CHAPTER XXIV
PRISONERS
Under the evening stars, the two big Italian machines slowly, and, itmust be said, somewhat ponderously, as compared with a speedy Nieuport,winged their way toward the German river, behind which it was hoped,some day, to drive the savage Huns.
"What do you think?" asked Jack of his chum, for in these latestmachines, by reason of the motors being farther from the passengers, andby means of tubes, some talk could be carried on.
"I don't know just what to think," was the answer. "So much has happenedof late, that it's almost beyond my thinking capacity."
"That's right. And yet I can guess one thing you have in mind, Tom, oldscout."
"What is it?"
"Your father! You're hoping you can rescue him."
"That's right, I am. And as soon as this drive is over--if we come backfrom it with any measure of success, and I can get a long leave ofabsence--I'm going to make a thorough search for him."
"And I'll be with you; don't forget that!"
There was not time for too much talk of a personal nature, as Tom andJack had to give their attention to the great plane. The motors wereworking to perfection, and with luck they should, within a few hours, beover the great German works, which they hoped to blow up.
Tom was in charge of the plane, but he had Jack and others to help him,and there was a certain freedom of movement permitted, not possible ineven the big photographing or bombing planes.
Down below little could be seen, for they were now over the French andGerman trenches, and neither side was showing lights for fear ofattracting the fire of the other.
But Tom and Jack had been coached in the course they were to take and,in addition, they had a pilot who, a few weeks before, had made apartially successful raid in the region beyond the Rhine, barelyescaping with his life.
And so they flew on under the silent stars, that looked like the smallnavigating lights on other aeroplanes. But, as far as the raiders knew,they were the only ones aloft in that particular region just then. Theyhad risen to a good height to avoid possible danger from the Germananti-aircraft guns. There was not much danger from the German planes,as, of late, the Huns had shown no very strong liking for night work,except in necessary defense.
Off to the left Tom and Jack could see the other big Italian plane, incharge of Haught. It carried only small navigating lights, carefullyscreened so as to be invisible from below.
"I suppose you understand the orders," said Tom, speaking to Jack.
"Well, we went over them; but it wouldn't do any harm to refresh mymemory. You're to be in general charge of the navigation of the plane,and I'm to see to dropping the bombs--is that it?"
"That's it. You'll have to use your best judgment when it comes to yourshare. I'll get you over the German works and railroad centers, asnearly as I can in the dark, and then it will be up to you."
"I hope I don't fail," said Jack, speaking through the tube.
"You won't. Don't get nervous. Any kind of a hit will throw a scare intothe Huns, and make them feel that they aren't the only ones who can makeair raids. But in this case we're not bombing a defenseless town, andkilling women and children. This is a fortified place we're going over,and it's well defended."
"Some difference," agreed Jack.
"And if we can get some direct hits," went on Tom, "and blow tosmithereens some of their munition or armament factories, we'll be somuch nearer to winning the war."
And that, in brief, was the object of the flight over the Rhine.
Once more the boys fell silent.
On and on swept the planes. Whether the Germans beneath were aware ofthe danger that menaced them, it is impossible to say. But they made noattempt to fire on the Italian craft. Probably because of the darkness,and owing to the great height at which they flew, the Huns were inignorance of what was taking place.
On and on in the night and beneath the silent stars they flew. Now Tomand the pilot began watching for some landmark--some cluster of lightswhich would tell them their objective was within sight. But for anotherhour nothing was done save to guide the big craft steadily onward.
Once, as Jack looked down, he saw what seemed to be a city, and hethought this might be the place where the great factories were situated.
"No, it's an important town," Tom said, in answer to his chum'sinquiries, "but it is only a town--not a fortress, as the Huns callLondon. That isn't fair game for us."
But half an hour later the pilot spoke sharply, and gave an order. Hepointed downward and ahead and there a faint glow, and one that spreadover a considerable area, could be made out.
"That is where we are to drop the bombs," said Tom to Jack.
The other machine, which had flown somewhat behind the one in which werethe two chums, now swerved over at greater speed. Her pilot, too, hadpicked up the objective.
And now began the most dangerous part of the mission. For it would notdo to drop the bombs from too great a height. There was too much risk ofmissing the mark. The planes must descend, and then they would be withinrange of the defensive guns.
But it had to be done, and the order was given. As Jack and Tom wentlower, in company with the other plane, they observed that they wereover a great extent of factory buildings, where German war work wasgoing on.
And now the noise of their motors was heard. Searchlights flashed outbelow them, and stray beams picked them up. Then the anti-aircraft gunsbegan to bark.
"We're in for a hot time!" cried Jack.
"You said it!" echoed Tom, as he steered the great plane to get into anadvantageous position.
Through a glare of light, and amid a hail of shots, the great airshipsrushed down to hover over the German factories. They would not let gotheir bombs until in a position to do the most damage, and this took alittle time.
"How about it, Tom?" asked Jack, for he was anxious to begin droppingthe bombs.
"Just another minute. We'll go down a little lower, and so do all themore damage."
And down the airship went. She was hit several times, for shrapnel wasbursting all around, but no material damage was done, though one of theobservers was wounded.
"Now!" suddenly signaled Tom.
"There they go!" shouted Jack, and he released bomb after bomb from theretaining devices.
Down they dropped, to explode on striking, and the loud detonationscould be heard even above the roar of the motors. Tom noted that theother machine was also doing great destruction, and he saw that theirobject had been accomplished.
Several fires broke out below them in different parts of the factoryproperty, and soon the Germans had to give so much attention to savingwhat they could, that their fire against the hostile airships noticeablyslackened.
"Any more bombs left, Jack?" asked Tom.
"A few," answered his chum.
"Let 'em have it now. We're right over a big building that seems to beuntouched."
Down went the bombs, and such an explosion resulted that it could meanbut one thing. They had set off a munition factory. This, as the boysafterward learned, was the case.
So great was the blast that the great plane skidded to one side, and amoment later there came a cry of alarm from some of the crew.
"What's the matter?" shouted Tom.
"Out of control," was the answer. "One of the motors has stopped, andwe've got to go down."
"Can't we go up?"
"No!" was the despairing answer. "We've got to land within the Germanlines."
And down the great Italian plane went, while her sister ship of the airsailed safely off, for it would have been foolhardy for her to havetried to come to the rescue.
The crew worked desperately to send their craft up again, but it wasuseless. Lower and lower she went, fortunately not being fired at, sogreat was the confusion caused by the destruction of the factories.
"Take her down as far away as possible from this scene," said Tom to oneof his men. "If we land in a lonely place we may be able to make repairsan
d get up again."
"I will," was the answer.
Through the light from the burning buildings, a spot in a level fieldwas selected for a landing. And down the Italian plane went.
A hasty examination showed little wrong with the motor, and this littlewas quickly repaired.
But the hope of getting the airship to rise again was frustrated, forjust as the raiding party was about to take its place in the machineagain, a company of German soldiers came running over the fields,demanding the surrender of the intrepid men of the air. There wasnothing else to do--no time to set the craft on fire.
So it fell into the hands of the Germans! Tom, Jack and the others wereprisoners!