It was Chase Manning who finally broke the silence.
"I say, fellows," he called, in a voice which trembled, "I thought I heard a noise somewhere. Did you?"
"Where? What did it sound like?" asked Don, faintly.
"Not a hundred miles away; and it seemed to fill the whole world. I say, Dunstan, how are you feeling?"
"Kind of mixed," grinned Dunstan; "but very thankful to be still here on earth—a most unexpected privilege, I can assure you. Boys, I don't think we need continue our flight. Look!" He waved his hand toward the building. "The Germans have made a mighty good job of it."
"Yes; and having done so I don't believe they'll send any more marmites in this direction," declared Don. "What a thriller that was!"
"No words in any language could ever begin to describe it," said Chase shudderingly. "What a sight!"
It was indeed a melancholy-looking spectacle upon which the three grave-faced ambulanciers were gazing. Of the once great and stately structure there remained but a few bits of scarred, unsightly walls, and the surrounding ground was covered with a vast collection of wreckage, all showing the fearful force of the explosions. The impenetrable black smoke had thinned out, though a haze still hovered over the ruins, to soften their ugly and forbidding aspect.
Though feeling quite sure that no immediate danger existed, the boys, to be on the safe side, withdrew to a point some distance away. They were troubled in mind. Had the airplane observer seen them? Had they not visited the château it might still have been standing.
"What is to be done?" asked Chase.