, 1909-09-01

roar" that Matthew AInOlu "Ao'0 ~
Eight submarines passed, at tremendous
speed, their decks and p9rscopes just snow
inc above the water. We gave them little
attention we kept our eyes on the water
beyond.
Nothing. We watched and watched. Had
there been another accident ? Surely if the
ATTEMPT were not q failure the monoplaue
should be in sight.
The Descent.
Still no sign Of it. The minutes went by,
long drawn out. Nothing but the sea, the
French coast. the ships, the seagulls in the
distance black against the water and the
sky.
But. Stop Surely one Of those gulls
is flying queerly, There, in the group to-
wards the left, high up No bird ever flew
like that, in q straight line, with no move
ment except in the one direction, no swerve,
no undulatiOn.
In q moment more we knew it was the
monopIane, flying as straight as a cannon
ball, and flying, alas, not towards us, but to
the high ground bahind Dover Castle, on
the other side of the harbour. 1t still look
ed Just like a bird, bat it grew bigger and
bigger it was unmistahlble.
The next ten minutes we're too exciting to-
be agreeable. I was in the motor car again,
and Mr.. Igglesdon was driving his machine
at q pace VIII ich is by 10 means adequately
described by the expression defiant OF the
speed laws" We were in the town and
through it in hardly more time than 1t takes
to tell. We pass ed several policemen, who,
instead of trying to arrest us, smiled annually
when we sh outed 'BIeriot!" But the streets
were clear.
First Sight Of the Aeroplane.
And then, just the other side Of the castle
we met an angel in a blue uniform who had
seen the monopl ane, and pointed out to US
the right directi on. He himself was running
the same way.
Up a hill, down it, along a stretch Of level
road, then anot her angel (this one IN khakl&,
a providential open gate, a few bumps over
Il large meadow, and we came TO the mono
plane. It had just descended.
Yes, there it was on the ground. There
in front of us on a downward dip of grass
lay the most wonderful thing in the world
to-day, the reals alton Of the visions of Elm
pedocles and Regiomontanus, OF Cardan and
Raymund Lully and Paracelsus, of alchem-
lists, poets, philosophers.
Aud there. too, wa S the Man. In the blue
overaIls Of the French mechanic, the trousers
torn, wearing q motor-cap Of the close fitting
lind that covers the ears and leaves the face
looking like a mask, with one foot IN a brown
boot and the other in q slipper, NJ. Bleriot
stood beside his machine. His face was
shiny with Precipitation, but he seemed as
calm as if he had just got out Of a ransom
cab. He was smiling. There was happiness,
triumph, IN his keen, dark eyes.
1t was a moment such as one does not for
get On the way I had been composing a
ETH g speech Of conPratulation. 1t was not
delivered. All I could do was TO shake N.
Bltriot's hand.
Already a crowd had begun TO collect.
There were half a dozen policemen, some
soldiers, farmers boys and girls from nearby
houses, two or three Frenchmen.
Aviator's aim.
Everybody, l think, was excited to the
point of incoherence. The Frenchmen were
almost sobbing M. Bleriot was the calmest
person thore.
Soon we found our voices, and question
and answer came rapidly. With admirable
patience and courtesy NJ. BIeriot replied to
all our enquiries, and told for the first time
he has been telling it to persistent question
ers all day since-the story of the journey
Daily Nail July 5ISt.