The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-07-08

gineers by the dynamos instinctively
threw themselves to the floor. the man
on the lookout seized the bars before
him. gaspIng for breath. and the adj
miral. startled. whirled toward the
figure in the hood. fearing that some
fatal accident had oc urred.
There. erect. triumphant. and fierce.
stood the woman glorifed who was
striking the first blow for her coun-
try's honor and her fs'her's exs':stion.
She was fairly hurting the machine
through space. her hands grasping the
levers Of descent and her eyes on the
periscope which portrayed the posi-
ton Of their helpless victims.
Bevins. in a fury OF excitement.
shouted his approval with storms OF
oaths, completely swept out OF himself
by the fierceness Of the assault. Good
good" he shouted That's right,
Open her up wide They're ours.
They're ouT~,"
Outside the hiesing air was torn by
a whirlwind Of small shells fred in a
panic-stricken attempt 10 fend of this
adversary which was driving down
ward upon the Ito. u was their last
hope az defense. They had tested
their guns repeatedly al long range.
and proved them Intellectual against
! an enemy that could travel with a
| speed beside which that Of the swiftest
bird Of prey was Insignificant They
| had watched those strange uncanuy
! thiags lift thcm elves 10 prodigious
altitude with ilcoml arabic ease. carry
,way and rejuvenaie a wounded com
lenion which had been struck by the
uerest chance. turn toward each olher
IS II in communication. whirl out in
iong lines betokeaing the perfection 81
control, had waited for a downpour OF
missiles; and. then, when amazement
! At this marvellous demonstration had
coached its climax. they had witnessed
! he sudden swoop in their direction
Nov in hopeless impotence the men
on the deck OF the doomed Ito lost
| their heads and ran frantically 10 and
fro. Up t. the very list. one or Two
| II he gun crews elevated and flred-'s'
Elevated and fred-with methodical
precision like men in a trance and
| ictuated by habit only.
| The panlc-strickcn swallow vainly
winsins HE way through the air in
| Wild endeavor 10 escape the talons OF
the darling hawk would have had
more chance than they before this on
slaught. This gigantic embodiment of
| doom was lcaring down upon them
with such terrific velocity and at such
an angle OF fight as to preclude all
| possibility OF defense. Irresistible,
implacable. and noiseless. 1t was
| plunglng for the final thrust. Its very
method OF attack was so surprising
and so unexpected that they were
awed with fear. helpless. benumbed,
despsiring and conquered. They were
men done to death and suffering the
agonies OF wounds before the blow had
fallen. II was all accomplished with
such rapidity that not even the most
terrified had lime TO rush to the rails
and throw himself into the sea. When
tine instant of death seemed imminent.
they were paralyzed into inaction and
covered together waiting for the
shock OF annihilation.
! And their suspense, although OF a
| different nature. was scarcely more
keen and hear breaking than that Of
those in the radioplane which was
hurting at them.
The admiral was still croIching like
a man prepared for a blow. when Nor
ma with quick energy tilted over an.
other lever and checked the descent
Those within the shell felt their hearts
come back to the normal and were
once more able to breathe freely. II
was like the application Of powerful
brake TO fallins elevator. save thai
there was ~ abrp jar, no discordant