Page:The Zeppelin Destroyer.djvu/54

 'I'm quite sure of that, Claude,' Roseye declared. 'There are lots of flying-men who, if given bombs to-morrow, would go up and cross to the enemy aircraft centres in Belgium or Schleswig and drop them—even at risk of being shot down.'

'Well, Sir Herbert,' I ventured, laughing, 'the situation is not without its humour. I don't know whether it has ever occurred to you that, in order not to unduly alarm the public, we may yet have certain regulations posted upon our hoardings that may prohibit Zeppelin commanders from cruising over England without licences; that they must have red rear-lights; they must put silencers upon their engines, and must not throw orange peel, paper bags, bottles or other refuse within the meaning of the Act into the streets in such a manner as to cause any danger to foot-passengers or create litter such as would come beneath the powers relegated to inspectors of nuisances of Boroughs. Such regulations might, perhaps, make it a penal offence if Zeppelins did not keep to the left in traffic; if bombs were dropped in places other than those properly and purposely illuminated for the purpose, or if they did not travel at a rate faster than the British aircraft.'

'Really, Claude, that's an awfully humorous idea,' remarked Sir Herbert as all at table laughed. 'In addition, it might be suggested that the heads of all dogs, ducks, cats, parrots, and the horns of gramaphones might be encased in cotton-wool to conceal their whereabouts, that no smoking be permitted, and no artificial light between one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise.'