, 1912-07-11

of wonders by wireless and of
fierce battles above the clouds.
Payton now gradually increased bis
elevation until he almost reached the
level Of the lower clouds. and at the
same time the Chameleon again under
went changes of color. turning 6rst
sky blue aud afterward white. when
1t became difficult at times to find her
against the dazzling loud surfaces and
pale sky.
wondered what the fellow would
do nov tina we were unmistakably
dre wing up OH him. But when we had
got JUST within range and Ethan was
dru wing a bend In earnest Payton lost
not a second In deciding what to do.
He swung the Chameleon broadside to.
and an ugly blu lash showed at each
end Of her simultaneously. We anx-
iously awaited the arrival Of the pro-
jectiles. and at the same time Ethan
dred.
Unlike a ship. an aero when she Is
broadslde to presents a more difficult
mark. because then her a%eroplanes are
seen more or less edgewtse.
Both Of the Chameleon's shots passed
under US. bur Ethan's was better pitch,
ed, and our glasses showed that he
solid ~projectile had hit n of her 'dip
pers," as he called them. He followed
with another. which was effective near
the same spot. A moment later both
Of the Chameleon's guns spit blue
Ore again: but. as before. they were
aimed too low. and the shot went wills
Ting a good $50 feet below rs.
why don't you swing round and
give hin both your guns. tooT' K
the secretary.
because" 1 replied. 81 want to run
him down. Now. Ethan. keep 1t up"
Ethan's third shot hit the same aero
plane that had already been touched.
II 1t had been a shell it might have
demolished It. but the Chameleon's
conduct showed that the damage was
not Jet serious enough to stop her or
even hinder her action.
However. she fred no MORE. but In
stead turned tail. Evidently Payton.
finding that he was receiving more
damage than he could infict. meant to
trust again to his heels.
THAT won't save him!" I exclaimed
exultantiy. We've got him now
He's worse damaged than he was. and
II he couldn't outfoot us then he's got
no chance now"
While I was speaking l noticed that
the Chameleon had turned almost d.
rectly skyward. Beyond and above
Alr-akho a-ks h-, xuhfka alnrrd
had come sailing up. Payton made d.
rectly for this cloud. and hardly two
minutes had escaped when Ethan call
ed out:
"Gone into the cloud. by thunder.
and disappeared"
1t was exactly true. The Chameleon
was instantly swallowed from u
sight. We could see where b had
entered the cloud BY the commoton Of
the 'vapors.
up and after him." L shouted to the
steersman.
With all speed we darted at the
cloud and entered it. l calculated that
he would run straight through 1t and
then make a turn on the other side.
but I thought that we could get there
in time to catch him at his antics. So
we shot straight through the cloud
But Payton knew or OWNED what l
didn't Beyond this cloud lay two 9TH
ers, separated by a considerable inter
val. but on the same lcvel. As we
emerged on the other side of the hrst
we anne in sight of the others. n to
the right. the other to the left. The
Chameleon was nowhere to be e
She had evidently crossed the narrow
open space and disappeared again into
n OF the clouds.
But which one7 A sudden inspira-
tion came to me.
"Send a five second timed shell Into
each of those clouds while We hold
our course" 1 said to Ethan.
These shells were so contrtved that
their fuses were started by the dis
charge Of the gun II vas like shoot
ing into a thicket at a suspected deer.
and ! regretted the order the moment
It had left my lips. but II was too late
for a countermand Ethan's first mark
was the right hand cloud. l had new
or seen a pro1ectile fred into a cloud.
n the effect surprised US all
As the projectiie Owed INTO the round.
marble looking mass OF vapor a minute
hole seemed Z open. and round this
instantly played a rayed halo OF brief
lightning iashes. Then the vapor n
hundred yarhs on all hides was thrown