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We were haunted for hours by this vision of a plane in distress。 But the hands of the clock were going round and little by little it began to grow late。 Slowly the truth was borne in upon us that our rades would never return； that they were sleeping in that South Atlantic whose skies they had so often ploughed。 Mermoz had done his job and slipped away to rest； like a gleaner who； having carefully bound his sheaf； lies down in the field to sleep。
When a pilot dies in the harness his death seems something that inheres in the craft itself； and in the beginning the hurt it brings is perhaps less than the pain sprung of a different death。 Assuredly he has vanished； has undergone his ultimate mutation ； but his presence is still not missed as deeply as we might miss bread。 For in this craft we take it for granted that we shall meet together only rarely。
Airline pilots are widely dispersed over the face of the world。 They land alone at scattered and remote airports； isolated from each other rather in the manner of sentinels between whom no words can be spoken。 It needs the accident of journeyings to bring together here or there the dispersed members of this great professional family。
Round the table in the evening； at Casablanca； at Dakar； at Buenos Aires； we take up conversations interrupted by years of silence； we resume friendships to the acpaniment of buried memories。 And then we are off again。
Thus is the earth at once a desert and a paradise； rich in secret hidden gardens； gardens inaccessible； but to which the craft leads us ever back； one day or another。 Life may scatter us and keep us apart； it may prevent us from thinking very often of one another； but we know that our rades are somewhere 〃out there〃 … where； one can hardly say…silent； forgotten； but deeply faithful。 And when our path crosses theirs； they greet us with such manifest joy； shake us so gaily by the shoulders！ Indeed we are accustomed to waiting。
Bit by bit； nevertheless； it es over us that we shall never again hear the laughter of our friend； that this one garden is forever locked against us。 And at that moment begins our true mourning； which； though it may not be rending； is yet a little bitter。 For nothing； in truth； can replace that panion。 Old friends cannot be created out of hand。 Nothing can match the treasure of mon memories； of trials endured together； of quarrels and reconciliations and generous emotions。 It is idle； having planted an acorn in the morning； to expect that afternoon to sit in the shade of the oak。
So life goes on。 For years we plant the seed； we feel ourselves rich； and then e other years when time does its work and our plantation is made sparse and thin。 One by one； our rades slip away； deprive us of their shade。
This； then； is the moral taught us by Mermoz and his kind。 We understand better； because of him； that what constitutes the dignity of a craft is that it creates a fellowship； that it binds men together and fashions for them a mon language。 For there is but one veritable problem … the problem of human relations。
We forget that there is no hope of joy except in human relations。 If I summon up those memories that have left with me an enduring savor； if I draw up the balance sheet of the hours in my life that have truly counted； surely I find only those that no wealth could have procured me。 True riches cannot be bought。 One cannot buy the friendship of a Mermoz； of a panion to whom one is bound forever by ordeals suffered in mon。 There is no buying the night flight with its hundred thousand stars； its serenity； its few hours of sovereignty。 It is not money that can procure for us that new vision of the world won through hardship…those trees； flowers； women； those treasures made fresh by the dew and color of life which the dawn restores to us； this concert of little things that sustain us and constitute our pensation。
Nor that night we lived through in the land of the unconquered tribes of the Sahara； which now floats into my memory。
Three crews of Aeropostale men had e down at the fall of day on the Rio de Oro coast in a part of the Sahara whose denizens acknowledge no European rule。 Riguelle had landed first； with a broken connecting rod。 Bourgat had e along to pick up Riguelle's crew； but a minor accident had nailed him to earth。 Finally； as night was beginning to fall； I arrived。 We decided to salvage Bourgat's ship； but we should have to spend the night and do the job of repair by day…light。
Exactly on this spot two of our rades； Gourp and Erable； had been murdered by the tribesmen a year earlier。 We knew that a raiding party of three hundred rifles was at this very moment encamped somewhere near by； round Cape Bojador。 Our three landings had been visible from a great distance and the Moors must have seen us。 We began a vigil which might turn out to be our last。
Altogether； there were about ten of us； pilots and mechanics； when we made ready for the night。 We unloaded five or six Wooden cases of merchandise out of the hold； emptied them； and set them about in a circle。 At the deep end of each case； as in a sentry…box； we set a lighted candle； its flame poorly sheltered from the wind。 So in the heart of the desert； on the naked rind of the planet； in an isolation like that of the beginnings of the world； we built a village of men。 Sitting in the flickering light of the candles on this kerchief of sand； on this village square； we waited in the night。 We were waiting for the rescuing dawn…or for the Moors。 Something； I know not what； lent this night a savor of Christmas。 We told stories； we joked； we sang songs。 In the air there was that slight fever that reigns over a gaily prepared feast。 And yet we were infinitely poor。 Wind； sand； and stars。 The austerity of Trappists。 But on this badly lighted cloth； a handful of men who possessed nothing in the world but their memories were sharing invisible riches。
We had met at last。 Men travel side by side for years； each locked up in his own silence or exchanging those words which carry no freight …till danger es。 Then they stand shoulder to shoulder。 They discover that they belong to the same family。 They wax and bloom in the recognition of fellow beings。 They look at one another and smile。 They are like the prisoner set free who marvels at the immensity of the sea。
Happiness！ It is useless to seek it elsewhere than in this warmth of human relations。 Our sordid interests imprison us within their walls。 Only a rade can grasp us by the hand and haul us free。
And these human relations must be created。 One must go through an apprenticeship to learn the job。 Games and risk are a help here。 When we exchange manly handshakes； pete in races； join together to save one of us who is in trouble； cry aloud for help in the hour of danger … only then do we learn that we are not alone on earth。
Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life。 It is not something discovered： it is something moulded。 These prison walls that this age of trade has built up round us； we can break down。 We can still run free； call to our rades； and marvel to hear once more； in response to our call； the pathetic chant of the human voice。
II
Guillaumet； old friend； of you too I shall say a few words。 Be sure that I shall not make you squirm with any clumsy vaunting of your courage and your professional valor。 In telling the story of the most marvelous of your adventures； I am after something quite different。
There exists a quality which is nameless。 It may be gravity； but the word does not satisfy me； for the quality I have in mind can be acpanied by the most cheerful gaiety。 It is the quality of the carpenter face to face with his block of wood。 He handles it； he takes its measure。 Far from treating it frivolously； he summons all his professional virtues to do it honor。
I once read； Guillaumet； a tale in which your adventure was celebrated。 I have an old score to settle with the infidel who wrote it。 You were described as abounding in the witty sallies of the street arab； as if courage consisted in demeaning oneself to schoolboy banter in the midst of danger and the hour of death。 The man did no