dy the deadly missiles with which they hoped to foil
the plans of their enemies below.

CHAPTER XXV

BACK AGAIN

"Yell when you want us to drop the bombs, Jacques," said Leon.

"All right."

"That's the best plan I think," said Leon to his brother. "Jacques can
see better than we can and is able to tell just when we ought to let
them go."

"If we could only blow up that train," exclaimed Earl eagerly.

"Perhaps we can."

The train was only a short distance in front of them now and the
monoplane was much nearer the ground than it had been previously.

"Get ready," warned Jacques.

"Whenever you say," returned Leon heartily.

There was a moment of tense silence, with every boy's nerves set in
preparation for their deed. Every sense was alert.

"Let 'em go!" cried Jacques.

Instantly the two bombs were released. Silently they sped down through
the darkness on their mission of death and destruction.

"Two more now," shouted Jacques sharply and the brothers hastened to
obey.

Suddenly the sound of a violent explosion came to their ears from below
and the daring young aviators peered down to see if they could discover
the results of their efforts.

"Look at that!" cried Leon excitedly.

"I should say so!" shouted Earl. "A perfect hit!"

One at least of the four missiles dispatched had gone straight to its
mark and had evidently struck directly in front of the locomotive. A
great mass of sparks shot skyward and lighted up an appalling scene of
destruction.

The engine had been derailed and had overturned. The remaining cars
had piled up one on top of the other until the whole train lay in a
tangled mass of wreckage alongside the track. The bombs had done their
work to perfection.

"Now for home," cried Jacques, immediately directing the course of the
monoplane higher and higher from the earth.

"Yes, I think we've done a night's work all right," said Leon.

"That bomb certainly landed in the right spot," exclaimed Earl warmly.

"What was on that train?" asked Leon.

"Munitions," said Jacques quickly. "Listen to that."

From below came the sound of heavy explosions and the flash of bursting
shells could be distinctly seen.

"Is that the train?" demanded Earl in amazement.

"It certainly is," exclaimed Jacques. "I guess the most of the shells
on that train will never do the Allies much harm."

Under the bright starlit sky the giant monoplane winged its way back to
its hangar.