Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-27

who, degraded, cunning and entirely
unprincipled, was always perfectly
willing to promise anything, whether
he had any intentions of, fulfilling his
promises or not, and so Immediately
assented to the proposition.
LET the white man teach me to
fly" he said, land / will take, you
back close to the settlements of your
people, but in return for this, | shall
keep the great bird" And he waved
black hand in the direction of the
airplane.
When Bertha Kircher had repeated
Usanga's proposition to the aviator,
the latter shrugged his shoulders and
with wry face finally agreed. II
fancy there is no other way out of it, y
he said. in any event, the plane is
lost to the British Government. If l
will make short work of me, and the
machine will lie here until it rots. If
| accept his offer, it will at least be
the means of assuring your safe return
to civilization"
ITISANGA was for taking his first
- lesson in aviation Immediately.
The Englishman attempted to dissuade
him, but forthwith the black became
threatening.
"All right, old top" muttered the
Englishman, 81 will give you the les
son of your life" And then, turning
to the girl: Persuade him to let you
accompany us. l shall be afraid to
leave you here with these devilish
scoundrels." But when she put the
suggestion to UsGnga, the black i'm.
! mediately suspected some plan tc
thwart him, possibly to carry MN
against his will back to the German
masters he had traitorously, deserted
and SO he obstinately refused to enter
tain the suggestion;
''Tell him" said the Englishman,
that if you are not standing in PLAIN
sight in this meadow when l return,
| will not land, but will carry Usanga
back to the British camp and have him
hanged" :,
Usanga promised that the girl would
be in evidence upon their return, ano
took immediate steps to. impress upoI
his warriors that under penalty OF
death they must not harm her. Ihen
followed by the other members of hi:
party, he crossed the clearing TOWARD
the plane with the Englishman. once
seated within what he already consid
cred his new possession, the black
courage began to wane, and when th'
motor was started and when the grea
propeller began to whir, he screamed
to the Englishman to stop the thlnt
and permit him to alight. But th'
aviator could neither hear nor under
stand the black above the noise OF TN
propeller and exhaust. By this tint
the plane was moving along th'
ground; and even then Usanga wa
upon the verge of leaping out, ant
would have done SO had he been able I,
unfasten the strap from about hi
waist. Then the plane rose and In
moment scared gracefully in a wild
circle until it topped the trees. Th
, black sergeant was at first in Verl
table collapse of terror. But presently
much to his surprise, he discovered tha
his terror was rapidly waning, 80 tina
it was not long before there was force'
, upon him a consciousness of security.
A FTER half an hour of skillful ma
, "A neuvering, the Englishman circle'
slowly a few times above the meadow
| until he had assured himself tina
Bertha Kircher was there and appar
entity unharmed; then he droppe'
gently to the ground SO that the ma
: chine came to a step short distanc
e from where the girl and the warrior
awaited them.
SO Jealous was the black Of his new
j found toy that he would not return Z
4 the village OF Numabo, but insistfl
) on making camp close beside the plan
Hest IN somt iuctnce:Sfpie fashion
/, should De stolen from eim. For tN