The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-27

'If I knew which was the pirate 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.
 It was a fact Faintly 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 kin send a shell into her thet'u put her out O commission. Then how's he goin' to git away"
 It seemed a good idea, but I felt bound to consult MT. Grantham.
 '.It might be the best thing to do.' he said, eff you were sure of hitting a vital spot. But in the darkness I'm doubtful of that.''
 IL Q a 1CShS cAiOts olAs poS HI ASA@SAA~s ''but if you'll let me try it I'll bet a Connecticut cigar that the Chame- leon II not fly ag'in for awhile"
 But Mir. 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"
 ua 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 off grumbling. AS it turned out. Ethan's idea was the best.
 In dead silence I got the men all ready for a rush the moment we should reach the side of the Chame- leon, and then, rising 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 l was congratulating myself on our prospective success when a flash 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 aeroplanes dipped and swept the water like broken wing. In an instant another shell came, which also struck us, ripping up part of the deck and narrowly missing her mo- tors.
 We were the surprised party and as we afterward learned, always had a 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, 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 tc and fro, doors were slammed. agonized screams reached our ears, and in an incredibly brief time we saw three men dragging two women down the short path from the building to the Chameleon.
 "For 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 like $ wounded bird over the lake and refus ing to answer her helm. We could nol even return the fire, for neither of om guns could be brought to bear, and ii they could have been we might havt killed the prisoners as they were car ried aboard.
 I 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 minute later the Chameleon rose like frightened hawk in short, swift spirals, making straight up into the darkening heavens.
 The Skylark, which I recognized by her rig, darted after her, and I saw several shots fired, 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 I shouted to the Osprey to drop down by us.
 'Here," 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 csn trans. fer yours to the Eagle. Quick, nowv'
 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. MT Grayman and the secretary, of course accompanied me aboard the Osprey. Ii was desperate move, but the only thing to be done, as the Eagle had become utterly manageable.
 When we had attained considera ble elevation we caught sight of the