Besides the high explosives intended to shatter walls and wreck buildings when they fell, the raiders also carried a supply of lighter missiles. These were meant to scatter liquid fire broadcast, and start innumerable conflagrations that it would be impossible for human skill to extinguish. Thus they took pattern of the German fire-bombs which had so often been rained down on London.
Suddenly began a most remarkable exhibition of bombardment, with those immense bat-like planes hovering far above the munition plant and discharging their terrible freight as fast as they could find themselves at the proper angle to insure a possible hit.
Bang! Boom! Bang!
While the explosions came but faintly to the ears of those a mile above, the observers saw most thrilling things taking place below them.
There were fires blazing in half a dozen different sections. These sufficed to light up the entire plant, so that the remainder of the bombs could be let loose with greater accuracy, and accomplish still more damage.
Tom continued to guide the plane, following the one ahead in ever widening circles.
On his part Jack kept releasing such of the bombs as had not been let go. While unable to more than surmise where these landed, still the youth felt confident that they had given a good account of themselves.
At last it was over, and the “home” signal was given. Both young aviators were more than glad to see it, for they had become fairly sickened with the sight below, and with realizing what a terrible panic must prevail among the workers in the raided munition works.
The return voyage was started. Things went well for some time and then there came a change. The breeze increased and made it much more difficult to keep up the regular formation. Suddenly the plane which was serving Jack as a guide seemed to be swallowed up in a cloud, for he could no longer discern it ahead.
“Gee, that’s strange!” he muttered. “What became of it?”