Gilpin observer., 1917-09-13

distant. If doubt existed in her mind
as to the identity of its pilot, were he
friend or enemy, it was soon erased
by his hail.
'Patria Quick-swim off to mer'
The pilots pistol ratified again.
DOnalds voice! Patria was no more
afraid; and water was as her native
element. Without hesitation she dived
and struck off toward the plane.
Little more than minute later Parr
was helping her to climb up on one
of the pontoOns, then to a seat beside
his own, while bullets continued to-
sing richOchetted over the waters and
tear through the covering of the planes.
She was no more than settled in her
place when Parr began to manipulate
the controls and the seaplane skinned
the surface of the harbor in long.
graceful curve, then began to rise.
Back on the island, standing beside
the biplane, Captain Hakuseki wit
messed the successful evasion in a rage
that ruffied even his racial placidity.
In his understanding the affair was
intolerable; though he perished en-
deavoring to prevent it, this escape
must not be permitted.
Summoning assistants, he turned to-
ward the biplane-and paused as his
foot struck what one swift down glance
identified as the tin Of nitroglycerin.
Inspired by this accident, he picked
up the tin, crammed it into a side
pocket of his khaki coat, and clambered
to the pilots seat. Provided he might
maneuver his aircraft above the other,
he would need only to drop this dead
ly bomb; and there would be nothing
left Of the fugitives.
His ,aids started the motor. With a
roar the propellers began to revolve.
Hakuseki grasped the controls. The
machine shot off down the beach and
took the air at the waters edge.
The seaplane, seeking n high level.
was rising in wide spiral. AS yet
1t was not high, and the japanese
plane was the better at climbing
Within space of time incredibly brief
the two were lowering on an approx
mate level, high above the island.
One shot might serve his end. The
temptation was too strong to be resist
ed. Hakuseki drew his pistol. and
opened fire.
In PARIS machine, Patria Claiming
took the weapon proffered by her res
cuer and, leaving him free to attend
to his duties as pilot, drew herself
back Mt length upon the plane and re-
turned the fire Of the japanese.
Hakuseki was conscious of some
thing like the impact of fist between
his eyes. Blindness followed, with
agonizing pain. He crumpled in his
seat, lurching forward against the con-
trolls. His last conscious thought was
one Of terror; the biplane was falling:
the tin of explosive remained In his
pocket; when he came to earth he
would be utterly annihilated. Uncon-
seriousness mercifully ensued.
Nose down, the blplane dived like
plummet; but the body of HAIKU
seki, thrown from Its place, dlstanced
the machine. The summit Of the great
dune that housed the store of explo-
sives received the full impact of its
fall. An instantaneous explosion sig
nailed the extermlnation Of Hakuseki.
Barely breath later the dune opened
up like the crater of a volcano, belch-
Ing smoke and flame to the skies. De-
tonation followed detonation more
swiftly than reeling senses could reck-
on. The little island, rocked. dlsin-
tegrating. The sea, rose shouting and
overwhelmed It. Clouds Of steam OBJ
scured the debacle.
When the sfoop in which Baron
Huroki had embarked arrived on the
scene, CHASTITY welter Of wreckage
churnlng In the wash was all that was
left Of Limbo.
] iEND OF FIFTH EpISonnA