The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-26

After this we have a fulfilling tale Of a
cruiser that was built In the yards. 1t
was a thoroughly formidable craft.
Traitors attempted to get hold Of It and
to turn it over to the enemy when the
United Statee became involved In war.
The scheme was frustrated. but 1t was
well nigh being successful. and the rela-
ton OF what happened makes a stirring
n in many respects a remarkable story
How the Aztecs Treated q Cruiser.
The tidal wave that washed San Fran
cisco away and the %oonvulsion Of the
earth that heaved up a vast plateau Of
dry land where once had been the deepest
part Of the Pacific Ocean are merely
Introductory incidents in Mr.. Roy Norton's
story Of The Toll Of the Sea" ID. Appleton
and Company. We come presently to
the unparalleled experience Of the United
States cruiser Seattle. which had been
sent out to investigate certain alarming
mysteries consequent upon the great
cataclysm.
The Seattle as she was steaming through
a changed and unknown ocean received
al unsigned wireless message which
warned her that abe would proceed
further at her peril and strongly advised
her to turn about and 60 back. Her
brave captain inquired: do they take us
for children2' He kept on his way, and
coming presently to a narrow passage
cutting into a towering cliff he entered it
and found himself in a small but appar-
emily secure harbor. 1t was secure
indeed in one sense. for as the cruiser
turned to go out again it had the startling
experien - Of seeming to be seized by
the hand Of a god and Of being brought
to al abrupt halt No rock. nc tangible
bottom had stopped it. It simply would
not 30. The machinery refused to move.
The crew were unable to stir from the
positions in which the strange influence
overlook them. They could not lift their
feet. =.
The captain thought the matter over.
Then he shouted an order for the men
to pull their feet out Of their boots. This
was done. The boots remained stuck
fast TO the deck. but the men, barefooted
or wearing only their stockings. could
walk about. But their weapons were
useless, Everything that was metallic
had a part in the general paralysis.
The cruiser remained stationary only
for a little while. Presently. without
any volition OF her own, she turned about
and began racing madly around the
harbor. She performed e~xtravagant and
alarming antics. After a while she came
to a narrow passage through the cliffs
opposite to the one by which she had
entered the bewitohed harbor. She raced
through this canal at a speed far greater
than any that her W engines could have
unprecedented in recorded navigation.
It lasted for hours and terminated in an
inland sea on the shores OF which G Ten-
nant Of the ancient Aztec people. long
resident in a secluded spot in the Andes,
had built a new city.
The story tells a good deal about the
wonderful scientific knowledge OF this
people. They had a remarkable under
standing and control OF light and power.
With their violet ray they could wither
life and with other colors they could pro.
mote and exaggerate 1t. They could do
both to a degree quite beyond ordinary
belief. They had gone far in their
applications OF radio activity. From their
great power house on the top Of a noun
tain they produced the effects that we
have noticed in the case OF the cruiser
Seattle.
Happily they were a good hearted
people. They detested oppression and
war. The charge Of the submerged
magnets was withdrawn and the Seattle
was allowed to 60 her ways after a while
There was indeed a period Of fearful
doubt. There was a mad fellow who
wanted to make an end ola violent worlc
by the employment Of violence. He wa,
slain by Bill Pape. the Rocky Mountain
giant. as he was about to let loose into
the submerged magnets their full charge
Bill was slain too; we were sorry for that
and vet we know Of course that a glorious
death is the last stamp Of a hero.
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