Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-10-07
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Grasp and Ny Fingers choked or
His Attempted Cry for Assistance.
and his pistol arm and threw him heav.
lily to the roof. The weapon dropped
from his grasp, and my fingers choked
or his attempted cry for assistance.
gagged and bound him and then hung
him over the edge Of the roof as I my
self had hung a few minutes before.
| knew Il would be morning before he
would be discovered, and ] needed all
the time that I could gain.
Downing my trappings and weapons
FASTENED to the sheds. and soon had
out both my machine and Kantos
Kan's. Making his fast behind mine
started my engine. and skimming over
the edge Of the roof dove down into
the streets Of the city far below the
plane usually occupied by the air pa.
troll In less than q minute I was set.
Ting safely upon the roof Of our apart.
ment beside The astnnlshed Kantos
Kan.
II was decided that was to try TO
make Helium. while Kantos Kan was
10 enter the palace and dispatch Sab
Than. II successful he was then to
follow ma Bidding each other fare
well We rose together and sped In the
direction Of the palace. which lay In
the route which I must take to reach
Hsliuu.
A. We neared the high tower = pa.
troll shot down from above. throwing
its piercing searchiight full upon my
craft, and q voice roared out q COM
mand to halt, following with o shot m
paid no attention to the hall. Kantos
Kan dropped quickly into the dark.
ness. while ! rose steadily and at ter
rife speed raced through tho Marian
sky followed by q dozen Of the air.
scout craft which had Joined the pur.
suit. and later by q swift cruiser car
ryins a hundred men and 4 battery OF
rapid-dre guns. BY twisting and turn.
Ing my little machine, now rising and
now falling. I managed to elude their
searchlights most Of the time. but !
was also losing ground by these tao
tics, and so decided to hazard every.
thing on q straight-away course and
leave the result to fate and the speed
OF my machine.
Kantos Kan had shown me q trick
Of gearing, which is known only to the
navy Of Helium, that greatly increased
the speed Of our machines. so that
felt sure could distance my pursuers
II l could dodge their projectiles for
q few moments.
Gradually left my pursuers further
graduating myself on my lucky escape,
when a well-dlrected shot from the
cruiser exploded at the prov Of my
little craft. The conclusion nearly
capsized her, and with q sickening
plunge she hurtied downward through
the dark night.
How far fell h9fore regained con-
troll Of the plane I do not know, but
must have been very close to the
ground when started to rise again
as I plainly heard the sQuealing Of anil
mails below me. Rising again,
| SCnlneU the utdfeuS tut NY puhouCio
and finally making out their lights far
behind me. saw that they were land
ing, evidently in search Of me.
Not until their lights we're no longer
discernible did venture to fash my
little lamp upon my compass, and then
found to my CONSERVATION that
fragment of the projectile had utterly
destroyed my only guide, as well al
my speedometer. II was true l could
follow the stars In the general direc
ton of Helium, but without knowing
the exact location Of the city or ths
speed at which was travelling M
chances for finding II were slim.
Helium lies a thousand miles south
west of Zodanga. and with my com
pass intact ! should have made thu
trip, barring accidents. In betweei
four and ave hours. Al II turned out
however. morning found me speeding
over Q vast sxpanse Of dead sea bot
tom after nearly Sin hours OF eonttnu
Gus aight at high speed
About noen passed low over
great dead city Of ancient MARI, ami
A I skinned out across the plain
came full upon several thaaaand grssi