SYNOPSIS.
C TATTER I—Confederate Serceant
Myatt ot the Staunton artillery is sent
“a.M sPy To his native county on the Green
iar by General Jackson.
( MAP I hit II—yatt meets a moun
taineor named Jem Taylor, with cvlmm lie
raies to a house beyond Hot Sprinss.
( T APTRR 11T—Tn the house WynU and
lay or meet Major Harwood, father ,f
Doreen and an old neighbor of Wyatt,
"uiio is sent to bed while the two other
iii' ii talk. Wyatt becomes suspn ious, ainl
ImkIs that raylor has murdered Harwood
and es aped.
CHATTER IV Wyatt elianges to the
i 8 cavalry unitorm hi-* ims wit ti rim
und rides away in the night, runn.i c
a detachment of Federal re > airy t<•
whom lie identifies jiims* ii as i... . e'nant
] lay moil d. Third F. 8. cuvali v. 1,. me.,as
<■; papers with which lie has been pie
' 'h d. Captain Fox finds Harwood's body
and follows Taylor's trail.
CHAPTER V—Fox and Wyatt believe
Taylor to be old Ned Cowan. The de
ta hment is ambushed. Wyatt escapes to
the Green Briar country and go*, s to liar
wood's apparently deserted home.
f IIAPTKR VI -Wyatt finds Xnreen
Harwood alone in her home. She dues
not recognize him, and lie introduces him- I
self as Lieutenant Raymond.
CHAPTER VII—Parson Nichols comes
to the house and tells Noreen of her la
tlier’s death.
CHAPTER VITT—Wyatt forces parson
Ni< hols to confess that lie has been sent
in advance of A use Cowan, who propns h
to marry Noreen at once, and so <|til»*t
title t«» the land in dispute liptwo ti the
Cowans and Norton's dead father.
CTT \PTER IX—Anse Cownn and his
gan^ arrive and find tlie preacher hound
in a cl. s t. Wyatt and Nor.. n have con
cealed themselves in the attic.
C HAPTER X-The rnwan pansr ran
sacks ihe house but fails to find the hid
den couple. Wyatt tells Noreen who he is.
CHAPTER XT Wyatt and Noreen r**
t1 ni to the second floor and await the
next move of the gang, forcing the
preacher to silence.
PH \PTF!R XTT Enable to rfpo while
th.* gang is on the first floor and around
the house. Wyatt proposes to marry
Nor«en to protect tier from Cowan. She
accepts and Wyatt forces the preacher to
marry them.
CHAPTER XTTT—Cowan’s gang !s driv
en off by Federal troops, one of whose
offleers is tfit? real T.leutenant Raymond.
Wyatt is trapped, though Noreen attempts
to defend him.
CHAPTER XTV Wvntt is taken to
Lewisburg for trial as a spy.
CHAPTER XV-The rnmn commandant
and Captain Fox visit Wyatt in his cell
In the courthouse basement. If* refuses
clemency in return for information, and
uses his boyhood’s knowledge of the build
ing to prepare a way of escape.
CTTAPTKR XVT-Cnptnin Fox again
visits Wyatt, and t«lls him that Noreen
Isas Interceded for him unsuccessfully, .rnd
that Raymond jealous, is pushing the
case against him.
CHAPTER XVTT—Wyatt escapes to the
Bttic and thence to the sheriff's office by
means of a disused, old-fashioned chim
ney. washes off the soot and changes
clothes In tise deserted washroom, and ru
eonnoiters.
CTTAPTKR XVITT-Wyatt surprises
R iyrnond and his camp commandant,
holds them up. and with the aid of Nor*
fen. gets out of headquarters room in
the courthouse.
CHAPTER XTX—Wvntt and Noreen
win clear of the courthouse and Noreen
decides to accompany him in ids (light
en APTER XX —Wyatt and Noreen ob
tain horses and escape from Lewisburg.
CHAPTER XXI—They meet old Ne«J
Cowan In a deserted cabin, and in a light
Cowan is killed.
CHAPTER XXTI—They agree to a sep
aration when they are safely out of their
present danger.
CHAPTER XXTTI—They come to the
Cane Ridge meeting house and find it oc
cupied by Confederate cavalry, who have
captured Preacher Nichols.
CHAPTER XXIV Federal cavnlrv un
der Fox and Raymond threaten to attack
the church.
’ tftop lirinu,: I cried, tney ve nuu
enough. Fass the word to those men
at the door.”
