The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30

mage if he can't show us anything bet

image II he can't show us anything bet
ter?''
Miguel said there were things more strik-
ing than pleasant in such depths. but that
he did not wish TO see any OF them. and
when the calamar ceased biting we lay
smoking for time until one tourist shout
ed. Get hold and help, Something is tear
ing my line from me-
The tourist was strong man. but when
l laid hold behind him the hemp sawed
through my fingers. so that IL seemed to
burn them. faint wrinkling OF the moon
lit swell aslo suggested that the boat was
moving. Then the others took hold the
motion ceased, and the line led down rigid
as an iron bar. 1t remained so for several
minutes, and the puzzled angler said, 1T
certainly moved, or / could have fancied
had fouled a rock
Submarine cliffs don't move" said the
doctor drily, and / held up my abraded
hands. There is something living down
there. and we are going TO bring it up"
THE LINE FOULED.
A combined heave was followed by yell
from Miguel. and the line nipped the doc
tors leg as it ripped across the boat. while
when the quartermaster had jammed q
turn of it the craft moved backwards UNI
mistakably. Three of us by this time were
curious and eager. and though Miguel
looked doubtful, he aided us CALAMITY.
Four backs were bent together, and still il
seemed we were hauling at the cliff. Then
one tourist sat down with bang, and the
doctor shouted: Whatever the thing In
it's coming 10 the top"
The line was very long one, and several
times it taxed all our strength to resist the
retrograde progress of our mysterious
quarry, for the creatures movements I'm no
way suggested those of fighting fish.
until, when arms were aching, we halted
breathless, as Miguel said that another few
fathoms would bring it to the surface.
There was clear moonlight, and green phos-
phoresence famed about the straining hemp
and sides of the swayed down boat Miguel,
/ noticed, appeared uneasy, the others
flushed and excited.
II can see the first Of ii. Heave.' shouted
the doctor. and when we hauled together
with will something rose in the scope OF
our vision. We could see the brine shim-
mer about il, but that was all at present.
though there was no resistance. The thing
was coming to the surface OF it's own will,
and rapidly. In another few moments it
had reached il. and Miguel grabbed the
boat hook, while the doctor gasped, and I
turned both cold and sick. A horrible head.
with great lambert eyes, looked up at me
not a fathom away, and all round il rip
ping, contracting tentacles struck a weird
green, sparkling out OF the phosphorescent
sea. There was no doubt IL was a pulp or
octopus of formidable size. i also remem-
bered that the curved brass spikes were
probably fast in it, and il could not let go.
A HORRIBLE APPARITIoN.
For the space of several seconds we
stood gasping. staring spellbounc at the
horrible apparition, which looked. though
it was not so, as large as the boat. The
sinuous movements OF those awful arms.
and the pale brilliancy Of the saucer eyes,
set my flesh creeping. Then one suckered
tentacle rose into the air, and when an
other, following, curled forwards In our
direction, one of the tourists yelled, cut
the brute loose. It's coming on board the
boat"
The mans voice was hoarse with fear,
but it recalled our scattered senses, and
old Miguel drove his long-shafted boathook
into the center OF the Quivering mass,
while the doctor drew his seamans knife
across the tight-strained hemp The great
arms rolled together about the boathook
staff and spread out again Several OF them
struck the boat, but had an oar out now,
and drove the craft ahead. AS did so there
was a sudden ripping, and the loathsome
creature sank, taking our extemporised
harpoon with ii to the depths from which
it came. Then the others slipped the cable,
and we did not cease rowing until the lights
of our steamer shone out around a head.
We rested upon our oars then. looking az
one another, four startled and slightly
shame-faced men, until Miguel, taking
flask from our basket. solemnly handed il
around There was very little in IL when
he put il back again. and the non-medical
tourist said: 81 don't know if the thing
meant to crawl in or not, but I've had
enough fishing for one night at least, and
never want to see a large-sized octopus
so close again.
The Canario seamen did not laugh ct
our story, and though / do not know
whether the pulp intended hostilities, or
what it did with the boathook. I dreamed
of IL during the next week or two more
often than cared about. ]. w
Next week: what the Sword Thrusters
Showed Me-" by DIR. Andrew Wilson,
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