sputtered once or twice and died.

"Gas finished?" asked Dr. Bird into the speaking tube.

"No, there is plenty of gas for another forty-five minutes. It acted
like a short in the wiring. Maybe another fragment got us that we didn't
know about. I can glide to a safe landing, Doctor. Which direction shall
I go?"

"It doesn't matter," replied Dr. Bird as he looked over the side. "Wait
a minute, it does matter. See that long low building down there with the
projection like a tower on top? I'll bet a month's pay that that is the
very place we're looking for. Glide over it and let's have a look at it.
If I am convinced of it, I'll drop a few eggs on it."

"Right!"

McCready glided on a long slope toward the suspected building. Dr. Bird
kept his eye glued to the bomb sight.

"It's suspicious enough for me to act," he cried. "Drop one!"

Carnes pulled a lever and a hundred-pound high explosive bomb detached
itself from the plane and fell toward the ground.

"Another!" cried the doctor.

A second messenger of death followed the first.

"Bank around and back over while we give them the rest."

"Right!"

The plane swung around in a wide circle.

"Volley!" cried the doctor. Carnes pulled the master lever and the rest
of the bombs fell earthward.

"Now glide to the east, McCready, until you are forced down."

* * * * *

McCready banked the plane and started on a long glide toward the east.
Carnes and the doctor watched the falling bombs. The doctor's aim had
been perfect. The first bomb released struck the building squarely while
the other landed only a few feet away. Instead of the puffs of smoke
which they had expected, the bombs had no effect. The volley which
Carnes had discharged fell full on the building as harmlessly as had the
two pilot shots.

"Were these bombs armed, Lieutenant?" demanded the doctor.

"Yes, sir. I inspected them myself before we took off and they were
fused and armed. They had always fused and should have gone off, no
matter in what position they landed."

"Well, they didn't. That building is our goal all right. Saranoff would
naturally expect an air raid and he has perfected some device which
renders a bomb impotent before it lands. How far from the building will
you land?"

"A couple of miles, Doctor."

"Get as far as you can. If you can make that line of thicket ahead,
we'll take to our heels and hope to hide in it."

"I don't think we'll hav