s as
Position 47.

The time was now ripe for the monitor which had successfully demolished
the redoubt to attempt a similar exploit, namely, to destroy the
junction.

The sea-plane's appearance was the signal for a furious fire from the
numerous anti-aircraft guns mounted in the vicinity of the station.

At six thousand feet the risk of being hit was small, while the height
did not prevent the observer making a fairly accurate register of the
hits.

It was a very long range, but the monitor's 14-inch guns did excellent
work. Seven shells sufficed to reduce the station to a heap of ruins
and blow whole sections of the line to atoms.

Again came a wireless order:

"Sea-plane to proceed to Zwilhuit. Attempt destruction of bridge
across canal."

Once more the Flight-Sub smiled. This was work that suited him
immensely. For the nonce "spotting" was finished with. The sea-plane
had to drop her cargo of bombs upon an important strategic position.

"All right!" exclaimed the Flying officer. "Keep a cool head. When I
give the word, press that pedal under your right foot. Bend down and
you'll find a safety pin just above the floor. Remove it, but be jolly
careful not to touch the pedal until I give the word."

Underneath the fuselage were six bombs hanging from an inclined steel
rod. These were released by means of a rachet operated by the pedal to
which the Flight-Sub had alluded. To prevent a premature release the
pedal was "locked" by a safety device. When this was removed, each
depression of the pedal would result in the liberation of a potent
missile of destruction.

The sea-plane was not alone on her errand. In her wake flew two more,
for the actual bombardment had now ceased, and the air-craft were at
liberty to engage upon a raid several miles inland.

The Huns had not constructed their strategic railway close to the Dutch
frontier without a cunning reason. Extreme care had to be exercised by
British airmen, since it was an easy matter for a bomb to drop across
the border. Nothing would please the Germans better, for at once there
would be a case of violation of Dutch territory. On the other hand,
the Huns had no scruple in mounting a battery of anti-aircraft guns,
training them in such a manner that the earthward flight of spent
shrapnel would assuredly fall upon the Dutch village of Venterloos,
which was separated from Zwilhuit by a distance of less than four
hundred yards.

In twenty min