Biggles had just left the fireside circle preparatory to going to bed when Major Paynter entered the officers’ mess.
‘Pay attention, everybody, please!’ said the major, rather unnecessarily, for an expectant hush had fallen on the room. ‘A big attack along this entire section of Front has been planned to come into operation in the near future. If weather conditions permit, it may start tomorrow morning. As far as this squadron is concerned, every available machine will leave the ground at dawn, and, flying as low as possible, harass the enemy’s troops within the boundaries you’ll find marked on the large map in the squadron office. Each machine will carry eight Cooper bombs and work independently, concentrating on preventing the movement of enemy troops on the roads leading to the Front.
