Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-06-17
guardboats. pulling round the island all
night, prevent any comrnunica ton with

0AANAkASe0N0eCpfN'AGl A1OAtC
prisoner still. for he can by no posi-
8bility succeed in passing over the half
league Of water which separates him
away to freedom.
NJ. Carnac sighed again. cts quite
true" said Mr.. Holmes; found that
out myself" 81 AZ
Say rather that you sent others to
risk their necks in finding 1t out Tor
you.'' growled the count.
attention from each other. "Fortu-
came to me-"
Camilla glanced quickly up in aston
.ishment: and he went on rapidly, as
II to retrieve false step. "An inspira-
ton from a source not unknown to you.
Madame de Montaut, who has spoken
with so much eloQuence tonight, was
in fact the first to suggest that It might
be possible to pass under that which
we could not pass over
The three visitors stared and were
dumb. Camilla looked anxiously at
their faces to gather their probable
opinion.
YES" said the colonel. ga submarine
boat Is what Is needed; and II the idea
was another's. I may at least claim
that the execution Of 1t has been mine. :
Execution?" asked Holmes, with
transparent jealousy. What do you
mean? The things impracticable"
'Oh! it Ia poor machine" said the
colonel. with great Difference. "and not
In any way one such as you. Mr..
Holmes. would have been able to de-
sign; but I think it will serve its pur-
pose. and that is enough"
NJ. Carnac shook his head. II hope
1t may" he said, despondently.
"This." said the colonel, unfolding a
drawing and holding 1t up. us sketch
Of the boat. 1t is eight feet wide, seven
deep. and sixty-five long. and is made
In a number of separate parts. each
capable Of being concealed in hogs
head cask. The whole can be put to-
gether in two hours
"Good!" cried the count, with a side
glance at Holmes. ''Most ingenious!
And how do you propose to use it?"
"Only as an auxiliary, Of course" re-
piled NJ. de Montaut. "for its effective
range is very limited. It is sunk by
admitting water into tanks at the two
ends. and raised by pumping it out
again. The propelling power consists
Of two broad paddles worked from in
side by hand. and moving much like
the fms Of fish. The shape of the
boat, as you see, Is not unlike that of
an ordinary canal barge, with water
tight ends, and with the central space
covered In by an oblong erection, hav-
ing panes Of glass In the front and
sides for purposes Of steering, and at
the top hatch or trap-door for ingress
and egress."
"It will be very laborious to work, %
said the count. ..
Precisely" said the colonel; "and /
propose therefore to use it only as far
as it is absolutely necessary. My idea
is this: A merchant-vessel will arrive
off Jamestown, st. Helena, on a day
already appointed, and will obtain per-
mission to anchor in the roads, but of
course outside the circle patrolled by
the guard-boats. AS soon as it is dark
the submarine boat will be fitted to-
gether and launched under the charge
of skilled and resolute seaman. He
will make the passage to and from the
shore under water, and when once he
has brought the Emperor on board our
vessel, the submarine boat may be sunk
and abandoned, and we can make sail
for Europe without a moments delay"
M. Carnac was an old man, and con-
stitutionally timid; the novelty of the
idea was alone sufficient to startle him.
Mr.. Holmes was the Emperor's ac-
credited agent in England, and could
not brook that another should take the
lead in 80 important matter.
The count was the boldest and most
energetic Of the three, and the one most
attracted by the scheme; but he knew
little or nothing Of the sea, and was.
besides, already under suspicion on ac-
count Of a previous abortive attempt.
In the event Of another failure he
would undoubtedly suffer the extreme
penalty at the hands of his enemies.
The colonel. who knew them all, had
no difficulty in reading their intentions
-or at any rate their inclinations-
upon their faces; but he was not with
out hope Of gaining from them what
measure Of SUPPORT was absolutely
necessary to his plan.
II am both flattered and strength
ened," he said, addressing them all,
by your kind approval; the more so
as our share in originating this
scheme is but small compared with the
soSAotoACS WulCu nope 10 receive from
| you. who will thus earn the larger part
of the glory and rewards which attend
success.
"From Mr.. Holmes. to whose honor
and judgment have been committed the
vast funds Of the imperial house. !
shall hope to receive a grant Of a sum
OF money to defray the expense Of the
expedition, which, however large, will
be inconsiderable when weighed against
the magnitude Of the result
IN. lie Comte. who has been endowed
by nature with the strength and cour-
age Of hero, will. trust. think those
qualities worthily employed in the serv-
Ice OF one who appreciates them SO high
~. look to him to work the submarine
boat, which will be famous in history,
and in which he will receive the first
greeting from the Emperor in freedom.
From you monsieur" he continued.
turning to NJ. Carnac, who was await
ing his turn in visible trepidatiof, II
shall ask less dangerous but not less
difficult service. Our pretended merI
chant-vessel must be commanded by a
captain OF frst-rate ability in seaman
ship. and Of tact and resource sufficient
to enable him to satisfy the fn0uisf.