The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-07-01
Copyright, 1913. by w. G.. Chapman in the Uninet
States and Great Britain.

Please listen to me for a moment, !
not as a courier and representative, |
but as man to man.
Not so very long ago 1 was your
prisoner, and when / told you that /
would escape, you only laughed. I
escaped, and am standing here before
you as proof that 1 can do what
say. Count Won Werdenstein, how will
you will be responsible for? We have
tried to avoid conflict"
"You speak as if mighty army and
navy were at your elbow! What can
you, a single man, do against the force
back of me?'
Then you will not believe me, will
not heed the warning 1 give you?
Count, look into your own hearth l,
a single man, have the power to send
you, with all your force, to the bot
tom of the sea. /, alone, plead with
you to return to your own land and
let your armies and navies disband,
for If you don't, many will never see
their loved ones again" The count
was impressed by Napoleons sad
voice, but there were many things to
be considered, and, above all else, his
own pride. A thousand deaths would
be easier to account for than the fact
that he, Count Won Werdenstein. at
the command of a single man in an
odd airship> turned homeward and
abandoned the invasion of America.
When he spoke, there was bitterness
In his voice:
"Mr Edison, something tells me
that you can do as you say. l know
that, yet I will forget it until / arrive
On American shores; I will not hest
tate for a second, will go forward
to win or die. If there is only one
chance in a million, will try it. No
shame shall besmirch the name of
Werdenstein."
Il am sorry, Count Won Werdenstein,
but we must defend our country and
liberty. will now remove the flag OF
truce and return to America and from
this second on you can consider me
an enemy"
He closed the window, touched
lever and with one mighty beat Of the
flexible wings the machine assembled
at least hundred feet.
The count looked after Napoleon.
His face was pale as he hurriediy de-
scended to the bridge
The eagle fingered above the right
wing of the first line of dreadnoughts.
Napoleon could inflict any damage he
chose. He could almost count the
number of men aboard each vessel.
Werdenstein gave hurried orders, and
watched eagerly for their execution.
A few minutes later two armored
monoplanes giided up from the flag
ship and turned toward the eagle.
Napoleon must have suspected their
intention, for he circled higher and
higher up. The bats followed the
eagle; each monoplane carried four
men, each of whom carried small cali
Der, mitrelious bombs and other am,
munition of war.
Still the eagle went higher and
higher, lowering above the north wing
OF the long line of war boats 1t was
so high now that it appeared only a
speck to the naked eye. The planes
1ascended in a spiral, and they were
far behind. The eagle turned and led
the two planes along the line, near the
flagship. It descended quickly and
made a dip similar to the swoop of
the eagle on its prey that caused the
thousands of spectators to believe it
was falling, but before it touched the
water it darted forward and SKINNED
the waves, its great wings touching
the water occasionally.
Napoleon watched the enemies who
were now above him. One had dropped
several bombs, but none had touched
the swiftlymoving aerodromone A turn
of the wheel caused the eagle to make
a circle before the Brigitta, then 1t
went higher and higher until 1t
reached the two monoplanes. Before
Napoleon knew what they were about
the two planes had opened fire; he
was SO close to them that the bulletg
fell on his aerodromone like hail The
result was surprising The deadly mis-
siles rebounded from the sides without
leaving a mark on the glitteTing body
Napoleon had cleverly led them di
rectly in front of the flagship, so that
the scene was enacted before the eyes
of the count and his staff 1t was mar
velous, the greatest play a mans eyes
had ever rested upon.
Napoleon turned to face the ascend
ing bat. The count saw him reach ur
to lever that he had not used before.
He hesitated for a moment, but when
the first bomb was thrown at him he
pulled the lever; fash followed. Zig
gag lines of lightning burst forth and
the once armored monoplane was shat
tered into a thousand bits. It's fate
seemed to shatter the nerve of the en-
gineer on the other plane, for he
turned and raced for the flagship. It
was too late. Napoleon pulled the
lever again and it followed its com.
Tade into space.
The count was pale; he had been
given a terrible example Of bis enc
my's power, still he did not turn back
Orders were flashed to the two boats
nearest the eagle to open fire with
their heavy guns. Napoleon read skss
order on his plate and was sad, btu
he knew that the only way to saw
the masses from humiliation was
a painful operation. 80
His right hand was on to
the left On the wheel; as TT
low Numbered. the bird nj
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