A yell of exultation rose from the watching Germans, who knew that an
explosion close to an aeroplane is often sufficient, through the force
of air concussion alone, to crumple the flimsy wings and bring it down,
even though none of the flying shrapnel from the bursting bomb actually
touch the operator or the machine.
However, they whooped their joy too soon. The flyer righted, rose,
darted confusingly to the right, then to the left, and then bored
straight into a woolly white cloudrack and was gone. The moment it
disappeared the two balloon cannon ceased firing; and I, taking stock of
my own sensations, found myself quivering all over and quite hoarse.
I must have done some yelling myself; but whether I rooted for the flyer
to get away safely or for the cannon to hit him, I cannot for the life
of me say. I can only trust that I preserved my neutrality and rooted
for both.
Subsequently I decided in my own mind that from within the Allies' lines
the Frenchman saw us--meaning the lieutenant and myself--in the air, and
came forth with intent to bombard us from on high; that, seeing us
descend, he hid in a cloud ambush, venturing out once more, with his
purpose renewed, when the balloon reascended, bearing the captain.
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