The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-15
CONTINUED from last Issue.)
CHAPTER XII.

The Oreadnought Returns.


visit TO the Hippodrome The fog
which settled Unexpectedly on that
night OF June dissipated itself as
steathily as Il had come. and noated
out with the dawn leaving In its stead
Q clear sky. And then. as II n rare
discovery had been made simulfane-
ously by thousands instead OF one, q
swarm OF people. defying the rush Of
motors. OF omnibuses and hansoms.
debouched on the Thames embank.
ment by the stately pile OF buildings
where parliament convenes. filled the
roadsteads, jammed each other
against the ,''er wall. and scorned the
constsbles. who vainly strove TO main.
tain order and uninterrupted traffc.
There. resting serenely on the
bosom OF the river where In times be-
fore Roman galleys had foated. was
the pride OF the British navy. the
Dreadnousht. Neither an Officer OF
the watch. sailor, nor marine be.
strobe her decks. Inert and un.
tenanted. silent and lifeless. she lay
close by the great graz Buildings like
the last survivor of a defeated army
who had crept home to bring q repor,
OF disaster and was resting Ia the
SHADOW OF the last refuge Her I'M
masked guns stared wide-eyed and
mournful; from her crippled tunnels
came no wisp OF curling smoke: from
her channels stretched no anchor
chains; and she paid no heed TO the
vagaries OF the sluggish current; her
PROV which had dehantly parted so
many seas was nosed into the mud in
helplessness: but as an only solace
sullied banner of the United King
dom. and whipped as she was she had
come back to her people with colors
still flying.
The miracle OF her position was
greater than the marvel OF her return:
for above and below that spot on the
river were bridges impossible for a
boat OF half her size. beneath which
tugs and other craft were wont TO
lower their jointed stacks. In all the
world there was no known strength
or mechanical contrivance that could
transport over shadows and bridges
$4,000 tons Of steel and then leave
1t In this prohibited place. Her very
appearance bore mute testimony of
singular strife True. she was intact
10 point flush with the great steel
domes which held her menacing and
frowning guns bat her fighting masts.
her top rig. and the upper bands OF
her funnel were riyen on as IL by one
deyssting line shot taken full abeam
or square astern. The wreckage OF
this hamper had been removed, so
that no debris Uttered her deserted
decks.
For many days OF gloom IL had been
accepted as a fact that nothing but
humiliation could account for the dis
appearance of the squadron which had
doggedly sailed away into the mys-
ferrous west to vanquish a terrible and
unknown enemy or meet glorious
death. Little hope had been sustained
as the days OF ;iiCnce went by that
any explanation o; that defeat might
be- forthcoming. or that any vessel
might return: and now Sefore Lon
don's gathered pCpulacs v.5 a grim
relic which only added 10 conjecture
From no source could the secret OF
this mysterious visitation he learned:
and so the crowd watched and waited
A boat, whose flag distinguished her
- hA I'll IA
hail from the sncre pulled noisily up
the stream against the outgoing tide,
and clrcled round the leyiathan as
though suspecting danger from within.
Her chief officer. after due caution,
and receiving no response. cautiously
directed her along side. and boarded
the Dreadnought over the starboard
quarter. The ever increasing crowd
along the embankment drew in its
breath in expectancy. waiting for ii
revelation. II heard him shout BE
low. fhere!"' and leaned forward.
listening for whatever response might
be given; but nothing was heard save
the steady lap of the water and the
fartbest sounds OF early river traffic.
The officer advanced along the deck
TO the companionway and leaned Gu
riously into it repeating his hail. anc
once more there was a wait and no
reply. lie backed away from the en-
trance. and hesitated 1t was plain
that he desired witnesses before In
vading the precincts OF a stricken
craft. and In moment more he
stepped to the rail, held a short con.
versation with those on the decks of
his boat and then waited till he was
Joined by others OF that force that
guards the Thames Three men
clambered aboard and stood by him
until they were Joined by two others.
who. obeying low-spoken order, sta.
toned themselves at the head OF the
companionwsy. The officer and his
assistants advanced slowly, stepped
into the darkness and disappeared into
the depths of the battle ship, while the
suspense along the embsnkment and
or the patrol became more intense. II
was several minutes before the inves-
tigators reappeared, and then they