a bomb on the top of Cowan's head.

"Yes, you are in command," he said, rather limply, "but why didn't you
stop McGee? And since you are in command, in Heaven's name tell that
light crew to cut that light. It would be just their fool, blundering
luck to spot McGee and hold him for the Archies."

CHAPTER IV

Victory

1

McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor
every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that
had just run through Larkin's mind. It would be just his luck to be
spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam. If so, would they
recognize him? Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would
eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away? Even if they recognized
the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that
telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who
must now be looking sharp. Darkness was both his ally and his foe.

McGee was too experienced to have any mistaken notions about the hazard
of his endeavor. He knew what he was up against. In the first place, any
bombing plane was a formidable foe, and he could not know how many were
coming on this mission. All bombers were heavily armed, and had the
advantage of having at least one man free to repel attack with twin
machine guns. Many of the heavier German bombing planes carried crews of
four or five men, though these were used in attack on highly important
bases and would hardly be sent on a mission of this nature. Such
machines were quite slow and not capable of being manoeuvered quickly,
but their very size added to their invulnerability and their heavy
armament made them a thing to be avoided by any single fighter mounted
in a pursuit plane. Many pursuit pilots had learned the bitter lesson
attached to a thoughtless, poorly planned attack upon a bomber or
two-seater observation bus. They looked like an appetizing meal--but one
must have a strong stomach if he finishes the feast.

McGee knew, also, that the oncoming raiders might be pursuit planes
converted into bombers by the simple expedient of attaching bomb
releases carrying lighter pellets of destruction which could be released
by the pilot. This was not an unusual procedure, especially when the
success of the venture might hinge upon speed. Such planes could strike
swiftly, more easily avoid Archie fire, and having struck their blow
could outdistance any antagonist w