The Washington times., 1910-04-11
CHAPTER XVI (Continued)

~ 1
ceeded in catching sight Of the
Chameleon, which verify, as Ethan
had said, was as green as grasshop
per and as hard 10 SOY against the YER
dure that covered the plain, for she
was running almost in contact with the
ground. II we had not edged around tne
hill toward the west 50 quickly ne
would probably have gOt clean away
under the shelter Of the hill, before we
could have seen him
Pavton's ruse was so simple. and yet
SO perfectly executed that Il made me
re51Ie1 with vexatfon- TVhv ne had not
tined a similar game during the night
could not imagine unless ne lnouShl
that he could easily distance US ana
gave up that IDEA AFTER ne iOuuu mat
the Osprey was hanging on after day
light He had merely dropped down on
the hither side Of the wooded HILL a
lone elevation IN the midst OF the pialnr
changed his COLOR crept round the oase
OF the hill. keeping opposite US, whom
he could doubtless see through the tree
tops all the while. and, when he found
himself on the southern side ana We on
L--e northern. had stolen away ike
Sinking fox
Now he was OF for the south at the
top OF his speed Already he was fully
three miles away and gaining distance
FOR heavens sake. Ethan I shout
ed, why don't you fire.
I'm drawn q bead" replied the
gunner. and, as he spoke, the blue
glare leaped 1rcm the muZzle- There
being no smoke. we could see the flight
OF the little prOjectile, which was
polished like a billiard ball he used a
solid shot on account OF the extreme
range It rose in a flat curve chased
the retreating aero, overlook II IN a
few seconds, and We believed We could
see a few splinters fly.
"Hurrah.' 1 cried. Give him an
Ethan Immediately fred again. but
the first shot had been made at the
utmost reach OF the gun and we could
see. all too plainly thFt the second EEL
short The Chameleon showed no sign
OF being seriously hurt, though I was
confident that the first shot had touched
in a moment she dehantIy waved
black flag, and kept on her course
In the meantime, the Szylarks was
coming up several points eastward OF
the runaway She was running high,
and coubted Whetner she would see
the Chameleon or notice our shots /
Sigualed her, but she made no reply.
But presently, TO my delight i saw her
alter her course 10 head PayrOn Of
IN quick succession The two were now
not more than q mile and q half apart.
and the shots ought 10 tell
This time PaytOn, who had not return
ed our shots, was more puEuacious- He
instantly answered the SkTIarks FIRE.
and then they went at IT, hammer and
touEs, using shells, and the Chameleon
all the while cdglnS westward
4 was an exciting spectacle, and we
. watched IL in breaIhleSS expectation I
ferveutIy prayed that the SEylaTks
shells might reach q vital point, but.
asznrTv as I watched. 7 could not see
that rhev did any damage e. We could
Sc them explode on the ground away
hevond the. Chameleon Ethan was be
side himself
The blasted IGbbers-' he cried They
,41e-H- 70 hit q crow al thar range
still the frinE went on. as We could
tel by the faint blue flashes and the
r7ClzefIiNe explosion but, 10 my dis
~ saw that Il was only the Chame-
Icons shells that reached their object
80 kent low. and the SSylark gradual
Il descended Suddenly the latter al
most turned turtle, then Tlshtcd herself,
ana bean to swing around with drOop-
ing wings, and finally, IN slow. ed1ylnE
circles, dropped TO =he eartn-
It was all over with her, as FAR as
the fight was concerned and every tllnS
now again depended upon US unless the
crow and the BObclIDk should come up
IN time 70 aid Us I scanned the hoTi-
zOn and The sky 20 the southwark, but
could eaten no glimpse OF them
They've lost Us In the night ! eZ-
claimed bitterly
But 7 was not going 10 give up We
hal run directly over the hill and
had called on my engineer 10 Guido ali
his previous efforts. And he certainly
did: The Chameleon did not appear %
-ain an inch on Us or course we could
not stop 10 look after the SIylark-
sicnaIed 10 inquire what the damage
was, and Grimes replied, and I could
imagine the wOefUI tone in which he
would have spoken the words