Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-11-05

which Woodward and Arnold had al
ready traversed.
Arnold was still gazing. impatiently
now, through the glass. He could see
the foredeck Of the ship where Del
Mar, muffled 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 officer and COM
pany and toe field gun. They wheeled
1t about and began pointing it and
finding the range.
Would they never get It! Arnold
was almost beside himself One of Del
Mars men seized an AZ and was about
to deliver the fatal blow. He swung 1t
and for q moment held II poised over
his head.
Suddenly . low, deep rumble Of .
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 90.
In their fear, the cable. released.
slipped back over the rail in . 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
terrihcally. 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 . 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 q girl-by jove-it's Miss
Dodge!"
"Impossible!" exclaimed Woodward.
Il tell you 1t is" reiterated Arnold,
thrusting the glass into the lieutep.
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 or
dered. shielding his face 30 that she
could not see It.
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. l made my way ~ 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 / saw q group Of young
officers standing about . peculiar A.
fair on the shore in the shallow water
half bird, half boat
As l came closer. I recognised It a.
a Thomas hydroaeroplane.
1t suggested an idea and hurried.
shouting.
One of the men seated in it was evil
IDENTIFY explaining its working to the
others.
WATT" he said. az he saw me run
ming down the shore. waving and
shouting at them. Let's see what this
fellow wants."
II 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. III be back soon. Wait here.
Let her go!"
had jumped up and they spun the
propeller. The hydroaeroplane feath-
cred along the water. throwing a cloud
Of white spray then slowly rose in the
air.
Az we rose we could SEE over the
curve in the shore.
"Look!" I exclaimed, straining my
eyes. "She's overheard. There's .
motorboat after her. Faster-over that
way!"
Yes, 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 ~. One
| figure, tall. mufied, had Q familiar look.
but I could not place It and In the ex
element of the chase had no chance
to try. But could see that he saw
Us and was angry. Apparently the
man gave orders to turn. for the boat
swung around just AZ we swooped
down and ran along the water.