The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-04-20

is considerable. 1t is safer, that is all,
and permits freer use of the hands.
You will not mind at all after we once
get away from the earth. This is the
greatest sport in the world; you are
going to like it."
Whatever she answered was lost in
the sudden whirl of the propeller, and
then | heard De Vigne's voice:
Ready, Monsieur"
l Strengthened up, my feet firm on
the levers, hands gripping the wheel,
every nerve tense, my eyes on the
dim glow of light ahead. This was
the real test, the next few moments, and
/ must be alert, prepared to meet any
emergency After we once took the
air, and had safely cleared that row
of houses, | could afford to think of
other things, but not now.
eyes, all right-let her go!"
l felt the swift leap of the delicate
framework under us; the throb of the
motor, silent, but no less powerful,
thrilling through the taut wires;
the jar of the rubber-tired wheels as
they gripped the earth. ! heard
De Vigne shouting orders to his COM
panion, the increasing hum of the
more rapidly revolving propeller blade;
the slight creaking of the wings.
Then we seemed to leap from off the
ground, careening slightly, but as
instantly Strengthening as l touched
the controlling lever, and headed away
into the gray east. | was cool enough
now, while feeling all the exhilaration
of the moment. The dark earth
shadow slipped away beneath, seemed
rather to fall from us; there was no
sensation of flight except for the rush
of cold air against our faces, or swift
leap of the blood, when the machine
swerved slightly as it mounted steadily
higher One of the men below cried
out something, but the words were
indistinguishable; looking down | could
perceive nothing except black shadows,
distorted and grotesque. The whirl
of the propeller became less noticeable,
and the motor worked almost noise
lessly, emitting just enough sound to
assure me it was in powerful action.
We cleared the row of houses by hum
bred feet, ever mounting higher into
the gloomy, gry sky. In front of us
now, a grim, magnificent picture in
the wan light of the early dawn, spread
the waters of the lake. could perceive
bursts of white where waves dashed
against the brea' water, and beyond
I a gray simmer, disappearing into mist.
: Below, on land, it was yet night, and
the myriads of street lamps blazed gor-
geously through the gloom, marking
, the vast. extent of the city. Far
away to the left the lighthouse on a
distant pier shot forth rays of alter
mating white and red into the envelop-
ing haze 1t was fairy picture OF
. neither night nor day, full of spectral
:, shadows, and the CLEAN of strange lights
4 blending into the CHASTITY gray of the
dawning, with the somber waters
: dashing against the shore, and the
" earth a shapeless gloom, yet allow
|. with color. Just beneath us an engine
: passed, burst of red flame showing
through the open furnace door, paint
! ing a wierd picture on the black screer
for an instant, and as quickly blottcd
Noises unacceptable, rose to us out
of the dark void, blending into a dull
:, roar, which grew fainter as we swept
0 onward, out over the silent water.
g From the height we had now attained
t we could perceive faint tinge Of
red far to the eastward, with purple
streamers piercing the low-hanginl
mist which still obscured the horizon
Beneath this upper light the fog floatcd
dun-colored cloud, its higher undu
lating waves violet tinted, and assum
ing fanciful shapes. With careful pres
o sure | brought the monoplane to ;
straight course, and took long, sweep