Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-08-20
CHAPTER XIX.
BORlK 3 LETTER.

While waiting for some clue to
Sarcanys whereabouts. the Doctor was
busy with questions seriously affecting
the general safety of Antekirtta.
He had recently had secret iniorma-
ton from the Cyrenaic provinces, and
had been advised to keep sharp look
out towards the Gulf of Sidra. The
formidable association OF the Senousists
seemed to be collecting their forces on
the Tripolitan frontier. A general
movement was taking them gradually
towards the Syrtic coast. An exchange
of message was going on between the
different zaouiyas of Northern Africa.
Arms from foreign parts had been de-
livered to and received by the Brother
hood. And a concentration was evil
IDENTITY taking place In the vllayet of
Ben GhaZi, and consequently close to
Antekirtta.
In preparation for the danger which
seemed imminent the Doctor took all
possible precautions. During tho last
three weeks Of October, Pierre and
Luigi were busy helping him, and the
whole of the colonists placed their SER
vices at his disposal. Several times
Point Pescade was secretly despatched
to the coast and returned with the news
that the danger was not imaginary.
The pirates of Ben Ghazi had been
reinforced by quite mobilization of
the confederates in the province and
were preparing On expedition OF which
Antekirtta Vas the objective. Was II to
take place soon That could not yet be
discovered In any case the chiefs of
the Senousists were still in the south
ern viayets, and it was not likely that
any enterprise would be undertaken
without their being present to direct It,
The result OF this was that the Elec-
tries were ordered to cruise In the Syr-
tic Sea and reconnoitre the coast of
Cyrenaic and Tripoli, and thai OF Tunis
up TO Cape Bon.
The defences of the island as we
know, were still incomplete. But If it
was not possible to finish them in time.
ut least provisions and stores of all
sorts abounded in the arsenal.
Antekirtta was about twenty miles
from the Cyrenaic coast, and would
have been quite isolated in the gulf, if
il had not been for an islet known under
the name OF Kencraf, which measured
about three hundred yards round, and
emerged from the sea about couple OF
miles to the southwest. The Doctors
idea was that this islct would do for the
prison, il any of ihe colonists were SEN
fenced TO be imprisoned after convic-
ton by the regular judicial authority OF
the standard which event had not
vet happened and a few buildings had
been erected for this purpose.
But Kencraf was not fortified, and in
case hostile fotilla came on to attack
Antekirtta, its very position constituted
danger. In fact, the islet would easily
become a solid base of operation. With
the facility of landing munitions and
food, with the possibility of establishing
battery it would afford an assailant
nm excellent centre and all the more
because there was now no time to put it
into proper state of defence
The position of this island, and the
advantages it would give to an enemy of
Antekirtta. made the Doctor uneasy.
Thinking matters over, he resolved to
destroy It, but at the same time to make
its destruction serve for the complete
VI tiic WIZ i'Dh'' Aeo
capture Tho project was Immediately
put in execution. Galleries were driven
in the ground, and Kencraf became an
immense mine. united to Antekirtta by
q submarine cable. All that was wanted
was current through the wire, and not
truce of the island would remain on
the surface of the sea.
For this formidable effort of destruc-
ton the Doctor had not used ordinary
run.co.ton, nor even dynamite. He
knew the composition of n recently dis
covered explosive, whose destructive
power is so consd. able that it may be
said il is TO dynamite what dynamite is
TO gunpovler. More manageable than
nitro. glycerine and more portable, for
il only requires two isolated liquids
whose mixture does not take place until
the moment OF using them. it is refrac-
tory TO congclation down to six below
zero, while dynamite turns to Jelly ut
ten below freezing, and is only liable to
explode from violent shock, sucn as