The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-05-01
CHAPTER xvII.-contInued.

And what difference tnere was
between this fleet and those to which !
the men aboard we're accustomed! On
those battleships of the seas were
MAGNIFICENT forces of men trained TO
fight. which were numbered by thou
sands; but here each crew consisted
of a bare half-dozen. In the hulls OF
those vessels of the sea strove q
small army, watching over and
driving huge engines, and supplying
them with steam; here we're only one
man and an assistant standing be-
fore lever., switches and buttons,
which did their work instantaneously
and with no noise. In those destroy
crs OF the waters throbbed mighty
engines considered the modern tri-
umph of speed; here was craft that
by fingers pressure could almost
run abreast the sun. Those ships
bristled with mighty guns; here were
no frowning muzzles or unwieldy tur-
rets Science was bringing an end to
brute force, and the last battle against
barbarism was at hand.
For the first time since its birth
j the great plant was silent and idle
and the men who had created it and
by its means built this new feet OF the
air we're at rest. They had done all
they could, and now gathered silently
round the radioplanes, which stood in
orderly array with portlike doors
yawning wide to receive their crews.
Fighting" Bevins stood by his flag
craft, the Norma, and looked at the
force under his command. Captains
who had handled hundreds of men
and driven their great floating crafts
of steel, and engineers who had
learned new callings waited attentive
ly for his last instructions.
The battle-scarred veteran adj
dressed them in voice that needed
no high pitch to be audible to all
his hearers Gentlemen" he said, Il
have nothing more to say TO you. You
sare going out to fight what will prob
ably be the last great battle in his
tory. You are active participants In
the final chapter of international war
T'he time is approaching when our pro
fession will be useless, and for one
shall gladly turn to ways of peace"
Norma, who had left the bedside Of
the sleeping inventor, joined the OF
ficers, and Bevins stopped and sa
lutcd her.
with u.s." he continued. 'is cir
who has laid all her talents on thu
altar of country, and is now prepared
to ieopardize her life for victory. w,
can do no less. 1t may be that some
of us win not return-the hazards
of war can never be foreseen. Yo'
have been put in a strange position
and are even robbed of the sailor
right to send a last message to you
homes: but that, too. has been for tn
ceuntry's good. To my personal know
edge you have all passed your lives Il
trying to do what was right, and hav
given the best that was in you to tn
flag. You will do no less now"
In the glare of the arc lights h
took one last look at his comrades /
arms, and then, as II once more at ses
loudly ordered: Board ship. ALL"
He uncovered and stood aside in a
attitude of the greatest respect Will
Norma passed and entered the fla,
ship bearing her name. With stead
precision the other officers salute
took possession Of their radioplane
and as the doors changed shut benin
them q mighty cheer burst from thos
outside. Before 1t had subsidized Il
dynamos In the strange collectie
were humming and droning with u
ieashed energy, and the unshutter'
ports stared out into the gloom Ill
eyes of fire suddenly opened from
sleep.
From the Norma there shot up in
the sky swiftly alternating streaks
red. white and blue, the night sign
asking IL all was ready. From {
other monsters came flashing answe
AZ acauiescence There was an
stant,s pause The flagship gave
slight upward shock and lifted SLOW
.snto the cir. Immediately behind