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CHAPTER XII
EXCITING EXPLOITS ON LAND

"That is the place where I live," said the elder of the two men, as he pointed to a low cottage on the side of a hill, "and Raoul here lives below the turn. We must approach the house cautiously, for we know spies to be in this part of the country."

"I will go ahead," said Raoul. "Follow and go up to your house through the orchard."

They tarried by the roadside until the signal appeared. Upon reaching the house they were greeted by Felix's wife, for that was the name Raoul bestowed on his friend. A good meal was soon spread before them, and in the meantime the lieutenant was plied with questions, as the people in that section had no opportunities for learning what was really taking place in the outside world.

Finally the lieutenant asked: "Do you know of any place where we could get some petrol?"

The men mused for a while, and shook their heads. "You know," Felix said, "everything around here is controlled by the Germans, and petrol is one of the things that is kept strictly under guard."

"Do you know the place where they store it?" inquired the lieutenant.

"Yes, but it would be dangerous to attempt to get any of it," said Raoul.

"I have a plan," said Felix, "but we cannot do anything before night. I know every step of the way to the station, and will take you there this evening."

"Good!" said the lieutenant. "In the meantime, give me a diagram of the station, and the roads leading to it. That will help me to become familiar with the surroundings."

For the next hour the lieutenant was busily engaged in learning all about the country, and where the stores and ammunition were kept.

"I think we might as well have some of that petrol," said the lieutenant with a smile, as he looked at the boys, who nodded their approval, as they were keen to participate in the plans which the lieutenant had formed.

That night, after ten o'clock, they appeared at their place of concealment, for it was thought wise to keep away from the house in the event any of the prying neighbors should happen in. Together they cautiously found their way to the railway and walked along the track until the first switch was reached. While waiting there so that Felix could point out the different objects, Ralph drew the lever, and set it so the first train would take the switch.

The lieutenant saw it and nodded approvingly. Ahead a few hundred feet was a low building, which was reached by the track which led from the switch.

"The guards are stationed at that shed across the track, and sometimes they come over," said Felix.

"But is the building open?" asked the lieutenant.

"There are no doors; only open arches. The tanks can be loaded and unloaded from the tracks," was the answer.

They were carrying three vessels, such as are usually employed for transporting petrol in small quantities, and nearing the shed the lieutenant said: "Remain here and await my orders. I will go ahead and investigate."

With two of the receptacles in his hands he crouched as low as possible, and made his way along the track, but before reaching the structure he left the track, and approached the shed from the south side. He was gone for more than fifteen minutes, and when he returned with the receptacles filled he immediately seized the other, returning with it also filled in a few minutes.

"Now, take these to the cross road, and out of sight. I will be there in fifteen minutes," and saying this he quietly left them.

The boys and Felix carried the cans to the designated place with the greatest care, for the fluid was precious to them. No sooner had they hidden the receptacles when something like a flash of lightning illuminated everything about them, and this was followed by an explosion.

Felix gasped as he gazed in the direction of the sheds, for he divined the cause. The boys, too, were startled.

"I wonder if the lieutenant did that?" asked Ralph.

"I have no doubt of it," replied Felix.

"Do you really think he did it? I wonder if he is hurt?" said Alfred, his voice in a tremor.

They waited for more than a half hour. What if the lieutenant had been caught in the catastrophe? They could see the soldiers at the station rushing hither and thither, and the people were going toward the station from all directions.

"Mighty good thing we hid in this place," said Felix.

Felix and the boys were now in consternation, and as they had about decided to go up to their former place of concealment, the headlight of a train approached from the south. It slowed down a little as it neared the station.

"The switch!" was Ralph's exclamation. As he said that the train reached the switch, and turned to the track leading to the fiercely burning shed. Half of the train ran through a sea of fire before it could be checked. It was a terrifying sight, and Ralph shook with fear at the sight. Fortunately, it was a freight train, or the toll of death would have been awful.

"This begins to look bad for us. I am afraid the lieutenant has been captured. This place is getting to be too dangerous, and we must leave at once," said Felix, as he seized one of the cans.

"I will go down and see what the trouble is," said Alfred, but Felix shook his head. Nevertheless, although Ralph also remonstrated, and insisted on accompanying him, Alfred had his way. One would be safer than two, he thought, and without further words he crawled along the fence, avoiding contact with those who were in the near vicinity.

A few minutes after Alfred left, the lieutenant returned, and was shocked to learn of Alfred's journey.

"Take these cans up to the house, and I will go back and try to find him," he told them.

