Commander Lawless V.C.

The Lieutenant was sucking vigorously at an empty pipe, and, although his face wore an expression of deep melancholy, this was not a case of cause an

more acute as time went on. That this should happen to a man who had navigated a little cockle-shell of a destroyer in the stormiest weather with never a qualm seemed preposterous. But it was so, and, though the shameful secret was shared only by his mechanic, he was always fearing discovery. Also, b

and fervently wished himself back aboard the old Knat, c

ke Cassidy, the mechanic. Mike was fumbling in his

vil!" h

Lawless, sudde

lf I wus spaki

s, eh?" said the Lieutenant

hen mislaid had come to light. He took them out, and then threw down the piece of paper, which fluttered to the ground. The Lieutenant idly picked it up, his tho

and conviction of the person or persons who on the night of the 4th inst. caused dis

rom the statement he had just read. Still, it puzzled him. Why should any "person or persons

at least, forgot all about the notice. It was no

o-night, Mike, so have everything r

wered Mike, turning a hot and

abortive, and the entrance to the Forth was guarded by destroyers and submarines. Still, the seemingly impossible sometimes happens in time of war, and there was always a chance that the enemy might creep through the defences by some means or other. Already an apparently harmless merchant steamer h

ut along the coast from Fife Ness to St. Abb's Head. The aviators so employed found it a mon

spectacle with the lighted towns and cities beneath. But now Edinburgh, Linlithgow, and Dundee, and even the small towns and villages, were practically in darkness, since nearly all the public lights, besides t

this!" growled the Lieutenant to himself as, just before daw

that within twenty-four hours he would have

it just above the bridge, when Mike, who sat immedi

me, or have the hivi

nd-screen with which the machine was fitted made conv

orr. Sure now, is it up

for all the world like distant stars, shining up instead of down upon them. They were certainly not lamps of any sort, and the dull glow they gave out seemed as if it might be t

s a train rumbled across the bridge, and during its passage Lawless noted that the luminous specks disappeared. They were again observab

r business!"

ations that night, so he continued his flight

e the hangar, "don't say anything about those lights we saw

wless was strolling away when

ulated aloud. "I b

int marks on the Forth Bridge. No doubt the misguided "person or persons" who had daubed the bridge ha

object? If for a joke, it was difficult to see where the humour came in; if

t the bridge when I've res

y visible, though not, of course, phosphorescent in the daylight. It struck him as peculiar that these marks had a definite shape, or rather two definite sh

est part of the bridge; in other words the parts which would be easiest to destroy by means

ftly when he had ma

manding officer listened patiently at first because he was a good-natured fellow and liked to see his officers exercise initiative and resource. But his interest in the story soon flagge

rly, "it requires no great effort of imagin

not an imaginative man and prided himself upon the fact. He didn't regard imagination as consistent w

but unfortunately the grounds upon which you bas

tled the matter so far as the c

ing expedition, he brought with him a curious looking implement. It consisted of a stout spar about ten

ond the driver's seat, somewhat after the manner of a steel-pointed ram. This done, and it being time to set off,

ether the luminous marks were still visible. Having satisfied himself that they showed up a

e Lieutenant, who had been gazing expectantly int

anything in

keen eyes, raised himself a little an

t a dirigible, 'tis the g

satisfaction. "And, what's more," he added under

en as the Lieutenant spoke the dirigible changed from a blurred outline into a well-defined shape

" murmured the Lieutenant, almost with a chuckle; and he gave a gl

rcled above the dirigible, and then swooped down and passed abr

ge!" he shouted gle

to rip it up with the hooked knife attached to the spar. That was his sole weapon of offence, and

number of separate gas compartments, so that a leakage in one would not materially affect the stabil

a swordfish might attack a whale. Suddenly there was a tearing, ripping sound; the monoplane quivered from nose to tail wi

mured Lawless as he brought the head of the ma

shouts from the airship, and the next mom

eumatic gun," ejacu

making a tremendous slit right across the upper part of one side. As Lawless brought the machine round once more he saw the airship h

cks like the last, and s

e knife thrust itself into the gas vessel, there was a sharp, cracking sound. The aeroplane seemed to stop with a terrific jerk, tilting forward to such an exten

ike. "Wus it a cyclone or a church

f the aluminium girders which formed the frame

the steering wheel

the belt of his leather jacket. Then, turning the machine, he wheeled round once more, rose above the dirigible,

ent and horror, stood up and leapt out of the monoplane, a

had known, before making his perilous leap, that he was courting almost certain death, for, shoul

serious interruption. There were no anti-aircraft guns in the neighbourhood at that time, while an attempt to

peared in the darkness, and Lawless supposed th

the rounded edge of the gas vessel. Lawless did not notice him at first, but when the portion o

il!" he

peared above the edge of the balloon, but on the opposite side and Lawless realised that his first plan was now hopeless. There was nothing for it but to await the attack. Yet even then he could not restrain a grim smile

muscles for the coming struggle. Then, as if acting upon a given signal, the two Germans simult

less death, and so Lawless, guessing what they wanted, threw his knife away and made a sign that

ced the noose beneath the aviator's shoulders, then, both holding the line, they lowered their prison

d, turning, the Lieutenant saw that his questioner wa

enant Lawless

deigning to answer what, under the circumstances, must have see

le a couple of men bent a rope round his wrists and ankles and then lashed him to one of the elastic steel girders which encircled the car. Ten minu

orked with electric torches which threw out only momentary gleams of light. Taking advantage of this, he began to work the cord w

ood free to act once more. For a time, however, he did not move, but stood as though still

of guns in the distance, and next moment the sky was illuminated by sea

given t

ys. A few seconds later the sound of firing increased, and Lawless guessed that a battery of howitzers was being trained on the dirigible. But as yet the distanc

ong other things, he noticed hand grenades placed at various points around the car. They were evidently provided for dropping on

ss than five minutes. The howitzers had by now been supplemented by small groups of sharpshooters, but with the exception of a few stray bullets which occasionally whistled pas

approaching airship. But this attempt, like the rest, was in vain, for the shells flew harmlessly below the car, and, even had they been able to reach it, an ascent of fift

nd flung it with all his strength at the gas-bag above his head, hoping that it would explode and ignite the gas. Unfortunately, i

e and must soon ignite it-gave some orders, and while several of the crew climb

o hurl it amongst them if they advanced another step. While they stood hesitating, and the commander himself

ts, the ropes were still burning. In a few seconds the fir

had opened the gas valve in the wild hope that the airship might sink to the water safely befor

horror of the threatened calamity, and all eyes were turned towards the smouldering cords, wh

he explosion took place? That was t

ed it moderately safe. Yet all the time the little wisps of flame rose faster and faster, sometimes disappearing, only to be fanned into li

lames. Now they were not more than a hundred feet above the water; a few more moments would decide the

ng to her own destruction. Boats approached in readiness to rescue the survivors should t

apparently, had not been noticed by the crew. Suddenly it flamed up, and he saw it ignite the fabric of the balloon. With a cry o

d to be a hospital ward. His head, he discovered, was bandaged, and when he attempted to

nurse was bending over h

he asked in

e gently. "Drink this," she add

een the ultimate fate of the Zeppelin. When the nurse had withdrawn

t above the water and that everyone on boar

tly afterwards he received a visit from his commanding officer. The latter was in great fettle at the honour and glory which the heroic action of Lawless had earned for the Mon

y of the extraordinary batt

ar that you have been recommended for the V.C.

newspaper containing the official notice that the Victoria Cr

ishing ye miny happy returns