The Springdale news., 1909-02-06
Ge MYSTERY By Stewart Edward White And Samuel Hopkins Adams Copyright. l907. by Mcclure, Phillips 6s Co
tcoNTISUED.J
CHAPTER II.

for some explanation of the previous nights phenomenon. All that reward ed them were sky filmed with lofty clouds and the holiday parade of the epauletted waves.
 Nor did evening bring repetition of that strange glow. Midnight found the late stayers still deep in the dis cussion.
 "One thing is certain" said Ives; Tt wasn't volcanic"
 .eWhy soT' asked the paymaster.
 Because volcanoes are mostly sta tionary, and we headed due for that light"
 "Yes. but did We keep headed?' said Barnett who was navigating officer as well as ordnance officer, in a queer voice
 What do you mean, sir?" asked Ed wards eagerly.
 After the light disappeared the com pass kept on varying. The stars wer. hidden There is no telling just where we were headed for some time"
 Then we might be fifty miles from the spot we aimed at
 Hardly that" said the navigator. "We could guide her to some extent by the direction of wind and waves If it was volcanic we ought certainly to have sighted 1t by now"
 Always some electricity in volcanic eruptions," said Trendon Makes com. pass cut didoes. Seen 1t before
 Where 2" queried Carter.
 "Off Martinique. Pelee eruption Needle chased its tail like kitten Are the-e many volcanoes here abouts2" somebody asked.
 Were in 162 west. 31 north, about said Barnett No telling whether there are or not There weren't at last accounts, but that's no evidence that there aren't some since. They come up in the night, these volcanic islands. . Just cast an eye on the charts.' said Billy Edwards. Full of F. DIS and P. D.s all over the shop. Every one of 'em volcanic"
 .'E. D's and .D.sT queried the paymaster.
 Existence doubtful and position doubtful" explained the ensign 'Ey- cry time the skipper of one of these wandering trade ships gets a speck in his eye he reports an island. If he really does bump Into rock he cuts in an arithmetic book for his latitude and longitude and lets it go at that That's how the chart makers make n living, getting out new editions every few months"
 But it's fact that these seas are constantly changing said Barnett "Theyre so little travelled that no one happens to be around to see an island born. 1 don't suppose there's q part on the earths surface more liable to seismic disturbances than this re zion"
 "Seismic!" cried Billy Edwards. Il should say it was seismic! Why. when a native of one of these island groups sets his heart on particular loaf of bread up his breadfruit tree he doesn't t bother to climb after 1t Just waits for some earthquake 10 happen along and shake it down to him."
 Good boy. Billy" said Dr. Trendon approvingly. Do another"
 Its a fact" said the ensign heated y. ''Why, 8 couple of years back there was trader here stocked up with lot of belly mixture in bottles. Thought he was going to make his pile because thered been a collie cpl demic in the islands the season before. Bottles were labeled Do not shake That settled the business Might as well have marked 'em Keep frozen in this part of the world Fellow went broke"
 Tn any case" said Barnett such a glow as that we sighted last night I've never seen from any volcano.
 "Nor |. said Trendon. Don't prove 1t mightn't have been"
 "Tll just bet the best dinner in San Francisco that 1t isn't" said Edwards
 "You're on," said Carter
 Let me in," suggested Ives
 And m take one of it." said Me. Guire.
 Come one, come all" said Edwards cheerily. I'll live high on the col lective bad judgment of this outfit
 Tonight isn't likely to settle it any how" said Ives. "I move we turn in
 Expectant minds do not lend them selves to sound slumber An night the officers of the Wolverine slept on the verge of waking. but 1t was not until dawn that the cry of Sail hot' sent them all hurrying to their clothes Ordinarily officers of the United States navy do not seutde on deck like a crowd Of curious schoolgirls, but all hands had been keyed to q high pitch over the elusive light, and the bet with Edwards now served as an excuse for the betrayal of unusual eagerness hence the quarter deck was soon alive with men who were wont to be deer in dreams at that hour
 They found Carter, whose watch or deck it was. reprimanding the lookout
 No. sir" the man was insisting ''she didn't show no light, sir I'd a sighted her an hour ago, sir, if she had"
 I've shall see,' said Carter grimly