then Dave wanted to weep with rage. Von Khole smiled and shook his -head. - -"No, my little fools!" he said with a dry chuckle. "I am not as stupid -as that. You would like to grab for this gun, eh, as I reached for the -radio? Bah! I can see the desire in your faces. But that is not why I -know you lie. You, my little Farmer! Your bluff was almost convincing. -Perhaps it even would have convinced me if you had not made that slip -of the tongue when you first saw that the raider was heading north. Ah, -yes! You were about to say she was heading directly for the convoy, -when you cut yourself off. Your radio? I shall have plenty of time to -use it later. Right now it amuses me to see the misery and the defeat -in your faces." - -As the German stopped talking a strange sensation began to ripple -through Dave. It was as though something were definitely wrong with the -picture. It was as though von Khole were hesitating for some mysterious -reason. As though he wanted to act but couldn't make up his mind -whether to act or not. Dave knew that the Nazi intended to rid himself -of them both. He was positive that von Khole had a bullet for each of -them in that Luger held steady in his hand. Yet the man seemed in no -hurry to shoot. Instead he was waiting. Why? Waiting for what? Dave -stared hard at the Nazi's face but there was absolutely nothing there -to give him an inkling of what was going on in the brain behind it. - -Suddenly Dave thought of the two shots that had been fired in the dark -back at the Lands End Base. Two shots that sounded as though they had -come from a rifle fitted with a silencer. Had that been the case, or -had shooting across water given him that impression? And, also, he and -Freddy had found the hull door of the Catalina swung wide open. A split -second later he was sure he knew the truth about that incident. - -"You fired those shots at us from the mooring basin!" he blurted out. -"You were already in this flying boat, and you fired from inside -through the open hull door so that the flash would not be seen ashore!" - -"Splendid, splendid!" von Khole cried. Then with an annoyed toss of -his head, "And I am ashamed of myself. I am a perfect shot, but I was -not last night. I missed you both completely. However, the darkness -made accurate shooting impossible. Too bad I missed. It would have been -quite a shock for your wonderful Air Marshal Manners to find you two -dead, and this Catalina flying boat stolen _anyway_!" - -"You certainly don't like that guy, do you?" Dave said to keep the Nazi -talking. - -"The swine has caused me much trouble!" von Khole bit off savagely. -"But I will have plenty of time to deal with him when this little -affair is finished." - -As the German spoke the words his eyes left Dave's face for a brief -instant and he shot a scowling glance at the radio panel. That glance -made Dave's heart loop over. Was the radio the reason why von Khole was -hesitating in pulling the Luger's trigger, and waiting? If so, why? -Dave wracked his brain for an answer to that one, but there was none to -be found. - -"How the heck did you know we were going to use this Catalina?" he -asked quickly as a sudden look of anger leaped into the Nazi's eyes. -"And as far as that goes, how in thunder did you know we were at Lands -End Base? Of course you were in that Messerschmitt that tried to trail -us?" - -"Yes, I was in that plane," von Khole said absently. - -"But that was a Nazi plane!" Freddy exclaimed. "And.... Wait! I get -it! You flew that Fairey Swordfish to occupied France and returned in -a Messerschmitt to trail Air Marshal Manners down from London. You had -got word he was heading for Plymouth?" - -"Correct!" von Khole snapped. "I am informed of everything as soon as -it happens. We intercepted your aircraft carrier's message to Manners -saying that you two had been picked up. I decided to remove the real -menace to my future plans, Air Marshal Manners! However, he reached -Plymouth before I could meet him in the air. Too bad. However, there -is tomorrow, and the next day, and lots of days after that. I have -promised myself that Air Marshal Manners shall feel my bullets cutting -into his swine hide. And I do not break, a promise to myself!" - -"But I lost you cold as we were returning to London!" Dave said with -a puzzled frown. "And, Mister, we darn near washed each other out -in those clouds. Another foot the wrong way and it would have been -curtains for the lot of us. Parachutes wouldn't have done any of us -any good with those two ships smacking each other at that speed. But -it wasn't until _after_ that that Manners ordered me to head for Lands -End. I said you maybe had cat's eyes, and you certainly must have had -them then. Did you actually trail us to Lands End Base?" - -The sudden beam of vanity that lighted up von Khole's face sent a warm -glow of new hope surging through Dave. If he could only keep the Nazi -talking for a little longer. If he only could! A wild, crazy plan had -come into his head all of a sudden. There was just about one chance -in six billion that he could carry it out successfully. But the odds -against him didn't matter. It was a chance, and that was the all -important thing. But he must keep von Khole talking on. Praise the -dirty rat. Flatter him! Do anything just to keep him talking! - -"No kidding?" Dave pressed his question in an awed tone. "Did you -really and truly trail us down to Lands End Base?" - -The German laughed softly and shook his head and gestured with his free -hand, palm upward. - -"No, because I didn't have to," he said. "I have brains, and so I -simply used them. I realized that Manners must know I was in the -Messerschmitt. I realized that he would of course change his course, -and not head for London. Then where would he head? Back to Plymouth? -No. Then where? It was obvious that he would head for another Coastal -Command Base. That he would head in the opposite direction from London. -And that would be? Toward Southampton, of course. So I flew in that -direction, myself, and circled about until I saw your plane. And when I -saw that you were heading west, the answer was simple. Where else but -Lands End? So I went to Lands End, myself!" - -"In a Nazi Messerschmitt?" Freddy Farmer gasped before he could check -himself. - -Von