"I am afraid for those lads," said he to the Senator after greeting all
three. "They are both too risky at times, and they were much stirred
up over Erwin's long absence. Great friends they were, too."
The Senator and the girls expressed concern. Especially so was it with
the sisters, both of whom grew pale as they listened. Perhaps they
were pleased that owing to the darkness this manifestation of inward
concern was hidden from the others. They quietly pressed each other's
hands.
Just then an orderly came up on the run, his night glasses in hand.
"Oh, Captain," said he, "there's a plane returning. I couldn't make it
out clearly. It sags a bit is if it was crippled, sir."
"Wait for me, Senator," called Byers, starting out almost on the run,
his night glasses again out. The orderly followed rapidly.
"Let us follow them, father," urged Andra, while Avella tugged at her
sister's arm, sure that the Senator would go too. "Come on, papa."
Both girls were off, while the Senator came after, though at a slower
pace.
Reaching the observation post -- merely a platform erected on the
highest elevation near by, they saw the captain and the orderly both
scanning the eastern skies through their night glasses, instruments of
the latest design. To the girls' nothing was as yet was visible but
the stars now shining dimly through a thin haze that hung over h
landscape.
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