The Washington times., 1910-04-14
CHAPTER XVIII (COntinued)..


as to CARY IT directly over US 1
knew instantly what IT meant,
and il made my heart sink With
out explaining my motives IOr tney 4i4eA
not seen the kite, Immediately leo tllS
two girls into a corner OF the IoCEs5
where q ledge projected 50 as 20 mas
4 kind of roof. while IN 'front.' o. me
bears deu thus formed another Ieos5
rose, leaving only an irregular naILoW
opening. I hurried them IN mere say
Z think they are going 10 IRE a shell
at US but N here you VIII De peIIeCAS
safe and 1 tu-led 70 leave IheIIl-
But yout' exclaimed Miss cray man:
OBTAINING me, 18th an expression o.
concern that thrilled me, you must
not expose yourself while we are Gov
ssT'jl look out for cover" I returned.
but 1 must first make sure what they
are about" -, -.
about II was 6Tident 70 me nov IEle-t
the Chameleon carried the oEopl,--6
bombs that were used IN war; and that
PaytOu was going 10 drop one OF thSSe
missiles upon Us with me ala o. lho
kite-anOther military device winch az
that time had come into use as an aux
Hilary IN such cases
IL the tor of the rocks had been as
exposed as he naturally concluded II 70
be his cunniuE would have had It's re-
ward and we should have been blown
10 bits. or at the very least put hoEs
du combat so that he could safely rush
the stronghold
with the keenest anxiety, hoping JnaI
some accident would come 70 II but
E2avto0 was Skillful, anJ in q few min
uUes he lad IL poised exactly over TIE
ton of the rocks. I was familiar with
/ could see the round black bomb de
pendiuz from II, and the string that
controlled its descent, the pulling OF
which would cause II 10 talL IN my
desperation, I took a quick aim with
NV uistOI End fred. for the thing was
not a hundred feet above Us, hoping 10
cause an explosion IN the air But, OF
COursa / missed and an instant after
ward 7 saw the string jerked and the
fearful missile began Its descent
I ran and lodged into a SlOplnS crew
ice al the side Of the enclosure
In Two OF three seconds the explosion
occurred The effects were fearful AL
shook the whole rocky eminence, sent
fragments flying in every direction and
ground the rock where the bomb struck
20 powder. 7 felt an eEcruclatluE pain
in nv left ankle which had been left
exposed, but was out OF my hiding
place IN a moment, Hmping 70 peep
Al the same moment Miss Graynan
appeared, ashy pale and trembling
All now happened as / had expected
PaytOn, seeing that ne had nit the eX-
act SPOT aimed at. shouted 70 his men,
and came running forward Another
man ran at MS side
Quick 70 your lookoutl" 7 called to
Miss Grayman- But Tor COD sake
don't show yOuTselI!
At the same time, 7 got ready for
PAXTON I meant TO make sure OF him
when Miss CTayman said. IN q fright
Three men are coming on a rum
I'll take care Of them" I replied
Keep yourself under cover.
II was PaytOu that 7 wanted He be-
Ing disposed Of I felt in my exalta-
ton, equal to dealing with the others.
The pirate and his companions carried
their guns al trail and ran with the
Presently he was within twenty-five
Yards 7 could not be mistaken IN him
"A brOad-breasted mark. making
straight for my pistol, leveIed through
triangular crevIce-. Ielt that could
not miss him, and growing through my
clenched teeth I've got you now.' I
fired.
But at that very instant Payton's foot
caught, and down ne felI, my bullet
singing over him His wits worked like
lightning he had heard the shot and
instead OF rising ne rolled into a de-
I knew 7 had MT hit him. but I could
not see him where he lay
The other man came on at full speed.
bringing his rife 10 his shoulder as ne
began 70 ascend the rocks I shot him
down as would q md dog
Cursing the mischaHCe that had made
ne miss PayCOn. but not daring TO wait
dashed 70 Mss Crayman's side Just in
time TO see the three men cfambering
- the lower rocks Having them at a
GtsadvantaEe. when the difficult climb
sng prevented them from handling their
weapons. I leaped upon the rim and
f1red pOintblak at the nearest, who went
down in a heap
Then 7 sent a shot at each OF the
others. but with what effect could not
tell
Both instantly disappeared. and
darted hack again fearing that Payton
had recovered his feet ana was al
vancing- But I could see no trace Of
him
For . moment I debated whether,
after all, I might not have hit him
But no. I had seen too clearly the cause
Of his fall.
was tempted TO run down TO the
place where he had dropped, but was
restrained by uncertainty as TO what
lad become Of the other two men
When I returned 10 Miss Graynan, she
said that she had not seen them
Our peril was a. great as ever-per-
haps greater. for the enemy was hidden
What VS. TO happen next2 What
were they planning nOw2
TNTETN