, 1912-07-04
@s !
SKY
PIRATE
bT GARRETT p
- ~ SEQvISS.
cogYe,oHr az teASx a 0WseY co~eAr0
PROLOGUE.

firemenf, and he has now beer
replaced. in fiction at least, b
the sky pirate, who Is even more
mysterious, more daring and more
romantic than his predecessor.
Read and there will unfold before
you the extraordinary story of
Captain Alfonso Payfon and his
airship. the Chameleon; of Viii
liam Groyman, the richest man in
the world; of his beautiful daugh-
ter. for whose ransom $40, OOO,-
600 was demanded; of Lieufen-
ant Allen of The service,
of wonders. by wireless and of
fierce battles above the clouds.
signals. bur they TO close
lust the same. | 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
Cha .neleon rose like a frightened ha wk
in short. swift spirals. making straight
up into the darkening heavens
The Skylark. which ! recognized by
her rig. darted after her. and | 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 u.s.
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 can trans
fer yours to the Eagle. Quick. nowr"
The transfer was effected in less
than five minutes. and Immediately I
rose out of the shadow of the trees.
commanding the Grow and the BobO-
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 bad attained a considera-
Bile elevation we caught sight Of b
chase far off to the north. the heav-
ems yet retaining a twilight glow. The
Skylark was far in the ear, but keep
ing nobly at her work and occasional
ly firing a gun, to which there was no
response.
The iiers were all built on
the same general plan. so that l ran
no risk of confusion or uncertainty
for my men In transferring then. l
every man of them like a book, and
particularly ] wanted Ethan and the
engineer. l should have liked to give
Ethan bis 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
| 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 mad 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 2"
Mr., Grantham evidently felt that the
responsibility rested on him. and he
showed no disposition to shirk it. Mel
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 l invited you into
the cabin. Mr.. Grantham. you have
done me the honor to put me in com-
mand. If ] am to 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
moments. | do not want to 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 It's my fault
mat Payton got of. From this mo-
ment you are in absolute control I'll
simply be a spectator"
Mr Grayman said nothing. aad l
was greatly gratifed
went Immediately on deck. the 9th
~s Following vas delighted to per-
eeiVe that the Chameleon was still Wis.
io'e' though dim In the distance. with
Tue skylark doggedly churning after
ner ana yet firing from time to time.
S'ose behind us rushed the Grow and
une bobolink visited the engineer.
Jim do you know the Osprey's mo
'orsr' I asked
I've been aboard her often" he said.
ana | know her whole makeup pretty
We'll"