The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-10-11
THE STROUD
! OF THE SEA
A Thrilling Story Of Marine


"You don't believe me. Well, look for
Yourself" The speaker pointed to where
a greeuish patch stained the rich bEue Of
the sea, close under the cliR.
The other glanced superciliously In the
direction indicated. II see nothing" he
said. that might not be caused by a sheal
Is probably another of those blunders into
which your too lively imagination has led
you" He spoke with. a sarcastic en-
phasis which made the younger man Aush
hotly.
II tell you. Haynes" he replied earnest
ly, there is no mistake about this thing.
Ask Julio. There is not a fisherman oil
the coast who doesn't believe in the man.
Ia raya-"
Haynes turned a cold gray eye upon
his subordinate. ''Do you mean to tell
me. Leigh" he said. that you are going
to sbring forward the superstitiens Of
parcel Of ignorant MexicRns as proof Of
scientific fact? hardly think Mr.. Grant
would be pleased to hear you talk SO"
81 think" said Leigh quietly, that
yeur attitude In the matter Is more to be
deplorsd than mine"
Haynes came as near losing his temper
rs his GOLD nature over allowed him. 1.-THE
burden of proof is with you." he said
acridly. bring a specimen Of your pre-
cieus raya aboard. Then you can talk.
But''-with fresh sneer-"I forgot. Ac-
cording to Julio, the beast Is too terrible
TO be caught. l suppose l shall have to
90 aud examine your green patch myself
Perhaps a few specimens of 1t in Q
shrimp net viii set your mind at rest"
tcigh's eyes cleaned. but he made no
reply. and. Haynes leading the way, the
two men returned to their boat aid pulled
to the yacht
Mr.. Harold Grant was q millionaire
who spent his millions wisely. His hobby
was sea exploration. A new fish or an
uncharted island was more to him than
any pIeasures'lsnd offered
Mrs. Grant had been dead for years,
but Nellie Great. a pretty girl Of twenty.
accompanied her father on his long
cruises in his SPLENDID 2,0o0 ton yacht.
the Athene.
br. Haynes was in charge Of the sci.
eHtitic side OF these expeditions. Young
Frank Leigh had been lately chosen by
the millionaire a. assistant naturalist.
This was his first voyage, and he thor
oughly enjOred the work. He w0Hld have
been quite happy IL II had not been for
the strong dislike his superior had Gun
ceived for him and which he wasted no
opportunity Of showing The fact was
that Haynes. attracted as much by the
young lady's prospects as her beauty. had
made I'D his mind to marry Miss Nellie,
and he was furious with Frank for his
manncCs. looks and youth. In all OF which
points he felt his own inferiority.
When Of Samoa. some weeks before,
Frank Leigh had caught a Ash which he
imagined to be a new species and wished
to name after AR. GRnt. Haynes had
succeeded In proving that the fish was al
ready classified and had never ceased to
taunt the younger man with his mistake.
| Now that Leigh Imagined himself on the
track of a new discovery he was giving
bis tongue freer rein than ever.
The Athene lay in Guaymas bay. on the
| Pacific coast Of Mexico. 1t was here that
Leigh. who spoke Spanish. learned from
a fisherman. Julio Mnntijas. Of the manta
raya. a creature which seemed peculiar
to n short stretch of this volcanic coast
and Of which he coald find no description
In any work on the subject.
| AT dinner that night Haynes began
again. Leigh" he said ''ysu will have
to harry up and catch that pet nightmare
Of yours hear We san the day aftes
tomorrow"
What nightmare are you talking
sbsut?" inquired Nellie. with interest
looking at Frank.
Haynes cut in: "Oh. Leigh and one OF
these Greaser fishermen have invented 8
new SOFT OF devilHsh. They have ever
decided where Il lives"
Every one stopped eating and listened
Frspk got hot and uncomfortable.
''<Vhat Is the creature" asked Mr.
Grant.
at Is what the fishermen call the man
ia reya. or striped mantle. Mr.. Grant.
said Leigh. Another name for II Is
'shreud VI the sea- So fs.' as ! can IN
ders*and. Il Is a creature Of the octopus
family. but has this remarkable peculiar
ity. that 1t does not live like other lares
cuttletish on the bottom. but hangs Just
below the wash Of the sea, ready to ingrlli
anything that Goats across It. Its bodJ
Is wider and thinner than that OF the octe
pms. and I should fancy Il 10 an ever
'over organism. partnking more Of tbs
uature of the fyunps among plants
Some Of the men declare 1t grows larst
enough 10 pull down q boat. There lie lie
tie doubt. however. that Il can catch and
dro%n a Swimmer. A man called Leude
jas recently 50 lost bis life. ara the yer!
spot wher~ II happened is near where W
are anchored"
"W1.at a dreadful creature~ broEe II
Miss Grant. DO be careful where 9es
bathe. Mr. Leigh"
80 need to warn Leigh about THAT,
said Haynes. 'TIe wouldn't even rov
with ME today to the place where thi
monster mrked."
The yachts second officer, a man calle'
Henson. sniled. So did one or two 9th
ers. Haynes went on, encouraged:
"Tal yeu xhat I'll do. Leigh. fompr
row morning I'll have ont the small din
ecy and now to the fatal spot. and dar
You DO COME with me and battle OF tn
rock near by
II must decline to do anything Of tn
sort" said Leigh very quietly. but