The Raymer enterprise., 1914-03-26
CHAPTER vIIi.-contlnued.


He felt the bottom drop from his
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, SO 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
a toy ark, the earth was rushing back
ward as the film Of moving picture
speeds and vanishes. He looked up
Space, yawning and infinite. hazy,
gauzy. mystery filed; the moon barely
distinguishable and thin as a ghost
floating far above like a bubble. He
gazed to the west. The sun, copperish
and vast, glowed as through a 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
sviator's face was drawn and deeply
lined, his eyes glowing. his teeth
clenched and hrs 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 Of bird speeds was the hori-
soztal form of the one whom they
we're pursuing. his body stretched
straight - a shaft from a bow. his
grotesque face turned over his shout
der his huge eyes glowing with malev-
olent hate, ats ape mouth working hid
sously. They heard his cry sweep
past them in the hiss and whistle Of
the wind.
He rubbed his eyes and awoke as
enc from dream. The last OF the
specks had disappeared and he was
gazing into empty space. He shook
himself and smiled. Voices were buzz
sing excitedly all about him, the crowd
surging restlessly about. yet so realis.
tic had been the flight OF his imagina-
ton that for the last few minutes he
had been as oblivious of their pres
snce ~ 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.
mediately. In the scattering OF the
concourse before the flight OF the avi.
ators he had for an instant felt a
slight worriment as to her safety, but
the knowledge that Tolliver was with
her and that his rival was fully COM
petent to protect her had eased his
mind. Now. however. he would search
her out.
A hand fell upon his shoulder and
he 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,
see. ! am glad. So you, too. were
lucky enough to witness the pursuit
Of your unclassined mongrel Of space
By the wholly human fiying-men."
Desmonds eyes were still sparkling
with excitement.
Yes. / was fortunate enough to be
rambling around the grounds when
their ascent took place. 1t was stir.
ring-almost excruciating. 1t thrilled
me. like q fife and drum regiment
marching away to do battle for my
country. l longed to accompany
them, to Join In their dangers, to smell
the powder Of my own rife and share
the brunt Of the shock. So today did
] thrill with desire to sit beside one
Of them and hear the whistle Of the
wind. In fact. In spirit I did soar
with the air fleet, closed my eyes and
experienced quite vividly what imag-
Ins are the sensations Of our vanished