The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-06-10
(Continued.)

AlleT lew UlOIIleutS Ou d
straight course to intersect that of
the aeronat, Carson threw the Vir-
ginia up into the cloud. AS the
earth was blOtted from sight he
compared the direction of the aero
nat with the points of the compass,
making mental calculation as to
the distance and the speed of the
two ships, and in another moment
they emerged on the shining upper
levels of the cloud, which, like a
shimmering screen between the Vir-
ginia nd the other craft, hid their
approach to each other. One below
the curtain and one above it, the
airship of the future and the airship
of the past flew on converging
courses. Carson held his watch as
it licked off the time for the five or
six miles of distance, set the rud-
ders for downward dip, plunged
through the cloud for the third time,
and darted downward out of the
vapor like swift into chimney.
They looked about-and saw
nothing. The aeronat was invisible.
And yet. above the purring of the
machinery came to their ears the
tremor from powerful engines, the
whirring of screws close ait hand.
Could the Condor have assembled
into the cloud as they descended
from it? 1t was possible, but the
sounds were approaching, not re-
ceding: and voices now mingled
with the sounds of machinery
voices coming closer and closer.
MY God. CARSON" shouted
Craighead. You're going foul of
her. Look down."
Just in time Carson looked. From
the clear depths of air below. the
great bubble of silver rose, swelling
in her swift approach. A collision
meant ruin for the aeronat, and
probably destruction to the Vir-
ginia. The propelling blades of the
aeronef would cut the envclop of
the case holder like paper: and the
two ships. in huge mass of tangled
wreckage. would fall to the earth in
death and ruin; or the escaping gas
from the aeronat, ignited from the
exhaust of the Virginias engines,
might explode, hurting the .frag-
ments of both vessels far and wide
and Carson saw in the ruin the
fair form of Virginia SaureZ hurled
to earth and crushed to formless-
ness below.
There was no time to check their
downward career: salvation lay
solely in a swift dart to evade the
rising peril. Quick as lightning Car
son threw on full speed forward.
The Virginia obeyed her machinery
and as she swooped to the aero
mats starboard. the latter rose
swiftly; the Nirginia's stern rudder
grazed the gas bag and was all but
carried away; a cord of the suspen-
sion system Of the airship snapped
with a defamation that set the huge
fabric in a trcmble; there rose a
cry from the deck of the hitherto
unconscious monster, as her people
realized the fearful fact that here
In these dizzy heights they were in
collision with something; and as
the Virginia came in sight past the
immense bilge. they saw white Wis
ages turned upward to them. as
might appear the doomed travellers
face when assailed by the roc of
Arab fable; and as they sheered off
man came running out OF the
cabin with gun in his hand, as IL
with some wild notion of giving
battle to the invisible destroyer
which had swept down upon them
from the fleecy heights of the
cloud.
The Virginia was half mile from
the airship before the crew OF the
latter had time to assure them
selves of her safety. The great
aeronat had not changed her
course. but was still cracking on at
the height of her speed toward
Richmond-likea whale at which
swordfish had made a vicious slash
and missed. The Virginia went
astern as well as athwart the
course of the other craft. and as
she sheered to starboard the aero
nef and the aeronat sped from each
other at the sum of their two
speeds--perhaps four miles a min
ute. The people on the latter must
have thought the other gone for
ever. when an astounding thing hap
pened. The aeronef wheeled about
and gave chase-nay, she gave
chase so swiftly that she swelled
visibly in her swift overhauling of
the aeronat. In time so short that
1t seemed like breath. the Vir-
ginia. on level now with the 9TH
er's deck, came in close astern, then
sheered off and deliberately ran
around the big Condor as she stood
on her course at full speed. AS
falcon might describe circles about
the head Of a hawker. the Virginia
went about the Condor. As she
crossed the bows cry went out
from the great ships engine room
a cry of mingled fear and astonish.
establishment that any aerial
craft dared lay herself across
speeding Condor's bows. fear Of a
collision and the dread which comes
to those who see themselves In the
power of another. Why did this
new craft so course about them? II
was some new engine of aviation
that WAS sure And with such I'm.