The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-03-17


crest of the swells; but the
"screek" of the file went on-not
so strong, perhaps, but steadily
still, the paean of the unconquer-
able spirit of the man clinging to
the truss-work beneath her. 1t
was grand. 1t was immense. Her
spirit rose to the occasion, rose to
the prosaic "screek, screek" of a
file in a hand that was dabbled in
the waves at every lifting swell
of the stolid ocean that rolled on
just the same where it's prey
dangled within the tapping of its
tongue. and out yonder where,
perhaps, no man had been since
creations morn.
"Theodore!"
The file stopped for moment.
keep her as she is" said he.
We've got the submarine
stopped. I've got the chain about
filed through-but-I'm little
tired. Keep her as she is-for
just q lLtle Wnlle!
Again the file began its work.
The immediate danger was over
but both the man below and the
girl in the car knew that the ter
rifle consumption of gas in the
engines made the seconds too pre-
cious for use in conversation. a
minutes supply of gas. ten sec
onds' supply, one seconds supply
might save their lives in the
home stretch, when the chain
should be filed through, and they
should take their flight toward
land-to make triumphant land
ing after this deadly peril, or to
sink in the waves from which
they were now fighting to save
themselves. The roar of the
machinery filled the air with TEN.
pest; the wind from the wing
blades driven down on the water
set it boiling like a whirlpool; one
moment the straining submarine
drew them down by link or two
of the chain; the next the strug
Cling air-ship lifted the submarine
up an inch or so from her darl
lair in the depths. At last, at the
very height of the fierce strug
gle, the air-ship shot upward will
the jingle of dropping chains,
worn file fell into the foam of
white-capped wave, and the CIR
lleaped to the lever in obedience t
the voice of Carson telling her t.
make haste, for Gods sake, ant
set the wings for forward flight
to cut the speed down one-third
and to steer straight for shore.
She obeyed. They had risen t.
a height of perhaps two hundret
, feet before her inexperience,
hands could change the propel
. lers; and Carson told her to kee
the height. She asked if sh
} might not use little higher speed
but he said no, economy in ga
was in the moderate speed. "Kee
, her as she is" said he.
t "Can you come up she asked
, "Have you the strength"
r She asked this two or tire
times, and got no reply. Sudden
ly she screamed with the fea
that he had tainted, and as j
laroused from a stupor he aske
[ her to advance the spark a little
: and, when she. had done so, t
[ retard it again.
Are you in danger?" she ask
ed. "Can you hang on?"
I'm all right" said he, "onl
, my hands. Can you see shore
, Is it far?"
: The shore was rising fast, sh
told him. 1t was not so very fan
now, but the gas was almost gone
Could she do anything? Wa
!, there nothing to. be done to elk
, 1t out so as to bring them a 1ittl
closer before they fell into tn
sea? Could he do anything If h
were in the car?
keep her as she is" said he
i"When we get close enough so sh
can glide in, I'll tighten her."
"How tighten herr" she asked.
: "It's easy" said he, from dow
here. Keep her as she Isl"
The dunes lifted white in tn
sun, shimmering in the heat
swelling as the Virginia darte
nearer and nearer to shore. TIL
horror.stricken people on tn