Charlevoix county herald., 1909-05-01
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visit of the British officer to his SOW.
ereign when called, and prevented de-
lay when the monarch and his conf
panions appeared for their journey.
The fog had become an ally.
Those who sit upon England
throne may never show surprise-so
runs tradition-but on this night an
expression of establishment burst from
one of her sovereigns as he entered
the yawning portal Of the strange ma
chine. Up to that moment neither he
nor his companions had entertained
belief that the American engine OF
destruction could be other than some
powerful speedy, and invincible sub
marine. Now in the cloak of fog and
darkness, within sound of the roar tf
traffic past his palace gates, in the
midst of his own garden, he found
formidable monster with undreamed-
of might.
With his companions he was ushered
through a shadowy companionway
without hearing the stealthy closing OF
the port through which he came. Nor
was he aware as he entered the brill
liantly lighted drawing room amid
ships, that already he had been lifted
into the light of stars and was flying
through space over the Atlantic ocean
at a speed of 600 miles an hour. It
was incomprehensible that before his
first questions had been answered the
ribbon of the channel had been passed
| and Ireland had lost itself in the
eastern horizon. Gravely interested
and steadily courteous, he inspected
the radioplane under the guidance OF
the inventor and his daughter, who
made known to him it's capabilities,
and it was his own suggestion that
the trip might be extended to the
| Chesapeake, where the feet OF the
Lion was moored. For once the first
lord Of the admiralty showed eager
ness, and was visibly pleased when
Bevins said there could be no objec-
ton to the kings desire.
Between the inventor and the king,
as they sped westward, there was es-
| tablished friendship. Gruff and
| querulous "Old Bill" Roberts, demo-
cratic to the core, and respecting men
only for their real worth, found in
| this quiet, self-contained guest one
whom he could admire. And to the
monarch the scientist was the most
interesting man he had ever met, con-
| sidering that his past achievements
| had gained worldwide fame, to be
| capped with the surprising creation
| Of this aerial masterpiece. From time
to time he glanced at the stately
| American girl, who sat silently beside
the prime minister. He found him
self puzzled by the brooding wistful-
| ness of her eyes and specializing as
| to what yearnins had mirrored its
| sadness in their depths.
| Not until Bevins had recounted the
tale of the western battle did the king
| realize that on occasion the suppA,
| hands of the girl might become things
of steel, and that within her was
soul of flame. She begged permission
] to retire before the admiral had fairly
| begun his story, and was not there to
| hear that stern old vete-an Of the
! seas conclude with the lrenchant
| statement: at was not /, your males
| ty, who won the battle that day; 1t
was that slip of a girl who led the
cohorts of the Eagle down upon
| them. 1t was she who clasped the
flag in her arms when the battle was
| done"
The men in the room leaned forward
| in silence when Bevins ended. They
had been carried away into the realm
| Of imagination to picture the stirring
| clash Of mighty arms and valorous
| deeds. Before anyone could speak an
| officer appeared at the door.
Il have to report that we are above
| the Chesapeake SIR he said to his
| superior.
1t was the breaking of reverie, the
sharp call from the past to the pres
ent. and the king rose expectantly.
! The lights of the Roberts flashed out
and left them in darkness. The ports
below opened, and they grouped them
selves round them, with night glasses
rendered by their host
ITO RE CONTINT-EDN