The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-03-17
VIRGINIA. Fl $;z : z AEs :: .: =:

With a swift movement he
showed her the way to manage
the mechanism. Then he required
her to tell him how to turn, how
to rise, how to fall, how to vary
the speed, how to determine the
thrust of the blades. He dashed a
pair of pliers about his neck with
a lanyard, thrust couple of files
into his pockets, took off his
boots, his coat and waist coat,
pulled his little caps visor far
down over his eyes to shelter
them from the glare; and stepped
to the side.
you may get ashore" said he,
while l may not. If so, good
by, and God bless you, dearest!"
She. threw her arms about his
neck and kissed him over and over
again-he felt her warm tears on
his lips. But he controlled him
self sternly, almost fiercely.
Don't cry!"' said he. "Clear
your eyes, and shoot straight!
Good-by!"
She stepped to the rail and
looked fixedly at the black shadow
like a gigantic fish that represent
ed the submarine. Carson had
disappeared over the side, in a
terrifying Northumberland de-
scent, in which he swung over the
swelling waves, until he reached
the truss-work of the nacelle,
where he chung, now, trying his
pliers on the chain. The submar-
inc seemed in no way interested,
at first; but presently her black
shadow grew more distinct, the
round deck broke water; and as
the manhole opened, Wilmer ap.
peared and aimed at Carson, cool
ly, as at a target. Too hastily
Virginia fired; the bullet struck
the edge of the deck with a. vi
cious spat. Winners pisto
spoke, his bullet striking metal
flew singing away. and the cir
replied with the third shot of thi!
strange duel. She braced hersel
against the rail, aimed conscien
tiously at the middle of the mari
presented by the villain below
and fired-fired with the curiou!
gertrude the marksman feel
when he is making goot
shot. Wilmer had just lifted hi
arm to fire again: but his hanC
fell as if struck down by giant
blow; he dropped back into tn,
darkness like a shot woodchuck
the manhole closed, and the sub
marine went on toward deep wa
ter as grimly as before.
"All right down here!" sang GU
Carson. "How are you on deck?
"All right here" said she. Cd
you think they'll shoot any more?
NO." said Theodore. tBu
watch the manhole just the same
I shall have to file the chain. Tn
pliers won't dol"
The girl waited. 1t was we
for her that she had somethin
to do; otherwise her reason Nigh
have given way. She stood b
the rail with the pistol in he
hand, listening to the "screeE
scfeek" of the file on the chair
Suddenly this sound stopped, an
she heard Carson calling.
"The've hove to-" said he. 81
think they're going to try drown
ing us here. Don't lose control O
yourself-remember, this is
fight, and we aren't whipped YET
Do you hear?"
eyes," said she. But it's s
awful! So awful! If you wer
only up here where you could
Tell me what to do! Tell me wha
to dol"
do you see how the chat
shortens?" asked Carson. She
going down. II the waters dee
enough she can drown us, unles
we can overcome her gravity
Turn the index so as to show
dead-down thrust of the blade
and then full power on the las
speed. 1t will take fuel, but it
the only way! Hurry"
The air-ship sank, sank, neare
and nearer to the water; but with
out waiting to learn how the gir
was carrying out his orders, Car
son again attacked the chain, an,
the shrill "screek" of the fill
greeted Virginia's ears again, a
she turned the indicator, an,
threw on the power. AS they ha
never done before, the great en-
gines purred, the wing-blades tro
the air with a terrific roar; bu
with remorseless suction -lik
force the submarine drew he
down closer, closer to the. water
and she seemed lost. The sinkin
: was slower, now; but neverths
: less more and more of the chat
, disappeared in the sea every mt
ment. Virginia looked and d.
: SPARED. The waves were so tel
rifyingly near; death in their col
depths seemed so unthinkably no,
| rible she bowed he
face in her hands. The ''screel
screek, screek" of the file kept o
with the regularity of a machine
ICarson was at work, He migf
be drowned; but when he wer
under, he would go fighting. H
was man! And suddenly Wi
ginia felt herself strengthened an
comforted. Death was due ever
one at some time. Why not now
Why whimper and shrink frol
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