The fight at the front held longer,
yet It was scarcely five minutes when
the lust gun cracked, and a strange
siletiee took the place of that hideous
uproar. For an instant not even a cry
from the wounded broke the stillness,
tiie n:‘ii leaning out of the windows
watching the disorganized retreat.
Then someone gave an exultant yell,
and voice after voice caught it up, the
old church echoing to the wild battle
cry of the South.
"Steady, men, steady!" shouted liar
wood from the door of the vestibule,
h'» voice cleaving the din like the
h .ide of a knife. “This is only the
first, act. Load!"
The light of the moon streamed
in through the south windows, reveal
ing the overturned benches, the mov
ing ligtires along the walls, the smoke
cloud drifting upward to the rafters
The lieutenant picked his way dowm
the narrow aisle, lie was bareheaded
and coatless, and even in that dim
light I could perceive a dark stain, lilt's
oozing blood on the front of itis shirt.
"Vou are wounded?” 1 exclaimed.
"Nothing to worry over,” he
plied easily, his eyes laughing, ' a
mere touch in the shoulder, which,
however, has put my left arm out of
commission. Ah! fair cousin!” and
he hold up ltis hand in sudden greet
ing. "We who are about to die salute
you,"
"Do not say that," she pleaded.
"Purely the vu tory is ours."
"Ay! we win the first round, but it
had cost heavily. I doubt if we nave
such luck again. What loss have you,
Wyatt?”
"Two wounded and one killed." I
answered soberly. "We had Cowan's
guerrillas to meet out there.''
I know; me infantrymen
stormed the front, and the troopers
peppered the side windows. Wharton
has three down, while they got five
of my lads. The front doors are
fairly riddled. They'll consolidate
next time, trust to the weight of num
bers, and break through. They respect
us now, but we haven't licked the
fight out of them by a long chalk. I’m
' - I ' J’OUI
lie whispered a worn iu her, seme
good-natured pleasantry, 1 thought, as
he bowed over her hand as though
they parted in a gay parlor; then
turned laughing away and nicked his
passage down the aisle, a slender,
debonair figure, whistling a gay camp
tune. 1 stared after him. scarcely able
to comprehend such gay-spirited rci k
lessness, when he stopped suddenly,
and faced about.
Do what you can for your wound
ed, U\att.” he called back, his voice
instantly serious, "and keep my tair
cousin out of the ruck.”
Several figures fell in behind him ns
be went forward—-the men he had
iski d for from Wharton and O’Hnri -
ill disappearing within the blackness
;>f the vestibule. Leaving one man
alone posted at each opening, 1 had
the others of my small company bi-ar
the two wounded men to the farther
corner,’ making them as comfortable
is possible. The dead man was laid
ut on one of the benches, and then
the three selected for that duty were
sect to join the lieutenant. This de
pletion of force left me a window to
lefend alone against the second al
ack, the opening to the left of the
rulpit. next to the corner in which lay
he wounded men and the prisoner.
I crossed the platform and took
ny place, Noreen arose from beside
me of the bodies and her hands
grasped my arm.
“The soldier who was shot in the
’hest,” she said, her voice trembling,
'lie—he tried to tell me something. I
ore my skirt and bound it up, but
there was no water. 1—I wish he
wouldn't groan so."
Her face, whit in the moonlight,
was uplifted; I even thought I could
se<- the glint of tears in the eyes Sud
ieniy a great wave of sympathy, of
regret, seemed to sweep over me, and
I leaned the carbine against the wail,
ind clasped both her hands in mine.
"We grow accustomed to groans in
war,” I said swiftly, but what unmans
is your being here exposed to all
his danger."
"Oh no one will hurt ino; I am not
ifraid lor myself truly 1 am not Cap
ain Fox would never permit them to
larm me.”
“True; if Fox comes through alive;
but Cowan and Raymond are both
fiere, and I know not which 1 distrust [
;he more. I did wrong to permit your
jver coming with me; to risk your life
in so desperate a game."
"Uo not say that, Tom," her voice
eager and earnest. I am no worse
off here than 1 would be if you had
left me in Lewishurg It was my
choice, and even now I would rather
She Buried Her Face in Her Hands.
be here with you. Why,” she pan? 1
drawing in a quick breath, “if—if 1
had remained behind 1 nr at be help
lessly in the grip of Arise Cowan!
Have—have you forgotten that?”
