The captain frowned and changed the subject. “We expect two new ships down from Colombey before dusk, if the fog lifts. You’ll draw one of them. We’ll try to salvage your old ship. Tomorrow morning you can stay back of the lines, working on your new gun and feeling out the ship. I’m not exactly praising your work, Lieutenant. Get _that_ straight. But you had a bad ground fog. Bad enough to give you another crack at the front. _This_ time--” He shrugged his shoulders, smiling at Tex Langdon. The lieutenant nodded. “I understand, Captain,” he stated. “I’ve cracked up a lot of ships in a short time. But I’ve been trying--” The C. O. smiled slightly. “That helps but it isn’t the whole thing, Lieutenant,” he stated. “I know you’re trying. It isn’t enough. You’ve got to succeed. Won’t always have Lieutenant Adams around to pull you out of scrapes, you know.” Tex felt rage strike at him. But he controlled his feelings with an effort. Adams, getting him out of a scrape! The C. O. nodded dismissal. Tex Langdon went from the captain’s office toward his own coop. It was almost four o’clock; it had taken him five hours to reach the Squadron from Battery H4. He was about to turn into the barracks when he almost collided with Lieutenant Adams. That officer muttered something, turned to one side. Tex caught him by the arm. * * * * * “Just a second, please, Lieutenant! C. O. tells me you got me out of a jam, this morning.” Adams narrowed dark eyes on the blue ones of the Texan. He nodded, standing fully a head shorter than Tex. “Well, didn’t I, Lieutenant?” he snapped. “Sorry I couldn’t fly both ships--might have kept you out of another!” “I’m not saying you _didn’t_ get me out of a sky jam, Adams,” Tex replied in a quiet tone. “But I am saying this--you didn’t know you were getting me out of one!” The other pilot stiffened. His eyes narrowed on Tex Langdon’s blue ones. “Come again!” he snapped. “Make that more clear!” Tex nodded. “The C. O. asked me to verify your shoot-down, Adams. I did. But get this straight. You saw me skyscrapping with a Boche. You had ceiling, and a chance to drop in. You did and you got my Boche! You didn’t know I was running low in gas, or that I’d been hit twice by the enemy’s lead. And if you _had_ known it wouldn’t have made any difference. You got the German ship for your record! And you winged straight for the Squadron, not giving a damn about me!” Lieutenant Adams smiled grimly. “Think so, Langdon?” he asked quietly. “I know so!” Tex snapped back. “I mussed up your pet ship in a take-off, and I didn’t get on my knees when you howled about it. You’re sore. You knew I couldn’t find the Squadron in the fog and you left me to go where you’ve said I came from!” There was a little silence. Then Lieutenant Adams spoke. His voice was like ice.