The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-07-15

Continues from last Issue.)

faces confronting him. which ex.
pressed variety OF emotions, running
the gamut from stolidity to wonder
and from compliance to Indignation
The paper in his hands gave cut q
crinkling noise as he turned IL back.
ward and forward between his fingers
The British admiral's visage was a
frowning one. your country asks
too muchr he said. almost explosive.
IL. And really Il volunteers no ex.
PLANTATION OF its acts or intentions"
Some of Ms companions nodded their
heads in approval, We can't &c;
cept." .,oa
Bevins reopened the parchment. Il
must then read you the concluding
clause" he said. and began:
at is strongly desired that there be
no clash at arms; but in any event
you are to return with the feet"
There was brief silence In the room,
which was broken by Fields, who
jumped to his feet. Bevins rose, and
the other officers did likewise. The
situation threatened unhappy conciu.
sions; but Bevins held up a restrain
ing hand and went on:
Here! Before you underestimate
the force OF this last clause, let me
give you . demonstration Of what We
can do and how difficult II would be
for you to offer any defense or effec.
tive resistance whatever"
He turned to speaking tube. gave
curt order and requested his visi
tors to look through the transparent
ports. which were suddenly opened be
meath their feet. The Roberts swept
up into the air TO such a prodigious
height that the internal pressure
against her shell became terrific. She
Was at such an altitude that no mortal
being could have withstood the strain,
and only her splendid anchorable con
s:ruction aud cohesive qualities kept
her from flying apart. The world be
low was reduced in appearance until
its surface was obllterated in dub
hare and the shadows of the sun Were
marked against It's eastern outline.
In great circles she descended. unti''
he water seain became visible, the
he vessels upon II. and last OF al
the crests Of the waves. Now she
swooped lower. ard then at a speed o.
nearly 500 miles an hour whipped
straight line close above the tops o.
he fighting mssts. slowed down ant
yhirled in and out about and above
he British ships as easily as would
wallow in playful fight. On the
'ecks Of the We sells men stared IN
yide-eyed amazcment at this demon
the air. az iirst fearing that control
nd been lest AID the lives OF those
board were in jeopardy. Then at the
plendid exhibition Of speed and han
ling they we're dumbfounded. The
obcrts then rose in one quick lifi
,ntil Il was above the plane Of altitude
.ssumed by the other machines. poised
1r a momeat. and came to a stop. In
II this time no one had spoken
yord Now they turned 10 thesAmer-
can. unloosing their convuIsiye
lutches from the seats and liberated
rom the spell
Admiral. do you think there Is any
,unnery that eau hurt US. anything
hat can overtake VS.. or that II W,
'lsh TO we may not master the
vorld?' he asked in a voice OF ex
rene quiet
Fields shrugged his shoulders hope
'ssly, made a grimace. and looked al
IS fellows. Gentlemen" he said In
: dry tone. IT seems TO me that We
hould without aay delay accept the
hospitality which the United States
laa extended so courteously."
The others appreciated the grim
1umor OF the situation, and in like
sein acquiesced The surprise which
they had undergone was nothing
compared TO that with which. as the
day waned. they witnessed the lifting
OF their craft from the waters. With
the utmost care the task was accom-
plished. and everything made ready
for the westward journey. Only one
mishap occurred beyond the necessary
damage to the ships, and that was not
discovered until the following day. A
sailor OF the Dreadnought. maddened
by the spectacle he had Witnessed
had unleas bed "a life raft unobserved
and throwp himself and It into the
water by the use Of its tackle at some
hour OF darkness when the vessels
we're travelling at slow speed and
close to the surface OF the waves. Bey-
FMS grieyed more over this incident
than any other: for he had set his
heart upon bloodless victory.
Thus II was that on the following
day there rested In the Chesapeake a
feet whose fires were banked, whose
men were prohibited from shore
leave and whose chief officers were
guests in the principal hotels Of New
York and Washington under pledge OF
secrecy. But In this they might take
heart: although some slight damage
had been inflicted on the vessels, 10 no
instance did the flag come down, and
from each stan fioated the union Jack
unsullied. Communication between
ships and shores was interdicted; so
even the inhabitants OF the borders
could do no more than look and guess
as To how the feet had sailed in with
out attracting attention or meeting
with rebuff.
(To DO contin-sd In next issus.)