“No, 1 had not forgotten; but there
is danger enough tuae—more than you I
realise. You have never seen men
mail with battle lust, crazed from vic
tory. 'I hey see through a red mist
and forget ges(. They are coming in
here presently, tiring and hilling,
smashing their way through from wall
to wall. Your cousin is not the kind
to ever raise a white flag—-he'll go
down fighting, and I is m- n b-sid
b'm. I've b on thinking of it all, m>
girl, and there is < ’ o tiling I want yoi
to do now, bjfoit; he lin.il at aul>
com* s."
“What?”
“Let me rend you out vn ’ . fi e o'
tjmee to *’’ . . . >£, c__ -, .
Fox. He’ll guard you as he would his
own daughter.”
"And—and leave you men in here
to die?"
"To take our chances, of course;
that is a part of the trade Your re
maining with us cannot change the
result, whatever it may prove to be—
and, with 4 5, it is merely a choice
between bullet and rope."
She buried h< r face in her hands,
but there was no sound of sobbing I
waited, ashamed of my inconsiderate
words, yet when her eyes were again
lilted they were tearless.
“1 know,” she said, "and you feel
that it will be best for you—for you,
if I go?”
"Yes Noreen.” earnestly. “The very
knowledge that you are here saps my
courage. Surely you can understand
why this should b so, for the more
desperate our < • the more ruth
less our enemies will prove in the
hour of victory. The very knowledge
of what the r suit may he would al
most lead me to surrender, and, to a
less degr e, your presence here must
affect your cousin.”
“The lieutenant! Why to a less de
gree?”
“Because,” I broke forth swiftly,
“you are 1< us to him. There is no tie
between you except a distant relation
ship, that is all His solicitude is
merely for the protection of a woman,
while 1 cannot forget that you are my
wife.”
a temporary matter, a nitre term
So ton wish to forget?”
"I did not say that, and have never
thought it.”
"Vet you regrt t?”
"Only berause of the danger—here
comes Hat wood.”
“Ah! my bold gunner of Staunton.”
be exclaimed at- he stepped on to the
pulpit platform, “arid is everything
stiil quiet here? Now you know what
it means when they sing: if you want a
good time jine the cavalry. Let me
get a glimpse without.”
He stock gazing forth info the mcon
ligbt, and cur eyes took in the same
scene. Kxeept for the d^ad bodies
lying in the open, there was little to
see, although a few figures, appar
ently of men, moved back and forth at
a distance well beyond range.
"As 1 thought, Wyatt,” said the lieu
tenant, finally turning about. "They
are massing their forces again at the
front. My lady, you will witness some
real war presently.”
“TIm y may delay the next attack till
daylight.”
“No such luck: those fellows are
soldiers, not Indians, and are anxious
to get through with the job.”
"1 have been urging your cousin to
let us send her out under flag of
u*ce " I said quietly, "to the protec
tion of Captain Fox.”
"That is really what 1 came back
here for," he t admitted, "and we
haven’t any time to spare. What say
you, fair cousin?”
Site stood between us, and before
she answered her eyes sought both
our faces.
“My choice is to stay." Suddenly I
felt her hand on mine. “You will not
refuse me this privilege, Tom?”
“No,” reluctantly; yet at the same
time strangely delighted at the prompt
decision, "but 1 thought the other
best.”
Harwood laughed lightly
"Again the bleed,” £ie said payly.
“Pah! so far as 1 was concerned the
asking was mere form; the answer
was already in the lady’s eyes. But
I must go back to my iambs.”
"You have secured the door?”
“The best we can; braced it with
benches solid to the wall, the wood
will uot resist long, but twill make
an ugly alwiis for tne Yanks to c.atn
her in over.”
He Jilted his cap ga'la.tlv, rad
turned away, humming souk pry tun**
softly as he felt his way along Iks
moonlit aisle. His very hgkt-hearted
ncss left me sober and depressed She
must have realized all this, tor her
handclasp tightened.
"Ypu are sorry? You wished me
to go?”
"I hardly know Moreen; I have ev
ery confidence in Fox—who is making
that noise? Is it the preacher?''
CHAPTER XXV!,
Or.e Way of Escape.
ITp was propped up against the wall,
not far from us, and 1 Lent over, not#
ing how he was bound Instantly 1
out the cords and In gan rubbing the
man’s wrists to restore circulation.
"I never noticed you were strung up
like that. Nichols," 1 said earnestly.
"Who did the job?”
