The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-08-26


graph now registered 33,75O, and our
course ahead was being made at
eighty miles an hour, yet that gigantic,
wonderful, monstrous THING seemed
able to keep up with us without an eff.
] fort.
determined to try strategy. Re.
membering how the eyes had blinked
at the electric searchlight, suddenly
turned a triae to the left, shifted the
searchnght, and struck the creature
with it squarely in the eyes.
The air serpent backed off instant
| ly. | turned sharply to the right, ex-
tinguishing the searchlight as l did
so, and lowered the forward planes to
20 degrees, a dangerous angle for a
descent, as all aviators know, but /
was determined to ESCAPE from the
monster if possible.
But it was futile. Before the ybaro-
graph showed 10000 feet, l felt the
hot breath again, and this time 1t
came from beneath.
With incredible ingenuity, probably
realizing from the changing air pres
sure that its prey was trying to es-
cape into the lower ether, the mon
ster had placed himself under the
aeroplane, and l firmly believe that II
l had not suddenly shifted the forward
lateral planes to the horizontal, we
would have struck the creature from
above.
l turned to John, mutely asking adj
vice. He was quivering with fear. And
too began to tremble anew when /
realized how completely this mysterl-
Gus monster of the air had us in his
power.
/ switched on the searchlight again
and aimed it below us. There he was,
the giant, undulating, fn-like creature,
his sixty wings Tapping noiselessly,
his hulking, soft, snaky body moving
forward without an effort, and the
great head ana the cavernous nav
turned upward as if it had not yet de-
termined what manner of bird or
beast this was which had invaded the
upper realms where this creature
alone seemed able to exist
l turned the plane sharply to the
right, and keeping the searchlight
pointing downward, shifted the for
ward planes again for descent. 1t
was our only chance and we had to
take it,
But the enemy was vigilant and
ever watchful. 1t followed us curious
ly to the 25,OO0-foot level. Then it evil
IDENTIFY became oppressed by the thick
ness of the atmosphere, and decided
we had gone far enough. With a
quick, sudden flashing of the fins, it
dived under us, the hot breath again
making the planes tremble, and loomed
up straight ahead. In another moment
we would have struck it had l not tilt.
ed the vertical planes sharply to the
left. l turned completely around in
less than three seconds, the quickest
turn on record, l believe, but while
the strain on the ailerons was terrific,
the tri-plane held on it's course.
But we could not escape the enemy.
The giant monster merely gave about
two jumps, and with incredible sLeed, |
repeated the maneuver. Once more | !
damned the wheel sharply to the right, |
and once more the ailerons creaked as
the strain of the sudden turn almost
tore them loose.
Then came the catastrophe. The
next time the monster leaped before |
us | flashed the searchlight into It's
great wicked eyes. 1t blinked and |
Tucked, and in an instant We had
passed over it.
firmly believe that John Aid ex-
pected me to execute another sharp
turn. Perhaps he leaned too far over
n an effort to help maintain the bal
ince. Perhaps fear and the terror
.ook possession of his heart, and he
thought the end was near anyhow.
Whether he fell or jumped from his
seat 1 know not, but when l turned
ny head the instant after we had
passed the creature, l realized that +
vas alone.
l swung about instantly, and felt an
'minous snap about the ailerons under
he terrific strain of the turn, but for
all held. Then l directed the
downward, and what saw
'y the brilliant flashing rays l shall
never forget.
There, 300 feet below me, l saw the
giant monster of the air, his great
nav pointing upward. A dark object
lurtled through the air, falling like
stone. 1t passed the startled gaze OF
he air serpent and fen into space be-