The Ordway new era., 1915-10-22
which Woodward and Arnold had a.
roahv frnveraed

now, tnrOu8n tne SldS5. ne cOulu bco
the foredeck of the ship where Del
Mar. muffied up. and his men had sue
ceeded In dragging the cable to the
proper position on the deck. They laid
1t down and Del Mar was directing the
preparations for cutting It. Arnold
lowered his glass and looked about
helplessly.
Just then Lieutenant Woodward
dashed up with the oflcer and COM
pany and the field gun. They wheeled
It about and began pointing 1t and
finding the range.
Would they never get It? Arnold
was almost beside himself. One of Del
Mars men seized an AK and was about
to deliver the fatal blow. He swung 1t
and for a moment held 1t poised over
his head.
Suddenly q low. deep rumble Of a
reverberation echoed and re-echoed
from the hills over the water. The
field gun had beloved defiance.
A solid shot crashed through the
cabin. smashing the door. Astounded,
the men jumped back. AS they did 80,
in their fear, the cable. released,
slipped back over the rail in a great
splash Of safety into the water ana
sank.
The first shot had dismantled the
doorway OF the cabin. Elaine crouched
fearfully in the furthest corner, not
knowing what to expect next. Sudden
ly another shot tore through just be-
side the door. smashing the woodwork
terrifically. She shrank back further,
in fright.
Anything was better than this hid.
den terror. Nerved up, she ran through
the broken door.
Arnold was gazing through his glass
at the effect OF the shots. He could
now see Del Mar and the others leap
ing into a swift little motorboat along
side the steamer which they had been
using to help them in dragging for the
cable.
Just then he saw Elaine run scream
ing out from the cabin and leap over
board.
"Stop!" shouted Arnold in fever Of
excitement, lowering the glass.
There's a girl-by jove-its Miss
Dodge!"
"Impossible!" exclaimed Woodward.
Il tell you 1t is." reiterated Arnold.
thrusting the glass into the lieuten.
ants hand.
The motorboat had started when
Del Mar saw Elaine in the water.
Look" he growled. pointing, there's
the Dodge girl"
Elaine was swimming frantically
away from the boat. Get her" he o.
dered, shielding his face SO that shs
could not see 1t.
They turned the boat and headed
toward her. She struck out harder
than ever for the shore. On came the
motorboat.
Arnold and Woodward looked at
each other In despair. What could
they do?
Somehow. by sort of instinct. I
suppose, I made my way as quickly
as could along the shore toward Fort
Dale, thinking perhaps Of Lieutenant
Woodward.
AS / came upon the part Of the
grounds of the fort that sloped down
to the beach l saw q group OF young
officers standing about a peculiar az
fair on the shore in the shallow water
half bird, half boat.
As came closer. I recognized it as
a Thomas hydroaeroplane.
1t suggested an idea and I hurried.
shouting.
One OF the men seated in it was evil
IDENTIFY explaining its working to the
others.
Wait" he said, as he saw mo run
ming down the shore. waving and
shouting at them. Lets see what this
fellow wants"
1t was, as I soon learned, the IA
nous Captain Burnside OF the United
States aerial corps. Breathless, told
him what had seen and that we were
all friends Of Woodward's.
Burnside thought moment and
quickly made up his mind.
"Come-quick-jump up here with
me-" he called. Then to the other
men. "lll be back soon. Walt here.
Let her go!"
had jumped up and they spun the
propeller. The hydroaeroplane feath-
cred along the water. throwing cloud
OF "nlte spray, tueu slo"iJ iose Al tho
air.
As We rose we could see over the
curve in the shore.
Look" l exclaimed. straining my
eyes. She's overheard. There's q
motorboat after her. Faster-over that
way!"
Eyes. yes" shouted Burnside above
the roar OF the engine which almost
made conversation impossible.
He shifted the planes q bit and
crowded on more speed.
The men in the boat saw us. One
figure. tall. mufled. had q familiar look.
but could not place 1t and in the ex
citement Of the chase had no chance