The Raymer enterprise., 1914-03-26

- ShSae ioAu 5obuSMnCl III llS
crowd drew all eyes In its direction.
and simultaneously hundred hands
shot upward with index fingers point.
Ing high across the plain. Far away,
family visible, miles from the direc.
ton In which they had disappeared.
were the returning specks circling
back like flock OF wildfowl, multi.
plying In numbers. growing larger,
more distinct with each moment
passed. Three minutes and they were
distinguishable as to form, the Flying
Man still sweeping along good half
mile In advance, the planes which had
fallen behind their fellows now In the
lead by reason of the advantage gained
In cutting short the broad turn of the
pursued as he circled back. Half way
back in the column they could distin-
guish the Blue Dragon glinting In the
sunlight and steadily forging its way
once more to the front. In the next
minute the frenzied clamor Of the
crowd had lulled to an occasional ex-
cited yelp as breathlessly the mob
strained its eyes upward. In her ex-
citement Doris clutched a hand Of
each of her companions and clung to
1t convulsively.
The Flying Man was leading the
sky grayhounds directly over them as
though he wished all to see and mar
vel at his powers. Speeding true as
an arrow. his great wings moving with
the swiftness Of a racing locomotives s
pistons. he was heading almost d.
rectly for the place from which he
had arisen before this Wild follow
your-leader chase through the regions
OF the air began. That he was giving
them test one and all in both speed
and endurance that he might here
after know their powers and limita-
tions and be governed thereby, none
who watched the mad race questioned
And gruelling chase he was leading
them, chase where none except the
highest skilled. the most iron nerved
the most enduring and the best
equipped could have kept even In
sight He was nearly overhead now
perhaps thousand feet above them
lying fiat in the air with hands clasped
upon his breast and legs stretched
straight behind that his body might
offer the least resistance to the at
mosphere. To their ears the whistle
of his wings sounded like the whistle
of flock of wild geese.
Then from close at hand the bel
low Of mortar arose. jarring the
earth, deafening their ears and rend
ing the air with hurtllng grape. Like
a flash the flying one lodged as the
missiles sang about him, and altering
his course sharply seemed but long
streak as he cleaved the sky. A sec
ond mortar thundered, and at its beich
ing the Flying Man, turning a com
plete summersault In the air. fell a
hundred feet like bird stricken In
mid flight. A mighty sound arose
from the crowd. roar, a shrek, q
wild scream of They've got him
they've got him." but as a gymnast oi
the flying rings makes complete rev
olution In his leap. SO did the flying
one recover himself and with a scream
as shrill as their own go speeding
once more mountainward The next
instant the air above was filed with
the sound OF the pursuing machines
and the other mortars dared not fire
for fear of moving down their own
The Blue Dragon, now In the very
foremost rank. was overhauling its
few remaining competitors hand over
hand
Low over the top of the nearest
ridge they few straight into the face
Of the setting sun. One by one the
pursuing craft hovered for an instant
above the crest and then settled out oil
sight behind 1t, leaving those upon the
plain gazing into the empty air where
they had vanished. Then from the un
seen region beyond the tops came the
rattle OF revolver shots fired irregu
larly. and for minute more the crowd
awaited breathlessly for some sign
that one OF the bullets had reached lts
mark. but another scattered volley
family distinguishaSie because of dis
tance told them that the race was still
being run. The sun sank behind the
towering horizon, a deep shadow fell
upon them and silently they turned
and dispersed towards their homes
The two men and the girl followed
slowly after, each silent, each deep In
thought. Anyway it was wonderful
sight and would not have missed II
for worlds" she mused at length
why do you suppose he made that
remarkable turn In the air? Was he
hit? Clay answered her.
Probably barely winged. shot q
deer once that did the same thing
turned complete summersault ant
then got up and went on faster thar
ever. He wasn't hurt much at any
rate"
"And your opinion OF it," she asked
of Alan.
About the same" He was angry
at Clay again and found 1t difficult no,
to show 1t. He had been invited to
spend the afternoon with her and
I