Was he to be
involved in the new tactics and to become a mere unit in a group, or a
chief with the responsibility of collective maneuvers? The air knight
was incredulous; he thought of his magic airplane and could not persuade
himself that, whatever the number of his opponents, he could not single
one out for his thunder-clap attack.
* * * * *
Meanwhile the artillery preparation had begun, towards the fifteenth of
July, and the earth was quaking to the thundering front at a distance
of 50 kilometers. These are flat regions, and there would be no beauty
in them if the light radiating from the vapors rising from the fields or
the sea did not lend brilliance and relief to the yellow stone villages,
the straggling woods or copses, the well-to-do farms, the low hedges, or
the tall calvaries at the crossroads.
Guynemer was in splendid condition. His indisposition of the previous
month had been caused by his refusing to sleep at Dunkirk, as the others
did, until their new quarters were ready. He wanted to be near his
machine the moment there was light enough to see by, and slept in some
unfinished hangar or under canvas in order not to miss any enterprising
German who might take advantage of the dusk to sneak over the lines, spy
on our preparations, or bombard our rear.
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