There came a mingled murmur of words, “Mindanao—Mindanao, the Philippines. We’ll give it to ’em good this time.” “Well now, here we have it,” said the air commander, pointing at the map. “Here is a map of the Philippine Islands. And right over here at the extreme east is Mindanao. “We go in here.” He pointed again. “Behind this wide, deep harbor, where every fighting ship in our Navy might ride at anchor, is a large city. There the Japs have established a base of great importance. “It is necessary that you study this chart with great care. Everything is plainly marked. Here,” he pointed once more, “is the air field, large enough for our heavy bombers. Here is the dry dock, there the docks for shipping, there the army barracks, and here their supply depots. “You will each be given targets, and with your bomb sights you should not—must not—miss, for the people of this city are native Filipinos. You’ve heard of a brown boy named Joe?” “Yes, sir! Sure! You know it, sir!” came in a chorus. “He’s in that city, a thousand brown boy Joes and their families waiting deliverance from the Jap. When our troops swarm ashore they’ll be there waiting to give the soldiers a hand. “Here,” he pointed to a spot away from the city, “is the prison camp. There, housed in huts, poorly fed and in rags, are hundreds of the boys who fought so bravely at Bataan and at Corregidor. Each dawn they face the sun and pray for deliverance. Shall their prayer be answered?” An uproarious affirmative came from the men. “Are there big Jap battle wagons, aircraft carriers, and supply ships in that harbor?” the Commander asked. “This we cannot know. It’s up to the scouts to tell us about that. And if they’re there—” he paused. “We’ll take ’em!” came in a big, hard voice. “They got my pal at Pearl Harbor. Nothing’s too bad for them!” There came a roar of approval. “We’ll have more of this as we approach the target,” the Commander promised. “You will be given smaller copies of this chart. I suggest that you memorize it in detail. Much depends on this undertaking. It may even be spoken of in the future as the turning point of the war, for after Mindanao comes Manila. From Manila we go to the China coast.” “And then Tokyo!” the big voice roared. “Yea! Yea! Yea! Tokyo! Tokyo!” came like a college football yell. “That’s the spirit, and that, for the present, is all I have to say,” the Commander concluded. “Oh, one more word.” The Commander turned about once more to face them. “We shall not be alone. We are to be part of what may be the greatest fighting force ever assembled in these southern seas. You should consider yourselves highly honored by being made a part of this great fighting force.” He moved away. There was no cheering now, for this was war—and one of the solemn moments of their lives. As the Commander left the cabin his eyes fell on Ted standing in a corner. “Congratulations on your escape.” He held out a hand.