The Detroit times., 1909-07-22
THE Man
Who Stole
The Earth"
By ". Holt Wh,f.
CHAPTER ixxl.-(continued.)

N''rN' Gn GNNis-kSoHttnuc
Looking astern. Strong saw the an
gle of the aeroplanes altered. and
watched them come hurting up into
the sky again until once more they
were at distance OF about five miles.
looking like so many flies on a ceiling.
Then he realized that unless he took
some quick and decided action this
game OF dip and rise might continus
for many hours without a blow be-
ing exchanged. He was astonished
at the kaiser's methods. and the only
conclusion forced upon him was that
his majesty had deliberately chosen
the course of battering down the air
ships by sheer force in lieu Of more
distinct fire fighting.
There was so little time for signal
ling that he put alongside the State
and shouted TO Langley through tho
megaphone to know what he made OF
it.
Langley shouted back that he judg-
ed the kaiser's idea was to sink the
airships at all costs, knowing that
such was the construction of his own
aeroplanes that even II hit no greater
disaster could overcome them than to
fall gently to the ground.
AT this Strong suddenly saw the
way. He saw that the aeroplanes
were limited in their flight by the
fact that they could merely rise to a
height corresponding to the elevation
from which they had dipped.
OF this, therefore. he decided to
take full advantage.
Through his glasses he observed
them preparing TO dip once more, and
realized that while he could not beat
them in speed as they were dipping.
he could beat them In speed as they
were rising, and SO he signalled in
structions that the airships were to
clear the dip Of the aeroplanes and
then TO follow them in their rise. They
would follow and beat the aeroplanes
in elevation, and, when they lowered
again for the dip. smash them while
they could
Strong knew that this would mean
quick work, and work demanding en-
ormous GOODNESS, but he relied on his
men.
The aeroplanes came hurting down
again and Just In time the four air
ships rose above them, turned easily,
and pursued the aeroplanes on their
upward flight.
They were so hard upon them that
they could see the men working De-
meath them. So close indeed were
they upon them that Strong and his
companions stood In terror OF being
hit by the rifiemen OF the aeroplanes
IL \, q.
speed could be OF small effect, aud
as they rushed up through the air
Strong saw that he gained upon the
enemy.
Up and up they went till breathing
became difficult and blood began TO
trickle from more than one mans nose
and ears.
But the end was close at hand.
The aeroplanes beneath the airships
shook and quivered as they reached
the climax of their ascent. The air
ships were sailing easily above them.
Strong signaHed Shells"
Each airship made for its CORE
spending aeroplane. and the rain Of
shells was short and sharp.
BY remarkable coincidence Strong
found himself above the aeroplane In
which was the emperor himself.
He had signalled that the shots were
to be dropped upon the wings of the
aeroplanes and not into the bodies.
estimating that IL the wings were shat
tered the aeroplanes would not posi-
bly, remain afloat
The effect OF the shells differed
widely. The shells from the "Prin-
cess" tore ragged holes In the wings
of the aeroplane beneath her, so that
the stricken machine began to DRIFT
slowly earthward And this was also
what came to pass In the case of the
aeroplane attacked by the Bahama. !"
lTo No Contiuuedl