Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-04

CT the Skylark. 4 S1gnale0 10 inquire
what the damage was. and Grimes
replied:
Used up. Right forward aeroplane
smashed"
Anybody killed?"
'eTwo men"
"Can you repair and limp homer
Eyes, think so'
''The Grow and the Bobolink are
coming. Detain the Bobolink TO aid
you and send the Crow after US"
Somehow the image OF that poor
girl. whom I had never seen. was be-
coming more and more clearly i'm
printed on my mind. l began to feel
a personal interest in her rescue and
corresponding detestation of Alfonso
Payton. I imagined her looking to US
looking to me-to save her. and
vowed that / would do 1t. Love at
first sight has become a commonplace.
but If 1 had stopped to analyze my
feelings l might have concluded that
my case was one of love without
sight.
We were actually gaining on the
chase,
The Osprey for some time had been
her best during the night. esti-
mated that the Chameleon had drop
ped to not over 139. At this rate we
should overhaul her in the course vi
five hours. In two hours we should
be within effective range. and an hour
late We ought to be near enough to
enable Ethan TO knock her aeroplanes
to splinters.
The gunner was already Tuning
with impatience and continually con-
sulting with his range finder, chang
ing the elevation Of his gun and draw.
ing imaginary beads.
"I'n bet a Connecticut cigar" he
said as I passed him on my rounds.
tibet when git anuther chanst I'll
put shot into him thet'n stop i'm
''Tll give you word when to begir
firing" l said. Don't hull him. for
you might njure or kill the prisoners,
but aim for the aeropianes."
II know how to wing duck, loc
tenant" he returned. EFF the rang
hadn't been 80 pesky long this morn
In one O. his fippers nd never "a
Topped ag'i'
81 believe you did hurt him, Ethan"
said. 81 mt otherwise account for
his lack of speed. Last night he gained
on us; now we are gaining on him
Our speed is a trife better than it was,
but not enough to explain the differ
ence"
Ethan's eyes lighted as he exclaimed:
Il knowed it, lootenant! l knowed
thet shot wasn't altogether fur nuth-
in"
Payton now gradually increased his
elevation until he almost reached the
level of the lower clouds. and at the
same time the Chameleon again under
went changes of color, turning first
sky blue and afterward white. when
it became difficult at times to find her
against the dazzling cloud surfaces and
pale sky.
l wondered what the fellow would
do now that we were Enthusiastically
drawing up on him. But when we had
got just within range and Ethan was
drawing bead in earnest Payton lost
not a second in deciding what to do.
He swung the Chameleon broadSide to,
and an ugly blue flash showed at each
end Of her simultaneously. We anx-
iously awaited the arrival of the pro-
tectiles, and at the same time Ethan
fred.
Unlike a ship. an aero when she is
broadside to presents a more difficult
mark. because then her aeroplanes are
seen more or less edgewise.
Both of the Chameleon's shots passed
under US. but Ethan's was better pitch
ed, and our glasses showed that the
solid projectile had hit one of her Flip
pers," as he called them. He followed
with another. which was effective near
the same spot. A moment later both
of the Chameleon's guns spit blue
Ere again; but. as before, they were
aimed too low. and the shot went whis-
ting a good $50 feet below US.
why don't you swing round and
give him both your guns, too2" asked
the secretary.
Because" / replied. ST want TO run
him down. Now, Ethan. keep it up"
Ethan's third shot hit the same aero
plane that had already been touched.
II 1t had been a shell it might have
demolished it, but the Chameleon's
conduct showed that the damage was
not yet serious enough to stop her or
even hinder her action.
stead turned tail. Evidently Payton,
finding that he was receiving more
damage than he could infiict, meant to
trust again to his heels
THAT won't save him" 1 exclaimed |
exultantly. We've got him now. |
He's worse damaged than he was, and |
If he couldn't outfoot us then he's got |
no chance now"
While 1 was speaking 1 noticed that |
the Chameleon had turned almost di- |
rectly skyward. Beyond and above
during the fight a huge white cloud |
had come sailing up Payton made di-
rectly for this cloud, and hardly two
minutes had escaped when Ethan call
cd out:
Gone into the cloud. by thunder,
and disappeared"
1t was exactly true. The Chameleon
was instantly swallowed from our
-EA hnd