The Washington herald., 1909-08-29

far behind a mass of tiny twnkling glimmers
Then Hooker began to slowly spread the aero
planes out into action.
From the very first blade the rise of the bow
was apparent; and section after anotheT
forced out, the Water-Freak began To- EXHIBIT
signs of leaving the water entirely. Iheh, as they
gently scared above the huge swell which had hith-
erto obscured their view, he pushed the speed
clutch trine.
The result was astounding. even to them. The
WaterFreak raised herself up from the waters OF
the Hudson. like a waterfowl about to fly, until
only her bottom and propeller-pates remained SUD
merged.
Then Hooker forced the clutch in to full speed.
and they both dropped gaspng below the combins,
to keep from being sunocated by the enormous
rush of wind. 1t tore by them with the fury OF
thousand demons singing their faces like sand
blast. ThOrne's cap went hurtng away into the
blackness behind, and he crouched down into the
bottom OF the boat and held onto his hair with
one hand. and the tiller with the other. Hooker
raised his eyes above the deck and looked of 20
the north. faint glimmer of light seemed TO
shoot out from a projecting chunk of darkness lt
increased in magnitude instantly, and resolved it.
self into huge searchlight. The Water-Freak was
headed for il. like arrow from bow Disaster
seemed unavoidable. If the WaterFreak ever came
in contact with the vessel carrying that light, both
doomed TO almost certain destrucuon-the
WaterFreak surely
Hooker yelled. but his voice was carried away
the wind. He crawed aft to where Thorne sat
almost petrihed by the cold-for he had not the
protection from the blast that Hooker had-and
with look over his shoulder at the brilliant
light and towering hull swung the tiller to port.
The WaterFreak responded nobly; and as the big,
black cliff reared above them, they shot by so
closely that the wash from the steamer swept In
upon them.
Before Hooker had gotten back to his post at
the engine. they had gone by the big river-boat a
mile and the brilliant eye of the searchlight was
bearing them intently. He Immediately threw
out the clutch and drew in the aeroplanes and the
boat lost Roadway and laid inertly in the
water log; while her crew dropped down into
the pit out of sight
They started up again, and in very few min
utes. lights showed up over the eastern shore.
What place is that Hook?" enquired Thorne.
Sing Sing I guess" replied his partner. That's
the next town OF any size on that side"
Sing Sing, eh2" said Thorne musingly. "Say,
let's drift over that way little. ] used to know
a Teller about my size and complexion, who spent
two years and three months in that sanitarium He
got caught in a raid poOlroom I'm New York
He used to lay his stomach his cell floor
and look out through the top of one of the high
windows in the wall opposite. and see this very
patch OF water. He didn't think then, he'd ever
slide it in the fastest boat the world has
seen. He never had any great liking for this
place. but he'd like to go over and kinder gloat
a trihe from the viewpoint OF an inventor"
Hooker pulled the clutch out to quarter speed,
Thorne pushed the tiller over and the WaterFreak
glided swiftly toward the famous state
prison.
THEY shut of the power they approached the
grim black walls, and allowed the boat to drift
downward with the outgoing tide. Neither spoke;
being apparently buried in thoughts of the past
or the future. When directly opposite the long
wharf, a figure darted suddenly out OF the black
shadows near the walls, and sped down ii between
the of gas-lights. to the river. An instant
later, three more appeared, shouting commands as
they The foremost runner dashed up to the
edge of the wharf. paused an instant, and. caspng
his hands above his head, dove boldly off into the
black water
Come on" whispered Thorne hurriedy, lets
get away out Of range; those gents are going TO
shoot d rectly. and well be blamed sight safer a
mile away"
He right; almost he spoke, there was
fac and hal won urhi o.
heads Hooker Immediately pushed in the clutch
and they swiftly slipped down quarter of a mile;