The Brighton boys were all keen on flying.  What boys are not?  Their interest had been stimulated particularly, however, by the news, the year before, that Harry Corwin’s big brother Will, an old Brighton boy of years past, had gone to France with the American flying squadron attached to the French Army in the field.  True, Will was only a novice and the latest news of him from France told that he had not as yet actually flown a machine over the German lines, but he was a tangible something in which the interest of the schoolboys could center.

An airdrome near the town!  What wonders would be worked under his very eyes, thought Jimmy.  Flying was a thing that no one could hide behind a tall fence.  Besides, there were no high fences around the Frisbie place.  Well Jimmy knew it.  Its broad acres and wide open spaces were well known to every boy at Brighton Academy, for within its boundaries was the finest hill for coasting that could be found for miles.  In winter-time, when the hillsides were deep with snow, Frisbie’s slope saw some of the merriest coasting parties that ever felt the exhilaration of the sudden dash downward as the bright runners skimmed the hard, frosty surface.  The long, level expanse of meadow that had to be crossed before the hill was reached from the Frisbie mansion would be an ideal place for an airdrome.  Even Jimmy knew enough about airdromes to recognize that.  He waited a moment at the table to take in fully the momentous fact that their own little town was to be a center of activity with regard to aviation.

Then he dashed out to spread the news among his schoolfellows.  His particular chums were, like himself, boys whose homes were in the town.  Shut out from the dormitory life, they had grouped themselves together, in no spirit of exclusiveness, but merely as good fellows who, although they appreciated the love and kindness of the home folks, yet felt that they wanted to have as much of the spirit of dear old Brighton outside the Academy as inside.

Jimmy caught sight of Archie Fox—–­another of the out-boarding squad of Brighton boys, and a special friend of Jimmy’s—–­hurrying to the Academy.

“Great news for you, Arch!” shouted Jimmy as he joined his chum.

“Shoot!” directed Archie.

And Jimmy told the great news to the astonished and delighted boy.

“Gosh whillikens!” yelled Archie.  “A real live hangar in staid old Brighton!  Can you beat it?  My vote says the ‘buddies’ should get together and become fliers.  Eh, what?  The Brighton Escadrille!  Oh, boy!”

Further down the street Dicky Mann and Joe Little, both in Jimmy’s class at the Academy, and then Henry Benson, known to all and sundry as “Fat” Benson from his unusual size, joined the boys and heard for the first time the stirring news.