New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-17
THE OCTOPUS AND THE SALT CAVE.

THE OCTOPUS AND THE SALT CAVE.
They had been travelling for many days without
anything OF interest happening and It was getting
g trfae rnonotonous. Nothing but water. water
everywhere and huge. ugly deep sea monsters to
look at They were now so far from shore that
the bottom OF the too deep for them
10 travel on, the weight OF the water alone
would have crushed them; they had 10 go right
through the water rise to the surface and speed
along when IL calm; but even Il they did
that there nothing to but miles and miles
OF water all around them. They never met a ship
a sail in the distance. for they were out
OF the course that the vessels take.
One day the monotony broken and IN not q
very pleasant way either. but in a manner that
would have proved disastrous had # not been for
the wonderful electric current that could be thrown
into the elephant. They were going along at
good speed and both Harold and lone were read
ing; Harold stopping occasionally TO glance at the
compass and see that the elephant was keeping
the right course Suddenly they came TO violent
stop that threw them both of their seats.
''Gracious Harold! What has happenedr Have
we broken GOWN cried lone.
Goodness me. don't know. but think must
have run into sou1ethng-it may be a submarine
wreck must keep n lookout at the peep-hole
inter this and not he careless We'll get
smashed all to pieces" said Harold and Just then
elephant and al were picked up Ike a toy and
turned completely over. For a second they
left standing on their heads but only for a second
when they given another whirl and turned
right side up again.
Harold gathered himself together and rushed to
one OF the peep-holes- Horror OF horrorsi What
did he but gigantic octopus facing them. with
SIS long feeders sent out in all directions TO wind
round the elephant and crush # 20 DEATH or course
Il thought the elephant alive and that Il had found
nice lar-e nnorsel 70 One OF its many feeIers
was already wound round the body Of the elephant
while two or three others writing and twist
ing themselves round the legs end trunk. Had the
elephant been alive il would have been crushed to
death Immediately; even rs II was. II could be
broken 10 pieces by the strength OF the hideous
devil fish. Harold quick as a fash turned the
electricity into the skin OF the elephant which
gave the octopus such tremendous shock that II
killed Instantly. The teelers loosened and the
elephant was free again.
lone frightened that her teeth chartered.
'of all the repBlsfve terrifying objects ever saw.
that monster was the Worst,'
~ agree with you" said Harold. II have read
about horrible unshapely sea monsters but no one
even in HIS widest dreams could imagine anything
as repulsiYe that gigantic. spdery looking octo-
pus with its long feeers large around
trunk and yet pable enough 10 be twisted like
corkserew. and what power and strength II had in
them. to pick this heavy elephant up II II
had been india rubber balls never believed
the stories have heard about them about the
wonderful serpent, but hereafter. matter
how improbable the story may sound. shall think
Il might be true" said Harold.
After their dangerous experience they kept
sharp lookout. speeding along fast they could.
Cor they were both getting tired OF travelling under
the water. That same day they passed a sunken
liner. There she lay tipped half over and
destined 20 drift AID DRIFT drift roted
10 pieces and fell apart which would take ages.
held together she was with iron bars and bolts.
and too water-ogged TO sink.
AS they passed this ship Harold exclaimed. -How
lucky NE did not run into 81 and get tangled in the
rigging"
''oh, how wish were out of this dreadful
ocean. Il is giving me the horrors and am get
ting afraid 70 sleep eat" said lone. How much
longer do you think Il VIII take reach the
Sandwich Islands?"
III have name no mistake in my calculation
we should reach th.s- by tomorrow noon" replied
Harold
There is thing sure Harold shah never 20
home 70 America by crossing the bed OF the Pacific
Ocean any other ocean"
bow win you get home then?" asked Harold
i viii stay on the other side or have you invent
an airship and fy across" answered lone
Why not put the elephant on board a shin and
seno IL nome as II IL we're live elephant intended
FOR some cTcnsT' asked Harold.
NO. thank you. for then We would have 70 stav
inside 10 work il 20 keep up the deception. ana 7
90 not care TO stay in the hold OF ship shut nm
~ an elephant and be seasick- So you see you
VIII either have 20 build bridge or a nving
machine 10 get mo over" answered lone
IF the old man who invented this elephar, rr,
alive, he could have doubt build q shin o.
nysng machine OF some kind that would carry ne
anc The elephant TOO. safely across the water"
"Hurrab," exclaimed Harold a few rno,,a-..
later; Il see land ahead" eits
Where? Where?" cried lone. DO let me co.
II looks Just ike the Catalina Island Oh as; and
happy 10 see land once that I feel uSe
A>1-S~1- LIT as cannot 90 that hand ns my