The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-16

There was q sound like boiling water
outside and as if air were being pumped
ont Of some receptacle, and the vessel
began to move up and down in q 1.-the
sort Of fashion and to bend tortuously
from side to side like a great sluggish
fish. Through the partitions of glass
they saw one of the men closing the
door, and in moment the vessel glided
away from the shore. The men all sank
into easy positions on /, couches, and
delightful music as Sc n Aollan
lyre seemed to be breathe the
walls and floor. Then the music
to die away, and a bell down in IT,
sells hull rang.
eve are in the middle of the lake, !"
said Thprndyke. looking through the
glass toward the black, cliffy shore.
"The next thing will be our descent. I
wonder
But he was unable to proceed, and
Johnston noticed in alarm that his eyes
were slightly protruding from their
sockets. The air seemed suddenly to be-
come more compact, as If compressed,
and the water was set into such violent
commotion that it was dashed against
the glass sides in biTlows as white as
SHOW. Then Johnston found that he
could not breathe freely, and he under
stood the trouble Of the. Englishman.
Captain Tradmos came suddenly to
the door, He was smiling as he mo-
ttioned toward the wines on the table.
"You had better drink more of the
'wine," he advised sententiously.
Both of the captives rushed to the Ia
'ble. The instant 6hey had swallowed
the wine they felt relieved, but were
still weak. The eaptain bowed and
went away. Thorndyke's hand trembled
as he refilied his friends glass. 1
thought I was gone up" he said. 81
never had such choky sensation in my
life. You are still purple in tie face"
Eat of what issbefore yoG." said the
captain, looking III at the cor. "You
cannot stand the IN re;ssirg leisure un-
less you do
They needed nassscond invitation, for
they were half Ennlished The fish and
meat were Gs tic tcrs, and the bread was
delightfully."- sweet.
"Look outside!!'' cried Johnston. The
water was now still, but it was grad
ually rising up 1.-THE sides Of the boat,
and in moment it had closed over the
crystal roof. Both of the captives were
conscious of heavy sensation in the
head and Gull roaring in the ears.
Down they went, at irst slowly and
then more rapidly, till it seemed to
them that they had descended over
1000 feet Great monsters like whales
swan to the vessel, as if attracted by
the lights, and their massive bodies jar
red against the glass walls as they turn
ed to swim away. They sank about 800
feet lower, and all at once the lights
went out. and THE boat gradually stop
ped.
| It was at once so dark that the two
captives could not see each other,
though only the width of the table sep
arated them. Everything was profound
ly still. Not "a sound came from the
men in the sother rooms. Presently
Thorndyke Whispered, Look, do you
see that red light overhead
Eyes, said Johnston. 1T looks like
a STAR 10
''It is om BONFIRE said Thorndyke.
'sThat's what betrayed u.s."
Again the vessel began to sink, land
more rapidly than ever. Indeed, as
Thorndyke expressed it, he had the cool
feeling that nervous people experience
in going down quickly in an elevator.
If we go any lower" he added, AS
the great RUBBER hull seemed to strug-
gle like some living monster, the sides
of this thing will collapse like an egg
shell, and we will be as fiat as pam
cakes.
"You need not fear; we have much
lower to go.'' 1t was the captain IS
voice, but they could not tell from
whence it came. Then they heard agsin
the seductive music, and it was so sooth-
ing that they SOON fell asleep
They had no idea how long they had
slept, but they were awakened by the
t;ringing of bell and felt the vessel was
coming to stop. They were still far
beneath the snrface-indeed, the boat
was resting on the bottom, for in the
light of two or three powerful search
Lights they saw a twide succession of
submerged hills, wales and rugged cliffs
| Before them was a great mountain side,
land in it they saw the mouth of dark
tunnel. They had scarcely noticed it be-
fore the vessel rose IA little and glided
TOWARD the tunnel and entered it.
20 @ a {s,E1D