Khole gave him a reproachful look, and shook his head sadly from -side to side. - -"You stupid English!" he groaned. "You do not have the imagination -of a fly. But of course not. I stayed in the clouds for a bit longer -and worked back over land between Southampton and Lands End. Then I -pointed my plane northward with the controls set for level flight, and -jumped with my parachute. By the time I reached earth the Messerschmitt -was many miles away. And a time bomb in it eventually blew it into -a million pieces so that it would never be recognized for what it -really was. Soldiers rushed me when I landed, but of course I carry -identification papers that nobody would ever question. I told them that -my plane had caught fire in the air and that I had been forced to jump. -I even told them I was on a special courier mission, and...." - -The German paused to laugh heartily. - -"What stupid swine, the English!" he cried. "Be polite, be the -gentleman, and they will believe anything you say. The soldiers took -me to their commanding officer where I repeated my story. He believed -me, also. And he actually loaned me his car in which to continue my -journey. _Himmel!_ After the war I shall write a book on the English. -It will be the funniest thing ever written. Anyway, I abandoned the -car just before I reached Lands End, and made the rest of the way on -foot. The field guards saluted me as I walked past them, and that was -all there was to it. And now...." - -"Not quite all, von Khole," Dave spoke up quickly. "There's still the -most mysterious part of it all that I can't figure. I mean, how in heck -did you find out that Farmer and I were going to steal this plane? Or -maybe you just watched us, and guessed, huh? That sure was a bit of -smart guessing, is all I can say." - -"Quite!" Freddy echoed. "It's almost unbelievable!" - -The Nazi spy snorted in scorn. - -"Guess?" he said sharply. "Of course not. I saw Manners talking to you -on that strip of sandy beach. I simply listened to what he told you, -and learned everything." - -"You listened?" Dave cried. "Hey! Don't try to stuff that one down my -throat. There wasn't anybody within two hundred yards of us. And don't -say that Manners bellowed at us through a megaphone, because that's -out, too. What do you mean, listened?" - -"Not with my ears, with my eyes, my simple one!" the Nazi clipped at -him. "For years I have been an expert lip reader. I hid in the shore -grass a good quarter of a mile from where you sat, trained a powerful -pair of binoculars on Manners' face and read every word he spoke to -you. After that I simply watched you two every instant of the time. -_Himmel!_ It was child's play compared to lots of other tasks I have -accomplished for my Fatherland." - -"Well, I'll be cow-kicked!" Dave breathed in frank admiration. -"Lip-read every word Air Marshal spoke! Boy oh boy! Did we have two -strikes on us before we even got started!" - -"What?" von Khole echoed with a puzzled frown. "Two strikes? You speak -of labor trouble in the United States?" - -"No," Dave said. Then with a grin, "Brooklyn Dodger trouble when Ernie -White of the St. Louis Cards is pitching against them. But skip it. -What happened to your face? Did you run into a door that wasn't shut?" - -Baron von Khole scowled and impulsively reached up and touched his cut -cheek with his free hand. It was not until then that Dave saw that the -German had a beautiful goose egg on the left side of his head. - -"I can thank you for that!" the German said sharply. "You and this -cursed plane that bucks like a wild horse. About two hours after your -take-off a movement of the plane hurled me out of my hiding place aft -and I struck my head on one of the bracing girders, and a bolt end cut -my cheek. But it is nothing." - -A glimmer of truth suddenly flashed through Dave's brain. - -"Yes, I remember that tough air pocket we smacked into," he said with -an understanding nod. "It bounced Farmer and me around plenty, too. It -was just before we sighted those signal lights of some craft down on -the water." - -The German seemed to look blank for the tiniest part of a split second. -Then he nodded his head vigorously. - -"Yes, it was shortly before then," he said. "But it's nothing. And now, -my little boys, we have done enough talking, you and I. There is more -for me to do, and unfortunately for you, you are in my way. I cannot -waste any more time. What happens, must happen." - -Dave looked blank, but his brain was clicking over at lightning like -speed. The truth, and he was sure it was the truth, was as clear as -high noon in his brain. Yes, he knew, now, why von Khole had hesitated -using the Luger, and had waited, casting expectant glances at the -radio every now and then. The reason was because the Nazi was worried. -Worried about what messages Dave and Freddy had sent and received -_while Baron von Khole was out cold from the crack he received on his -head_. And the man _had_ been knocked unconscious. Dave knew that for a -certainty. He knew it, because he had lied about sighting signal lights -from a boat below them. _There hadn't been any signal lights!_ They -hadn't even sighted a boat! - -Yes, von Khole had delayed action because he was worried. Ten to one -the man had only gained consciousness when the Catalina was climbing -up out of the storm to make eye contact with the raider. He didn't -know what had happened during the hours he was unconscious. He knew, -of course, that radio contact had been made with the raider, but who -else had Freddy contacted over the ether waves? British planes? British -Navy ships? The Nazi didn't know. He had no way of knowing. So he had -delayed and waited, hoping that the radio might start crackling, and he -could snatch the phones from Freddy Farmer and perhaps gain an inkling -of what had transpired during his unconscious hours. - -However, the radio had remained silent, and the Nazi did not dare wait -any longer. Whatever his next move was in his devilish game, he had to -get on with it, and soon! - -The blood began to pound at Dave's temples, and for one awful instant -every muscle and nerve in his body seemed to turn into water. He -wanted to look at Freddy, but he didn't dare take his eyes off Baron -von Khole's face. Gone was the smirk, the