Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-02
CHAPTER XIV.

A NIGHT ATTACK AND AN EXCITING CHASE
"HE Eagle had resumed her po-
sition on the opposite side of
the little lake from the lodge
and directly facing the en-
trance Of the latter. l could see the
dim forms of the other aeros silent
~ waiting in their places and no light
showing about them. The Eagle from
her position was the only one that
might be seen from the lodge, but,
covered by the shadows of the tall
trees, the tops Of many Of which rose
above US, / was confident that we
would not be noticed as long as we
did not move.
Now we held consultation in whis-
pers. Occasionally we caught ghmpses
Of forms moving in the building. They
had taken no pains to close the shut
tiers, and we could see three men who
passed at irregular intervals before the
windows.
IF 1 knew which was the pirate 1
would direct you to shoot him down
from here" said the secretary, "but
we might make a mistake"
Suddenly Ethan Haight, who, in his
eagerness, had ventured to leave his
gun and approach US, touched me on
the arm.
There's the Chameleon, lootenant,"
he said, pointing.
1t was a fact. Family visible in the
gloom. her form revealed by the light
from behind. the famous aero lay on
her cradle at the shore OF the lake.
Ethan touched me again.
''Say the word, lootenant an I kin
send a shell into her thet'u put her
out O. commission. Then how's he
goin' to git awayr"
1t seemed a good idea, but 1 felt
bound to consult Mr.. Grantham.
at might be the best thing to do"
he said. IF you were sure OF hitting
a vital spot. But in the darkness I'm
doubtful of that
Its resky shot. SIR" put in Ethan,
''but If you'll let me try It I'll bet a
Connecticut cigar that the Chame-
leon III not fly ag'in for awhile"
But Mr.. Grantham shook his head.
"a better way" he whispered,
"would be TO drop silently down across
the lake and seize her where she lies"
But they would see us approach"
Suppose they do. We could get
there ahead of them. and at a signal
the other aeros would be upon them"
After a little further whispering we
finally settled upon this plan against
my better judgment and greatly to the
disappointment Of Ethan Haight. who
went of grumbling. AS it turned out,
Ethan's idea was the best.
In dead silence got the men all
ready for a rush the moment we
should reach the side Of the Chame-
leon, and then, rising a 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 ongratulat ting 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 as 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 aerOrlanes dipped and swept |
the water like a broken wing. In an
aDOlutE SltIl tStlHts " lllt-I hiSO I
struck US, ripping up n part Of the /
deck and narrowly missing her mo- !
tors.
We were the surprised party and /
surprised with n vengeance. PaytOn. /
as we afterward learned. always had
crew aboard the Chameleon, and /
even when they were in their home +
port they did not altogether relax /
their vigilance.
Luckily nobody aboard us was hit, I
but the damage done was sufficient to |
render the Eagle virtually unmanage- /
able
The noise produced an Immediate eff /
feet upon the people in the lodge. /
There were the sounds OF running TO /.
and fro. doors were slammed. agonized /