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ind their way to the garages until daylight。 The unusualness of it all was almost stimulating。 At the top of the broad thoroughfare； Thomson turned to the left through the Pall Mall Arch and passed into St。 James's Park。 He strolled slowly along until he came to the thoroughfare to the left； leading down to the Admiralty。 There he paused for a moment； and； turning around； listened intently。 He was possessed of particularly keen hearing and it seemed to him as though from afar off he could hear the sound of a thousand muffled hammers beating upon an anvil； of a strange； methodical disturbance in the air。 He grasped the railing with one hand and gazed upward with straining eyes。 Just at that moment he saw distinctly what appeared to be a flash of lightning in the sky； followed by a report which sounded like a sharp clap of thunder。 Then instinctively he covered his eyes with his hands。 From a dozen placesone close at handa long； level stream of light seemed to shoot out towards the clouds。 There was one of them which came from near the Carlton Hotel； which lit up the whole of the Pall Mall Arch with startling distinctness； gave him a sudden vision of the Admiralty roof； and； as he followed it up； brought a cry to his lips。 Far away； beyond even the limits of the quivering line of light； there was something in the sky which seemed a little blacker than the cloud。 Even while he looked at it； from the Admiralty roof came a lurid flash； the hiss and screech of a shell as it dashed upwards。 And then the sleeping city seemed suddenly to awake and the night to become hideous。 Not fifty yards away from him something fell in the Park； and all around him lumps of gravel and clods of earth fell in a shower。 A great elm tree fell crashing into the railings close by his side。 Then there was a deafening explosion； the thunder of falling masonry； and a house by the side of the arch broke suddenly into flames。 A few moments later； a queer sight amongst all these untoward and unexpected happenings； a fire engine dashed under the arch； narrowly missing the broken fragments of brick and stone； swung around； and a dozen fire…hoses commenced to play upon the flaming building。
The darkness was over now； and the silence。 There were houses on the other side of the river on fire； and scarcely a moment passed without the crash of a falling bomb。 The air for a second or two was filled with piteous shrieks from somewhere towards Charing…Cross； shrieks drowned almost immediately by another tremendous explosion from further north。 Every now and then； looking upwards in the line of the long searchlights； Thomson could distinctly see the shape of one of the circling airships。 Once the light flashed downwards； and between him and Buckingham Palace he saw a great aeroplane coming head foremost down； heard it strike the ground with a tremendous crash； heard the long death cry； a cry which was more like a sob； of the men who perished with it。 。 。 。
Every moment the uproar became more deafening。 From all sorts of unsuspected places and buildings came the lightning quiver of the guns； followed by the shrieking of the shells。 Right on to the tops of the houses between where he was standing and the Carlton； another aeroplane fell； smashing the chimneys and the windows and hanging there like a gigantic black bat。 There was not a soul anywhere near him； but by the occasional flashes of light Thomson could see soldiers and hurrying people in the Admiralty Square； and along the Strand he could hear the patter of footsteps upon the pavement。 But he himself remained alone； a silent； spellbound； fascinated witness of this epic of slaughter and ruin。
Then came what seemed to him to be its culmination。 High above his head he was suddenly conscious of a downward current of air。 He looked up。 The shouting voices； apparently from the falling clouds； voices unfamiliar and guttural； warned him of what was coming。 The darkness which loomed over him； took shape。 He turned and ran for his life。 Only a little way above his head a storm of shrapnel now was streaming from the lowered guns of the Admiralty。 Turning back to look； he saw； scarcely fifty yards above him； the falling of a huge Zeppelin。 He felt himself just outside its range and paused； breathless。 With a crash which seemed to split the air； the huge structure fell。 The far end of it； all buckled up； rested against the back of the Admiralty。 The other end was only a few yards from where Thomson stood； at the bottom of the steps leading up into Pall Mall。 A dozen searchlights played upon it。 Men suddenly appeared as though from underneath。 Some of them stood for a moment and swayed like drunken men； others began to run。 Round the corner from the Admiralty Square a little company of soldiers came with fixed bayonets。 There was a shout。 Two of the men ran on。
Thomson heard the crack of a rifle and saw one of them leap into the air and collapse。 The other one staggered and fell on his knees。 A dozen of them were there together with their hands stretched to the skies。 Then Thomson was conscious that one of the oil…clad figures was coming in his direction； making for the steps； running with swift； stealthy gait。 A flash of light gleamed upon the fugitive for a moment。 He wore a hat like a helmet； only his face； blackened with grease； and his staring eyes； were visible。 He came straight for Thomson； breathing heavily。
〃Hands up！〃 Thomson cried。
The man aimed a furious blow at him。 Thomson； who quite unconsciously had drawn a revolver from his pocket； shot him through the heart； watched him jump up and fall； a senseless； shapeless heap upon the bottom of the steps； and； with a queer instinct of bloodthirstiness； ran down the line of the wrecked Zeppelin； seeking for more victims。 The soldiers were coming up in force now； however； and detachments of them were marching away their prisoners。 Another company was stationed all around the huge craft； keeping guard。 Thomson walked back once more towards the Admiralty。 The sky was still lurid with the reflection of many fires but the roar of the guns had diminished； and for several minutes no bomb had been thrown。 With the revolver in his hand still smoking； he ran into a man whom he knew slightly at the Admiralty。
〃Thomson； by God！〃 the man exclaimed。 〃What are you doing with that revolver？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered。 〃I've just shot one of those fellows from the Zeppelin。 How are things going？〃
〃There are six Zeppelins down in different parts； and a couple of dozen aeroplanes；〃 the other replied。 〃Woolwich is safe； and the Houses of Parliament and Whitehall。 Heaps of reports to come in but I don't believe they've done much damage。〃
Thomson passed on。 It was lighter now and the streets were thronged with people。 He turned once more towards the Strand and stood for a moment in Trafalgar Square。 One wing of the National Gallery was gone； and the Golden Cross Hotel was in flames。 Leaning against the Union Club was another fallen aeroplane。 Men and women were rushing everywhere in wild excitement。 He made his way down to the War Office。 It seemed queer to find men at work still in their rooms。 He sent