, 1912-07-18
CHAPTER XVII.

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CHAPTER XVII. -.
srsfEdED By THE TPfRArr. -
"ALF stupefied with surprise, I
glanced around and saw, be-
sides Miss Grayman, only her
maid The parachute, right
ing Itself. descended more swiftly than
before.
Good heavens. Miss Grayman!" I
exclaimed. what are you doing herei
Where Is Payton?"
For answer to my last question she
had only strength enough to point up
ward. T glanced toward the wreck Of
the Chameleon. hanging black and torn
to shreds above Us. and saw a second
parachute dropping from It almost In
our track.
Then understood the situation.
Miss Grayman had Id some manner
managed to get away with Susan, and
now Payton was pursuing them. J "
We had a long start, but Payton was
following the SAME line, and it was
evident that he would touch the earth
In almost the same spot. But I was
not. dismayed, and felt wrought up
to z heroic temper when Miss Gray
man chung to my arm, sobbing:
''oh. sir. help US! Save us! My God.
what will become Of meT'
Have NO fear. Miss Grayman," /
said, summoning all the steadiness Of
nerve that l possessed. 81 will ave
you" "
There must have been a great deal
' nf rnaor- a-l - -
my words, for a faint color and a look
Of relief came into the girls wan face.
Save her! would have encountered
an army in her cause. ~
I was too anxious that We should
make a safe landing to pay much at
tention to Payton at present. l In
6pected b ground beneath US and
saw, as we got nearer that we were
likely to come down In a marsh. But
there was solid ground, brush covered,
near. and by Desperate exertions.
throwing all my weight to one side. l
succeeded In swaying the parachute
toward the drier land. so that finally
we struck In a very good place. the
basket alighting with but a slight
shock ma eldmp Of low. leafy bushes.
had hardly assisted Miss Grayman
n the maid OUT of the tangle when
there was a splash In the water close
by. announcing the arrival OF Payton's
parachute. ! heard one of his men
swear horribly AT the fix in which they
found themselves. for the water. with
soft mud under 1t. must have been
three feet deep
. In n ~,-n. ~ - &,utno tn
take them al a disadvantage. shooting
them down before they could extricate
Themselves. But | could not see their
exact location. and. looking around.
my eye lighted upon a pile of great
rocks which rose above the brushw0od
not more than thirty rods from where
we stood.
Come I said. taking Miss Gray
mans hand: I'VE shall be safer on
those rocks" m
She was trembling like a leaf. and
the maid could hardly stand.
Miss Grayman." ! said. putting all
my heart INTO my words. you must
please have confidence in me. I have
left your father In the aero. and hope
that he. with plenty of help. will be
able soon to reach US. In the mean
time trust In me. l would give up my
life to protect you. and ] know that
can protect you. I am al officer in the
service Of the United States govern
ment. and the secretary Of the treas.
ury himself is with your father in the
aero. You know that we have de-
stroyed Payton's Chameleon. and he
himself will o be in our hands"
During this speech I had been hurry
ing them toward the rocks. for ] heard
the n~oundering of Payton and his men
in the marsh and knew that they were
fast extricating themselves. My words
had the happiest effect upon Miss
Grayman. She glanced al me with the
nrat cheerful look that ! 4 had seen upon
her face.
""What Is your name. pieaser'
81 I'm Lieutenant John Allan Of the
revenue service and In command OF
the expedition fitted out by Secretary
Arantham for your rescue"
Lieutenant Allan" she replied. "you
have performed an act Of splendid dar'
ing. May God reward you for it-ru
My heart thumped against my ribs.
but I made no attempt to reply. In,
htead I quickened nj steps. In a few
0tantss more We had reached the