"'t he sergeant," he answered, chok
ing. "1 tried ter sp, ak as soon as i
saw. you an’ the lady yere, hut !
couldn't git the gag out e< my mouth,
liend down a hit lower; 1 don't want
none o' them sojers tor hear.”
“All right—what ts it?”
“Yer ol Jedge Wyatt's boy, ain’t
yer?”
"Yes.”
"An’ she's the darter o’ Major Har
wood ?”
“Tills Is Noreen Harwood,"
"1 thought so, but thar ain’t hardly
light ’nough fer me ter be sure. I
married yer over cross ther moun
tings—an’ is Anse Cowan along with
them Yanks out thar?”
“Yes, and all the gang, excepting
old Ned, who was shot last uight."
“You shot hitn?"
“Well, it was my pistol; we were
fighting together” Suddenly a thought
swept through my mind. "See here
Nichols, you are In as bad shape as
We are. Anse has treated you like a
deg, and he will never forgive you
for that marriage, even if it was per
formed to save your life—”
"It wasn't,” he chuckled. **I wa’n’t
afeerd yer "would shoot., i was tTiet
mad at Anse I didn't care; but I
reckon hc’lt 'bout skin me alive if ever
ho ketches me yore.”
”I o you know of any way out?”
ITe glanced about cautiously, to os
ur himself that no soldi r was with
in earshot
"The baptistry under the pulpit:
this is a baptist church, and ther is
an opening in the flPor just back of
where you are Frol a little to the
loft—yes, about thar—don't you touch
an iron rim? What? Well, tbar's
or.e ihc- an’ it I ts two puncheon
slabs spiked tergether.”
“Yes, but what is below—just a
tank?”
His voice trembl'd with cac^r ex
citement. and he gripped me tightly.
”1 ain't afeerd ter t< II you, ’cause
1 '.new both yer daddt ' n’ i reckon
ycr’ll take m® ’long with ver, went
yen? Yer won’t leave me yere for ter
face tb t Anse Cowan? Ye’ll promise
me that?”
"O course Nichols,” I su'd sooth
in ly, the man’s cowardice almost dis
fustirc. "if you show us a way of
esc [ i we’ll go to- • c r if the chance
comes — v.-hat is it? Speak quick?”
”1- 1 know the oi’ trail over the
mountings down ter Covington; i
reckon as how you couldn’t never git
thar without me. I—I thought it all
out while I was ly n ymje trus-"d up
like a turkey, hut they never giv’ me
no chance f r ter get loose1. Now if
you folks will cut this yere rope r Ten
my legs 1 11 show yer how fer ter pit
out—an’ nobody’ll never know nuthin’
’bout it.”
for ns trust goes, I have confidence in
you, Nichols, just r,o far as i can see
you. What is below?"
"Five steps leadin’ down inter a
wood tank," lie explained slowly, real
izing that his only hope of release lay
in a full description. "It's empty now,
an dry as a board; ain't been a bap
tism yere in six months The place
whar' tlie water runs out is at the
south side, r Tt down ’gainst the hot- !
tom; tin r <■ v: r ter the opening is !
screwed tight by a wheel, or Ned
Cowan made ther contraption, an’ yer j
kin sited on tin r upper step an' open ;
an’ shut the thing, an' never git yer
; feet wet."
‘‘And bow big is the opening?”
"Wal 1 don’t jint know, but I’ve
crawled through thar fixing a leak, an’
if I (I d it ouct, I reckon I kin again.
’Taint mor n bnut six feet beyond ther
! wall till it hits tlic edge o' ther ravine
'1 lift’s why the Yanks didn’t make no
; attack on thet side o ther church—
| thar ain’t no room.”
The whole situation lay clear before
me. 1 had no thought e>! utilizing this
; unexpected opportunity myself, for 1
, meant to stay with the others, and
perform my part ot the fighting to the
i end. But here was protection, and
possible escape, for Noreen. Yet could
the preacher he trusted? Would he
play fair if I released him, and left
them alone together? Did not his in
ter-sis also lie In getting away safe
ly? What act of treachery could he
commit, and. besides the girl was
! armed
“How do you light this church?”
"Candles mostly,” surprised at the
question, ’ yer ain't gein’ ter ter light
up, are you?”
i "Not here—no; but below; where is
there one?’
T reckon on thet thar shelf in the
pul] t yer'll find a dozen er so.”
"Bring a collide be:e, Noreen.”