scorn, and the look of -delighted triumph from the German's face. It had become set, hard and -cruel, and the light of a born killer glowed in his eyes. Dave knew -that it was only a matter of split seconds. Perhaps not even that -length of time. He tried to speak, but the horrible moment froze his -tongue to the roof of his mouth. Then with desperate effort he tore -his eyes from von Khole's face and shot a quick glance out the side -compartment window. - -"Planes coming!" he cried in a hoarse voice. - -Von Khole stiffened and half turned his head. In that infinitesimal -split second of time Dave Dawson staked his life, Freddy's life, -and the success or complete failure of their mission, on a single -lightning-like action. With every ounce of his strength he shoved -forward the foot he had eased up to rest against the control column of -the plane. The mighty effort rammed the column forward, and sent the -craft lurching down by the nose. As a result the tail surged upward and -the cat-walk practically fell away from under von Khole's feet. - -The German half toppled over backwards and then seemed to rise right -straight up in the air. A horrible curse of rage spilled from his lips, -and the Luger in his hand barked three times. His backward movement -however had tilted the gun barrel upward and all three bullets ripped -harmlessly through the roof of the compartment. Then the German crashed -the top of his head against the strong cross brace girder of the top -section of the fuselage. Even above the howl of the engines Dave heard -the sickening crunching sound. Baron von Khole's eyes went glassy. Then -they closed shut, and he tumbled down on the cat-walk, limp and still -as a wet dish rag. - -"At him, Freddy!" Dave screamed and hurled himself backward out of his -seat. - - - - -CHAPTER SIXTEEN - -_Atlantic Madness_ - - -Dave's cry to Freddy Farmer was just a waste of breath, for the English -youth was already out of his seat with all the speed of a bullet -leaving the muzzle of a gun. And it was also a waste of effort for -either of them to dive down on the limp Baron von Khole. The German was -completely unconscious and the deep bleeding cut in the top of his head -made by contact with the fuselage girder was proof positive that he -would remain unconscious for a long, long time to come. Just the same, -the two fighting aces of the Royal Air Force took no chances. They took -the Luger from von Khole's limp fingers, and then trussed him up tight -with a length of spare mooring line. - -"Beautiful, Dave!" Freddy panted as they got to their feet. "I never -dreamed you had that in mind. I saw you inching your foot up but it -didn't even dawn on me that you were trying to get it braced against -the control column so that you could shove the nose down and spill him -off his feet." - -"Thank goodness it didn't even dawn on von Khole, what I was up to," -Dave said with a big sigh. "But just a tap would have laid him out -cold. He was still a bit punch drunk from that other crack he got on -his dome." - -"And to think he's been aboard and hiding aft all the time we've been -in the air!" Freddy said in a slightly shaky voice. "Good grief, it -gives a chap the creeps! I...." - -"Let it ride, and stop thinking about it!" Dave snapped and vaulted -back into the pilot's seat. "Get going on that radio, and see if we can -get that raider to change her course. If we can't, then there's just -one thing left for us to do." - -Freddy Farmer didn't bother to ask what that was. He leaped into the -co-pilot's seat and went hammer and tongs at the radio. Dave hauled the -Catalina out of the dive into which he had kicked her with his foot, -and climbed her up and around in the direction of the steaming raider -and her flock of U-boats. Every second the raider kept on steaming -northward he was filled with a great desire to yell at Freddy for -speed, and more speed. But he knew that the English youth was doing his -level best to reestablish contact by radio. - -And then, when perhaps a year or two had dragged by, Dave suddenly -looked out the window on Freddy's side of the compartment, sat up -straight and yelled. - -"Too late, now, Freddy!" he bellowed and rapped his pal on the arm with -his free hand. "She won't listen to us, now. There's planes coming, and -they're Nazis. Get aft to the tail gun. Action coming up, and coming up -fast!" - -Freddy Farmer jerked up his head, tore off the earphones and shot a -look out the window. In practically a continuation of the general -movement he started scrambling out of the seat. - -"It's going to be hot, Dave!" he shouted, but there was no note of fear -in his voice. "Hot as blazes. But what about the raider? We can't let -her get away from us! Blast von Khole from breaking into our party. The -Fleet planes and...." - -"Skip it!" Dave barked. "Too late for that stuff, now. It's up to us, -Freddy. Keep them off our tail as long as you can. I'm going down and -dump our eggs on that raider. If we can't sink her maybe we can at -least cripple her. Get aft, pal, and give the bums jumping blue blazes -for the good old Royal Air Force!" - -Freddy Farmer hesitated a moment, snapped a quick glance at the raider -they were now fast overhauling, and then gripped Dave hard on the arm. - -"Right you are, old thing!" he shouted. "You plaster her, and I'll -jolly well plaster them! See you sometime, somewhere!" - -"I'll be there, pal!" Dave cried as Freddy ducked aft. - -Jerking his head front Dave fastened his gaze on the raider, shoved -the control column forward and sent the Catalina thundering down in a -long dive. Even before he had lost a couple of hundred feet of altitude -he heard the savage ear splitting chatter of many aerial machine guns -going into action. Their sound told him they were German guns. Then -an instant later he heard the sharper and louder chatter of Freddy -Farmer's guns giving answer. - -"With Freddy back there picking them off, we're as safe as in church!" -he muttered through set lips. "There isn't a guy in the whole Royal Air -Force who can shoot like Freddy. He...." - -_Br-r-r-r-at!