Parks turned to Harry.  “You knew where the trouble was?”

“The control wires were crossed,” Harry answered simply.

“You noticed that, did you?” continued Parks.  “When have you seen this type of plane before?”

“This one is the only one I have ever seen,” was Harry’s reply.  “I have read up on this type, though, quite a bit.  I had a book that contained an awful lot about this particular sort of machine, and I could almost put one together.  It’s easy enough to see crossed wires if your eye happens to light on them.”

“Yes,” said Parks.  “It’s easy enough if you have the right sort of an eye.  That’s the real question.  You are one of those boys from Brighton Academy, are you not?  Are you in the same bunch that Hill and Little came from?  If you are, I guess I can use you in the way I am using them.  Would you like to get some practical experience round the hangars?  You youngsters seem to be under the chief’s eye, from what I hear, and I understand he wants to see you all get a chance to push on.”

“We all want to get into the hangars when we can be spared from our regular work,” answered Harry.  “There are four of us left, at the headquarters’ offices, and whether or not they want us to stay there I don’t know.”

“Humph!” Parks had not great respect for anyone around an airdrome who was not intimately connected with the actual flying.  “Lot of good you will be doing there.  If they want to see you boys amount to something, why don’t they let me have a chance to see what’s in you?  Fellows who know at a glance that elevator wires are crossed ought to be encouraged.  That’s my view.”  Parks left the subject and turned his attention to the bruised pilot, who came in for a curtain lecture.  Harry Corwin busied himself with trying to ascertain the extent of the damage to the wrecked plane.  As Parks finished talking to the pilot he stepped to Harry’s side and asked:  “What is left of her?”

“Plenty,” said Harry.  “She will need a new propellor and her running gear is crumpled up badly, but I doubt very much if the planes are damaged, and I don’t see that the engine has suffered.”  Park’s critical eye ran over the wreck and he nodded.  Without further comment he jumped into his car.  As it started away he said:  “Don’t bother with the old girl any further.  I will send a gang out to tend to her.  I will see if a chance won’t come along soon to get you boys into better jobs, if you want them.”

“Want them?” said Harry.  “I should think we do.”

But Parks was a very busy man, and as the work at the new air camp increased he found his hands so full that his promise to Harry was for the time being crowded out of his mind.

The four boys held at headquarters chafed a little, but were careful to keep the fact to themselves.  Archie Fox felt it most keenly of all, for he was very fond of Jimmy Hill, and thought it hard fate indeed that took Jimmy away from him.  Jimmy was learning rapidly.  He had made friends with one of the instructor pilots, a little man named Reece, who spent much time tuning up and going over the school machines.