It's going to kick up a terrible fuss.
My advice is that we lay flat on the ground, hold our ears and bury our
faces. Immediately after the blast we'll run the machine out and get up
as swiftly as possible."
"I can imagine the effect of the explosion," said Chester.
"Well, I can't," returned Hal; "nor can you. How many men it may kill,
how many it may maim and what damage it will do cannot be estimated. But
one thing sure, immediately afterwards every sleepy German soldier within
fifty miles will be on the alert. The Germans will know it was not an
accident. They will attribute the explosion to a bomb dropped from the
air. We may have trouble reaching our lines."
"I wish you hadn't done it, Hal," mumbled Stubbs, whom the lads had
found hiding beside the aeroplane. "It will dig a hole a mile deep in
the ground. Rocks, guns and everything will come down like hail. We may
be killed."
"Quiet, Stubbs!" ordered Hal. "Flat on the ground with you now. Hold your
ears and bury your faces until I tell you to get up."
He suited the action to the word. Chester and Stubbs followed his
example.
For long moments, it seemed to them, they waited for the sound of the
blast that would shake the country.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226