The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-10-11

| WIN ToIIow you IN the Skin ano only nope
yoa will not need my assistance"
Better not" said Haynes Extensively.
"The pretty creature might catch you as
we'll"
Henson laughed again. Nellie looked
uncomfortable. fortunately dinner was
just over.
Later Mr. Grant met Leigh on deck
Leigh" be said. rather sharply, II hope
that you have some grounds for your as
sertions ct dinner. Haynes thinks 1t is
oil nonsense. and you know how dislike
any unpleasantness Of this kind. Have
you seen the creatHreY
Julio Montijas pointed out to me q
green patch which lies always behind
that pillarliks rock under the cii& He
says that his cousin Leudejas was upset
near there from hts boat and that this
| green patch closed over him snd pulled
him down"
"ITumph! don't think much Of fisher
mems tales" said Mr.. Grant
Leigh went 10 his bunk feeling sore and
unhappy.
Hah a dozen people. including Mr..
Grant and his daughter, were on top Of
the cliff next morning when Haynes, In a
bathing suit, came pulling across from
the yacht In the dlngey.
Nellie, with her feldglasses. watched
Frank Leigh slowing a couple of large
brown Jars under tho thwarts Of the skifY
Then he got into ber and followed.
1t was only a quarter Of a milo from
the yacht to where the greet roch rose In
the purple shadow OF the cliff. The
nerest ghost of breeze stirred dainty
! ripple on the surface Of the water and
added brflHancc to its reflection of the
hlpe ahova
| Haynes janped boathook into a cleft
| Of the rock. looped the boats painter
around IT. and. letting tho little craft
| swing with the tide prepared to dive over
the stern.
| At that moment Nellie Grant. whose
| eyes had been fixed on that puzEling
greenish patch which still swayed uncer-
taiRly beneath the ripple, screamed:
"Father. it's moving"
Haynes heard the cry and locked up.
| The strong light on the water made II i'm
possible for him to see below the surface
as those on the cliff could.
| Hold on. Haynes! came Mr.. Grants
voice strong and clear from above.
Get back to the rock" screamed Hel-
lie.
Haynes looked around him. The pur-
pie OF the Hmpid water was changing to
an ugly greensh yellow hue. He stepped
hastily back to the bow, seized the rope
and began pulling the boat back to the
rock. In his haste he pulled the boathook
loose. The boat, released. began softly
moving into the channel between the rock
and the base OF the Cliff
| Haynes jumped for the oars. BE was
conscious Of loud shouts from tho top Of
the cliff. The water swirled around the
boat like the mouth of whirlpool. He
| got the oars into the rowlocks and began
pulling desperately. But, at the first
stroke, he became aware that the blades
were fast In tangle Of something. He
tried to wrench them free. One broke In
two, the other was torn from his grasp
The wedges. it WAS nothing but sea
weed-was rising to the surface all
around him. How silly to be frightened
by a mere raft of seaweed! But what an
ugly color it was, striped with dull brown
and livid green! And what a lot Of It!
Ugh! 1t was rising and climbing on to
the boat. Great Habby, dripping, haf
transparent leaves were wrapping them
selves all around the stern. They were
crawling over the bow too. And the boat
was lower in the water. 1t was sinking,
gradually being pulled under.
Haynes sprang to his feet again and
with the broken oar began striking saw
agely at the monstrous thing which was
enveloping him. He might as well have
beaten the sea. The blows glided of the
tough. slippery surface. Slowly, but with
q deadly. relentless pertinacity. the living
shroud of death rose on every side, and
inch by inch the boat drew down till the
water was hut IN inch from the gunwale
The watchers on the cliff we're silent
now. They stared. frozen. at the creep
ing horror below.
At that instant something else glided
into the scene Of action. Leigh. standing
In the skiff and guiding It skillfully with
q paddle. shot up. Keeping carefully
clear Of the wide set tentacles Of the rsya
be quickly flung one Of his brown jars
against the bow Of Haynes boat.
A kissing steam arose. and a brilliant
fame played across the surface of the
water. The ciammy bands relaxed. A
sob OF relief came from above. But the
vast weight which still chung to the stern
Of the dingey was rapidly pulling it IN
der. Leigh seized the other jar and
smashed it against the stern post. More
folds fell away. the water bubhled and
turned black as the scorchcd monster
emptied his ink bag.
But the dinGey was full and sinking.
Jump" roarcd some one above.
SpuFred by terror. Haynes sprang ten
feet. clear Of the eddying coils. and Leigh
pulled him. painting. into the skiff.
"Fve used every bit of potassium In
the laboratory. Mr.. Grant" said Leigh
ALPHABETICALLY. when he met his employer
on his return to the yacht.
"You used common sense. my boy" re.
turned Mr.. Grant. shaking his hand cor
daily. Haynes owes his life to you.
and ! owe you an apology for speaking
as did last night"
Don't mention 1t. sir. But I am sorry
have not specimen Of the raya for
you. Won't you wait a few days, and let
me tryr
I'VE leave here tonight" said the mil.
honaire decidedly. Then. smiling. "Those
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