The Washington times., 1912-03-14
CHAPTER XIv.-(Continued) }

inside, and their searchlights,
i but it was impossible to tell
where they were Pludder
turned the searChIight downward, but
he could not make out the features
OF the ground beneath them. 1t is like
~ that they were driven at least as far
as Chesapeake bay, and they may have
passed directly over Washington.
At last, however, the wind slowed
around and began to blow with undi-
mlnlShed violence from the northeast.
Pluhglng and swcrVing, and sometimes
threatened with a complete somersault,
the aero hurried away In its crazy
flight, while its unfortunate inmates
clung to one another and held on by
any object within reach in the endeavor
to Keep from being dashed against the
metallic walls.
The crew of the aero were picked men.
but no experience could have prepared
them for the work which they now had
to do. Without the ready brain of
Prof. Pludder to direct their efforts,
and without his personal eXertiOns their
within quarter of an hour after the
storm struck it. He seemed trans
formed into another person. Hatess
he worked like a demon. He was ready
which, under his direction, had the
effect of magic.
A hundred times the aero plunged
for the ground. but was saved and
turned upward again just as 1t semed
on the point of striking. Up and down,
right and left, 1t ran and pitched and
Sometimes it actually SKINNED the
ground. plowing it's way through tor
rent of rushing water. and yet 1t rose
again and was saved from destruction.
This terrible contest lasted another
hour after the turning of the wind,
from its pressure, the aero ran on
with comparative ease. Prof. Pludder
ting into a mountainous district. made
every effort to keep the cratt at a
high elevation, and this, notwithstand-
ing the depressing force of the rain.
dying out of the wind they kept on, by
the aid of their propellers, in the same
direction in which II had been driving
them, because, in the circumstances,
one way was as good as another.
The terrible discomfort OF the preSl-
dent and his companions in the cabin
of the aero was greatly relieved by
the cessation OF the wind, but still they
were in a most unfortunate state. The
rain, driven by the fierce blasts, had
penetrated through every creVice, and
they were drenched to the skin. No one
tried to speak, for it would have been
heard amid the uproar. They simply
looked at one another in dismay and
prayed for safety.
Prof Pludder, not now compelled to
spend every moment in the management
of the craft entered the cabin occasion
ally, pressed the hand Of the president,
smiled enCouragingly on the women and
children, and did all he could, in pan
tomime, to restore some degree of conf
dence. Inside the lights were aglOw,
but outside it was as dark as pitch,
except where the broad finger of the
searchlight. plunginG into the mass mas SO OF
The awful night seemed endless, but
at last pale illumination appeared in
the air, and they knew that day had
come. The spectacle of the skSey del
uge was now so terrible that 1t struck
cold even to their already benumbed
hearts. The atmosphere seemed to have
been turned into a mighty cataract
laundering down upon the whole face
of the earth. Now that they could see
as we'll as hear, the miracle of <he
preservation of the aero appeared in
credible
AS the light slowly frightened Pro-
fessor Pludder, constantly on the out
look, caught a glimpse OF, dark, misty
object ahead. 1t loomed up so sud-
denly, and was already so close that
before he could sufficiently alter the
course of the aero it struck with such
violence as to to crush the forward
end of the craft and break one of the
aeroplanes. Everybody was pitched
headfOremost those inside falling on
the flooring, while Pludder and the
three men Of the crew were thrown out
upon mass of rocks. All were more
or less seriously injured, but none was
killed or totally disabled.
Pludder sprang to his feet, and Slip
ping and plunglng amid the downpour.
managed to get back to the wreck and
aid the President and the others to
get upon their feet.
"We're lodged on a mountain" he
yelled. Stay inside under the shelter
OF the roof
The three men, who, together with the
professor, had been precipitated out
among the rocks. also scrambled in, and
| there they stood, or sat, the most dis
consulate and despairing group of hu-
man beings that ever the eye of an