_ - -The smack of a burst of bullets slapping against one of the compartment -windows cut off Dave's sentence as though with a knife. He swallowed -and instinctively ducked. - -"And there's some lug flying for Hitler who isn't so bad himself!" he -breathed and ruddered sharply to get out of the line of fire. - -As the movement took him around slightly he caught sight of the raging -ball of fire tumbling down out of the air toward the sea. He couldn't -tell the exact type of the plane, but he knew that it was German. -Freddy Farmer had scored first blood. - -"And that's only the beginning, you tramps!" he howled and ruddered -back toward the raider. "So why don't you guys get wise and go on home? -Freddy...." - -For the second time in as many minutes sound choked off the rest of -what Dave was about to say. This time it was not the crack or slap of -German aerial machine gun bullets. It was louder, and deeper, like the -earth trembling bark of a gigantic dog. And even as the thunderous -sound came to his ears he caught sight of the flame centered globs of -ugly black smoke that appeared just off the right wing. And a snap, -glance downward at the raider and her U-boats told him what he already -knew. The German boats had broken out their anti-aircraft guns and were -trying desperately to finish what the attacking long range German sea -raiding planes had started. - -The sky raking fire from below blasted Dave's last hope that they might -still be able to fool the raider. A slim, crazy hope in view of the -fact that those aboard the raider could most certainly see him roaring -down at them. However, he had clung to that hope, crazy as it was. -But now it was gone. Now it was a fight to the finish. German planes, -U-boats, and a heavily armed sea raider against a lone R.A.F. Catalina -flying boat of the Coastal Command manned by two stout hearted, -do-or-die youths still in their teens. - -"Okay, you've got the idea!" Dave shouted at the raider. "So here we -come with the old one-two punch." - -As the words rushed off his lips, Dave steepened his wing howling dive -slightly, then took one hand from the Dep control wheel and grabbed the -bomb release toggles especially fitted to the side of the compartment -so that the pilot could still release eggs in case the bombing officer -was killed during an action. One hand gripping the Dep wheel, and -the other gripping the bomb release toggles, he sent the Catalina -rocketing down lower and lower, straight through a sea of bursting, -roaring flame that rose up from the guns of the raider and the U-boats. - -Split seconds whipped by. He felt the Catalina buck and tremble as bits -of archie shell crashed into her. He heard the steady chatter of Freddy -Farmer's guns aft, and he saw two more balls of flame go tumbling -seaward off to his right. And then it seemed as though the hull nose -of the Catalina was going to smash right down into the black smoke -belching funnel of the raider. He was so close he could see the white -faces of the raider's crew crouched behind their guns and frantically -striving to bring their weapons to bear right on him. He even saw some -members of the crew banging away at him with machine guns, and even -rifles. - -He heard and saw all those things as in a dream. Then in the last -split second to spare he hauled the nose of the Catalina up out of -its mad dive. The instant it came up level and was rocketing forward -at terrific speed he yanked back a brace of bomb release toggles. No -sooner had he dropped his eggs than he pulled back on the Dep wheel -control, dropped the right wing slightly and went careening around and -up toward the sun flooded heavens. - -No sooner had he started up than his sharp eyes caught the flash of -German wings cutting in at him from an angle. His free hand flew to the -forward machine gun trigger button on the stick. He booted the Catalina -around a bit more at the same time, and then let go with his forward -guns. Through a blur he saw that the German craft was a Junkers Ju -88, one of the most deadly type of raiders Hitler was sending against -British convoys. It had both bomb power and great fire power as well. -It was nothing to fool around with, and Dave didn't waste time fooling. -He plastered the nose of the craft, and forced the pilot to turn away. -That was the German's fatal mistake. It gave Dave a belly shot, and he -took full advantage of the opportunity. He gave the Junkers everything. -And a split second later it was all over for the plane and its crew. -It exploded in a billion flaming pieces that seemed to go arching out -toward the four horizons. - -"My regards to Satan!" Dave howled at the top of his voice. "You'll be -seeing him before I do, and how!" - -That off his chest, Dave hauled the nose even higher and plowed -straight for a long range Focke-Wulf 187 twin engined job that was -trying to cut down under Freddy Farmer's withering fire from the tail -turret of the Catalina. That too was a bad maneuver on the part of -another one of Goering's little boys. Dave's slashing burst practically -cut the Focke-Wulf in two. It stopped dead in midair as though it had -smacked straight into an invisible brick wall. Then it buckled in the -middle, and started slowly spinning seaward. - -"Cheating on you, Freddy!" Dave shouted. "But the shot was too good to -pass up. I...." - -Dave stopped short as the whole sky seemed to suddenly turn into a -sea of blinding red, and orange, and yellow. The Catalina shook and -trembled as a thunderous blast of sound rushed in upon it from all -sides. For one horrible heart stopping second Dave thought that an -anti-aircraft shell from the raider or one of the U-boats below had -scored a direct hit on them and that the Catalina was going up in -flame. In the next instant he saw the truth; saw the mighty sheet -of flame off to the left that was sliding straight down to the sea -leaving behind a towering column of oily black smoke and flaming bits -of debris. A second look at it and his heart burst with pride. Freddy -hadn't even been paying any attention to the Focke-Wulf trying to get -in at him. Instead he had ignored it for bigger game. The largest and -most powerful of Hitler's aerial sea raiders. A mighty four engined -Focke-Wulf "Kurier." The so-called Flying Fortress of the Nazi Air -Force with tremendous bomb, and cannon, and machine gun fire power. -And Freddy Farmer had brought it down. Sent it hurtling down in flames -never to fly again in this war, or in