Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1908 — THE VANISHING FLEETS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE VANISHING FLEETS

By ROY NORTON

ILLUSTRATED BY A. WEIL

tbwHQi, MM, V Aawtaua Su«v Smuuww Jenkins was not pleased by the recklessness with which his august guest experimented with the levers and switches; but feared to remonstrate, though uttering an occasional word of caution. Suddenly, as if confused, the kaiser opened three switches at once. The machine gave a mighty lurch, and failed to obey the expert hand that was instantly reached

forward to control It The needle showing the direction took a swift leap and pointed to the northwest. The kaiser stepped back from the hood, while Jenkins vainly strove to bring the Norma back Into her eastward course. Rapidly he pulled the switches to and fro; but no answering spark showed that they were in contact. In alarm he checked the speed of the radioplane, and called to Brockton, who, frightened by the erratic, movements of the craft, had entered the hood.

"I have to report, sir,” Jenkins said, “that the steering -currents of the radioplane are out of order, and that we can no longer direct her course. She is now heading nor’-nor’west.” Brockton’s. brows came together In a scowl. Nothing but the presence of his majesty prevented an explosion. “What do you suggest?" he asked, sharply. “That we come to land and make an examination and whatever repairs are necessary, sir.” "Very well. Do so at once!" Within a few minutes the Norma had found a lower level and her searchlights were bringing Into view the ground beneath. They were traveb Ing slowly over the primeval forest In far upper Canada. A spot came to view where there were no trees, and into this, like a crippled bird, the Norma came to a stop and rested. The emperor watched the first attempts to define the difficulty with anxiety, and then, yielding to his desire for a sight of the open, asked and obtained the unclosing of the port, through which he sauntered Into the night Without observing what was around him, he stood leaning against the shell of the radloplane, thinking with annoyance of the difficulties of state which might accrue if his absence extended over a day. He was aroused by the sounds of hammering and rending within, and re-entered the craft, which was now flooded with a blinding glare of radiance brought Into life by the ceaselessly turning dynamos. On their knees, with uniforms cast aside, and recklessly tearing away the carefully wrought woodwork of the paneled side, were the admiral and the engineer, while btfck of them the distracted chancellor of the empire held a short crowbar in his hands and displayed muscular arms which had been bared to the elbow. “I am sorry, your majesty,” apologized the admiral, looking, up from his work, “but I am afraid that a confused handling of the levers has exposed a weaknesA A cross current, a burned Insulation and a bad connection have fused our wires somewhere, and we may bo delayed tor a short time.” "How longr “I cannot say. Aside from the delay, there need be no apprehension, because we have abundant food. We shall have to unoover the damaged section before we can estimate the length of our stay." Fairly gritting his teeth In rage, the kaiser turned on his heel and strode out into the open air again. What a fool he had been to intrust himself to a strange mechanism which at best was treacherous! A day's delay would net moan much; but what if they were detained for many? The waning moon had risen, and in its light he marched up and down a stretch of turf with military precision. nntll bls anger began to disappear and his natural phU>

oeophy’ to afford relaxation. Ha became conscious of the beauties of the night and the wilderness, and as time went on was engrossed in contemplating them. Only thl moon and he seemed in possession of this cleft in the forest, this grass-carpeted glade in the center ot whose breadth a hurrying brook threw strange ribbons of light upward. Bordering this asylum of the wilderness were the illimitable shadows cast by lofty spruce, flr and hemlock trees, Which thrust their slender plumes like curious observers high above the denser growths of scrubby birch and jack pine. Here and there were splotches of light where th« moon found ragged openings, making of the woods a royal robe spotted' without regularity. It was a world of enchantment, mysterious in its stillness, mystic in its beauty and alluring in its stateliness. Cares of state were forgotten, and he was yielding to its spell when a voice at his elbow speaking in his native tongue Interrupted his meditations. "Your majesty,” the chancellor said, "they have found the break, and say that with the tools at command it will require several days perhaps to repair it Admiral Bevins expresses his regrets and —” "Gott Im himmel!" burst from the emperor’s lips, and with a gesture of hopelessness he waved his subject •way and began an agitated march backward and forward, while the chancellor returned to render what assistance he could.

CHAPTER XXI. His Majesty’s Visit Tn the heart of the woods, untrodden before by man, the sound of the hammer awoke the German emperor after his hours of anxious study. By choice he had declined to sleep in the radioplane, and rolled himself in his blankets on an open spot of turf. The cares of the day were upon him. again with all their perplexities. The sun had not risen, and the cool breath of the morning came to his lungs with invigorating freshness, while a bird of the far north was beginning a thin piping to its mate, and a camp robber, brilliantly impertinent, hopped round his woodland couch and gazed unabashed tat royalty.

He threw aside the blankets which had been tightly rolled round him, walked to the brook, whose song had lulled him In his dreams of the night, and bathed his hands and face in the icy water. A great trout, disturbed by the Intrusion, sped swiftly away from a rock and disappeared in a dark pool with a final sweep of its tall. The emperor dried his face on his handkerchief and walked slowly across the glade to the Norma, which he entered curiously. There they all were as on the night before, tired, work-worn and anxious, the chancellor still with his sleeves rolled up, the rear admiral stripped to his undershirt and the engineer peering through at the tangles of wire. On the night before the kaiser had stormed and threatened, had mumbled angry soliloquies, and sworn mighty oaths to the unheeding woods. Now at the sight, of these faces before him he understood to the full that these, his hosts, must have labored throughout the night trying to undo the accident which perhaps his own hands had wrought It softened bls mood. They saluted him, and Brockton rose stiffly to his feet wiped bls hands oa bls trousers, and repaired to the rear of the radioplane, from which he apologetically returned with breakfast for his guest The emperor ate with an appetite which was made keen by the balsamy night air In which he had slept, and then began wishing that he, too, might take part in this manual toll. Almost involuntarily ho assisted the fat old chancellor, who was prying loose another board with a crowbar; but he felt that* he was In the way, and after lounging round the craft for a time decided that he would have another look at the brook. It was swarming with trout, and, half ashamed of his zest, he returned to the Norma, and, like a boy preparing to play truant, furtively secured a lino, and attached it to a fly which ho had In his pocket book.

It was noon before the workerz saw him again. They came out of the dark bull for a cold luncheon, and were joined by the emperor, who sat silently through th* meal. Again they re sumed work, and this time it was dusk when they emerged. There be tore them was a camp fire, and studiously broiling trout, caught with and prepared by his own hands, was the kaiser. On huge pieces of birch bark before the coals he had spread his catch, and with a boy’s jubilation laughed at their surprise. His national philosophy had conquered, and th* sovereign had become a democrat In truth. As a boy he recounted his adventures of the day, and as a tired boy he went to rest Tha next day was given up to the rifle, aad hunting such as he had nevpr dreamed of having was before him. Indeed, bs had turned camp hunter, and with success. So ended th* second day, aad no passed many others. (To be continued.)

“Gott in Himmell” Burst from the Emperor's Lips.