CHAPTER XI--THE CENTRE ARCH
"You know the railway bridge over the Ourthe, at Sy, just south ofHamoir?" the captain began, lighting a cigarette.
"Yes," said Pariset.
"A section of our sappers were told off to blow it up this morning.Their work was only half done when they were surprised and cut up by apatrol of Uhlans. The Germans very quickly repaired the damage, and arenow using the line to bring up troops and material against the Boncellesand Embourg forts."
"Well?" said Pariset, as the officer paused.
"It occurred to the Chief that you who had saved one bridge mightperhaps destroy another. It is a mere suggestion, not a command. Thework would be very risky; it is not your job, and all that part of thecountry is in German hands. But when the matter was mentioned I said Ithought you would at least make a reconnaissance and learn what prospectthere is of a successful attempt."
"Of course," said Pariset at once. "You don't know exactly how muchdamage was done?"
"No. Perhaps a bomb or two would complete it."
"That is rather doubtful," said Pariset musingly. "The chances ofhitting the bridge at the right spot from an aeroplane flying very highat speed are slight, and we should have to fly high to escape the Germanshot."
"Unless we flew in the Taube," suggested Kenneth. "In that we might getlow enough to smash the bridge before they suspected us."
"The objection to that is that you would be in almost as great dangerfrom our own guns as from the German," said the captain. "The fortswould certainly fire on you. But stay: if you decide on that, I will'phone the southern forts to pass a Taube showing the Russian flag. Thatwould protect you until you are clear of our lines."
"Very well," said Pariset. "We will start early in the morning. Do youmind getting us a Russian flag while I talk over things with my friend?"
"Not at all. I will bring it to you here."
He left them.
"It is frightfully risky," said Pariset, "but we must make the attempt.We must wear German uniforms. Your friend Granger's will come inhandy."
"You have practised bomb-dropping, of course," said Kenneth.
"Yes, but, as I said, it's a most uncertain thing. Besides thedifficulty of hitting the vulnerable spot, the bombs sometimes do littledamage. We might drop a dozen, and yet fail to destroy the bridge.It's essentially a job to be done on terra firma."
"It's not likely we should be able to land. Even if there is at themoment no considerable force in the neighbourhood the bridge is sure tobe guarded."
"That's certain. Still, it's just as well to be provided for the offchance, so I'll take, along with the ordinary bombs, a small case ofgelignite and a little electric battery--a pick-axe, too: that may beuseful."
"How far is it?"
"About twenty miles. The bridge is at a narrow gorge by the village ofSimon's Inn. There's a tunnel beyond, and the banks of the river aresteep. The railway crosses the river several times, but I'm pretty sureof the particular bridge they have tried to destroy."
They waited nearly an hour before the captain returned.
"I have had the greatest difficulty in getting the flag," he said,placing a parcel in Pariset's hands. "I tried several shops in vain,then it occurred to me to apply at the Russian consulate, and theyhappened to have a spare one. I wish you luck. Report to me athead-quarters."
At seven o'clock next morning, equipped with the needful apparatus, theyascended from their headquarters in the Taube monoplane, took aneasterly course, then swung southward and passed between the Flemelleand Boncelles forts. It was a beautiful summer morning. The countrywas bathed in sunlight, and no warlike sounds disturbed the still air.But south of the town clouds of dust hung over every road, and theycaught sight of masses of men moving northward, the sun glinting onweapons and the spikes of helmets. Pariset, in the observer's seat,felt sick at heart. How was it possible for the little Belgian army toresist these immense hordes?
The well-known shape of the aeroplane (they no longer showed the Russianflag) purchased immunity. They flew over the railway, then over theMeuse north of Huy, then sweeping to the east soon came in sight of theOurthe winding between meadows and precipitous cliffs, and the railwayto Neufchateau. The valley broadened out. Instructed by Pariset,Kenneth steered the monoplane over the village of Hamoir on the leftbank. Almost immediately afterwards they came above the cluster ofhouses at Sy, and the bridge crossing the gorge, beyond which therailway entered the tunnel.
On the north side of the bridge stood a long goods train, apparentlywaiting the signal to proceed. On the south side, part in, part out ofthe tunnel, was a train of passenger coaches, gaily bedecked with leafybranches of trees. A few soldiers had got out of the train, and weresitting smoking in the meadow. At each end of the bridge four guardswere posted.
The aeroplane passed over the cliff through which the tunnel ran, thenbore to the left in the direction of Werbomont and was soon out of sightfrom the bridge. Choosing a lonely field sheltered by a wood, Kennethbrought the machine to the ground.
"We can't destroy the bridge with bombs," said Pariset, "but it's justpossible to do it with the gelignite if you are game."
"What's your idea?" asked Kenneth.
"There's clearly a block on the line somewhere to the north. It may bea long time before it is cleared, giving us just the opportunity wewant. There's a path through the fields on the left bank, leading tothe bridge. It seems fairly covered. My idea is that you should godown to the bridge with the gelignite."
"But it is guarded," Kenneth interrupted.
"Don't be impatient. I was going on to say that I will fly over thebridge and stampede the guards. That will give you a chance to creepup. Your uniform will protect you long enough for the purpose, I hope.The Germans won't suspect you until the explosion occurs. Then it willbe a ticklish moment. The fellows who have got out of the train mayfire at you; but they are a good distance away, and you ought to havetime to rush back under cover before they can do any damage. I'll beready to pick you up. Or, if you like, I'll take the gelignite and youdrop the bombs."