this world. - -In spite of the showers of death that were still whining and howling -about the Catalina as it prop-clawed up for altitude, Dave threw back -his head and laughed. - -"And I thought _I_ was taking a Nazi away from under your nose, -Freddy!" he shouted aloud. "Heck! I should have realized that you -couldn't be bothered with small fry. What a man, what a man!" - -Nodding his head in vigorous emphasis, Dave cut out of his zoom, curved -around on wingtip to throw off the aim of another Focke-Wulf trying -to cut in at him, and snapped a glance down at the water. What he saw -brought a yell of wild joy to his lips. Flame and smoke were belching -up out of the raider's vitals amidships. And a bit astern of her two -U-boats were lunging helplessly in a whirlpool of frothy water. But his -joy was short lived. Though the raider had been hit, and was obviously -afire, her engines were still doing their work. She was still cutting -through the foam flecked rollers at top speed. Even as Dave realized -the truth the belching smoke and flame diminished considerably. The -raider's crew had got the bomb fire under control, and the raider was -still hurling tons of anti-aircraft steel skyward. - -At that moment Dave felt rather than saw movement at his side. He -snapped his head around a bit to see Freddy Farmer scramble over and -into the co-pilot's seat. The English youth's face was paper white but -there was a wild determined look in his eyes. - -"Rear gun ammo all gone!" he shouted before Dave could ask the -question. "There wasn't half enough aboard! What did they think we -might have to fight? A few training planes? It's up to you, Dave! You -hit her once. Now hit her again and finish the blighter, and be-darned -to these Jerry buzzards whizzing around us. Go on, Dave! Go on down and -get her good this time. It's our last chance. You'll never have time to -make a third bomb dive on her!" - -"Last chance!" Dave echoed and shoved the Catalina's nose almost down -to the vertical. "Last chance! And we'll make it final for that baby, -too!" - - - - -CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - -_Wings of Victory_ - - -As though the very air were greased the Catalina flying boat went -streaking down at the raider. Dave felt her tremble and vibrate from -hull nose to tail, and from wingtip to wingtip. He felt parts of -the plane let go. A brace girder or perhaps a strip of her fuselage -covering, but he didn't give it a second thought. This was the last -dive on the raider. This time he would release every bomb in the -special hull racks. This time it was the raider, or the Catalina, and -maybe both. - -"Nice day, isn't it?" he suddenly shouted inanely at Freddy. "Is that -shooting I hear?" - -"A beautiful day!" Freddy shouted back automatically. "Oh, my, no! -That's not shooting. Just some old geezer in the next room rattling -his evening paper. And I say, Dave, could we stop for a bite to eat? -I'm famished!" - -At that instant a shell from the raider's forward gun seemed to explode -right on the hull nose of the Catalina. There was a mighty roar of -sound, and a cloud of vivid red flame. Then the flying boat was down -through it and still going. - -"Like fish?" Dave yelled out. - -"Hate it!" Freddy cried and made a face. - -"Too bad!" Dave yelled. "Chances are that's all you're going to get, -pal. Fish, and all kinds!" - -"Right-o!" the English youth echoed. "But get that blasted raider, -first!" - -Freddy Farmer's remark ended the bit of by-play between them. The -raider was looming up large below the nose of their diving plane, and -the air all about them quivered and shuddered with a terrific bedlam of -sound. So great was the din, Dave could hardly hear the screaming howl -of the Catalina's over-revving engines. And although he held a thumb -jabbed against the trigger release on the Dep wheel he could not hear -his forward guns firing. He could only see the stabbing jets of flame -that spewed out from the nose and streaked down toward the raider. - -A mighty power dive straight down into a whole world exploding sound -and flames. Time ceased to exist. Time stood still. A hundred thousand -crazy, inane thoughts raced across Dave Dawson's brain, but they were -forgotten almost before they were registered on the screen of his mind. -And then suddenly the raider was once more directly under the nose. -Another instant and the Catalina would go hurtling in to its own doom. -In that last remaining instant Dave pulled out of the dive, roared -straight along the entire length of the raider and pounded down the -last load of the flying boat's bombs. And then like before he was once -again zooming up and away. - -This time, though, it was different. The American built flying boat -had taken a terrific beating from Nazi guns. It had taken enough -bullets and screaming fragments of anti-aircraft shells to break up -a half dozen planes. Yet it still held together. Still held together -and valiantly climbed upward, though it shook like rotten timber -under strain from nose to tail, and though both engines coughed and -sputtered, and threatened to quit cold in the very next second. Dave -could sense the flying boat failing in its mighty effort to keep on -going, and an icy hand closed over his heart as he wondered just how -long she would last. How long before she would break up and they would -go tumbling down into that inferno of gunfire below? - -As a matter of fact he felt as though a miracle had actually come to -pass. The miracle that Freddy and he still lived. The miracle that they -had been able to hold off the Nazi aircraft this long, and to have been -able to make that last do-or-die bomb dive on the raider. A Catalina -was not a bomb diver. That wasn't her job. But this old girl had proved -that she could tackle anything when necessary. The ship of ships, but -she was doomed. Doomed just as sure as there was the golden blue of the -heavens above and the raging fury of war below. - -"Did it, Dave, did it!" Freddy's voice suddenly screamed in his ears. -"Right on the topper this time. Look, she's heeling over! No, she's -coming back up on even keel. But she's really on fire this time, and -she's losing headway fast!" - -Even as the English youth screamed the words Dave was staring downward -at the raider. Though