"All right, I’ll tell him; but it’s rather rough on him, all the same." The Commandant strolled over to where Lieutenant Hayward was talking to a few friends. As soon as he had gone, Crichton beckoned to his servant. "Jackson, have you put the things I told you in my kit-bag?" "Yes, sir, and two of everything, sir. Shall I strap the bag on?" "Yes, and you are to come with me; so get your helmet, quick." Soon all was bustle and commotion. The crowd of officers and soldiers and few civilians present made a wide semi-circle in the rear of the monoplane. "Good luck, old chap!" "Don’t lose your way!" "Got your maps?" "Wire us time of arrival!"—and a host of other remarks, mingled with chaff, were drowned in the roar of the propeller as Jim started the engine. He raised his hand and the great, bird-like aeroplane rushed forward and almost at once began to rise. Soon it grew smaller and smaller as the distance increased, and began to curve to West as Jim set his course for Exeter. The roar made by the engine of an aeroplane renders it impossible to hear one’s own voice, much less to speak to another; but all military "two-seaters" are equipped with ’phones to enable the pilot and observer to converse with ease. Jim now pulled down the receiver and adjusted it over his helmet. "Look here, Jackson! Do you know why I’ve taken you instead of Mr. Hayward?" "No, sir." "I’m going to trust you with a secret which, if you blab, will get me into a big row." "Very good, sir. I shan’t talk, you know that, sir." "Well, I have promised a great friend at home to give him a flight, and I’m going to take him up to-day in your place—only as it is strictly against the Royal Flying Corps regulations to take anyone on a Corps machine, you must play up and not give the show away." "Trust me for that, sir." "My friend knows that he is to take your place—that is why I’ve put in a second suit of clothes—and he has asked me to give you a fiver." "Very much obliged, I am sure, sir." "All right. That is why I told you to put a suit of your own uniform in my bag. My friend will put on your uniform and will take your place. You will have to be careful not to be seen in Plymouth till he has changed at the hotel. I shall drop you at Exeter and you must go on to Plymouth by train; take two rooms for me at the ’Duke of Cornwall,’ which is right against the station, and then hang about the place till I arrive. If anyone questions you—which is unlikely—you must only say that you are my mechanic from Salisbury. But don’t you go near Crownhill Barracks till after we have arrived; then you may go to the canteen and ’gas’ as much about the flight as you like." "Very good, sir; I quite understand. I’ll slip off quietly at Exeter so as not to be noticed."