Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/116

Rh in it all as a sort of holiday affair gotten up for their amusement.

Zipp! Bang!

Suddenly there was a blinding flash accompanied by a deafening detonation.

One of the bombs from a passing Zeppelin had dropped upon a row of tenements nearby and the walls were hurled into the street.

The greatest confusion followed, the crowd rushing this way and that in a delirium of excitement. Tom and Jack had been knocked down with many others by the concussion, but received only a few minor bruises.

"Hurt much, Jack?"

"Not a great deal, Tom. How about you?"

"A few scratches, that's all."

"Let's get out of this!"

They were quickly on their feet, and staring at the scene that lay before them. Already cries were heard from the mass of wreckage, and some of the more courageous among the spectators commenced to drag out the victims. As a rule these seemed to be women and children, the boys noticed.

The tremendous throng that gathered prevented their getting close up; but they could see ambulances come driving wildly to the spot, having been held in readiness for just such a call.