"No. I've had no practice at that. I'll take my chance. But we'reabout two miles from the bridge, I fancy. It will take me at least halfan hour to get there, not knowing the way. Anything may happen in thattime."
"I'll come with you until we find a guide. There will be plenty of timefor me to come back to the aeroplane and still reach the bridge beforeyou. I will give you half an hour from now before I fly off."
They set off together, walking rapidly over the fields. Turning into alane, they came suddenly face to face with a farm boy of about sixteenyears. His jaw dropped, and a look of terror showed in his eyes when hesaw the German uniforms. Pariset spoke to him rapidly in Walloon, andgave him money. Thus reassured, he agreed to conduct Kenneth across thehill to the path which Pariset had mentioned.
"Good luck!" said Pariset, as they parted. "Don't risk too much. Ifthe stratagem fails, make your way back to the same spot."
Kenneth carried the gelignite and the battery. He gave the pick-axe tothe boy. Pariset had learnt from him that no Germans had been seen onthe lanes and roads, but they walked across the fields under cover ofthe hedgerows in case patrols or foraging parties should appear.
Their course brought them within half an hour to a field some littledistance above the bridge. Kenneth dismissed the boy, and keeping undercover to avoid observation from the trains, which were stationary in theplaces where he had seen them forty minutes before, he crept as near tothe bridge as he dared, and waited. He heard the water lapping thepiers, the voices of the guards at the nearer end, the distant hiss ofthe locomotive of the troop train blowing off steam--and then a faintdeep _burr_, growing louder moment by moment.
The guards raised their voices.
"Another Taube," said one.
"He's flying very high," said another. "Thinks we are Belgians,perhaps."
"But he's coming down," said the t
hird. "Look at that swoop! It fairlymakes me sick to see him."
Kenneth, posted under cover, was not yet able to see the aeroplane, butfrom the silence that fell upon the guards he guessed that Pariset wasexecuting one of those steep dives which make the onlooker hold hisbreath.
"I hope he won't come too low," he thought.
And then, in pursuance of the plan arranged, he began to steal along thebank of the river towards the bridge, confident that the attention ofthe guards was riveted on the aeroplane. He saw it now, sweeping roundin a huge circle, still at a great height.
When the expected signal came, it was startling in its suddenness.Kenneth had not seen an object fall from the aeroplane, but there was asharp explosion just beyond the bridge, a cloud of dust, and cries ofamazement and fear from the guards. He moved nearer to the bridge. Fromthe direction of the troop train he heard the crackle of rifles. Theeyes of the guards were still turned upwards upon the monoplane, whichwas circling round at a height of three or four thousand feet above thebridge, within range, indeed, but a difficult target.
Taking advantage of the excitement of the men, Kenneth had crept throughthe scrub on the river bank and come beneath the end of the bridge. Hehad already perceived that the stone arch at each end had beendestroyed, but the centre arch was intact, and the gaps had been coveredwith stout balks of timber on which the railway track was laid. His aimmust be to destroy the central arch. With that broken down, to repairthe bridge a second time would be a much more difficult matter.
Covered now by the bridge, he waded out to the central arch, carryinghis apparatus. He had supposed that it would be necessary to hack outwith the pick-axe a hole in the masonry large enough to hold the case ofgelignite, and the risk of being heard strung his nerves to a hightension. It was with great relief that he discovered a hole alreadymade. Apparently a charge had been laid there by the Belgian engineers,but it had failed to explode, and probably had been removed by theGermans.
He lost no time in wedging the case of gelignite into the cavity,attached the detonator, and waded back to the bank. There was nowalmost continuous rifle fire from the troops, who had alighted from thetrain and lined up on the track. The incessant noise smothered thewhirr of the propeller, but it was clear that Pariset was stillabsorbing the attention of the Germans. Kenneth crept along up stream,paying out the wire as he went, until he reached the shelter of a densethicket. Then he made the connection with the battery. Instantaneouslythere was a deafening roar, the arch collapsed, and the whole bridgefell with a crash into the river.
Somewhat breathless, Kenneth remained hidden for a minute. The rifleshots had ceased; there was a confused shouting from the troops; andthrough it he heard again the hum of the aeroplane. A bomb burst on theground near the end of the bridge. The fusillade recommenced. Seizingthe opportunity, Kenneth quitted his hiding-place, and made the best ofhis way back across the field, observing that Pariset was still circlinground in order to distract the enemy, but rising ever higher.
When Kenneth reached the rendezvous Pariset was awaiting him.
"Hullo! You're wounded!" cried Kenneth, noticing that Pariset wasgrasping his right wrist.
"Bruised by a splinter, that's all," said Pariset. "It's painful, butnot dangerous. The planes are riddled; I'm very lucky to have fared, noworse. You managed that splendidly, Ken. I was surprised you did it soquickly."
"There was already a cavity in the arch, which saved labour."
"We have both earned our dinner. You will pilot the machine back?"
"Of course. Are you sure you are not seriously hurt?"
"Quite. I only hope I get nothing worse before the war is over."