Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/118

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ON LONDON
113

Jack declared he could see objects th?t might be human beings falling from the blazing mass as it neared the earth. He held his breath as he looked, shocked by the awfulness of the spectacle.

The wrecked Zeppelin disappeared beyond the roofs of rows of London houses. Then there came a rush of tens of thousands, wild to reach the spot in order to see all that was left of the great airship.

Jack would have joined in the rush, but Tom proved wiser.

"This man, who ought to know, Jack, says it's much further out than most of the people suspect, beyond the outskirts of the city proper. Let it go for to-night. Perhaps we'll find our way there in the morning."

Jack complained a little but decided in the end that it was best not to wander over London at that time of the night.

"But above all things, Tom," he said, as they started back toward their hotel, "we must see the wreckage of that airship in the morning. It's in line with our own business, understand, since we, too, are aviators. And don't be afraid that I'll be knocked out if we happen to run across one of the poor wretches who fell. I expect to get used to such things over in France. For all I know some day or other I may wind up by the same channel."