The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-08-20

below the curtain and one above 1t,
the airship Of the future and the air.
ship of the past flew on converging
courses. They dropped below the
cloud into the thinner vapor. They
looked about-and saw nothing. And
yet. above the purring Of the machin.
cry, came to their ears the tremor
from powerful engines. Could the
Condor have assembled into the cloud
as they descended from it? Voices
came closer and closer. Il
My God. Carsonr' shouted Crair-
head. You're going foul of hes.
Look down"
Just in time Carson looked. From
the depths of air below the great bub-
bic of silver rose. swelling In her swift
approach. A collision meant ruin.
The propeling blades of the aeronef
would cut the envelope Of the gas hold
err 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 aeronet. ig-
nitcd from the exhaust of the .Vir-
ginta's engines, might explode. hurting
the fragments of both vessels far and
wide. And Carson saw in the ruin the
fair form Of Virginia Suarez hurled to
earth from the Roc and crushed to
formlcSsness below. ..
Quick as lightning Carson threw on
full speed forward The Virginia obey
ed her machinery. and as she swooped
to the aerouat'S stnrDoard the latter
rose swiftly. The Nirrinia's stern rud-
; der srazed the gas bag and was all but
carried away: cord Of the suspension
system of the AirShip snapped with
defamation that set the huge fabric In
a tremble. There rose cry from the
deck of the hitherto unconscious mon
stcr us her people realized the fearful
fact that here in these dizzy heights
they were in collision with something.
A man came running out Of the cabin
with gun in his hand. MS If with
some wild notion of giving battle to
the destroyer.
The Virginia was half a mile from
the hrShip before the crew of the lat
ter had time to assure themselves Of
! her safety. The Virginia went astern
as well as athwart the course OF the
other craft. and as she shecred to star
board the aer0nef and the aeronat
sped from each other at the sum Of
their two speeds, perhaps four miles
a minute The people on the latter
must have thought the other gone for
ever when m astounding thing hap
pened. The aeronef wheeled about
and gave chase-nay. she gave chase
SO swiftly that she swelled visbly in
her swift oyerhauling of the aeronat.
In a time so short that 1t seemed like
breath the Virginia. on level now
with the others deck. came in close
astern. then sheered off and deliberate
~ ran around the big Condor as she
stood Oh her course at full speed AS
she crossed the bows a cry went out
from the great ships engine room-a
cry of mingled fear and astonishment.
Why did this new craft so course about
them? 1t was some new engine Of
, aviation-thnt was sure. And with
such incredible speed and such I'M
heard of mobility!
So as Carson came up on his second
circumnavigation of the Condor there
stood Mt the rail Of the big airship
two or three men with guns, who made
threatening gestures and shouted to
him to stand off or they would shoot.
What ship is that?" cried Carson.
None OF your business! You stand
Of or We'll shOot!
"Shoot II you dare! cried Carson.
Don't you see that can 60 above