The Flying Legion

nearly a thousand feet above the city's turmoil. They came singly or in pairs, their arrival

the top story of the building, then up the stairway to the observatory, and thus ushered them into the presence of the Master

have to touch but lightly on this matter of personnel. Six of the men were Americans-eight, including the Master and Bohannan; four Engl

n made one prime requisite for admission to the Legion. Each had anywhere from one to half a dozen decoratio

ous. Dressed as they were, in mufti, even had anyone noted their coming, it

to the core, all rusting with ennui, all drawn thither by the lure of the word that had been passed them in club and office, o

ven after the last had come and been checked off on the Master's list, in cipher code. The brightly lighted

ccount of the gathering. Each man, as his name was called, gave th

of the expedition, and no other was to be allowed. The ability to understand and obey orders given

lence fell. The men settled down to listen, in tense expectancy. Some took chairs, oth

sed it. The bright air seemed to quiver with the eagerness of these fighting-men once more to thrust o

h Bohannan seated at his right. His face reflected quite another humor from th

had smoothed themselves. His lips smiled, though gravely. His color had deepened. His whole person

a general way you know the purpose of this meeting. I am no

e stale, flat, and unprofitable. The dull routine of business and of social lif

ust be always a small minority that cannot tolerate ennui; that must seek risks and daring exploits; that would rather lay

l, I believe, of that type. Therefore you will all understand me.

you are like ourselves, dying of boredom, eager for adventure; and willing to undergo military discipline, swear secrecy, pledge honor and risk life itself, provided th

ut a murmur arose

o on-tell

The second is to be sobriety. There shall be no drinking, carousing, or gam

rapped on the table, for silence. The disturbance, however, cont

, sir," the Arab was sa

me in! How did

n a clear, rather high-pitched but very determined voice. The company, gazing at him, saw a slight, well-knit fig

a finger to his lips, in signal of silen

" he ordered, in

tanding aside and bowing as the strange

e be, we welcome him. If as an enemy, traitor, or spy,

here a moment in silence, dropped his gauntlets on the table and seemed peer

nt's silence followed. No man was look

goggles. Leather trousers and leggings completed his costume. The collar of the jacket, turne

e breaking-point. All at once the mas

name

red Alden, o

n, eh? Are you prep

a

s won't be exactly a sal

rs, my licenses

you

s,

the Master, "I will ex

America

e service. I rank as an ace. I bear three wounds and have been cited several

that seemed to echo round the room in a buzz of acceptance. Bu

e? It's obvious my ma

tillness. "It just now landed on the roof of this building. If you will d

rd no

r, but I can handle the average plane as accu

nd this meeting by either

r, I wa

hy are y

his arm comprehensively at the ranks of eagerly listening men. "To resume active service. To get

at, or to inte

ter, sir! I

all?" demanded the Master, his brows tensed, lips hard,

I am offering you my skill and knowledge, such as

hy

ave-the freedom of the open roads, the inspiration

rue, and you are not a spy

isclosing a mass of dark hair, a well-shaped head

ment. The man's whole face-save for eyeholes through which dark pupils looke

away down the left jaw, and somewhat up the cheekbone of the right

sir?" demanded the Maste

r, while a buzz of curiosity and suspicion rose. "You h

sfigured,

a wound. No, let me put it more accurately-there is, practically speaking, no face at all. The gaping cavi

osing myself to you, sir, I should certainly be insuring my rejection. But w

ed a moment, then

o very b

Kaiser's Masterpiece.' Some of the most hardened surgeons couldn't look at me, or dress my-wound

hat I have sacrificed my human appearance in the Great Cause cannot overcome the shrinking aversion that normal men would feel, if they could see