Some of the pupils--the more daring, of
course--wished to imitate these, but of course they were not
allowed.
The pupils were first allowed merely to go with an experienced man.
This, of course, they had done at the flying schools in the United
States, and had flown alone. But they had to start all over again
when on French soil, for here they were exposed, any time, to an
attack from a Hun plane.
After they had, it was thought, got sufficient experience to
undertake these trick features by themselves, they were allowed to
make trial flights, but not over the enemy lines.
Tom and Jack gave the best that was in them to these enthusiastic
pupils, and there was much good material.
"What are you going to do to-day, Jack?" asked Tom one morning, as
they went out after breakfast to get into their "busses," as they
dubbed their machines.
"Oh, got orders to do some spiral and somersault stunts for the
benefit of some huns." ("Hun," used in this connection, not
referring to the Germans. "Hun" is the slang term for student
aviators, tacked on them by more experienced fliers.)
"Same here. Good little bunch of huns in camp now."
Tom nodded in agreement, and the two were soon preparing to climb
aloft.
With a watching group of eager young men on the ground below, in
company with an instructor who would point out the way certain feats
were done, Torn and Jack began climbing.
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