Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-11-10
"a better way" he whispered.
u,-o,-Id la IN dron silently down across

g a better way" he whispered.
would he to drop silently down across
tie lake and seize her where she lies"
Dut they would see US approach"
"SuDpose they 90. We could get
there ahead of them, and 1T a signal
the other aeros would be upon them"
/ After q little further whispering we
finally settled upon this plan against
my better. Judgment and greatly TO the
disappointment of Ethan HaiSht who
went off Grum5llng. AS 1t turned out.
I Ethans idea was the best.
In dead silence / got the men all
ready for a rush the moment we
should reach the side OF the Cbome-
leon, and then, rising little TO clear
the shafts of. light from the windows.
we began cautiously to cross the lake.
We were about halfway across and
had dropped nearer the water and I
was congratulating myself on our
prospective success when fash like
blue lightning came from the Chame-
leon. followed by the loud whish Of
an electric gun. which blended with a
sharp splintering report rs a shell
struck the Eagle.
We were upset by the shock. and
the Eagle veered from her course. her
nose shooting up In the air, while one
Of her aeroplanes dipped and swept
the water like a broken wing. In an
instant another shell came, which also
struck US, ripping up a part of the
deck and narrowly missing her mo-
tors.
We were the surprised party and
surprised with a vengeance. Payton.
as we afterward learned, always had
q crew aboard the Chameleon. and
even when they were In their home
port" they did not altogether relax
their vigilance.
Luckily nobody aboard rs was hit,
but the damage done was sufficient to
render the Eagle virtually unmanage-
able.
The noise produced an immediate ef-
feet upon the people in the lodge.
There were the sounds Of running to
and fro. doors were slammed. agoni1ed
screams reached our ears. and In an
Incredibly brief time We saw three
men dragging two women down the
short path from the building to the
Chameleon.
"For Gods sake" cried the secretary.
do something quicki Payton u run
ming away with his prisoners"
But we were powerless to interfere,
the Eagle lowering and dipping like q
wounded bird over the lake and refus.
Ing to answer her helm. We could moi
even return the fire. for neither Of our
guns could be brought to bear. and II
they could have been we might have
killed the prisoners ~ they were car
Red aboard
I managed to signal the other aeroa
to close In. doubt II they noticed the
signals. but they endeavored to close
just the same. saw the blue flashes
from two or three OF their guns Al
they swept down over the trees to the
lake. but the shells exploded In the
forest beyond, and . minute later the
Chameleon rose like q frightened hawk
In short, swift spirals, making straight
up Into the darkening heavens.
The Skylark. which I recognized BY
her rig, darted after her. and saw
several shots nred. but evidently with
out effect and the Chameleon. sud
denly changing her ascent to . hori
sontal course. rushed away with amas
ing speed. while the Skylark continued
b chase her. The other three moved
confusedly about and shouted to thu
Osprey to drop down BY us.
"Here." I said to Lieutenant Osborn
her commander. take charge Of thu
Eagle and beach her. I'll take the o.
prey with my crew. and you can trans
fer yours to the Eagle. Quick nowr
The transfer was effected In les,
than I'VE minutes. and Immediately
rose out Of the shadow Of the trees
commanding the Crow and the Bobo
link to follow me at full speed Mr.
Crayman and the secretary. Of course
accompanied me aboard the Osprey. !,
was q desperate move. but the only
thing tosbe done, a the Eagle hat
become utterly unmanaeeable
When we had attained q considers
BILE elevation We caught sight Of the
chase far Oh to the north. the heav
ems yet retaining q twilight glow. The
Skylark was far In the rear. but keep
ing nobly at her work and occasional
y firing . gun. to which there was nc
response.
The revenue niers were all built on
the same general plan. 20 that ! ran
no risk Of confusion or uncertainty
for my men In transferring them.
wanted my own crew because knew
every man Of them IKE . book. and
particularly l wanted Ethan and the
engineer. l should have liked to give
Ethan his own gun. but. Of COURSE
when every second swas precious. NJ
transfer Of armament could be thought
Of A soon ~ the chase was located
ordered top speed and then took Mr
Grayman and the secretary into the
cabin for q consultation. They were
greatly cast down BY the unfortunate
turn that the affair had taken. partic
ularly the Millionaire. who fairly groan
led:
"He's run on With helen, aud now
he'll XIII her. Oh. why did we under
take thisf"
Mr.. 0rantham evidently felt that the
responsibility nestled on him. and be
showed no disposition to shirk It Mel.
Their was be altogether discouraged
and be started to inspirit bis friend.
| 'Gentlemen." said respectfully,
pardon me for saying that we have
10 time now for talk Of this kind. II
b not for that that ! invited you into
the cabin. MIR. Grantham, you have
done me the honor to put me in com
mand II am to succeed from this
time forth must be unhappered. /
wanted to ask you. Mr. Secretary, II
you would be willing to leave me In
absolute control. have hitherto felt
that ] ought to consult you in critical