Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1917-02-23
AnAdventurous
American
By ALAN HINSDALE

d mystery. AuuH> WAcu we NOASIACA
that he entered the aviation Service to
face the dangers of the land far up In
the air, a position trying enough by
itself without adding to the fact that
one is liable to be dropped not from
break of machinery, but a Shot fired
for the purpose his action is hard to
understand.
Delano entered the French aviation
corps composed Of Americans. He
made flights from that part of Belgium
which is nearest Zeebrugge, the base Of
the German flying machines One day
when he was sailing over the North
sea near the coast he saw a little
cigar shaped boat beneath him on the
surface of the water, which he took
for submarine. 1t occurred to him
that If he could swOop down low
enough to get good aim he might
toss bomb on to it and sink it. He
didn't have much fear of it, for its
guns were not made for sending shot
into the upper air.
Circling, he drew a spiral down to
within couple of hundred feet. He
feared to lose the game by it's being
submerged. But the captain had no
such intention. DelanO dropped a
bomb. which stirred the water a hun
dred feet from the submarine Not
receiving a shot in return, he descend
ed to within a hundred feet of his
enemy and dropped another bomb.
This struck the water about fifty feet
on the other side of the submarine
He was getting a third bomb ready
when a man with a rife appeared on
the submarine and fired a shot which
exploded Ned's gasoline tank.
Ned was dropped into the water a
dozen feet from the submarine There
was nothing for him to do but to
strike out for the cigar shaped boat
and give himself up. This he did and
was received on board with praise for
his daring.
However, there was no place to con-
fine him, and there seemed to ,be no
necessity to do 80. He was made to
do the work of one of the crew, the
vessel being short handed, and this
gave him the liberty of man with
duties to perform. His love for nov
city was satisfied, for the boat fire.
quently dfved, and when she did Ned
dived with her. Used as he was to
sailing up In the air, he could not re-
press q sense of smOtherfng at going
down under the water the first time.
One day when the submarine was on
the surface of the water a ship came
In sight flying the British flag. Ned
saw at once that he was liable to wit
ness the destruction Of a vessel The
submarine kept to the eastward of its
intended victim and when the evening
twilight came had the ship against it,
while the submarine was In darkness.
Then she pushed forward till within
striking distance and called on the
Britishers crew to get into their boats.
The order was obeyed, and a num-
Der of shots were put into the hull be-
low the water line. Ned saw her go
down stem first, almost as a swimmer
taking dive, only the diver reap
pears, which the vessel did not.
While this was occurring darkness
was falling. The last Ned saw of the
ships crew they were in their boats,
the rowers resting on their oars watch
ing their ship make her last plunge.
What they did afterward could not be
seen for the darkness. Ned wondered
what they would do. Would they pull
for the English or the Belgian coast?
The distance to land eastward was so
much less than westward that he be-
heved they would take that direction.
Likely they had taken a compass into
their boats, which would give them
their course.
Naturally the idea of escape from
the submarine connected itself In his
mind with the boats, though the hope
OF reaching them seemed madness. He
was obliged to take his turn with the
watch on deck. A couple OF hours aft
er the sinking of the ship he heard the
sound Of oars. Inferring that they
were from the boats of the sunken
ship, he listened eagerly. The sound
there were a number Of boats pulling
together-came from the west toward
the submarine. The crew of the latter
heard them, but, inferring that they
were the sailors they had dispossessed,
paid no attention to them.
Ned paid good deal or attention to
them. Getting as far from the rest OF
the watch as possible, he awaited the
approach Of the corners. He made up
his mind that they would pass near the
submarine, but whether south or north
of It he could not tell. Presently he
thought he heard them coming on the
south.
Dare he try to join them? There
was no light on the submarines deck,
and he could easily slide into the water
and swim for them. If he missed
them he would be lost. If he made
them he would secure his freedom.
Here goesw he said to himself, and,
lying down, he rolled into the water,
which was so near to him that he
made no splash. Once in the brine he
began to swim Justify in the direction
of the sounds. He swan perhaps q