Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-07-03
CHAPTER II.

along the bottom OF the lake, with
stream of fame in its wake.
CHAPTER II.
The two men watched 1t for several
minutes. All the time it seemed to be
growing larger and brighter till, after
awhile, they saw that the light came
from something shaped like a ship,
sharp at both ends and covered with
oval glass. AS it slowly rose to the sur
face they saw that it contained five or
six men, sitting in easy chairs and re-
Ginning on luxurious divans. One Of
them sat at a sort of pilot wheel and
was directing the course of the strange
craft, which was moving as gracefully
as a great fish.
Then the young men saw the man at
the pilot wheel raise his hand, and from
the water came the musical notes of
great bell. The vessel stopped, and one
of the men sprang up and raised an in
strument that looked like telescope to
his eyes. With this he seemed to be
closely searching the lake shores, for he
ulO uUU luONo 1OT bcNcIul 1uluutts. 4uCu
he lowered the instrument, and when
the bell had rung again the vessel rose
slowly and perpendicularly to the sur
face and glided to the shore within 30
yards Of where the Adventures stood.
could they have seen us?" whis-
pered Thorndyke, drawing Johnston
nearer the side Of the cliff.
~ think so. At all events, they are
between us and the outlet. We may as
we'll make the best Of it.
The men, all except the pilot. landed
and dazzling electric searchlight was
turned ON the spot where Thorndyke
and Johnston stood. For moment they
were SO blinded that they could not see.
and then they heard footsteps, and,
their eyes becoming accustomed to the
light they found themselves surrounded
by several men, very strangely clad.
They all wore long cloaks that covered
them from head to foot. and every man
was more than 8 feet in height and
finely proportional. One Of them. who
seemed to be an officer In command,
bowed politely.
II am Captain Tradmos. gentlemen,
in the kings service. It is my duty tc
make you my prisoners. I must escort
you to the palace Of the king"
''That's COOL" said Johnston, to con.
ceal the discontinue that he felt. I'VE
had no idea that you had kingdom.
We have tramped all over this island.
and you are the first signs Of humanity
We have met"
He would have recalled his words be-
fore he had finished speaking il he
could have done so, for he saw by the
manner Of the captain that he had been
OVERLOAD.
Follow me-" answered the officer
CURLY, and with motion Of his hand
to his men he turned toward the odd
looking vessel.
The two adventures obeyed, and the
cloaked men fell in behind them. Nei.
Their Johnston nor Thorndyke had ever
seen anything like the peculiar boat
that was moored to the rocky shore. It
was about 40 feet in length, had hull
shaped like racing yacht, but which
was made Of black rubber inflated with
air. 1t was covered with glass, save for
q doorway about six feet high and three
feet wide in the side, and looked like q
great, oblong bubble floating on the still,
dark water. As they approached the
searchlight was extinguished, and they
were enabled to see the boat to better
advantage by the aid of the electric
lights that illuminated the interior. II
was with feelings Of awe that the two
adventures followed the captain across
the gangplank into the vessel.
The electric light was brilliantly
white. and in various places pink, red
and light blue screens mellowed il into
an artistic effect that was very sooth-
ing to the eye. The ceiling was hung
with festoons Of prisms q brilliant as
the purest diamonds, and in them, ow-
ing to the gently undulatory movement
Of the vessel, colors more beautiful than
those Of rainbow played enhancing
~. Rare pictuyes in frames Of delicate
gold were interpreted among the clus-
ters OF prisms, and the floor was cover
ed with carpets that felt a. soft beneath
the foot as pillows Of elder down.
As he entered the door the officer
threw of his gray cloak, and his men
did likewise, disclosing to view the
finest uniforms the prisoners had ever
seen. Captain Tradmos' legs were
clothed In tights Of light blue silk, and
he wore blue sack coat Of silk plush
and belt Of plant gold. the buckles Of
which were ornamented with brilliant
gems. His eyes were dark and penetrat-
ing, and his black hair lay in glossy
masses on his shoulders. He had the
head Of an Apollo and a brow indica-
tive Of the highest intellect
Leaving his men in the first room
that they entered, he gracefully con-
Quoted his prisoners through another
room to q small cabin in the stern of
the boat and told them to make them
selves comfortable on the luxurious
couches that lined the circular glass
walls.
"Our journey will be of considerable
length, he said, land, as you are no
doubt fatigued, you had better take all
the rest you can get. see that You need
food and have ordered q repast which
will refresh you" As he concluded he
touched a button in the wall, and in
stantly table laden with substantial
food, rare delicacies and wines, rose
through a trapdoor in the floor. He
smiled at the expressions Of surprise on
their faces and touched q green bottle
OF wine with his white, tapering hand.
1.-The greater part Of our journey will
be under water, and our wines are spe-
cially prepared to render us capable Of
subsisting on rather limited quantity
of air during the voyage, so advise you
to partake Of them freely. You will
ind them very agreeable to the taste. "