Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-05-27

small blame to her!" Lanyard COM
mented. fumbling clumsily with the
chest-band- That dive was enough
to drive a body mad!''
But / had to do it'll" the aviator
protested earnestly. Il dared not re-
main longer up there. l have never
before been afraid in the air, but
after that was terribly afraid. 1 could
feel myself going-taking leave of my
senses-and i knew 1 must act if we
were not to follow that other. God!
what a DEATH"
He paused, shuddered, and drew the
back of his hand across his eyes be-
fore continuing: $50 1 cut OF the igni-
ton and volplaned. Here-my hand.
| 500! All right. eh4
ooh, I'm all right" Lanyard insisted
confidently.
But his confidence was belied by a
look of daze, for the earth was billow-
| ing and Keeling round him as though
bewitched; and before he knew what
had happened he had sat down hard
and was staring foolishly up at the
aviator.
"Here!" said the latter courteously.
his wind-mask hiding the smile-my
hand again, monsieur. And now for
mademoiselle-"
|
she surprised both by shivering, sit
ting up, and obviously pulling herself
| together.
you feel better now, mademof-
selle?" the aviator inquired, hasten
| ing to free her from her fastenings.
I'm better-yes, thank you" she
admitted in a small. broken voice
"but not yet quite myself"
She gave a hand to the aviator, the
other to Lanyard, and as they helped
her to the ground Lanyard, warned by
his experience, stood by with a ready
| arm.
She needed that support, and for a
few minutes didn't seem even con-
scious of it. Then, gently disengaging
herself. she moved foot or two away
Where are we-do you know"
ION the South Downs somewhere? %
Lanyard suggested. consulting Vauque-
lin.
THAT is probable" this last at
firmed-"at all events. reckoning by
the course held. Somewhere well in
from the coast. at a venture, for do
not hear the sea-
Near Lewes, perhaps?"
"I have no reason to doubt 1t.
An odd, constrained pause ensued
The girl looked from the aviator to
Lanyard, then at neither-turned a
trifie away from both and, trembling
with fatigue and enforcing sef-control
by clenching her hands, stared aim
lessly off into the mist.
!. Painfully Lanyard; set himself tc
consider their position.
The Parrot had come to rest in
what seemed to be a wide, shallow
| n ccfo
lar bounds were cloaked in fog. In
this space no living thing stirred save
those three; and as far as he could
determine, the waste was crossed by
not so much as a sheep track. In 6
word, they were lost. There might be
road running past the saucer ter
yards from it's brim in any quarter
There might not. Possibly there was &
town or village Immediately adjacent
Quite as possibly the downs beloved
away for miles on either hand, desc
} late, uninhabited. From where they
were there was no means of telling
J "Well-what do we do now?" the
girl demanded suddenly in a nervou.
voice.
"Oh, we'll find a way out of this
| somehow" Vauquelin asserted conf
| IDENTIFY. England isn't big enough fol
anybody to remain lost in it-not fol
| long, at all events. Only, I'm sorr,
we're not more sure of our where
| abouts on Miss Shannon's account"
We'll manage somehow" Lanyard
affirmed stoutly.
The aviator smiled curious1y. "Tt
begin with" he advanced, 81 dare sa,
we might as well get rid of these awk
, ward costumes of ours. They'll ham
per walking-rather.''
| In spite of his fatigue, Lanyard wal
SO struck by the circumstances that h,
, couldn't help remarking it as he tor,
: off his wind-yei1.
, "Your English is wonderfully good
, Captain VauQuelin," he observed
The other laughed shortly :
ii why not?" said he, removing hi
mask.
> Lanyard looked up into his face
: stared, gasped, and fell back a pace
'Wertheimeri" he exclaimed.
: EuAnrED