I was now over London, unless I was much mistaken. Several other of our
bomb-dropping aeroplanes were circling below me, also unable to find the
Zeppelin.
Suddenly Teddy gave me a sharp nudge and pointed upward.
I glanced in the direction he indicated, and there saw the great long
dark hull of the airship hovering quite near us.
We were then over eight thousand feet up, and the airship was perhaps
another thousand feet higher. I could distinguish its two gondolas, and
as we passed near its stern its fins and planes were now plainly
silhouetted against the bright, steely sky.
With all speed possible I shot upward, but apparently the commander of
the Zeppelin had discovered us, while at that very same moment a
searchlight from somewhere below picked him up and revealed him, a huge
silvery object, upon the side of which was painted in black a large
iron-cross, the Hun badge of frightfulness, together with initial and
number "L39."
Scarcely had I become aware of the close proximity of the enemy when I
saw a little spurt of red flare from the forward gondola. It continued
for several moments, and I knew that it was a machine-gun spitting forth
its leaden hail upon us.
Therefore I drew away and rose still higher, while, next second, the
propellers of the monster airship began to whirr and it started away,
nose upward and due east, evidently upon its homeward journey.
Unfortunately the men manning our searchlights below kept one of their
beams upon us as well as another upon the Zeppelin, and I must confess
that both Teddy and I, in our excitement, consigned them to a place with
an atmosphere slightly warmer than the one we were at that moment
experiencing. It seemed as though the anti-aircraft gunners, knowing
the airship to be now out of range, were seized by a sudden curiosity to
see what we were doing chasing the Zeppelin away as we gradually rose
above it.
Ah! Shall I ever forget those exciting moments! Time after time the
machine-gun on the monster airship fired upon us, but I was flying in
such a manner that to hit us would, I knew, be difficult. Yet just then
a stray bullet struck one of my planes and went through it, while a
second later another tore through the casing of the fuselage.
The commander of the Zeppelin thought, no doubt, that our intention was
to rise and drop a bomb upon him, and he was now travelling very quickly
in order to try and outpace us. In this, however, he did not succeed.
How far we travelled I have no idea. In those moments I lost all sense
of time and of distance. I only know that, though so high, I could
distinguish the Thames with its few dotted lights about, though we were
rapidly leaving London behind.
We were passing over Essex, for I could plainly see the Thames widening
upon my right, and I was gradually overhauling the enemy.
At that moment I steadied myself, for I knew that the smallest slip
would mean death to us both. At signal from me Teddy--who had already
had the dynamo running for some time--placed his hand upon the switch
which controlled the unseen, but deadly current.
Slowly I crept nearer and nearer. Four thousand yards off--three
thousand--another spurt--then I judged I was only two thousand yards
away. Yet try how I would, I could get no nearer.
Again I set to work and, letting out my roaring engines to their full
power, I slowly decreased the space between the fleeing monster and
myself, Teddy still awaiting my signal.
Next instant I saw yet another spurt of fire from the rear gondola of
the Zeppelin, and felt a hot, burning sensation in my forearm.
Then I knew that I had been hit!
I nudged Teddy, and he nodded. He understood and with the end of the
box in which was the large, lens something like a camera, directed full
upon the enemy, he pulled over the switch.
The result was appalling.
Next instant there was a blinding flash as the electric sparks flying
from point to point all over the metal framework of the Zeppelin ignited
the hydrogen; a huge red burst of flame came from the centre of the
great airship, and following it was a terrific explosion, the frightful
force of which would have turned us completely over had I not been
prepared.
I swerved quickly, in order to get out of the vicinity, for the danger
at that instant was very great.
Then, as I glanced aside, I saw the huge monster plunge down to earth,
ablaze and flaring like a huge torch.
A second terrific explosion of bombs occurred when it reached the
ground, and the whole country-side, shaken as though by an earthquake,
became instantly illuminated for miles around.
Appalled at the sight, and yet relieved of the terrible tension, we both
looked down and found that the enemy airship had, fortunately, fallen
upon some flat land without houses--a wide, lonely marsh it appeared to
be.
I at once dropped to a thousand feet and then, with a final glance at
our work of destruction, turned tail and set about finding a landmark.
It was difficult, but I discovered one at last and, half an hour later,
finding old Theed's flares in Swalecliffe Park, gently planed again to
earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need I detail the congratulations showered upon Teddy and myself; of
Roseye's delight, or of her parent's enthusiasm next day? Indeed, it
seemed as though the world about us--our little world who knew the truth
of our night-exploit--had gone mad with joy.
On the following day I reported personally to the authorities, and
afterwards had a long conference with certain high officials, who
listened most intently to the description of my apparatus, and who
heartily congratulated both Teddy and myself.
That same night, indeed, my description being but superficial, experts
came down with me to Swalecliffe, where the apparatus was thoroughly and
satisfactorily tested, and declared to be an air-defence of the highest
importance, and one which must soon prove our superiority against the
Zeppelin menace.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was, I felt, my duty to reveal in the proper quarter the dastardly
attempts made upon all three of us by our enemies, directed by the man
Eastwell, who I feared knew something of our secret, whereupon orders
were at once given to the Special Branch of Scotland Yard for his arrest
under the Defence of the Realm Act.
Two officers ascended to his rooms in Albemarle Street an hour later,
but when he learnt they were detectives he dashed into his bedroom and,
without hesitation and before they could prevent him, shot himself.
Sir Herbert has now given his consent to Roseye's marriage "directly
after the war," and as for myself--well, I have been given an important
post--with Teddy, of course, as my co-worker. We are working hard day
and night in construction of certain heavy brown deal boxes, the secret
of which the enemy in our midst is straining every nerve to discover.
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The only mention of the missing airship was a telegram published in the
London newspapers on March 12, 1916, and which can be turned up in the
files by any curious reader. I here give it in facsimile:--