Realizing that matters must soon come to a head, Jack and Stew slept lightly that night, hidden away among the palms. Anything might happen on the morrow and they were prepared for the worst.

In the meantime, on board the Black Bee Lieutenant Commander William A. Brady, leader of the Navy Air Force, was briefing his men.

Before him on the wall were maps and blown-up air photographs.

“I need not tell you,” he said to the bomber pilots, fighters, torpedo men, gunners, radio men, and all the rest assembled before him, “what our next great objective is to be.”

There came a mingled murmur of words, “Mindanao—Mindanao, the Philippines. We’ll give it to ’em good this time.”
166

“Well now, here we have it,” said the air commander, pointing at the map. “Here is a map of the Philippine Islands. And right over here at the extreme east is Mindanao.

“We go in here.” He pointed again. “Behind this wide, deep harbor, where every fighting ship in our Navy might ride at anchor, is a large city. There the Japs have established a base of great importance.

“It is necessary that you study this chart with great care. Everything is plainly marked. Here,” he pointed once more, “is the air field, large enough for our heavy bombers. Here is the dry dock, there the docks for shipping, there the army barracks, and here their supply depots.

“You will each be given targets, and with your bomb sights you should not—must not—miss, for the people of this city are native Filipinos. You’ve heard of a brown boy named Joe?”

“Yes, sir! Sure! You know it, sir!” came in a chorus.

“He’s in that city, a thousand brown boy Joes and their families waiting deliverance from the Jap. When our troops swarm ashore they’ll be there waiting to give the soldiers a hand.

“Here,” he pointed to a spot away from the city, “is the prison camp. There, housed in huts, poorly fed and in rags, are hundreds of the boys who fought so bravely at Bataan and at Corregidor. Each dawn they face the sun and pray for deliverance. Shall their prayer be answered?”
167

An uproarious affirmative came from the men.

“Are there big Jap battle wagons, aircraft carriers, and supply ships in that harbor?” the Commander asked. “This we cannot know. It’s up to the scouts to tell us about that. And if they’re there—” he paused.

“We’ll take ’em!” came in a big, hard voice. “They got my pal at Pearl Harbor. Nothing’s too bad for them!” There came a roar of approval.

“We’ll have more of this as we approach the target,” the Commander promised. “You will be given smaller copies of this chart. I suggest that you memorize it in detail. Much depends on this undertaking. It may even be spoken of in the future as the turning point of the war, for after Mindanao comes Manila. From Manila we go to the China coast.”

“And then Tokyo!” the big voice roared.

“Yea! Yea! Yea! Tokyo! Tokyo!” came like a college football yell.

“That’s the spirit, and that, for the present, is all I have to say,” the Commander concluded.

“Oh, one more word.” The Commander turned about once more to face them. “We shall not be alone. We are to be part of what may be the greatest fighting force ever assembled in these southern seas. You should consider yourselves highly honored by being made a part of this great fighting force.”
168

He moved away. There was no cheering now, for this was war—and one of the solemn moments of their lives.

As the Commander left the cabin his eyes fell on Ted standing in a corner.

“Congratulations on your escape.” He held out a hand.

“Thank you, sir. I’m glad to be back.” Ted smiled.

“What about Jack and Stew?” the Commander asked.

“We’ve heard from them, sir. They’ve got some sort of radio. They’re on a small island not far from the spot where we sank that Jap flat-top.”

“Good! We’ll be passing within a hundred miles of the spot early tomorrow morning. Perhaps you would like to have a try at rescuing them.” The Commander gave Ted a friendly smile.

“Nothing would please me more, sir!” was the quick reply. “Jack’s from my home town, you know.”

“I didn’t know, but then you certainly shall have the assignment.”

“I shall take off at dawn, sir.”

“Good! And here’s luck to you. Do your best. We shall need those men in our next effort.”
169

“I’ll bring them back, sir.” Ted saluted. The Commander returned the salute, and they parted.

“Wonder if that was a rash promise?” Ted thought. “Not if I can help it!” He clenched both hands hard, then opened them and flexed his fingers. “Have to relax,” he told himself. “That’s part of the game.”

He was up before dawn. He gulped coffee and doughnuts, and was ready for his plane, already warming up.

Blackie and Red were there to see him off. “Wish we were going along,” said Blackie.

“Don’t we, though!” Red agreed. “No such luck. We’ve got to lead some of those rookie fliers in practice maneuvers. They’re pretty good, but for what we’re going into next they’ve got to be better.”

“Mindanao, that’s right.” Ted had one foot on his plane. “Mindanao seems to be what we were born for. We’ve dreamed of it for weeks now. Well, so long, boys! Wish me luck!” He climbed into his plane.

“So long! Best of luck!” Red called.

“Yes, and have a fine trip!” Blackie added.

In his light,............