The inspecting officers extended the freedom of the town to the young aviators, but it was necessary for them to return to Dover immediately, and having assurance that there had been nothing left undone connected with their mission, they took flight that afternoon, fixing their course from the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the most conspicuous building in the metropolis.
When they reached Dover the captain had a story that a few days ago one of the destroyers had picked a German sea-plane out of the channel waters off Harwich, and it had been announced that it carried a freight of bombs, which were destroyed. The two men who formed its crew had blandly refused to give any information as to their plans.
“And while I can’t swear to the story,” averred the captain, “it gave me some worry about you. That kind of thing is pretty close.”
“Never saw another thing in the air that could catch us,” chirruped Billy.
“Don’t you go to singing yourself into the idea that your ship is the only thing afloat, my boy. The Germans have a few good birds themselves.”
The captain never figured out of reason.
Billy and Henri soon after had an experience above the Straits which convinced them that they were not the only speeders on the course, and confirmed the captain’s opinion.
They had been flying through a North Sea mist and had just lifted to a clearing when Billy, peering sideways around the rising bow, saw the nose of another airship dart out from the sheltering mist. Sharp around Billy twisted the wheel to save collision, and endeavored to swing away from the intended attack of the German crew. Henri set the engines to their maximum power, but it was too late to avoid the shot from the fore gun of the opposing aircraft. There was a ripping and rending of rods and stays. Billy turned the planes for the fall, and down they went, their stricken craft helpless and beyond control.
Striking the water, the damaged seaplane settled like a bird with a broken wing.
The craft from which the shot had been fired dived down to complete a capture, and Billy and Henri, seeing the folly of attempting to resist a stalwart crew of four, promptly surrendered.