still plowing sluggishly forward, the raider -didn't look much like a surface ship any more. She looked little more -than a narrow stream of fire that bulged out slightly in the middle. -About her sides water boiled and foamed white. And in the next instant -there was a blast of red and a sheet of flame up toward the bow. The -raider seemed to stop dead and rear up by the prow. She settled back -almost immediately and continued to stagger onward like some wounded -beast of prey half lurching and half walking toward its hole. - -"The U-Boats!" Dave heard his own voice cry out hoarsely. "Look! -They're starting to scatter. They're quitting the raider cold. Running -away from her like so many rats. And we haven't any more bombs left. -Darn those rats! If only there were British planes around to give us a -hand. If only...." - -At that exact instant came the mighty blast of worlds colliding. Red -fire and clouds of smoke seemed to completely envelop Dave and blot out -all else. The Catalina lurched drunkenly off onto the left wing. In the -next instant it seemed to roll completely over. Instinct and instinct -alone caused Dave to grab the controls with both hands and fight to get -the craft back onto even keel. Yet, no matter which way he moved the -Dep wheel and control column, the Catalina continued to roll over like -a huge tired bird. - -Then, as though by magic, the red fire and the smoke cleared away, -and they both saw the jagged hole in the hull nose. Hole? There just -wasn't any hull nose left! And as Dave looked out to the left he saw -the left wingtip let go and go sailing off into oblivion. With a part -of its lifting surface gone, the Catalina began to lurch and stagger -crazily about in the air. No matter what Dave did with the controls it -just didn't seem to make any difference. - -"A direct hit on us!" he heard his own voice faintly. "The bums. They -had to get in one last lucky shot!" - -"The raider's stern gun!" came Freddy Farmer's voice through the -terrible din of sound that still raged on all sides. "I saw the flash -just before it hit us. We're sunk!" - -"We will be darn soon!" Dave panted and struggled with the controls to -counteract the flying boat's crazy maneuvers. - -However, for all the good it did him, he might just as well have -walked out on the wing and patched up the damaged tip. The Catalina -just wasn't flyable any more and she was flip flopping seaward at an -alarming rate. - -"Cold meat for those Jerry planes!" Dave said savagely. "They'll have -great sport picking us off like a helpless clay pigeon, now. Okay, do -your darnedest, you vultures. We got some of you first, and your raider -is junk ticketed for the bottom of the Atlantic. Go on and...." - -Dave cut himself off short, gasped and hunched forward to gape down at -the water. It looked as though a couple of dozen subterranean volcanoes -had let go and were belching their fury up to the surface of the -Atlantic. The area covered by the crippled raider and her wolf-pack of -U-boats was virtually alive with mounting columns of water and flame. -Even as Dave gaped downward the raider disappeared completely in a -mighty geyser of foaming water and flame and smoke. An instant later -when he saw it again the raider was broken in two pieces and plunging -down under the waves. - -"Dave, _the Fleet_!" Freddy shrilled and pounded him on the shoulder. -"They're shelling them. And look. Planes. _Our_ planes! From the Fleet -Air Arm. They're giving those U-boats everything. Just look, will you! -Nothing can live in that sea, now! We win, Dave. _We win!_" - -Not quite sure whether he was alive or dreaming, Dave stared down at -the holocaust of war being created on the surface of that part of the -Atlantic. Hundreds of shells were raining down to explode among the -fleeing U-boats and turn the waters into an oily froth. Shells from -British battleship guns still out of sight below the horizon. And -hundreds of bombs were dropping down upon the U-boat flotilla from the -planes of the Fleet Air Arm. Dave looked up at the sky filled with -British wings and could hardly believe his eyes. Flight after flight -of them had appeared as though by magic. As though the heavens had -split apart and the Fleet Air Arm ships had come tearing down through. -While the bombers concentrated on the U-boats below the escort fighters -tore into the Nazi planes swarming about the helpless Catalina and -practically shot them out of the sky with their withering bursts of -fire. In less than nothing flat, bombs were not only tumbling down into -the Atlantic, but Nazi planes as well. - -"_Our_ planes?" Dave shouted when he found his voice. "But how the heck -did they...?" - -He didn't have the chance to finish the question. At that instant a -lone remaining German plane wheeled in close and let fire at almost -point blank range at the stumbling Catalina. Dave saw it coming out -the corner of his eye, and sight and action were one for him. He let -go of the Dep wheel, lunged out and hooked Freddy about the neck and -then ducked forward and down. The compartment windows gave way like -tissue paper before the furious blast of bullets. A sound akin to that -of somebody tearing a strip off a tin roof filled Dave's ears as the -shower of bullets raked the instrument panels and turned the thing -into a shambles. - -"Hey, what the dickens!" came Freddy's choked cry as the youth -struggled to free himself from Dave's bear hug hold. - -Dave let go and straightened up. So did Freddy, and the English youth's -face turned from beet red to paper white as he saw the instrument panel. - -"Good grief!" he got out in a tight voice. "I'd have been punched full -of holes, Dave, if you hadn't grabbed...." - -A short sharp explosion to their left cut off Freddy Farmer's voice. -Almost instantly a spear of fire shot down across the shattered front -window. Then in the next split second there was an unearthly whine and -something glistening sliced right down through the anti-aircraft shell -blasted hull nose. Both boys turned their heads quickly to look, but -both knew instinctively what had happened. - -It was Dave who shouted the truth. - -"Port engine's exploded, and the prop blades have let go!" he cried. -"And the wing's on fire." - -"And we're too low to jump!" Freddy