We started at four o'clock in the afternoon and landed to reconnoiter
at a camp near the lines. While the motormen examined our motors, and
while the electricians put in the lights, we automobiled to a nearby
town and ate our dinner. We were dressed for our trip. The time set for
our ascension was nine o'clock.
At dinner the chief had said to us: "When my lights go out you will
know that I am flying as a bird flies _for their lines_!" As we stood
there watching his flight his lights went out. That was his signal to
us; _his farewell_. But we saw him once more when his swift black plane
cut across the disk of the yellow moon.
Then I went up. I rose to a height of 600 meters. I turned my last
spiral and put out my lights and the lights fixed to the wings, leaving
nothing but the little chart lamp.
The earth lay away below us, vast, dark and still. We heard no sound,
we saw no light save the pallid light of the moon. The wind was strong.
I had no guiding points. I steered by the stars. As we approached the
lines the broad fan of a searchlight fixed upon me. I made a rapid
turn. Something was coming. We saw two light-bombs and three golden
fusees shooting worms of fire.
After a flight of fifty minutes we reached our objective point. I
slowed down and we descended. When 500 meters above the earth we
dropped incendiary cans and bombs. A shower of light bombs answered
us; they showed us what we were doing and made it easier to do our
work. Then the lights of powerful projectors fastened on us. But our
work was done, and before long we were over our landing.
The home run before the light wind was a pleasure. _But a man always
remembers_, and the thought of the damage I had done haunted me! They
fired their cannon. We were so close to them I wondered they did not
hit us. On that occasion my big machine did well because my motors
were normal. But, to sum it all up in a few words, everything was in
my favor this last time. We escaped, and, what is more important, we
contributed not a little to the success of the French in Champagne.