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

| screams reached our ears, and In ar
| incredibly brief time we saw three
men dragging two women down the
short path from the building to the
! Chameleon
"Por Gods sake" cried the secretary
do something quick! Payton is run
ming away with his prisoners"
But we were powerless to interfere.
| the Eagle lowering and dipping ike a
wounded bird over the lake and refus-
! ing to answer her helm. We could not
| even return the fire, for neither Of our
| guns could be brought to bear, and If
| they could have been we might have
| killed the prisoners as they were car
| RED aboard.
1 managed to signal the other aeros
to close in. doubt If they noticed the
signals, but they endeavored to close
/ just the same. I saw the blue flashes
from two or three of their guns as
| they swept down over the trees to the
lake, but the shells exploded IN the
forest beyond, and a minute later the
| Chameleon rose like frightened hawk
in short, swift spirals, making straight
up into the darkening heavens.
! ne ShNlHTk, WHICH EGCOSEIZcu DN
her rig, darted after her. and 1 saw
several shots fred, but evidently with
out effect, and the Chameleon. sud
denly changing her ascent TO a hOri-
zontal course, rushed away with amaZ-
ing speed, while the Skylark continued
to chase her. The other three moved
confusedly about, and | shouted to the
Osprey to drop down by US.
Here l said to Lieutenant Osborn,
her commander, take charge of the
Eagle and beach her. I'll take the Os-
prey with my crew, and you can trans
fer yours to the Eagle. Quick, now"
The transfer was effected in less
than five minutes, and Immediately
rose out of the shadow of the trees,
commanding the Crow and the BObo-
link to follow me at full speed. Mr..
Grayman and the secretary, of course.
accompanied me aboard the Osprey. 1t
was a desperate move. but the only
thing to be done, as the Eagle had
become utterly unmanageable.
When we had attained a cOnsidera-
BILE elevation we caught sight of the
chase far off to the north. the heav-
ems yet retaining a twilight glow. The
Skylark was far in the rear. but keep
ing nobly at her work and occasional
ly firing a gun, to which there was no
response.
The revenue fiiers were all built on
the same general plan. so that l ran
no risk Of confusion or uncertainty
for my men in transferring them. l
wanted my OWN crew because l knew
every man Of them like book. and
particularly l wanted Ethan and the
engineer. I should have liked TO give
Ethan his own gun. but. of course,
when every second was precious. no
transfer of armament could be thought
of AS soon as the chase was located
l ordered top speed and then took Mr..
Grayman and the secretary into the
cabin for a consultation. They were
greatly cast down by the unfortunate
turn that the affair had taken. partic-
ularly the Millionaire. who fairly grOan-
ed:
Hes run of with Helen. and now
he'll Kill her. Oh. why did we under
take this:"
Mr.. Grantham evidently felt that the
responsibility rested on him. and he
SuONbN no hlS lJOsiNibAt " sun n IL -'ti-
Their was he altogether discouraged,
and he started to inspirit his friend.
Gentlemen" said respectfully,
pardon me for saying that we have
no time now for talk of this kind. 1t
is not for that that | invited you into
the cabin. Mr.. Grantham. you have
done me the honor to put me in COM
mand. If / am 10 succeed from this
time forth ! must be unhampered. l
wanted to ask you. Mr.. Secretary. if
you would be willing to leave me in
absolute control | have hitherto felt
that | ought to consult you in critical
l do not want 10 do that
in the future Our only chance is in
having a single responsible commander
and no divided counsels."
You are entirely right" exclaimed
the secretary. Il believe its my fault