The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-06-28
CHAPTER X

could be done that evening, SO
Jerry went to sleep in the plane,
as usual. In the morning he saw
that the sky was clear, with a
fairly stiff wind coming from the
south. He grinned.
well, we're getting the breaks"
he said. with some trees down
at the other end, the big baby can
make it, I think"
Then he looked at the sky again.
wouldn't it be nice if there
could be clouds up there, too,
while we had ideal conditions
down here" he said half aloud.
The big Frenchman nodded
with a smile.
"You Americans want every
thing" he said. perhaps that is
why you get so much. We have
learned to be amazed if fortune
seems to smile on us even once in
a while"
They went to the cave on the
hilltop and found that Major
Compton and Lieutenant Smythe
had both passed restful nights.
'The major is coming along
wonderfully Laura told Jerry.
The trip will not be an easy one
for him, but I'm worried most
about Smythe. He is still mighty
weak! I'll have to stick right be-
side him, I'm afraid"
You'll pull him through" Jer-
ry treasured her.
He was no longer tense. The
time for action was close at hand,
and he felt confident and calm.
Laura, who had grown more ap-
prehensive, gained courage from
his attitude.
There was an air of expectancy
throughout the camp. The wound
ed were given final treatments in
preparation for the flight back to
North Africa; the guerrillas were
packing their own small store of
belongings, ready for the march
over the hills as soon as the plane
took off.
Guns and ammunition were
distributed. Laura carried a SUBJ
machine gun; Jerry also had one
in addition to a number of extra
rounds and bag filled with hand
granades which he could sling
easily at his side. The few Amer
leans and British who would be
able to help in case of attack were
given similar arms which they
could use from various points in
the plane if occasion demanded
All the extra guns, bullets, and
grena"os were turned over to the
guerrillas.
At ten o'clock a gang of guer-
rillas with sharp axes had de-
scended the Lii and gone to the
south end. Since that activity
meant any German plane would
become suspicious, they also re-
moved the fake trees and the big
rock, SO that all would be ready
for the take off.
We'll just keep our fingers
crossed" Jerry said. eff no Ger
man plane comes over for a look
until afternoon-as they did yes
terday-then we'll be gone, and
so will the Frenchmen."
At ten-thirty Jerry went to the
field with a few of the guerrillas.
They did not yet remove the
branches which covered the big
transport, but they arranged ev-
erything inside the plane so that
the wounded on filters could
quickly be put in position and the
plane could take off within two
or three minutes after they had
arrived at the field. The great
moment was scheduled for noon.
Blalston, the English pilot, went
Will 'elly 10 the cockpit to IA
miliarize himself once more with
the controls and instruments of
the American plane, which he
had not flown for some time.
"The guys a real flier," Jerry
told himself. Il can tell just by
the way he looks over the instru-
ment panel and places his hands
on the controls. He'll be a help"
Lieutenant Chance came for
ward to look over the machine
gun which had been rugged UP in
the nose of the ship.
IF we need some shooting"
Jerry said, you'll be here in
stead of Blaiston, to handle the
gun"
mot much flexibility," the
Englishman said, swinging the
gun in each direction as far as
he could. But I could still do
a great deal of damage to any,