The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-05-12
CHAPTER xvIII.-Continued.

Number One will engage the cruls-
e- on the extreme right. Two will at
tack the battle ship on the port bow
of the flagship. Three will take the
tattleship on the extreme left" and SO
on, ending with the declaration that
the Norma would open the engage
ment by striking the Ito at the head
of the triangle.
Fighting Bevins turned away from
his signal box when the last confirma-
ton of his instructions had been re-
ceived and looked at the girl in the
hood. At that high altitude the early
rays of the sun were shivering the
gloom of the interior through the glass
ports in the dome. AS if in glory
wardly calm and emotionless; but in
the splendid poise of her body, the ex-
pectant waiting of her hands, and the
steady scrutiny of the dials before her,
she was the embodiment of sufficiency.
Feeling his lcok and waiting for his
command. she moved her head till her
face was turned full upon him. and In
her eyes shone the fire which through
ell the ages has led valiant warriors
to fields of victory. The glory of
youth. the inspiration of patriotism,
and the determination of fearlessness
were blended in tteir light and ex-
ultantly waiting the battle call.
Accustomed as he was to the ter
rihle intoxication of fierce conflict. the
gray old admiral felt himself enthused
by this slip of a girl. He was a man
making the last fight of his life with
the incarnation of the Goddess of War
at bis elbow and mutely cheering him
on to the charge. Every nerve within
him strung itself in tensity, the mus
cies of his body seemed to contract
until his head fairly shrank between
his massive shoulders, his resolute
jaw set with a 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"
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 druEkenly
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, whirled 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 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 cut 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
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 a
speed beside which that of the swiftest
bird of prey was Insignificant. They
had watched those strange uncanny
things lift themselves to prodigious
altitude with Incompatible ease, carry
away and rejuvenate 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 downpour of
missiles; and then, when amazement
at this marvellous demonstration had
reached its 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.
The panic-stricken swallow vainly
winging his way through the air in
wild eDdeavor to escape the talons of