The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-07-16

Of all it meant 10 me | had not asked
about IL l was led by the priest TO
the church, through the wide doors
Of which my Eagle had been carried
and placed before the altar l looked
it over carefully and found that it was
in good condition. except THAI the
wings had lost their magnetism. /
inspected it and found one wing coat
ed by pale yellow varnish-it was
the wing that had been touched by the
liquid from a geyser.
ct caused perfect isolator, and if
had had the presence of mind to use
my dry battery at the crucial moment
l would not have had the fall; but
everything turns out for the best.
When l was able to work / sue
ceeded in cleansing the wings, and the
machine was in working order again.
Yesterday I thought l was strong
enough to leave and l babe my host
gootby with the promise that l would
return and bring help.
This is a short recital of my doings
during the two months past, and how,
my dear Astra, will you tell me all
that is new here?"
Napoleon had heard a few things
from Whistler in Ciryne that disquiet-
ed him, and he was anxious to know
the truth. That Astra could tell him
best of all So she began to relate
all the important happenings while
Napoleon listened attentively, making
notes from time to time. Astra spoke
OF the European decree and all the
facts that were officially communicate
ed to her. Then she told of the news
paper rumOTs concerning the aerodrO-
none fleet and the preparations for
war that were supposed to be occupy
ing the time of the European rulers.
I'VE nave nine days at our disposal.
| viii be very busy for the next few
days, but next Monday Twill be ready
to appear in the congress as the presi-
dent Of the international peace com
mitree"
Early next morning Napoleon com
munis lated with his brother workers
in the peace committee and then left
the capital. He spent some hours at
work designing a device to be used
on the aer0dTomones. With six ma
chimes. equipped with men and bar
rels he headed for the valley of Xiuh
thai evening.
They landed IN the valley the next
mrruilE md after a peaceful negotia-
tiCu with the high priest they caught
/ j-rge supply Of the liquid that had
put the Eagle out Of commission and
returned to Ciryne. While Napoleon
analysed the liquid his workmen made
several trips between the valley and
/ CiryUe, carrying the liquid away in
! vast quantities.
! NAPOLEON. after a thorough eXamina-
| ton. sighed. Here Is something new.
! 1t puzzles me, but it solves the Ques-
/ ton OF superiority in the air"
! EapCleCn's next move was to try
out the new swall0w-type machine It
! was smaller than the Eagle. but the
! wings and the tall rUdder were com
parativeIy larger. 1t had not the
/ grace of the Eagle in flight, but its
speed was something unprecedented
it shot through the air like a streak.
Two more days passed. The third
/ found every aerodrOmOne equipped
F. with long tube very similar to the
old style fire exEnguisher. To this
: tube was connected a small automatic
gun, which protruded through a spe-
cial aperture in the body of the aero
J dromone. The lever controlling this
gun was within easy reach of the
aeroman, and the gun itself was SC
! arranged that it could be pointed in
any direction.
The four aerodromOnes that had
! been sent toward the west were re
porting every few hours. They had
seen nothing so far that was out OF
the ordinary
1t was Saturday evening that the
last of the aerodTOmones was made
ready for prompt action. Turning the
command of the island over TO Wits
tier, Napoleon returned TO Washing
ton. The Swallow made the trip il
two hours.
This Sunday was the first real day
of rest that Napoleon had enjoyed fol-
long time He found perfect peace
in the company Of his mother anC
wife. Nobody knew he had returned
The surprise that swept over the
members of the staff when he ap
peared in congress Monday morning
was great.
AS Napoleon arose the great hal
became instantly silent. He bowed
he said:
Honorable President and Repre-
sentatives, before all else l want t
thank you for your kind reception.
A loud 'hurrah!" stopped him for {
moment. Then he continued: There
have been so many changes since
went away that l can hardly expires:
my opinion, particularly in regard Il
the political affairs of the present.
!, am very glad to see that congress!
realizes its duty, and that every mem
Der is prepared for action. place N!
,, faith in its wisdom and hope that i
will know its duty and do it accord
: ingly.
| "Compatriots. l greet you all"
a sigh of satisfaction swept owe