mbs.

Each plane was to let just one missile go, and no more. If the castle
had one stone left on another after the rain of aerial torpedoes had
come to an end, it would be vastly surprising.

True, it was a French chateau, and it seemed too bad to have to expend
any of their precious bombs in bringing about its downfall. But of
course they knew full well it was the policy of the Huns never to leave
anything intact that could be of the slightest assistance or comfort to
the enemy. Hence the annihilation of the chateau was already ordained
when Ludendorff should be through using it.

Jack primed himself for his work, though it must be Tom who would give
the word when the exact second arrived for the bomb to be released. One
pressure on the trigger, and down through the slanting tube would speed
the messenger of destruction, bent on its fateful errand.

They were one of the last pair in line, consequently they might expect
to hear some sign of the dreadful work before their time came to join
in.

Guns were beginning to sound, and the raiders could see spiteful flashes
here and there. Evidently, if Ludendorff did have his headquarters here,
he had been judicious enough to mount a number of anti-aircraft guns to
combat the raiding planes should they appear at any time.

But the firing was only haphazard work, because the searchlight that
began now to play upon the airplanes could reveal only one bomber at a
time. Thus the shrapnel burst much above their level, so deceptive was
the glare.

Then came a sudden, terrific crash, sounding almost as if the battery of
Heaven's heaviest artillery had broken loose in one frightful
thunderclap. At the same time a blinding flash from below showed Jack
flying timbers and scattering stones.

The first shot from the bombers had been well sent and accomplished all
that was expected of it. Hardly had the dancing echoes bounded from a
neighboring elevation than there came a second explosion, if anything
louder than the preceding one.

So the bombs exploded in pairs, just as they were let go by the units in
the double column of advancing raiders. Two, four, six had gone, and if
all struck as true to the mark as that initial one, there must be little
left of the doomed castle by now.

Jack was in a fever of suspense. He feared that the signal to cease
firing might be given before he could drop his bomb, the commander of
the bombing fleet having decided enough damage had already bee