She slipped across silently, and
came back with two in her hand
‘‘You are going to try to get away?"
she whispered cautiously.
“No. not now An opportunity may
come tater. if it was possible to slip
ait these men out f would gladly do so
—but t is already too late for any
1 such attempt. But there is a chatic<
you, and It is even barely possibfi
that, when all hope of defense is over
i may find some way of joining you,”
’ You—you promise that?” sne asked.
“If i consent to go, you—you will come
i later it you can?”
"Yes; I will please myself to accept
ev< ry chance, when 1 can do no more
figliliryq. I'll come to you, if 1 live
kn., Nichols, listen—1 am going to
.-ft you free, and permit you to slip
down through that trap door with this
lady. Site is armed, and site knows J
how to shoot. Attempt one treacher j
ous trick and you pay the penalty.”
"i ain t thet kind," ho whined.
“Oh, yes you arc; but it will never,
pay this time. Don't take your eyes
of; hint, Noreen; the moment ttiat trap
door closes light the candle, and keep
the revolver ready. Make Him unscrew
the cap, and leave it. off out of the
way. Set the candle down in one cor
ner as far back as possible. You bet
ter go c,ui first.”
‘T-— 1 am not to wait for you?” be
wildered.
in tuciu—iu>; uutsuie, ifir
might tire the building. Nichols,
where is the best place for the two ol
you to hide so I could find you?”
"in the woods to the west; there is
a trail half way down the ravine a
climbin’ up—an ol’ hog trail.”
My fingers touched his throat, and
I bent lower staring straight into his
eyes.
“Now, mark well what I say,
Nichols. I am going to release you,
and give you a chance to get away, i
but you stay w ith the woman—do you
hear! Stay with her until you both 1
reach the Confederate lines at Coving
ton. It i ever get out of here alive,
and learn you have attempted any
trick, I’M run you down. Nichols, if it
tal es trn years. Now I’ll cut the rope,
and you creep over to where that ring
is in the floor, and wait my order.”
Evidently his limbs were numb from
the . tight cord, for he crept the few
feet painfully, and then sat up rubbing
the afflicted parts with both hands. I ]
swpnt onp rvi»t th**o*’rh tbf' yin- 1
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dow, and then about the dim interior,
endeavoring to locate the men nearest
us. Only one stood close enough to
observe our movements, and I sent
him \> ’th a message to the sergeant.
"Now, Noreen," 1 whispered swiftly,
"this is tlie best time. Take these pa
pers; they are for Jackson; give them
to the first Confederate officer you
meet, and have them forwarded at
once. Don't trust Nichols for a single
moment out of range of your revolver."
"You will not come?”
“Not now; you would not wish me
to desert my comrades—would you?”
'Oh, I do not know! I do not know.
It is so hard to decide. You really
wish me to go? It will please you?”
"Yes.”
“And you will come if—if you can?
I am to wait, and—and hope for you?”
"I pledge you tny word, dear girl.” ,
She clung to my hands, her face up
lifted in the moonlight.
“I—I am your wife," she said softly,
and I—I want you to^—’
Three shots rang out clear and dis
tinct without, and a voice shouted
hoarsely. I
“Stand to it, lads!” cried Harwood
from the dark vestibule. "The Yanks
are coming!”
I swung her light form across the
platform to where Nichols crouched.
“Quick now, both of you! Careful;
don’t fail, Noreen! Go on, man; I'll
close the trail—and God help you if
you don’t remember!”
CHAPTER XXVII.
The End of Defense.
I had no time for thought—action
called me. Yet her last unfinished
sentence rang in my memory. Could
it be that she cared also? That out
of this strange association there had
grown an awakening interest? For a
- ii.. -a
X- iTtrrg."
I Hung Suspended Over a Rocky
Ledge Staring Blankly Down.
single moment 1 stood there motion
less, my feet on the lowered trap, dim
ly conscious of the uproar about me.
.vet scarcely able to realize the immi
nence of the peril. They were pouring
volleys into the front door—the roar
ing of discharge ending in the sound
of splintered wood, and sharp cries of
pain. Carbines cracked in response,
and Harwood’s voice sounded con
tinually through the hideous discord
“(let back, men! Get back! Ay, be
yond the partition, you fellows in front
there! No, don't leave the windows;
they'll charge presently, and there is
no use firing those carbines now—the
range is too long. Load again—load!
and stand ready. Wyatt!”
“Here, sir."
“Any work for you there?"
“No; only a half dozen Yanks in
ight from this end."
