“Sure, I know. The war came along. And you went all out for Uncle Sam.” “Something like that, sir,” Jack agreed. “That’s the proper spirit,” the Commander approved. “But let me tell you something, son. You’ll be a better flier longer if you go back to that violin for an hour or two every day.” “What do you mean, sir?” The boy voiced his surprise. “Ever draw a string tight and leave it for a long time?” the Commander asked. “Sure did, sir.” “What happened?” “It snapped, sir.” “Of course. It’s the same with fliers. It’s the fellow with one string, one thought, who snaps first. Relax, Jack my boy. Relax with your fiddle and you’ll ride through this war right into a concert hall.” “Sounds a bit strange. But I’ll try it, sir,” Jack agreed. “Good night and good hunting to you tomorrow.” The Commander disappeared. Before turning in, Jack took a closer look at his new treasure, his precious violin. “It’s a honey,” he told Stew. “Bet it cost a thousand dollars.” “Why not,” said Stew. “What’s a thousand dollars to a man like Ted’s dad?” “That’s just it,” Jack agreed. “Seems sort of wonderful, doesn’t it, that you and I who’ve never had a lot of anything, and Kentucky and Red, who’ve had even less, should be messin’ round with fellows like Ted and two or three other rich guys on the old _Black Bee_?” “Well, we’re all in the same boat, aren’t we?” Stew drawled. “Yes, and the same-sized Jap bullet will down one of them just as quick as it will one of us. For all that,” Jack paused, “it looks as if ours should be a better world to live in after the war is over, all of us getting along together the way we do.” “Oh! It will!” Stew agreed. “And here’s one bombardier who’s going to try to be around when it’s over. Fight hard, but take no fool chances, that’s my motto.” “Mine too,” Jack agreed. “I’ve got folks waiting for me back home.” “Same here. And besides, we can’t help Uncle Sam much down there in Davy Jones’s locker.” At that they lapsed into silence. Jack slept with his violin that night, and next morning before dawn he stowed it away in his plane. “Why not?” he asked himself. “Red’s got a dog he takes along. Blackie carries a parrot, and Bill, a monkey. A violin makes just as good a mascot, and not half the bother.” When he and Stew worked their way to the flight deck that morning they found it crowded with planes. The _Black Bee_ was one of the largest carriers in the Navy and carried more than a hundred planes. Because they required only a short run to clear the deck, and also because in case of an attack they must be the first ships up, the fighters stood in front of all the others on the deck. Back of these were scout planes; next rode dive bombers; and last of all, torpedo planes.