River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-04-20

WOAIou, 1umDl1ng CIumS1ly with the
chest-band. "That dive was enous4
to drive body mad!"
But I had to do IT." the aviator
protested earnestly. 81 dared not re-
main longer up there. / have never
before been afraid in the air, but
after that was terribly afraid. could
feel myself going-taking leave OF my
senses-and I knew I must act II we
were not to follow that other. God!
what DEATH"
He paused, shuddered, and drew the
back of his hand across his eyes be-
fore continuing: $50 cut OF the igni-
ton and volplaned. Here-my hand.
500! All right, eh?"
| "Oh, 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 courteous1y,
his wind-mask hiding the smile-"my
hand again, monsieur. And now for
mademoiselle."
But when they approached the girl,
she surprised both by shivering, sit
ting up, and obviously pulling herself
| together
"You feel better now, mademoi-
seller" the aviator inquired, hasten
ing to free her from her fastenings.
'I'm better-yes, thank you,'' she
admitted in 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"
con the South Downs somewhere? p
Lanyard suggested, consulting VauQue-
lin.
THAT is probable" this last af-
firmed-"at all events, reckoning by
the course I held. Somewhere well in
from the coast, at venture, for l do
not hear the sea-"
"Near Lewes, perhaps"
/ 81 have no reason to doubt 1t"
An odd, constrained pause ensued
The girl looked from the aviator to
Lanyard, then at neither-turned a
trif1e away from both and, trembling
with fatigue and enforcing self-control
| by clenching her hands, stared aim
lessly off into the mist.
Painfully Lanyard set himself to
consider their position.
The Parrot had come to rest IN
what seemed to be a wide, shallow,
saucerlike depression, whose irregu
lar bounds were c1oaked 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 a
word, they were lost. There might be
a road running past the saucer ten
| yards from it's brim in any quarter.
There might not. Possibly there was a
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.
"Well-what do we do now?" the
girl demanded suddenly in a nervous
voice.
| ooh, we'll find a way out of this
somehow" Vauquelin asserted conf
IDENTIFY. England isn't big enough for
anybody to remain lost in it-not for
long, at all events. Only, I'm sorry
we're not more sure of our where
abouts on Miss Shannon's account"
well manage somehow" Lanyard
affirmed stoutly.
The aviator smiled curiously. "To
begin with" he advanced, 81 dare say
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 was
so struck by the circumstances that he
| couldn't help remarking 1t as he tore
off his wind-veil.
'Your English is wonderfully good,
Captain Vauquelin," he observed.
| The other laughed shortly.
"Why not?" said he, removing his
mask.
| Lanyard looked up into his face,
stared, gasped, and fell back a pace.
| "Wertheimer!" he exclaimed.
CHAPTER xxXIIl.