Alfred, meanwhile, had reached the track near the switch, and not far from the rear end of the burning train. As he was about to cross the track his foot struck an object, and he fell across the track. He was surprised to see several men appear and gaze at him, and it must be admitted that he was decidedly nervous over the situation. However, he did not venture to say anything, but quickly started at the fire, for he now stood with others, in the full glare of the flames. As no one paid any attention to him, it occurred to him that he had as much right there as the villagers.

All about him he heard criticisms of the calamity, and some one suggested that the fire and explosion was caused by a French airship, and, in fact, this seemed to be the general opinion.

Alfred wandered about listlessly, now feeling assured that the people knew nothing of the lieutenant, for he was certain that the news of the capture of a Frenchman would cause great excitement. Waiting the first opportunity, he slipped over the fence, and crawled along in the shadow of some brush for several hundred feet, when, to his consternation, a tall man arose in his path.

He turned, and was about to leap the fence, when he heard a familiar voice: "Alfred."

He immediately recognized the lieutenant, and it is questionable which of the two felt happier at the meeting. They quickly ascended the hill, where they met a gloomy pair in Ralph and Felix, and the lieutenant told his story. He had allowed the petrol to run from one of the tanks after he took away the last receptacle, and when he returned he tapped three of the other tanks, expecting to wait five or ten minutes before firing it.

While thus waiting two of the guards approached, and he hid behind a box car on the opposite siding. He feared that his plans had miscarried, for he felt sure the guards would discover the petrol. They did not, however, go into the sheds, but remained outside, engaged in conversation for more than ten minutes. When they left he lost no time in again crossing the track.

He reasoned that the whole of the interior of the first set of sheds must have been flooded by that time, and the problem now was to ignite it, and get away safely, so he struck a match and lighted a small saturated cloth, which was thrown into the nearest opening. It caught instantly, and as the entire shed was now filled with the vapor, the explosion followed before he could get across the track. It was so great in violence that he was hoisted from his feet, so it seemed to him, and completely stunned. How long he remained in that condition of half stupor he did not know, but he soon heard a babel of voices, and saw everything about him as bright as day. Then, to his surprise, a train came up the switch, and rushed through the fire. It was this which probably saved him from being detected.

"You may be sure," he said, "that as soon as my senses returned I knew what had happened, and that train started my sluggish brain into activity. I ran away from the train, and so did several others. No one cared to follow me, thinking, of course, that I belonged to the crew. That explains my long absence."

"Now, how are we to get the petrol over to the machine?" asked Ralph.

"We must ask Felix about it," said the lieutenant. "Probably you can help us out in that direction?"

"I have a light wagon," said Felix, "but we must not venture out with it until after midnight; in the meantime I will go down to the village and get all the news."

He returned in an hour. "It is reported that an airship did the damage," said Felix.

Shortly after two o'clock in the morning the light wagon was on hand, and Raoul accompanied them. After loading the wagon with the cans they started on the trip through the forest. Felix and Raoul both remained with the lieutenant and the boys until the tanks were repaired, and the sun had appeared. The machine was then turned around, and headed for the opening in the forest through which they had entered. Felix and Raoul, in the meantime, diligently cut away the underbrush and bushes in the path of the machine so it would be able to make a fair start.

The boys now mounted the machine after shaking hands with the two men, and the lieutenant, reaching into his pocket, drew out a hundred franc note, which he tendered to them. They refused to take it. The lieutenant then threw it on the ground, saying: "This belongs to Belgium, and you had better take it."

"Good bye, and God bless you," shouted Felix, as the motor began to hum. The machine gliding down the incline quickly gathered speed, and it was soon in the air.

After reaching an altitude of a thousand meters, the lieutenant said: "It would be interesting to pay the village a visit after our pleasant experience there."

Ralph, accordingly, turned the rudder, and the machine swung to the right. It required only a few minutes to reach the scene, and there, notwithstanding the distance, they could see the blackened and still smoking ruins in the two immense spaces adjoining the station.

Now, for the first time, they appreciated the fact that a worthy task had been accomplished, for this station was one of the most important oil supply points along that whole line.

The soldiers were rushing wildly about the station grounds, and the officials there were no doubt now assured, after seeing the machine, that the depot had actually been destroyed by a bomb from that airplane.

The machine was now directed toward Longwy, and after giving that city a wide berth, flew directly south, with Verdun as the objective. The grounds below and to the west of that city were reached before ten o'clock, to the astonishment of the men quartered there, for it had been reported the night before that the lieutenant and the boys had been captured or killed in the fight at Longwy.

