The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-08-13

lie nelQ out MS manu- anu SLooh hNl'
warmly.
From away in the outer distance,
where the angle was not too sharp 10
prevent its elevation, came the sullen
report of a gun, and shell few past
at such close range that its screaming
came to them through the thickness
of their plate and the open upper
ports, sounding its challenge and de-
fance above the droning hum Of ne dy'
namos The girl glanced apprehenslVely
upward, but the admiral continues MS
calm inspection of the Japanese neet'
Again from a vessel closer at hand
came a series of sharp reports. Inc
radioplane felt shivering impact, and
careened slightly in answer to its
force. The admiral was hurled
against her metal side, and one of the
engineers seized a rail to prevent be-
ing thrown headlong against the ma
chinery
They're trying four-inch shells on
us, are they" shouted Bevins. well,
we'll put an end to that right now
He Sprang TO the signal box, and
Norma, reading his intention, hurried
to her post in the hood He ordered
the other craft to increase speed and
traverse circles till he should notify
them which war vessels of the feet be-
meath were to be their individual prey.
Now the small shells were fairly rend-
ing the air around them The sharp
clang Of metal against metal and
quick explosion told that hits were be-
ing made, and through the ports the
radioplanes which suffered could be
seen to rock convulsively when struck.
The air seemed whining with death
which was clamoring for admission to
its prey Shot and shell swept through
space; but higher and higher scared
the radioplanes, while the old war dog
studied the formation of the feet be-
low.
my God, Seventeen is hit. Sew
enteen is hit" screamed the lookout,
and the admiral and Norma stared
through side port.
In long, weird, dizzy circles, like
wounded man striving to recover his
balance, a radioplane was dropping
slowly down toward the waters, in
effectually fighting to regain it's bal.
nnce. The four-inch shells had done
no damage; but the far outlying
cruiser had made an accidental hit
with a heavy gun. Engaging here
and there in erratic swoops the radio
plane continued to plunge. From the
waters below came the sounds of ex-
ultant cheering. The enemy were gain
ing heart. They had found what they
believed to be a chance for hope and
an invulnerable spot in the Ameri-
cans armor. Norma started back to
her levers; but the admiral called
eXcitedly:
Look, look! Good boy, Nineteen!
Good boy"
Again she looked through the port,
and was transfixed with the daring at.
tempt of another radioplane. Nine
teen, with its big white letters blazing
in the light, had taken a swift down.
ward shoot.
Its jenkins! It's Jenkins" Norma
called in excitement, knowing that the
little scientist was manning the hood
of that craft.
Then before she could say more,
Nineteen's object was made plain. The
great radioplane shot to lower alti.
tude than that of it's crippled fellow
dove here and there like a bat. caught
simultaneous speed, and rounding
Upward In a deft swoop poised itself
hrmly beneath the lower plate of Sew.
enteen. For an instant the two. locked
together and overweghted, Slid SLOWLY
downward through the air, and then
Nineteen seemed to gather itself, came
to stop, hesitated for a moment and
began steady upward movement.
AS if divining its purpose, two other
radloplanes swooped down toward the
stricken monster till their sides
touched. and then, like group of war.
rlors carrying a wounded comrade
from the held, assisted the ascent into
tine upper void. Focusing their fire on
the group, the Japanese made il
target, and the scream of shot and
shell broke into pandemonium until
the air around was churned as by a de.
mons wrath.
Op-up they went till they were
mere specks against the dome Of
the heavens, where they were beyond
range and in the profound silence Of
solitude. The others of the fleet led
by the Norma, fastened to soar TO.
ward them; but before they could get
within speaking distance the wireless
brought to all radioplanes this mes.
sage:
seventeen was struck by a ten.inch
smell directly below her dynamos. The
Jar caused temporary break which
cut OF the current for short time.
lhls is nearly repaired. No damage
OF consequence has been done and
she will report for duty within two
minutes"
beVlns and Norma looked at each