“Very well,” said the Master, grimly.  “But remember, disobedience incurs the death penalty, and it will be rigorously enforced.  My word is to be supreme.

“Such being the case, I decide to take this man.  His skill as an aviator cannot be denied.  We shall need that.  His ability to endure suffering and still remain efficient seems proved.  That may be valuable; probably will be.

“I shall examine his credentials.  If he turns out to be a spy—­well, life will be short, for him.”

He addressed himself to the masked aviator, who was still standing in an attitude of military attention.

“You are now one of us, sir.  You become the thirtieth member of a little group of as brave men, as daring and determined fighters as can be found in America or in the world—­all tried and tempered by the fires of war; all decorated for conspicuous valor; all ready to follow me to the ends of the earth and die, if need be; all eager to share in an undertaking as yet unknown to them, but one that promises to be the most extraordinary adventure ever undertaken on this planet.  You understand all that, sir?”

“I do!”

“Raise your right hand, sir.”

The aviator obeyed.

“All the others, too!”

Every hand went up.

“Swear allegiance to me, fidelity, secrecy, courage, obedience.  On the thing you hold most dear, your honor as fighting-men, swear it!”

The shout that answered him, from every throat, made the eagle’s nest ring with wild echoes.  The Master smiled, as the hands sank.

“With men like you,” said he, “failure is impossible.  The expedition is to start at once, tomorrow night.  No man in it has now any ties or home or kin that overbalance his ties to me and to the esprit de corps of our body.

“The past is dead, for you.  The future is all a mystery.  You are to live only in the present, day by day.  And now for some practical details.

“The means of transport you do not know.  The perils and rewards are problematical.  Of the former there will be enough; as for the latter, those lie on the knees of the gods.  There will be no payment for any man.  Not a cent of money is involved in this service.

“Commissary will be furnished.  Each man is to wear his campaign equipment—­his uniform and such kit as he can store in a rucksack.  Bring small-arms and ammunition.  In addition, I will furnish bombing material and six Lewis guns, with ammunition, also other materials of which I shall now say nothing.  These things will be transported to the proper place without labor on your part.  I think I have made the outlines of the matter reasonably clear to every man present.”

“Our orders, sir?” asked a voice with a French accent, down the table.  “Are we to have no precise orders before leaving this room?”