Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-30

DOGGY ., scared. The flash of
the Pirate from the clear heavens
like an unexpected bolt Of lightning,
took away her breath. The airplane
speeding on carried her quickly out Of
danger from attack. But she had no
idea of leaving Homer Pigeon to his
fate. She wheeled around to see if
she could give aid.
The Pirate, his victim clutched
harshly in his huge claws, was already
far away making swiftly for a distant
forest. As Peggy sped after him she
thought of an aHrplane battle about
which her father had read to her a
few nights before. In il an American
aviator had sent a German flier crash
ing to earth by getting above and be-
hind him and then pouncing down,
just as the Pirate had done. Peggy
resolved to give the Pirate a dose of
his own medicine. She turned the air.
plane upward until she was far above
him. Taking a long breath, she dove
downward.
My, what a plunge it was! Peggy
felt her heart flutter and almost stop.
1t was like dashing down a roller
coaster incline. only a hundred times
faster and farther. What if she
couldn't stop!
What would she do when she got to
the Pirate? The American aviator
she now remembered, had brought the
German down by pouring bullets into
him with machine gun. But she had
no machine gun-just a hatpin jaw.
elm, On, if she only had something
TO hurl at him!
l.,
to where "a machine gun would nat
urally have been if the airplane had
had one. 1t touched something that
felt like a gun. Peggy quickly looked
down. II was only a toy automobile
horn which she had put on the air
plane because she didn't have any
auto.
She was disappointed, but the horn
gave her an E.Lea. Ordinarily it made
only a little squawk. Perhaps the
fairy ring grass would have the same
effect upon it that it had upon the air
plane and cause it to act like a real
automobile siren. She was now plung-
ing down upon the Pirate at terrific
speed. She didn't take time for a sec
ond thought but pressed the auto horn
button. Instantly the horn let out a
piercing shrek.
The Pirate. sailing triumphantly
homeward with his prey, was startled
nearly out of his wits. lie glanced
back and saw a strange object hurting
Itself at him. At the same moment
the horn let out a second strldenl
scream. The Pirate lodged to one
side, and just in time, for Peggy swept
past him like a whirlwind.
Peggy knew that il would not do to
let the Pirate remain above her, so
like the American aviator she turned
the airplane upward and looped the
loop, running for few seconds upside
down.
"Oh. if l should fall now I'd be
smashed fat" she thought, "and Sc
would any one that / fell on"
But she didn't fall. The loop brought
her around behind the Pirate again
and once more she plunged toward
him, the auto horn shrieking like
locomotive whistle.
The Pirate was no coward. Indeed
ne was noted as a fighter. But TIM
was something new to him. If it wa'
as fierce as it's shrek he felt himsel
goner. Dropping Homer Pigeon h
put on all speed for his forest home
Peggy was close behind him, so clos
she felt she could touch him. Sh.
leaned forward and gave him jal
with her hatpin. The Pirate screamed
N ASAi huNtelllB INV tiS "NNNS'
Peggy turned back TO look atte
Homer Pigeon. She found him bruises
and torn but still able TO fly.
MY brave princess!" he sobbee
You saved me from that terribl
Hawk"
So that was a Hawk. No wonder n
was called the Pirate of the Sky.
Carrie Pigeon had fled at the first al
tack, being sure that Homer Pigeo
could not possibly escape from Tn
Hawk. She was frantic with JOY whe
Peggy brought Homer safe and soun
into the council hall Of Birdland.
All the birds that Peggy had met o
her first adventure were there-Mi
Reddy Wood Pecker, Bob Olink' IN
Canaries. Blue Heron and the res
Judge Owl, looking very wide-awaE
and clipper, for 1t was still earl
morning and not yet his bedtime