a brief hop over the lines, despite the worries of Buck’s sweetheart, Ruth Childers. Over Nieuport they are ambushed by Fokkers; Galladay freezes at first, then rallies as Weaver is badly wounded, cutting down three enemy planes with the rear Lewis guns. When Weaver passes out and the De Havilland falls into a spin, Galladay snaps in the rear controls, steadies the shredded aircraft, and brings it back over Allied lines. In the hospital afterward, Weaver survives and he and Ruth become fully engaged, while Galladay—himself wounded—faces acclaim for his valor. The tale closes with the old sergeant’s fierce, boyish joy at finally flying and his eagerness to return to the fight. (This is an automatically generated summary.)