"You see, we have quite a number of these flying machines up in Warsaw," explained Captain Neva to Henri, "and we are carrying plenty of this stuff to feed them." In a few minutes the biplanes were off for Warsaw, Henri and the captain in one machine, Billy and Peter in the other. Three hours later the boys walked behind the captain into army headquarters, and soon into the presence of a man of most distinguished bearing, in full field uniform of a Russian general. Though gold lace sparkled on his shoulders and his cuffs, the striking note of his attire was the orange and black ribbon of the Cross of St. George that appeared along the buttoned edge of his field coat. Captain Neva presented the compliments of his colonel, told of the near approach of the supply wagons and convoying troops, and mentioned the handsome addition to the aërial fleet so luckily and peculiarly acquired. The captain's brief relation of the latter incident, a little break in the pall of war, seemed to interest the general, for he glanced at the lads, standing at respectful attention nearby. "What is your name?" he asked, speaking in French, and looking directly at Henri. The boy politely bowed and named himself. "I would conclude from the sound that I have spoken in a tongue within your complete understanding. And the other?" Henri registered Billy, name and nation. The boy from Bangor flushed with gratification when the general, in excellent American, called him forward. "You're a long way from home, young man." Billy admitted the fact, and added, "I have been wishing many times of late, sir, that the distance could be reduced three-fourths and I had already traveled the other fourth." With the incoming of the staff members, reporting from the front, the general consigned the boys for the present to the custody of Captain Neva. "They've wasted no time," observed Billy, pointing to the familiar lines of the No. 3's, glistening with new color. That a couple of Polish carters should happen to be gaping at the aviation show was not an unusual occurrence or usually worthy of notice. But there are carters and carters, and some seeming carters are not carters at all! CHAPTER XXII. AN HOUR TOO SOON. WITH incoming of the troops convoying the supply train, Captain Neva rejoined his company, and Billy and Henri were promptly adopted by the aviation corps, most of whom spoke both French and English, and all very much inclined to express their admiration of the aëroplane knowledge displayed by the youngsters. The boys were right on the job, so to speak, when it came to reassembling the parts of new aircraft received by wagon shipment, and so grew in the confidence of the aviation lieutenants that they were quite often permitted to make flying tests of the various machines with only themselves in charge.