The lieutenant won the cross for the exploit, and the boys received honorable mention from the government.

CHAPTER XIII
A DARING BOMB RAID TO THE RHINE

The exploits of the lieutenant and the boys soon became the talk of the camp. From enemy sources more was learned later about the results of the destruction of the oil station, which fully confirmed the earlier reports of the great damage which had been done. Although up to this time there had been some objection raised against the flights of the boys it must be said that after that event there was no one to criticise them.

During the winter months not much was done excepting scout work, as the weather was too severe for the men in the trenches to attempt any advances, but as the spring months came on everything became more active, thus imposing greater duty on the air fleet.

Not much of personal interest to the boys took place until May, when the great raid was planned to attack the munition factories and chemical works at and near Ludwigshafen, on the Rhine.

"Ralph, did you hear that there is going to be a big expedition this week right into Germany?" said Alfred, who had been with the lieutenant at headquarters early one morning.

"No, although the boys are always talking about something of that kind," replied Ralph.

"But this is a sure go; the lieutenant told me so a few minutes ago," responded Alfred.

"Is the lieutenant going, do you know?" asked Ralph.

"Yes, I suppose that is why he told me about it," answered Alfred.

"I wonder whether they will let us go with him?" asked Ralph.

"Well, I didn't ask him, but I looked at him pretty hard, and I guess he knows how we feel about it," answered Alfred.

The rumor turned out to be true, for the following day orders were formally received to prepare eighteen machines for a raid to the Rhine. The lieutenant announced the news to the boys, and added: "I suppose, of course, you wouldn't like to go on such a venturesome mission?"

"Go!" exclaimed both boys in unison.

The lieutenant laughed. "Well, if you insist on it I shall have to take you with me. The Seraph (which was the name of their airplane, although it was officially known as No. 47) will be fixed to carry a dozen bombs for the occasion."

"But how about the quick firer?" asked Ralph.

"We must dispense with that on this trip. Bombs are more valuable," answered the lieutenant.

"Well, aren't we going to take any guard ships along?" inquired Alfred.

"Oh yes; six of the machines will be armed, but we must use every ounce we can carry on the Seraph. Before starting we must go over the route, as similar instructions will have to be issued to all of the flyers," remarked the lieutenant.

"Do you know where we are to go?" asked Ralph.

"The objective point is Mannheim on the Rhine. The river is eighty miles due east, and Mannheim is about fifty miles farther down the river. That city is on the eastern bank of the river, and Ludwigshafen is a small town, on the opposite shore where the great laboratory of Badische Analin and Soda Fabrik is located," remarked the lieutenant.

"So we are going to destroy a soda factory?" said Ralph with a grin.

"Not exactly," replied the lieutenant, amused at the intimation. "The principal thing turned out at the plant before the war was nitrate, a chemical most essential in the manufacture of explosives, and the importance of the place may be understood when I tell you that fully two-thirds of this product used by the Germans comes from that place."

"When will the start be made?" asked Ralph excitedly.

"Tomorrow," was the reply.

"Then I want to see the map," said Ralph.

"By all means," answered the lieutenant. "Now, you will notice that here is a canal shown on the map which runs due east. That is the Rhine-Marne, which parallels this river, the Zorn. The Zorn flows into the Rhine at Strassburg. You know, of course, that rivers, or canals, are the best guides for our purposes, so we must get these firmly fixed in our minds."

"Yes, that and the towns are sure to carry us along without mistake," remarked Alfred. "What is that place, Saarburg? It is on the river."

"That is an ancient town, and you can hardly fail to recognize the place, for it is surrounded by a great stone wall. It also contains a strong garrison. Now note the next important place, twenty miles farther on; that is Zabern. From that place we can see the Rhine at various places, as we intend to fly at an altitude of two thousand meters, or, as you would say, 6500 feet."

"Why is it necessary to go to such a high altitude?" asked Alfred.

"Because at Saarburg, Zabern and Brumath they have long range anti-airship guns, and we cannot take any chances," replied the lieutenant.

The camp was a seething place of excitement the following morning. Twelve of the machines carried bombs exclusively; some of the airplanes had six bombs, each weighing 180 pounds; one had three bombs of 300 pounds each, and the Seraph carried ten 120-lb. high-explosive cylinders.

These were placed in a suitable case having compartments, the lower ends of the compartments being provided with outwardly opening doors, capable of being released by the pressure of the foot operating against a lever.

