The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-28

&sa'sssasssya Aeu--1sszz~p THEY WENT AT IT, HAMMER AND ToNGs. coming more and more clearly im- printed on my mind. I began to feel personal interest in her rescue and corresponding detestation of Alfonso Payton. Imagined her looking to us looking to me-to save her, and l vowed that I would do it. Love at first sight has become commonplace, but if I had stopped to analyze my feelings I might have concluded that my case was one of love without sight.
 We were actually gaining on the chase.
 The Osprey for some time had been making 1898 miles. little better than her best during the night. I esti- mated that the Chameleon had drop ped to not over 139. At this rate we should overhaul her in the course of five hours In two hours we should be within effective range, and an hour later we ought to be near enough to enable Ethan to knock her aeroplanes to spInters.
 The gunner was already fuming with impatience and continually con sulting with his range finder, chang ing the elevation of his gun and draw ing imaginary beads. <1
 "Ill bet a Connecticut cigar" he said as I passed him on my rounds, "thet when git anuther chanst I'll put shot into him thet'll stop i'm" J
 ''I'll. give you word when to begin firing" I said Don't hull him. for you might ffijure or kill the prisoners, but aim for the aeroplanes."
 sI know how to wing a duck, loo tenant" he returned sEf >the range hadn't been so pesky long this morn in one O his fippers 'u'd never "a Topped ag'in.'
 T believe you did hurt him, Ethan" :" I said. "I can't otherwise account for his lack of speed. Last night he gained on us; now we are gaining on him. Our speed is trife better than it was, but not enough to explain the differ ence."
 Ethan's eyes lighted as he exclaimed:
 | thet shot wasn't altogether fur nuth- fn'"
 Payton now gradually increased his elevation until he almost reached the level of the lower clouds, and at the same ume the Chameleon again under went changes of color, turning first Sky blue and afterward white, when 1t became difficult at times to find her against the dazzling cloud surfaces and pale sky.
 I wondered what the fellow would do now that we were enthusiastically drawing up on him. But when we had got just within range and Ethan was drawing bead in earnest Payton lost not g. second in deciding what to do. He swung the Chameleon broadsfde to, and an ugly blue flash showed at each end of her simultaneously. We anx- iousiy awaited the arrival of the pro- fired
 Unlike a ship, an aero when she is broadside to presents a more difficult mark, because then her aeroplanes are seen more or less edgewise
 Both of the Chameleon's shots passed under us, but Ethan's was better pitch cd, and our glasses showed that the solid projectile had hit one of her flip pers," as he called them. He followed with another, which was effective near the same spot. A moment later both of the Chamelcon's guns spit blue fire again; but, as before, they were aimed too low, and the shot went whis- ting good 150 feet below us.
 "Why don't you swing round and give him both your guns, toow asked the secretary.
 Because" replied, ''I want to run him down. Now, Ethan, keep it up."
 Ethan's third shot hit the same aero plane that had already been touched. l If it had been a shell it might have l demolished it, but the Chameleon's | conduct showed that the damage was | not yet serious enough to stop her or | even hinder her action.
 However, she fired no more, but in | stead turned tail. Evidently Payton, l finding that he was receiving more l damage than he could inf1ict, meant to | trust again to his, heels.
 ''That won't save himv' exclaimed 1 exultantly. we've got him now. He's worse damaged than he was, and | if he couldn't outfoot us then he's got | no chance now"
 While I was speaking noticed that | the Chameleon had turned almost di- rectly skyward. Beyond and above during the fight a huge white cloud had come sailing up. Payton made di- rectly for this cloud, and hardly two had escaped when Ethan call ed out:
 Sra D.