"Now!" said Lannes in sudden, sharp tones.
The aeroplane dipped with sickening velocity, but John steadied himself, and watching his chance he threw four bombs so fast that the fourth had left his hands before the first touched the ground. An awful, rending explosion followed, and for a minute the Arrow rocked violently, as if in a hurricane. Then, as the waves of air decreased in violence, it darted upward on an even keel.
John saw far below a vast scene of wreckage, amid which lay many dead or wounded men. Motors were blown to pieces and cannon dismounted.
"Score heavily for us," said Lannes. "I scarcely hoped for such a goodly blow as this while we were on our way!"
John would not look down again. Despite the value of the deed, he shuddered and he was glad when the Arrow in its swift flight had left the area of devastation far behind.
"We're flying over the French now," he said. "So I expected," said Lannes. "Can you see a hill crested with a low farm house?"
"Yes," replied John, after looking a little while. "It's straight ahead. The house is partly hidden by trees."
"Then that's the place. You wouldn't think we'd come nearly fifty miles, would you, John?"
"Fifty miles! It feels more like a thousand!"
Lannes laughed, this time with satisfaction, not excitement.