"I am going to rig up the cameras so we can take pictures of the explosions," said Alfred, as they made their way to the hangar.

"That is a splendid idea," remarked the lieutenant. "Such an enterprise would be commended by the Intelligence Department of the War Office. By all means make the arrangements, for we expect to start in an hour."

Alfred rushed over to the supply depot, and soon had the cameras in his possession, together with extra rolls of films. Ralph accompanied the lieutenant to the hangar to note the placing of the bombs.

"Why are the bombs placed with the pointed ends up?" asked Ralph, as the men were placing them in position.

"So the fulminate cap can be placed on, preparatory to launching," remarked the foreman.

"Why, won't they go off without the cap on? Wouldn't a concussion explode them?" he asked.

"Well, it would require a pretty tough jar to make them go off," replied the man.

At the appointed time the eighteen machines arose, and started for the east. The sun was full in their faces, but the misty weather made it look like a great red ball, symbolic of the day's work. It was hard to get away from the glare of the sun as they arose to the height which the orders compelled them to take, and at Saarburg some of the machines were actually hit by missiles from the anti-airship guns.

The first city of importance to greet their eyes, after leaving Brumath, was Lauterbach, and then Karlsruhe, a city of over 100,000 was sighted.

"We are now thirty-five miles from Ludwigshafen," shouted the lieutenant, through the tube. "Keep well to the west of the river, and maintain the same height, until the city is reached."

Two miles before Mannheim was reached eight of the machines swerved to the right, and crossed the river, their destination being the town of Oppau, several miles beyond the town, where large manufacturing establishments were turning out ammunition.

"We are bound for the chemical factories," said the lieutenant. "See the workmen running about. They have, no doubt, heard of our mission by this time."

"Which way shall I point the camera?" asked Alfred.

"Straight down," replied the lieutenant. "I am going to signal No. 62 to take the lead, so we will be the fifth in line. That will give you a splendid opportunity to notice the effect of the explosions and to snap them."

The lieutenant set the signal, "echelon formation," which means step formation, one machine being ahead and a little to the right or to the left of the succeeding one. In that manner the ten machines flew along, the distance between them being about eight hundred feet, and by this arrangement each succeeding machine was able to observe the effect of the bomb dropped by the machine ahead.

Mannheim was avoided, and the machines steered straight for the chemical headquarters on the left side of the stream where No. 62 released the first bomb. Alfred strained his eyes, and saw a flash below. It missed a building, and he shouted the information to Ralph through the tube.

"If that had gone a hundred feet to the right it would have taken a dandy building,—there, the second shot did it; that came from old Spic's machine; whew-w-w, but look at it! That smoke is as black as coal,—must be lots of chemicals there. Another,—and the second building smashed to flinders. The lieutenant is going to drop the first one,—down she goes! I took two fine ones just now. I'll bet the last picture will show it up just as it happened. Two more snaps. We are going to turn and go back. 62 is making the circle." Thus Alfred graphically described the first trip over the doomed town.

A dense cloud was now coming up, or, rather, bunches of them in various places where the missiles struck, and just as the Seraph was making the turn a tremendous explosion was heard, which actually seemed to jar the machine. Alfred arose from his seat, and the lieutenant's tense face showed that something unusual had happened, as he gazed below. All the buildings were emptied and scores of operatives were lining up along the river bank, and moving toward the great bridge south of the works.

"Did you notice that big explosion?" asked Alfred through the tube.

Ralph nodded his head affirmatively.

"That hit the largest building in the place, and there isn't much left of it. Did you see that tall chimney at the left side of the town? Well, that looks just like a big cannon with the smoke and fire coming out of it," commented Alfred.

The ten ships crossed the town twice, discharging all their bombs, but they waited in the air for twenty-five minutes until the first of the detached airplanes from the north appeared. During this time there was plenty of opportunity to see the extent of the damage which had been done to the great factories.

At a signal the airplanes, constituting the squadron, were lined up in two columns, and before they had proceeded far the signals told the success of that part of the squadron which had gone to Oppau. The signal was now set for "Home," and the machines, by this time lightened of their missiles, made a tremendous speed, until after they left the Rhine, and were making the last lap of the journey, when the machine carrying Captain De Goye and his Adjutant Buanau-Varilla, was forced to descend, owing to an accident.

The different machines circled around, hoping to be able to render assistance, but shortly after the airplane landed it was discovered to be in flames, and it was conjectured that seeing relief was out of the question the aviators had destroyed the machine to prevent its being of any use to the enemy.