"But I thought France already had a powerful air fleet," said Bill.
The little aviator's next words were astonishing to the boys, who shared the common impression about the French strength in the air.
"Before many days are past we shall need all and more aeroplanes than we have," he said. "I wish we had twice as many. But I can say no more now. But my advice to you is to watch zee wireless closely. You are going abroad on pleasure?"
"Yes, we thought we'd earned a vacation," said Jack.
The little Frenchman's rejoinder was a shrug and a smile.
"Your vacation may be what you Americans call a 'strenuous one,'" he said meaningly, and with an emphasis the boys could not fathom. "By the way, on board this ship I am Jules Campion. There are reasons for my real name being unknown for the present. _Au revoir_, I go to arrange my luggage. We shall meet again."
And he was gone, leaving the boys to exchange puzzled glances.
"Vell, Yack Retty, you yust like to hang aroundt undt see me vurk, hein?"
Hans Poffer, the yellow-haired, red-cheeked wireless operator of the _Kronprinzessin Emilie_ asked the question, on the afternoon of the third day out. Jack had discovered in young Poffer an acquaintance he had made in Antwerp when he was on board the _Ajax_, and had renewed the friendship, to Poffer's great delight, for the German wireless man had had trouble with his instruments the first day out which Jack had adjusted for him.
Since that time Jack, to Bill Raynor's amusement, had spent most of his time in the wireless room enjoying, as Poffer put it, "watching me work." But there was another reason beside his deep-seated interest in everything appertaining to his profession that made Jack haunt the _Kronprinzessin's_ wireless coop. De Garros, with whom he had had several conversations since their meeting on board, had repeatedly told him to be on the lookout for something "that would before long come over the wires." Once, in discussing the boys' plans for amusing themselves in Europe, the aviator had said meaningly, "if you ever get there." But what he meant by these words he had steadfastly refused to explain, telling Jack that he would find out in good time.
"Me, if I gedt idt a holliday," said Poffer, after greeting Jack a day later, "I go by as far avay from der vireless as I couldt gedt idt. I gedt sick undt tired hearing idt all day 'tick-tick' undt sending idt all day der same 'tick-tick' alretty. Donner! I'm hungry again. Holdt idt mein key a minute vile I gedt idt mineself a bite."