The Washburn leader., 1908-07-10

to fields Of victory. The glory Of
youth, the Inspiration Of. patriotism,
and the determination Of fearlessness
were blended In their light and sx-s
ultantly waiting the battle call.
Accustomed as he was to the ter
rible intoxication OF fierce conflict, the
gray old admiral felt himself enthused
by this slip of girl. He was man
making the last fight of his life with
the incarnation Of the Goddess of War
at his elbow and mutely cheering him
on to the charge. Every nerve within
him strung itself in tensity, the mus
cles of his body seemed to contract
until his head fairly shrank between
his massive shoulders, his resolute
Jaw set with q snap, and his short hair
seemed to bristle as he leaped toward
her, gave way to his excitement and
fairly shouted: "Now! Go to them!
Quick, hard and fast! At them!" j.
He jumped back to his point of OBJ
servation, and even as he did so the
great radioplane shivered with sur
charge of energy. reeled drunkenly
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 en-
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 ad-
miral, startled, whirIed toward the
figure in the hood, fearing that some
fatal accident had occurred.
There, erect triumphant, and fierce,
stood the woman glorified who was
striking the first blow for her coun-
try's honor and her fathers exaltation.
She was fairly hurling the machine
thrcags 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 ours!" +
Outside the kissing air was torn by
a whirlwind of small shells fired in q
panic-stricken attempt to fend of this
adversary which was driving down
ward upon the Ito. 1t was their last
hope at defense. They had tested
their guns repeatedly at long range,
and proved them Intellectual against
an enemy that could travel with q
speed beside which that Of the swiftest
bird of prey was Insignificant. They
had watched those strange uncanny
things lift themselves to a prodigious
altitude with incompatible ease, carry
away and rejuyenate wounded COM
panion 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 demonstration had
reached it's climax, they had witnessed
the sudden swoop in, their direction.
Now in hopeless impotence the men
on the deck of the doomed Ito lost
their heads and ran frantically to and:
fro. Up to the very last, one or two
Of the gun crews elevated and fired
elevated and fired-with methodical
precision like men in a trance and
actuated by habit only.
Tire, panfc-stricken swallow vainly
wingfng his way through the air in,
wild endeavor to escape the talons Of
the darting hawk would have had
more chance than they before this on
slaught. This gigantic embodiment Of
doom was leaping down upon them
with such terrific velocity and at such
an angle of flight as to precludes all
possibility of defense. Irresistible.
inrplacab1e, and noiseless, it vas
plunging for the final thrust. Its,wery
method of attack was so surprising
and so unexpected that they were
awed with fear, helpless, benumbed,
despafrfng and conquered. They were
men done to death and suffering the
agonies of wounds before the blow had
fallen. It 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, hr the
shock Of annihilation.
And their suspense, although Of .
different nature, was scarcely more
keen and heartbreaking than that Of
those in the radioplane which was
hurtling at them. @
The admiral was still. crouching like
. 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. It I
was like the application Of powerful
brake to falling elevator, save that
there was no abrupt jar, no discordant