The Washington herald., 1909-08-29

Dmbing OF the cock pit.
look at her and we haven't nled an application for
you'll have to go down to the city and bring back
couple of hydraulic jacks. If you get 'em up
here by six o'clock tonight I'll guarantee to have
her in the Hudson before midnight"
Thorne did not return from the city by six
O'Clock but there at seven with the goods
They Immediately set to work, and by utilizing the
flooring of the shed. built a runway TO the
water. Then the jacks were applied, and foot by
foot the WaterFreak slowly slid down the way
toward the waters edge And just as the clock in
the church steeple at Tarrytown proclaimed the
hour when graveyards yawD," the queerest craft
that rode the water. slipped easily out into
the choppy waves of the Hudson.
A T O'Clock, the inventors of the Water Freak
4 n waded out and cambered the rail into the
cockpit. Thorne moved back to the tiller, and
Hooker turned on the gasoene and nervously
cranked the engine It started off with vicious
snap AS Thorne pushed the rudder over to port,
Hooker threw in the friction clutch and the Water
Freak staggered seemed to hold her breath as it
were. and slipped away toward the center of the
river. At first Hooker kept the speed down to
minimum, but seeing that the machinery ran
smoothly. he forced the clutch little further. I'm
mediatey the speed increased and they felt the
wind blow strongly against their cheeks
Great Scott Hook" gasped Thorne from his
position in the stern OF the pit but this is step
ping sonnet I'm lost! / can't even see the out
lines of the shore from herei All I can see is a
wall of water either side This thing acts like
a submarine and if she goes any deeper we'll be
grinding TIE bottom of the crick. Better slow
down until 1 get my bearings! Hey! Stop er!
Back er! We're almost on top of the Pasades!
Hooker threw the clutch out in panic, and not
an instant too soon; for the speed dropped
down, Thorne pushed the tiler over. just in time
to Craze the rocky Jersey shore Then they heard
Gathering. grating sound. and Hooker vaulted over
the rail into the water braced his shoulder against
the side of he boat, and warded her off from an
ugly ledge of rocks.
You're a rotten pilot. Bill" chartered Hooker,
as he climbed lack into the cockpit. IF this can
ever strikes rock, it'll puncture like dish pan!
Yonli have to attend to your business better, or
I'll have your license taken away from you
How in blazes did I know so burned
near in-shOre?" said Thorne in grieved voice.
We've only been aloat about two minutesI" con-
sulting his watch by the light of a match
That's sol" said Hooker musngly. And the
river here is a mile and a half wide. Say, old
man. that's the fastest mile that made on
the water and / didn't have her going even at half
speed If this little squirt is any indication of her
possib lities we've got the Lusitania looking like
canalpacket. I'm going TO stop predicting speed,
for I'm tlamed if I know just where she will stop.
Now Wen go across the river to the house, and
I'll get a few dry buds on, and then Wen take
little sTin up toward Albany and back; I'm going
to try out these aero-planes bit The fault
with her now. far as see. is that she raises
such a swell. can't look over the top; conse-
quently, have to steer by guess-work."
Half hour later, Hooker climbed into the boat
with a couple of pea-jackets, and the WaterFreak
slipped swiftly away toward the upper Hudson
1t seemed as though they had hardly started, be-