Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-11-13
CHAPTER vIIl.-contInued.

ne IelL the pOtCOm drop from nlH
stomach as she fairly leaped across
deadly air pockets where all below
was like a vacuum, covering the gap
as a great runner upon skees sweep
ing down a mountainside hurls himself
by momentum alone over broad
reaches of space He felt himself
bounding from invisible air crest to
invisible air crest with the lightness
of one who dances upon rope, he
felt the weight of momentum pressing
against his side and pushing at him
like a strong hand as a swerve to
right or left took them moment from
their direct path. He looked down.
Far below, 30 far that the trees looked
like the toy trees upon the blocks
which children play with, the people
like toy men two inches tall, the
beasts of the field like the beasts of
toy ark, the earth was rushing back
ward as the film of a moving picture
speeds and vanishes. He looked up
Space, yawning and infinite, haZy,
gauzy, mystery filled; the moon barely
floating far above like bubble. He
gazed to the west. The sun, copperish
and vast, glowed as through thin
mesh. They were mile above the
point of starting-two miles above the
level of the sea and almost even with
the lower reaches of the eternal SHOWS
of the peaks. The chill of upper space
pervaded him and he drew himself
closer together as he thieved a quick
glance at the man at his side. The
aviator's face was drawn and deeply
lined, his eyes glowing, his teeth
clenched and his iron finger delicately
fondling the wheel as his body swayed
rhythmically to the slow roll of the
machine He looked ahead once more.
Speeding In front of them as the
shadow II bird speeds was the hori-
zontal form of the one whom they
were pursuing, his body stretched
straight as shaft from bow, his
grotesque face turned over his Shout
der, his huge eyes glowing with malev-
client hate, his ape mouth working hid
eously. They heard his cry sweep
past them in the hiss and whistle of
the wind.
He rubbed his eyes and awoke as
one from a dream. The last of the
specks had disappeared and he was
gazing into empty space. He shook
himself and smiled. Voices were buz-
zing excitedly all about him, the crowd
surging restlessly about, yet so reals
tic had been the flight Of his magma
ton that for the, last few minutes he
had been as obivious of their pres
ence as had they been upon one of
the far distant bodies of space. But
now finding himself upon earth once
more he began peering about. Where
was Doris? He must hunt her up i'm
In the scattering of the |
ccncourse before tbs flight of the avi |
ators he had for an instant felt |
slight worriment as to her safety, but !
the knowledge that Tolliver was with |
her and that his rival was fully com
Detent to protect her had eased his
mind. Now, however, he would search |
ler out.
A hand fell upon his shoulder and
ne turned in his tracks. Professor
Desmond was beaming upon him, and
March took the proffered hand with
genuine pleasure. "Ah, Professor!
Quite able to be around once more,
,ee / am glad. So you. too, were
lucky enough to witness the pursuit
VI your unclassified mongrel of space
~ the wholly human fiying-men."
)esmond's eyes were still sparkling
With excitement.
Yes, | was fortunate enough to be
ambling around the grounds when
heir ascent took place. 1t was stir
excruciating. 1t thrilled
ne like fife and drum regiment
marching away to do battle for my
ountry. longed to accompany
hem, to join in their dangers, to smell
he powder of my own rife and share
he brunt of the shock. So today did
thrill with desire to sit beside one
f them and hear the whistle of the
rind In fact, In spirit | did soar
nth the air fleet, closed my eyes and
experienced quite vividly what mag
ne are the sensations of our vanished !