The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-29

IH0 CHaLIC-oIl '>--4.allI Irjl, ana tuen tHo Osprey was swallowed up with dark ness, illuminated now and then by venomous lightning bolts.
 The thunder growled and rattled all about us, and the aero lunged and pitched so dangerously that advised MT. Grayman and the secretary to take refuge in the cabin. My men managed the fier superbly, and in few minutes the storm passed, and we found ourselves in a valley of cloud land - blue sky overhead, thunder clouds piled like vast rocks all around and the earth beneath hidden with dark nimbuS.
 Beyond the nearer clouds the vapor peaks rose glittering in the sunshine like snow clad mountains.
 Then I caught sight of the Chame- leon, also inclosed in a cloud walled valley, not more than quarter of a mile off. Gigantic in the magnifying mist, she was just pushing out of the scud, her great aeroplanes looking as funereal as mighty pals and her black flag whipping in the wind.
 She was broadside to, and Paytons eye had been as quick as mine. His action was quicker.
 Hardly five seconds had elapsed from the moment that we caught sight or one another when both his guns spit their blue flashes, and the shells screamed so close that I wondered at our escape. I yelled an order to the steersman to bring our bow in line with the Chameleon, meaning to run her down, but before we had swung into the desired position she fired twice again and once more narrowly missed her aim.
 Ethan was ready now, and the word "Firev' had hardly left my lips before his gun responded and knocked one of Payton's aeroplanes into shapeless, fiuttering mass. His second shell burst aboard her, sending my heart into my throat in the fear that it had killed half the people she carried.
 Careful, Ethanp' I shouted. ARe- member the prisoners!'
 "An right, lootenant," he replied; "but, blast him, he's fooled us long enough!'
 Before either side could fire again, the Chameleon was once more swal- lowed from sight by boiling, sulphur tinted vapors, and, as before, the Os- prey, too, was immediately involved in the second rush of the storm. This time the glare of the lightning and the vicious raps of thunder were almost TU nlI n0y1td to retain an upright position on the pitching and swaying deck. Yet again the storm passed quickly, leaving us in another blue domed and vapor bot toned atmospheric valley among the flashing thunder heads. And there still was the Chameleon, like black demon of the air, awaiting us.
 The battle was instantly Resumed with greater impetuosity than before, as if the electric fury of the tempest had entered into our blood.
 Still Payton presented his broadside, circling to keep out of reach. while endeaxored to close, and Ethan pep pered him with the bow gun.
 Having two guns in action to Ou
 
 with a caution, but his aim was wild compared with Ethan's superb gun nery. Still, they managed to cut up our rigging, tore a few holes in our deck and finally sent shell aboard us that wounded two men and knocked over MT. Grayman, who. with the sec retary, had insisted upon remaining on deck, with flying splinter.
 MT. Grantham ran to his aid, and sent man to help carry him into the cabin
 Whish! Whish! Rattle! Crack! went the sounds of the guns and the exploding shells, mingled at times with the deep growls of thunder from the encircling clouds, which menaced another rush, as if we in turn had stimulated them to renewed violence. But they held off while the fight to a finish between the Chameleon and the Osprey went on.
 Presently one of our aeroplanes was knocked endwise; then our steering machinery was damaged. The latter injury caused us to swing round so theiS Odi otOih gun diSO Ndh1C 1AlO play, and the gunner, Eaton-a good man, too-incited by Ethan's splendid work and eager to take his share in it, began to \6re without orders. Of course let him go on, and the battle became fercer than ever. PaytOn sent us some more smashers, and I felt by the staggering of the Osprey that she was mortally injured; but, after all, that did not greatly trouble me, since it was plain that the Chameleon was in far worse plight.
 Ethan was sight to make ones nerves jingle. His eyes flashed, his strong arms worked with the precision of walking beams. and the perspira- tion stresmed from his face.
 -Bully for you, Ethanw I shouted enthusiastically. You've kept your word. The Chameleon will never fly again"
 -The blasted turncoat!' he replied, again sighting his gun. "I knowed I'd put an end to her cavortin's. Change yer color agin, will ye, ye blasted grasshopper! Scoot inter a cloud ag'in if ye kin, durn yev' Gro Be Continued