Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 50339-h.htm or 50339-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50339/50339-h/50339-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50339/50339-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/spiderwebromance00halluoft Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). THE SPIDER WEB _My acknowledgments are due to the Editor of 'Blackwood's Magazine' and to the Editor of 'The Times.'_ [Illustration: P. I. X.] THE SPIDER WEB The Romance of a Flying-Boat War Flight by P. I. X. With Illustrations William Blackwood and Sons Edinburgh and London 1919 _TO THE JOLLY FINE FELLOWS, OFFICERS AND MEN, OF THE WAR FLIGHT, FELIXSTOWE._ CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. THE SPIDER WEB 1 II. LIKE A FAIRY TALE 38 III. THE PHANTOM FLIGHT 75 IV. STICKY ENDS OF L 43, U-C 1, AND U-B 20 109 V. THE FATAL FOUNTAIN AND END OF U-C 6 145 VI. WINGED HUNS AND THE TALE OF THE I.O. 183 VII. INTO THE BIGHT AND END OF L 53 215 VIII. THE FUTURE: RUNNING THE U.S. MAIL 245 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. P. I. X. _Frontispiece_ PORTE BABY WITH BRISTOL BULLET ON TOP PLANE _Facing p._ 4 CHART SHOWING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE NORTH SEA AND THE BIGHT OF HELIGOLAND " 8 SHEDS AND SLIPWAYS AT FELIXSTOWE " 18 FELIXSTOWE PATROL AREA WITH SPIDER WEB PATROL, SHOWING SUBMARINES SIGHTED AND BOMBED, AND THE WIRELESS FIXES FOR FOUR MONTHS " 32 5-TON FLYING-BOAT " 40 BOAT ON PATROL. 230-LB. BOMB SHOWING ON MACHINE FROM WHICH PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN " 56 DESTROYERS ON BEEF TRIP " 80 PORTE SUPER BABY TAXI-ING ON THE WATER " 104 '77 IN THE MIST " 116 BOMBS BURSTING OVER SUBMARINE " 130 LIFTING 230-LB. BOMB INTO PLACE " 144 DUTCH SAILING-VESSEL PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A FLYING-BOAT " 178