Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-09

swear horribly dL the u4 III WHICH nCS
found themselves. for the water. with
soft mud under it., must have been
three feet deep.
! In moment thought of trying to
/ take them at a disadvantage. shooting
! them down before they could extricate
themselves. But i could not see their
exact location. and. looking around,
my eye lighted upon a pile of great
rocks which rose above the brushwood
not more than thirty rods from where
we stood.
/ Come" I said. taking Miss Gray
mans hand: we shall be safer on
those rocks"
She was trembling like a leaf, and
the maid could hardly stand.
Miss Grayman." ! said. putting all
my heart into my words. you must
please have confidence in me. / have
left your father in the aero. and hope
that he. with plenty of help. will be
able soon TO reach US. In the mean
time trust in me- l would give up my
life to protect you, and I know that
can protect you. l am an officer in the
service of the United States govern
meDt. and the secretary of the treas
Ury himself is with your father in the
aero. You know that we have de-
stroyed Payton's Chameleon, and be
himself will soon be in our hands,
During this speech had been hurry
ing them toward the rocks. for heard
the 1oundering Of Payton and his men
in the marsh and knew that they were
fast extricat ting themselves. My words
had the happiest effect upon Miss
Grayman. She glanced at me with the
first cheerful look that had seen upon
her face.
What is your name. please?"
Il am Lieutenant John Allan Of the
revenue service and in command of
the expedition fitted out by Secretary
Grantham for your rescue
Lieutenant Allan" she replied, you
have performed an act of splendid dar-
ing May God reward you Tor IT.
Ny heart thumped against my ribs.
but I made no attempt to reply. In
stead 1 quickened our steps. In few
minutes more we had reached the
rocks.
There was a clear space around them,
and they were rough and precipitous.
AN excellent fortified tion," l said to
myself.
The highest point may have been
forty feet above the surrounding plain
/ Immediately scrambled up, drawing
the girls after me. When we reached
the top we found a slight depression
in which we could conceal ourselves
from the eyes Of any person below,
while from the rim 1 could command
the approaches on every side. placed
Miss Grayman and Susan where they
were perfectly protected and then. pis-
toll In hand, crept to the edge and
of the marsh.
Affair OF 1 saw the Osprey speeding
way on the course that I had given
ner and which they had evidently been
unable to control. The Chameleon
still hung tattered overhead, slowly
circling. / had scarcely raised my
head a little higher when l caught
sight Of Payton in the brush. calling
and gesticuIating to his men. who soon
came into sight behind him. They
were all dripping and bedaubed with
mud. and a more savage looking trio
1 never beheId. To my dismay l saw
that they all carried rifles.
had no weapon but my automatic
pistol, which contained ten shots, be-
sides twenty in my belt. 1t was
slight preparation for a siege. but 1
had the advantage Of the natural for
LITIGATION of the rocks
And now q new cause of anxiety
presented itself. 1t was evident that
the Chameleon was gradually being
brought to earth. / saw signals ex-
changed between her and Payton. His
men on the Chameleon had seen US,
and ! saw from their motions that they |
were pointing US out.
He knew how TO manage his cam
paign. He sent his two men around
to the northeast and northwest sides, /
while ne himself guarded the south. /
Then we were surrounded.
The question now was. How large a |
would Payton receive /
when bis aero succeeded in landing? 4
Miss Gayman thought FIVE had fallen.
In that case our enemies would num-
per only five in all. and Paytons &C
session Of force would be two men.
Still. It would be terrible odds. since
they had guns and only a pistol.
The open ground around US was suf-
iciently broad TO require several min
ties for a runner to cross 1t. My
ask was 10 keep sharp watch on all
ldes and prevent an approach.
! ran round the parapet, as 1 may
all il. peering out in every direction.
Hiss Grayman. comprehending what l
vas about and seeing my difficulty, +
ffered to aid me. 1 refused at first,
caring TO expose her TO a shot. but
he eagerly insisted, and / let her take
he northern side. fnstruct1ng her to
'eep through the interstices in the
roken rocks. but not to show even her
ead
Presently a shot came from the
ortheast side and spattered on the
ock close by ner head She screamed
nd dropped through fright. and l
prang TO her side. with a terrible fear
bat she had been hit. She was all
irhf however ann I DulIpd her 70 the