Air Stories — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BREECHES OF DISCIPLINE the road from a neighbouring field. In his hand was a Luger; in his voice, a cool request that Colonel Blotten part immediately, if not sooner, with his nether garments. The Colonel raved and stamped and fumed and swore, but three minutes later, the Dormouse had the latter’s evacuated cavalry cords neatly tucked under one arm. ‘*T am indeed sorry to inconvenience you, Herr Kolonel,’? he apologised politely, ‘‘ but an old friend of mine has need of these. ‘Have the goodness to turn your car round and return to the aerodrome you have recently left—and at your best speed.’’ ‘*T’ll be hanged if I do! ’’ spluttered the enraged Colonel, sitting stiffly in the rear seat with a dust cloth over his bare knees. ‘‘I’llbe.. .’’ ‘“You’ll be shot if you don’t,’’ re- turned the Dormouse icily, levelling his pistol. Without waiting for orders, the driver backed and turned the car, and by the time von Dortmusse had lifted his ’plane into the air, they were on their way and doing well over sixty. HE car reached the aerodrome with the Roland sauntering along behind it almost at stalling speed. gates and pulled up in front of the squadron-office with a screech of brakes, while the Roland, diving almost to the ground, pulled up in a terrific zoom and, flipping over in a spectacular Immel- mann, roared back whence it had come. ‘* Of all the blasted cheek ! ’’ shouted someone, leading a dash for the ’planes gathered on the tarmac ready for the next patrol. ‘‘ Look at that ruddy Hun right on our door-step. Come on, chaps ; let’s get him !’’ But long before the first engine splut- tered into life, the cause of the indigna- tion had disappeared and the hunt was off, whilst Colonel Blotten, almost speech- less, but foaming at the mouth with rage, was trying to shout for Major Sharpness. ‘* Back again, sir? ’’ the latter asked politely but unsmiling, for there was It entered the | little love lost between the pair, and the hard-faced little C.O. had not forgiven his visitor’s remarks about his ‘‘ slovenly squadron ’’ a scant half hour before. ‘‘ Have you forgotten something, sir ? ’’ ‘‘M-m-m-my breeches !’’ stuttered Colonel Blotten wrathfully at length. ‘*M-my breeches! My God, man; what in Hades is the use of our having a squadron stationed here if a damned Hun can come and take my breeches from me not four miles from your blasted unit ? By Heavens, Major Sharp- ness ; this is dis-disgraceful ! ”’ Sharpness, keeping his face as straight as he could, regretted he did not quite follow the Colonel. ‘*' Your breeches, sir? ’’ he asked. ‘* Did you say breeches? Surely you had ’em on when you left here a little while agor Am I to understand some- one’s stolen ’em, sir P ’’ By this time, much of the Squadron had collected in the locality of the car, and even the soldier-chauffeur, scared though he had been by the recent occur- rence, could hardly refrain from smiling. ‘* What,’’ demanded the irate Colonel, sweeping his arm round in a wide semi- circle, ‘‘are all these grinning idiots standing about here for? Why don’t they go up and capture the feller? He followed me all the way.’’ ‘*I’m_ sorry, sir,’’ said Sharpness, ‘* but it’s quite impossible. Why he’s probably half way back to Berlin by now.’’ The crescendoing roar of aero engines, rapidly approaching, smote upon their ears and they looked up speculatively, whilst some half-turned and made for the ’planes aligned on the dead-line. Then, down from aloft, flashed a German aircraft, closely pursued but never quite overtaken by a Camel] with British markings on wings and fuselage. Down almost to the ground they sped, banked a trifle, left-handed, and thun- dered over the middle of the aerodrome. From the leading ’plane the astonished watchers saw something flung overboard, whilst the pilot, with a wave of the hand, zoomed up again and disappeared at full speed towards the east. 167 EO LDOO) C©