echoed. "Blast it! What more hard -luck is going to pick on us?" - -"We'll soon find out!" Dave yelled and hauled back on the control -column with every ounce of his strength. "One ocean coming up! Brace -yourself, Freddy, and be set to scramble out fast. She's so full of -holes she'll probably sink like a rock as soon as we touch. I'm going -to try and belly flop us in, but I can't guarantee a thing, pal!" - -Freddy Farmer made some reply to that, but Dave didn't catch what it -was. The blood was roaring in his head as he exerted the very last -ounce of strength to get the Catalina's shell blasted nose up so that -they would not crash head on into the water. It was like trying to -pull over the side of a building. His lungs felt ready to burst. His -arms felt ready to snap right out of the shoulder sockets. And a weird -conglomeration of colored stars danced and spun around before his eyes. -He couldn't see anything. He could only feel the heartbreaking sluggish -upward movement of the plane. - -He was positive that the nose was not coming up enough, and his heart -stood still in his chest as he waited for the sickening, terrifying -sound of the shell battered nose crashing straight into the water. -Then suddenly the compartment roof seemed to drop down to hit him a -stunning blow on the top of the head. He heard Freddy yell as though -from a thousand miles away. Then in the next instant unseen iron fists -pounded and pummeled his body from head to toe. He tried to hang onto -the Dep wheel for support but his hands were wrenched free. He had the -crazy sensation of sailing head over heels off into space. Then just -as suddenly all movement stopped, and for an instant his ears heard no -sound but that of gurgling water. - -Water! The very thought of the word cleared his brain. His head ceased -pounding and the dancing colored lights faded away from in front of his -eyes. He turned impulsively and saw Freddy Farmer sitting bolt upright, -blinking stupidly, and clutching a broken section of the radio panel -between his two hands. Dave reached out and shook him roughly by the -shoulder. - -"Drop it, Freddy!" he barked. "It came loose and the darn thing's no -life preserver. You okay?" - -The English youth stopped blinking and gaped down at the section -of panel he held in his hands as though it were some strange and -mysterious discovery. Then he shook himself and dropped the section of -panel into the water that was pouring onto the compartment floor. - -"I grabbed the panel for support," he choked out. "It must have come -free, and...." - -"And did!" Dave cut him off. "Now, out on the wing, pal. This thing's -going to be an express elevator headed down in darn short order, I'm -afraid. We've got to get out on the wing so's we can jump clear. Now, -up with you, Freddy!" - -The English youth scrambled up onto his seat, then wiggled out through -the compartment window and onto the forward hull. Bracing himself as -best he could, he reached back to give Dave a hand. The Yank started -out through the window, then suddenly checked himself and shook -Freddy's hand free. - -"Oh my gosh!" he cried. "Von Khole!" - -"Hey!" Freddy screamed. "Where the...?" - -By then Dave had ducked back into the compartment again. Freddy saw him -through the bullet and crash shattered window. Saw him plunge aft along -the cat-walk and then go right out of sight under a couple of feet of -water that was rising fast. A moment later Dave reappeared spouting sea -water and clutching the limp form of von Khole in his arms. He waded -forward along the cat-walk and hoisted the Nazi's head and shoulders up -through the window. - -"Catch hold, and pull him through, Freddy!" he shouted. "He's still -breathing." - -The English youth didn't bother to argue. He grabbed hold of the German -and pulled him through onto the forward hull hatch. A couple of moments -later and Dave was through the window and standing beside him. - -"Don't say it, Freddy," Dave growled. "I didn't do it to save his -rotten hide. He's a present for Manners. Besides, we couldn't let him -drown even if he is a Nazi. Here, give me a hand undoing these ropes. I -can keep him afloat better if his arms and legs are free." - -"Of all the crazy, balmy idiots!" Freddy growled, but there was a warm -glow in his eyes as he bent over to fumble with the water soaked knots. -"With the bus liable to sink like a rock any second, the blighter goes -fishing for a Nazi. Next time do it for me, but try and come up with -Adolf, himself. I ... Watch it, Dave! She's settling fast. Come on! Up -on the top center section of the wing. She may not go completely down -under, yet." - -Dave didn't waste breath making comment. His head was swimming and he -had hardly the strength left to move. Somehow, though, he and Freddy -managed to hoist the unconscious von Khole up onto the top center -section of the wing between the mangled engines, and then scrambled up -there themselves. No sooner were they up there than they stretched out -flat and panted for air, and fought back the waves of black oblivion -that tried to engulf them. - -The roar of aircraft engines came faintly to Dave's singing ears. He -turned his head as much as strength would allow and looked up through a -whirling mist at a brace of British planes circling around overhead. He -saw a hand waving from one of the planes, and he tried to raise his own -hand to wave back. But the strength just wasn't there. His hand fell -down on Baron von Khole's limp figure. He curled his fingers in water -soaked uniform cloth, and then the half sunken Catalina was lifted -skyward on the crest of a swell, and Dave had the crazy belief that he -was flying again. - -When he next opened his eyes it was to find himself in a hospital bunk. -There was a strange motion to the bunk. Then suddenly he knew that -he was in hospital bay aboard ship. He turned his head to see Freddy -Farmer in the next bunk. The English youth's eyes met his and they both -grinned broadly. Then Freddy Farmer heaved a deep sigh. - -"Well, thank goodness you've regained consciousness!" he exclaimed. -"Now, perhaps you'll shut up and not talk so much. Man, what a gabber! -I couldn't get a word in edgeways, and mind you _I_ was conscious -every minute after they took us aboard." - -"Talking?" Dave