The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-03-12

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~ PERMISSION OF
RAND. HsAAkLy 6 CO.. t
CHAPTER lu-(Coxr1NurD). Il
You will not have failed to Observer
he began, that our past Attempts
now five in number-have all practi-
cally owed their failure to one and the
same cause. We have not hitherto
:secognized which Is the stronger ana
which the weaker Of the two barriers
that confine the object Of our devotion.
Because there are but two cruisers
guarding the seaboard Of st. Helena.
while continuous Gordon of armed
-sensinels is posted around Longwoods
House, another at the confines OF the
domain, and yet third along the coast.
we have made the mistake Of suppos-.
ting that our chief difficulties would
meet us on land. But experience has
shown that by relying on the corruption
OF servants and the stupidity of sem
tries the path to the shore can always
be made smooth. The really. insure
'mountable obstacle has hitherto been
the vigilance Of the English men-of-
war. They are, as you know. warned
.of the approach Of a vessel by signal
6rom the lookout on the peak, which:
has a prospect Of over twenty leagues.
Cruising. one to windward, one to lee
ward. they allow no ship to enter the
roads without being searched; no one
ITO land without permission from the
:admiral; and even after dark their
sguardboats, pulling round the island all
might, prevent any communication with
1.-THE shore.
"A prisoner. then, who has gained the
,3anding-stage. is none the less q
prisoner still, for he can by no possi-
fbility succeed in passing over the half
'league Of water which separates him
from the vessel waiting to bear him
away to freedom"
NJ. Carnac sighed again. Its quite
true" said Mr.. Holmes: II found that
-out myself
''say rather that you sent others to
risk their necks in finding 1t out for
syou." growled the count.
The colonel FASTENED to divert their
attention from each other. "Fortu-
rnately." he continued, IAN inspiration
came to me-"
Camilla glanced quickly up in aston
nshment; and he went on rapidly, as
slf to retrieve false step. IAN inspdra-
tion from a source not unknown to you.
Madame de Montaut, who has spoken
with 30 much eloquence tonight. was
In fact the first to suggest that 1t 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. IS 1850, =
''Yes." said the colonel, "a submarine
boat IL what IL needed; and IL the idea
was another's. may at least claim
chat the execution Of 1t has been mine. -
''Execution?' asked Holmes. with
transparent jealousy. what do you
mean? The things impracticable"
ooh! It is d poor machine" said the
colonel, with great Difference, land not
In any way one such as you. Mr..
Holmes. would have been able to de-
sign: but think it will serve its pur-
pose, and that Is enough.
NJ. Carnac shook his head. 81 hope
Il may" he said, despondently.
''This," said the colonel. unfolding a
drawing and holding 1t up, ''is q sketch
OF the boat. It is eight feet wide, seven
deep. and sixty-five long, and is made
In number Of separate parts. each
capable Of being concealed in a hogs
head cask. The whole can be put to-
.gether in two hours"
"Good" cried the count, with side
,glance at Holmes. Most ingenious!
And how do you propose to use it?"
-'Only as an auxiliary, Of course" re-
piled M. 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 1t out
again. The propelling power consists
,of two broad paddles worked from in
side by hand, and moving much like
the fms Of hsh. The shape of the
boat, 40 you see. 10 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
tls this: A merchant-vessel will arrive
or jamestown, st. Helena. on 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 1t is darl
the submarine boat will be fitted to-
.xether and launched under the chargt
of q skilled and resolute seaman. II,
will make the passage to and from thu
:.shore under water, and when once h.
has brought the Emperor on board oul
vessel, the submarine boat may be SUM
and abandoned, and we can make sal
vfor Europe without moments delay.