"I ring all but two men, and come
here! Wharton, stand ready to take
i hand. All! there the blue-bellies
come, lads—now give them the lead!
Hire! damn you—fire!"
I lic little squad of us leaped down
’he ais!e, and Wharton’s men clam
or d ovir the benches, cursing and
yelling. Already the smoke of the car
bines filled the church, and we could
see little except iu the flash of the
gunfire. The swirl of bodies hurled
i.;o to the right, away from wnere
Harwood stood, and brought me in
iroiit ot the opjio.site door. Through
ti'i3 opening and 'the narrow window
beyond, I got a glimpse outside—at a
black mass of men sweeping straight
toward us, their guns gleaming
viciously, their voices echoing in sav
age shout. It was a mere glimpse, an
infernal vision, and. almost at the same
instant they came crashing against the
shattered door, beating It down with
their gun-stocks, and leaping through
into the maze of overturned benches
littering the vestibule. The door fell in
splinters. How they got through that
tangle of death I know not. Into their
very faces we poured our fire—our
own men, caught within the narrow
space, striking at them with clubbed
guns—but they were too many to be
held. Over the dead poured the tor
rent of living, firing, cursing, striking,
jamming the few gray-jackets against
the inner wall and, in two resistless
streams, huriinj; themselves against
both vestibule doors.
Wedged in the portals, I saw all this
so clearly that each detail stands out
1n memory—the Infuriated faces, the
falling bodies, the disfiguring blood
stains, the savage glint of steel. Those
who came first were not soldfers—
they were Cowan's men. gaunt, rough
fellows, bearded and dirty, their fierce
curses sounding above the uproar.
And they fought like fiends, driven by
Cowan's voice, and pressed remorse
lessly forward by the cavalrymen be
hind. 1 saw him once, a blood spot on
his cheek, and I fired over the heads
of those between us, but though he
fell, he came to his feet again and was
. swept to one side by the rush of men.
i I saw all this, and no more; it was
like a flash on the screen—and then
everything became an indistinct blur.
They were upon us, jammed in the
narrow doorways, each :nan fighting
for life. I used gun and revolver. In
the red mist before me were black
shapes, hateful faces. Twice I lost
foot and fell, but was up again, front
ing them. I stepped on dead bodies,
slipped in pools of blood; falling men
caused me to stagger; a slug of lead
tore burning through my shoulder; a
glancing knifq blade ripped my fore
arm. I had no time, no room. In which
to reload; my hands gripped the hot
carbine barrel, and I swung the stock
like a flail.
Inch by Inch they won through the
door; we could kill, but not stop them,
and they hurled us back, stumbling
over the dead, clambering across over
turned benches, but unable to stem the
increasing tide. We were all together
now—Harwood, Wharton—the sole
handful left, and we made a fight of it.
the best we could. There was a mo
ment’s pause, the merest instant in
which to breathe, and my eyes met
Harwood's. He was naked to the
waist, hatless, blood dripping from a
cut over one eye, the stock of his car
bine shattered.
"Ah, gunner of Staunton," he called
out cheerily, although his voice
cracked with dryness. “Didn't I tell
you If you wanted a good time to jine
the cavalry.”
“Forward, men, forward!" It was
Fo$’s voice, although I saw nothing of
him. "Once more, and it's over with—
forward!”
“Now, lads, meet them!" burst out
Harwood, “About me. Third Kentucky
—here they come!”
1U BE CONTINUED NEXT ISSUE.
Hydroplane a Freak.
The hydroplane of the day is a
freak in every sense of the word. The
various types of underbody eonstruc
tion are designed to give the boats
lifting power, to lessen the draft un
der speed, and, consequently, the dis
placement— in other and plainer
words, to lessen the amount of water
that has to be pushed aside in the
endeavor to make high speed. Thd
hydroplane is the outcome of years of
study by the best naval architects and
marine engineers in freak boat con
struction. Thousands of dollars
spent annually on these freaks, twt
many are thrown on the Junk pile sud;
the effort repeated. All of these boats;
are overpowered, as one would con-,
sider the needs of an ordinary boat.
Put extra power Is added to gain iv
little extra speed. Thus one of t'je
Atlantic coast owners is this year du
plicating his power by adding a sec
ond motor to a 45-mller with the hope
of adding an extra ten miles an hour
to the speed. This may he termed
freakishness. yet in the quest for the
th'-miler all sorts of freakish things
are being undertaken.