mumbled. "Me? What do you mean, took us aboard? Where -are we?" - -"Aboard the cruiser Hampden," Freddy replied. "She came up and lowered -a boat and took us off the Cat-boat just in time. But every blessed -minute you've been aboard you've done nothing but babble out all the -details of the show. Thank goodness a German ship didn't pick us up, is -all I can say!" - -Dave started to gulp a question, then saw Freddy Farmer look up and -grin toward the other side of his bed. He turned over to stare up into -the smiling face of Air Marshal Manners. - -"You, sir?" he gasped. "How did you get here?" - -"By plane, of course," the Air Ministry official said with a chuckle. -"Heard you two had done the job and had been saved. I couldn't wait for -you to come ashore. Flew out in a Cat-boat to give you two my blessing, -and all that sort of thing. Don't let Farmer pull your leg too much, -though. You didn't rave much in your sleep. Mostly about von Khole, -anyway. You...." - -"Hey, von Khole!" Dave yelped and sat up straight in his bunk before -anybody could stop him. "What happened to him? Last thing I remember I -had hold of him!" - -"And from what they tell me, here aboard," Manners said with a chuckle, -"it must have been quite a hold! Took two sailors to pry him loose -from you. But don't worry. He's safely aboard, and put on ice, as they -say in the States. And still alive, of course. To tell you the truth, -Dawson, I've never received such a welcome present in all my life. I -owe you a debt I'm sure I'll never be able to repay." - -"Maybe it would have been okay to let him drown," Dave murmured. "But -somehow I think it would be better to let the whole world know about -his trial, and what comes after. Particularly for Adolf to know. Funny, -but I guess maybe that's the real reason I did save his hide. Just to -let Adolf know for sure that we got his ace rat." - -"Well, we've got him, and he'll do no more damage in this world," -Manners said grimly. "Now, if there's anything...?" - -"Say, there _is_ something!" Dave blurted out. "Maybe you can tell -me, sir? How in heck did the ships of the Fleet and the Fleet Air Arm -planes show up so unexpectedly? Things popped so fast that we didn't -have a chance to contact them. But there they were, Johnny on the spot. -I don't understand that." - -Air Marshal Manners chuckled and looked at Freddy. - -"Farmer understands perfectly," he said. "I know he can explain." - -"_Freddy?_" Dave shouted and turned around to stare at his pal. "Hey! -What's all this about?" - -The English youth blushed to the ears, and looked as though he wanted -to sink right down thorough the bunk out of sight. - -"Well, good grief, I had to do a little something to help!" he said -in a fussed voice. "You were doing practically everything, you know. -So ... Well, remember when I said, 'Ouch, my arm'? That was to cover -up what I was trying to do. The second radio under the seat. When von -Khole wasn't looking I simply slipped my hand down and tuned the set to -the directional finder wave length. The Fleet operators picked it up, -and came a-steaming. And got there in time, thank goodness!" - -Dave blinked, gulped and then grinned broadly. - -"If that doesn't beat anything I've heard!" he cried. "And me sitting -there dumb as an ox, not even guessing. I ... Aw, gee! And I thought I -was the great hero. Doggone it, guy! You've got to cut out making me -come in second all the time. You've got to let me be the big noise, at -least just once, or I'll quit and find me another pal who really _is_ -dumb!" - -"Well, I fancy there's no choice between you two heroes!" Air Marshal -Manners said as they all stopped laughing. "The convoy is safely on its -way to port. Nothing can harm it now. England will never forget what -you two have done today. Not only England, but the entire civilized -world. And if there is any request you want to make, state it and I -give you my word it shall be granted." - -Dave scowled thoughtfully for a moment, then brightened and looked at -Freddy. - -"I've got one, but go ahead and state yours first, Freddy," he said. - -The English youth looked blank and shook his head. - -"Can't think of a blessed thing," he said. "What's yours?" - -Dave grinned at Air Marshal Manners. - -"It's a request you can grant easily, sir," he said. "Me, I'd like to -be assigned to a land plane squadron for a while. I'm sure fed up with -falling into the water." - -"Me, too!" Freddy cried. "Oh, but definitely, sir!" - - -THE END - - * * * * * - - - - -_A Page from_ - -DAVE DAWSON, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT - - -Suddenly, without the slightest sign of warning, the inky darkness of -night was shattered apart by a thunderous roar of sound and a seething -ocean of red, yellow, and orange flame that came boiling upward from -the ground. The plane bucked, and shivered, and lurched crazily -forward. And for one horrible second a mighty invisible force tore -Dave Dawson's hands from the controls. Head whirling, and his lungs -seeming to burst out through his ribs, he fought with every ounce of -his strength to keep the plane from plunging wildly downward. - -Freddy Farmer! Where was Freddy? Did he get through? Was Freddy all -right? The radio! Was it working? Would that secret signal come through -in time? Darn the blasted thing! Would it never speak, and.... - -At that instant a planet of fire rushed up out of nowhere. It seemed to -crash straight into the nose of the plane and explode in a roar that -split the very heavens apart. Dave felt as though unseen steel claws -were tearing strips of flesh from his bones, and hammering his brains -to pulp. He didn't know what it was. He didn't know what had happened. -He only knew that he was spinning head over heels down into a limitless -void of roaring thunder and boiling flame. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Dawson on Convoy Patrol, by R. Sidney Bowen - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DAWSON ON CONVOY PATROL *** - -***** This file should be named 50960.txt or 50960.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/6/50960/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/50960.zip b/old/50960.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c882a2f..0000000 --- a/old/50960.zip +++ /dev/null |
