Page 43 - A Hero of Liége

well, and it will only take a few seconds to get off."

At the first words of English the mechanic shouted with alarm; but his cry
was drowned by the whirring of the propeller, and before he could repeat it

he was locked into the cupboard. Then the Englishman carried out
Kenneth's instructions. As soon as he was in his place, Kenneth threw the
engine into gear, and the machine glided forward out of the shed into the

dimly lit open space beyond. In a few yards it began to rise. There were
shouts of surprise from the few men about the grounds and the mechanics

in the beershop outside, scarcely heard by the airmen.

The monoplane soared up and up, unnoticed by the noisy multitudes in the

crowded streets below. It was soon out of sight. Suddenly a beam of
blinding light flashed upon it from some point high above the ground.

"The searchlight on the cathedral steeple," shouted Kenneth to his
companion. "But there's no danger; they'll recognise it as a Taube."

The searchlight followed its course for a few minutes; then was shut off.

"The second trick is to us!" cried the passenger.

But Kenneth did not hear him. His whole attention was given to the
machine.