The Washburn leader., 1908-07-10

the tmmeasurable void OF the upper
air. 80 high above that 1t doated in
the broader light, scared covey Of
gigantic objects unpictured In the lore
Of flight. Onward 1t came until al.
most above. when 1t stopped and ma.
jestically hovered over them, and
seemed to be watching and waiting
for some ray Of broader light. The
pallid blue of those far-foating bodies
rendered them almost indistinguish.
able, save when now and then they
swung broadside to in deploying, re.
sumed their speed. and swept round in
circles.
Puzzled and amazed, the ofacer
handed the glasses to his companion
and watched his face attentively, as Il
hoping to read from its expression
some solution of this mysterious visi.
tation from the immense unclouded
space above. The glasses were low.
cred, and the two men with the super.
stition of ages behind them turned to
each other with pallid faces, fearing
the supernatural or the, unknown.
Again they looked, and saw that the
flying specks travelled with incredible
rapidity, and were apparently obsery.
ing them, after which, as they
watched, they saw them come to an
abrupt stop. It was enough. What.
ever they were, their presence would
be made known.
The officers sprang to the alarms,
and in an instant thunderous volIeys
beloved out across the waters, awak-
ening the other vessels. Shrill pi.
pings, the staccato blare of bugles, and
the sound Of running feet told the
story of excitement and that we'll
drilled crews were answering the call.
The hour was early for the perfect use
of flag signals; so from one warship
to another flashed the searchlight
warnings, and wireless operators in
their cabins ticked frantic messages
to outlying members Of the feet to
close in for action. Admirals and cap.
tains, who had fought successfully in
other wars and counted their service
as valuable adjuncts in any engage.
ment, stood upon the bridges or the
tlanks of the great turrets and stared
spellbound at this apparltion which
had come upon them in the night.
There it was, silent fleet of the air,
sinister and menacing, lowering over
them as If waiting opportunity or bid.
Ing It's time to strike.
A sudden evolution brought one of
those terrible adversaries to the outer
edge of the aerial formation, and
through their glasses they saw thrown
out to the winds of the morning, whip
Sing and writhing, the fag Of the Eax~
cse.. trey Rad ccrla to conquer; the
C,sast banner in the world, and the
one they had been taught through
months Of consideration to despise.
Stars on a field of blue, fit emblem for
warriors Of the clouds! And then ere
the first flag had Strengthened out its
heavy folds, the colors fluttered from
each birdlike craft, a challenge to bat
tie In which the odds were against
them.
AIoft in that heet Of the air, where
all was quiet, there was no sudden call
of excitement. For hours they had
watched and waited for the appear
ance of the enemy, and when he was
sighted far below in the murk of the
dawn each man took his post without
words; but the martial spirit which
sends men to battle burned clear and
high. The supreme test was at hand,
and the wait and preparation were at
an end. The issue was in the lap OF
the gods.
The Norma had been the first to de-
cry the oncoming feet, and Fighting
Bevins with his own hand had sig
raled his followers to reduce speed.
Now he stood at the transparent ports,
heard the sudden booming alarm, wit
messed the excitement ON the decks,
and smiled with grim Joy. BY his side
stood Norma, and not even he, trained
to strife and accustomed from early
manhood to scenes of carnage, was
more cool or determined He looked
at her questioningly, wondering
whether or no he should read in her
eyes q 6l6u VI IO6AOI oI WOesnASoo, oA0
turned from her with q glow Of admi-
ration.
"Who is going to handle her?' he
querfed, g1ancing at the hood.
'I am," she replied, as quietly as II
answering query of no moment.
He held out his hand and shook hers
warmly.
From away. in the outer distance,
where the angle was not too sharp to
prevent its elevation, came the sullen
report of gun, and shell few past
at such close range that its screaming
came to them through the thickness
Of their plate and the open upper
ports, sounding its challenge and de-
fance above the droning hum Of the dy-
namos. The girl glanced apprehenstvely
upward, but the admiral continued his
calm inspection Of the Japanese fleet.
Again from vessel closer at hand
came series of sharp reports. The
radioplane felt shivering impact, and
careened slightly in, answer to its
force. The admiral was hurled
against her metal side. and one Of the
engineers seized a rail to prevent be
ing thrown headlong against the ma
chinery.
They're trying four-inch shells on