Gloucester County Democrat., 1911-10-19

reached the Chameleon. while fiankins
vapors ran out like charge of cav.
airy and began to enyelop us.
The sweep of the storm was so sud
den and swift that almost in moment
the Chameleon vanished. and then the
Osprey was swallowed up with dark
ness. Illuminated now and then by
venomous lightning bolts
The thunder growled and ratified all
about us. and the aero lunged and
pitched so dangerously that | advised
Mr.. Grayman and the secretary to
take refuge in the cabin. My men
managed the fiier superbly. and in a
few minutes the storm passed. and we
found ourselves in 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 l caught sight of the Chame-
leon, also inclosed in cloud walled
valley, not more than a 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 Payton's
eye had been as quick as mine His
action was quicker.
Hardly five seconds had elapsed from
the moment that we caught sight OF
one another when both his guns spit
their blue flashes. and the shells
screamed so close that l wondered at
our escape. / 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 fred twice
again and once more narrowly missed
her aim.
Ethan was ready now. and the word
"Firer' had hardly left my lips before
his gun responded and knocked one OF
Payton's aeroplanes into shapeless,
futtering 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, EthanT | shouted. IRE.
member the prisoners!'
"All 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 boiAag. 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
incessant We had all we could do
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 a 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
endeavored to close. and Ethan pep
pered him with the bow gun.
Having two guns in action to Ou1
one, Payton pumped the shells into US
with caution. but his aim was wild
compared with Ethan's superb gun
merry. 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 Mr.. Grayman, who. with the Sec
retary, had insisted upon remaining
on deck. with a flying splinter
Mr.. Grantham ran to his aid, and l
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 q
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
that our stern gun also came into
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 fire without orders. OF
course l let him go on. and the battle
became fiercer than ever. Payton sent
us some more smashers, and 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