Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24


drunken1y through every fiber for the fraction
of a second gathered ITSELF and in one terrific
plunge shot downward at such an awful rate
OF speed that the engineers by the dynamos
1nstinctlvely threw themselves to the floor,
the man on the lookout seized the bars before
him, gasping for breath and the Admiral,
startled whirled toward the figure in the hood,
fearing that some fatal accident had occurred.
There, erect, triumphant, and fierce, stood
the woman glorifed who was striking the first
blow for her country's honor and her fathers
exaltation. She was fairly hurting the ma
chine through space, her hands grasping the
levers of descent and her eyes on the periscope
which portrayed the position of their helpless
victims.
Bevins, in fury of excitement, shouted his
approval with storms of oaths, completely
swept out of himself by the ferceness of the
assault. Good, good!" he shouted. That's
right Open her up wide! They're ours!
They're ours!''
Outside the Kissing air was torn by whirl-
wind of small shells fired in panic stricken
attempt to fend off this adversary which was
driving downward upon the Ito. 1t was their
last hope at defense. They had tested their
them Intellectual against an enemy that could
travel with speed beside which that of the
swiftest bird of prey was Insignificant. They
had watched those strange, uncanny things
lift themselves to prodigious altitude with
incompatible ease, carry away and rejuvenate
a wounded companion which had been struck
by the merest chance, turn toward each other
as if in communication, whirl out in long lines
betokening the perfection of control, had
waited for a downpour of missiles and then,
when amazement at this marvellous demon
stration had reached its climax, they had wit
messed the sudden swoop in their direction.
Now in hopeless impotence the men on the
deck of the doomed Ito lost their heads and
frantically to and fro. Up to the very
last one or two of the gun crews elevated and
fred-elevated and fred-with methodical
precision like men in trance and actuated
by habit only.
The panic stricken swallow vainly winging
its way through the air in wild endeavor to
escape the talons of the darling hawk would
have had more chance than they before this
onslaught. This gigantic embodiment of doom
velocity and at such an angle of fight as to
preclude all possibility of defense. Irresistible,
implacable, and noiseless, it was plunging for
the final thrust. Its very method of attack
were awed with fear. helpless, benumbed, de-
spairing, and conquered They were men
done to death and suffering the agonies of
wounds before the blow had fallen. 1t was all
accomplished with such rapidity that not even
the most terrified had time to rush to the rails
and throw himself into the sea. When the
instant of death seemed imminent they were
paralyzed into inaction, and covered together
waiting for the shock of annihilation.
And their suspense, although of different
nature, scarcely more keen and heart
breaking than that of those in the radioplane
which was hurting at them.
The Admiral was still crouching like man
prepared for a blow, when Norma with quick
energy tilted over another lever and checked
the descent Those within the shell felt their
hearts come back to the normal and once more
were able to breathe freely. 1t was like the
application of powerful brake to falling
elevator, save that there was no abrupt jar,
no discordant sound of steel on steel and no
shock of friction.
Look out Look Quit" they heard her
call. Hold fast! We're going to strike!"
And then, even as they sought positions of
security, the great radioplane felt a sudden,
sharp conclusion of impact as the top of a
fighting mast struck its bottom plate, crum-
pied like a match, and went crashing down
ward, debris of twisted, useless steel Even
within the chamber there penetrated to them
the terrified shrieks and despairing cries of
the men of Japan.
Another quick smashing blow almost threw
those at the dynamos from their feet; more
cries were heard without; and then for a
second there was silence and immobility
Even the storm of fire from the other ships
had ceased.
Norma alone seemed endowed with power
of movement, and sprang quickly from lever to
lever and switch to SWITCH issuing her battle
cry. THE dynamos! The dynamos!" she
called. Full speed, and stand clear for fear of
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