We saw the aeroplane coming straight towards us; everybody
rushed for the cellars, but I wanted to stay outside for the last
moment. Hardinge was with me. Suddenly I lost sight of the plane. I ran
farther out to look for it, and suddenly there was a report, and a great
column of smoke just outside the arsenal. There was another behind the
rifle shops, and another behind the boiler sheds. Now the aeroplane was
overhead. I heard a noise like tearing silk, and lay flat upon the
ground shouting to Hardinge--
"Lie flat, d----n you!"
It seemed ages before it burst. Dust and bits flew everywhere; the
windows all sprang out into the yard. I looked for Hardinge, but he was
unharmed. I had expected to be terrified, but I was feeling so bothered
about Hardinge that I had no time to think about myself.
We heard a shrill crying, "Oh--h! oh--h!"
I ran forward, crying to Hardinge, "A man's hurt!" He answered, "Is he?"
The dust was so thick I could not see at first, but as it cleared I
found a workman lying on back and elbows, his knees drawn up as though
he were trussed; his head waved from side to side, and he was uttering
spasmodic cries.
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