The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-02

an open sea and in the center of the sea was a small island. It was the south pole. Landing, Captain Memo unfurled a black flag with golden N in 1t and took possession of the island in his own nome. No tyrants foot has trod this land' he said, 'and therefore mine may tread it.'' On the return from the south pole the Nautilus narrowly escaped de- struction by being jammed in the ice under water. She was extricated with excessive labor and they reached the surface of the sea just as the last of their stored pure air had been exhausted and when all on board were almost at the point of death. Now they proceeded to the North Att lantic and found themselves in the beaten track of steamers. Off the coast of Ireland large steamer was sight, ed. The Nautilus was then on the sur face and Captain Memo and Professor Aronnax and his companions were there also. It was evideDtly a man-of-war by her rigging and the height of her masts. This she proved to be, and pres- ently began firing at the Nautilus, though she hoisted no ensign to show her nationality. "Ah, ship of an accursed nation," cried Captain Memo; you know who 1 am; 1 do not need your flag to know who you are-but I will show you rnine." And he unfurled at the stern a black flag similar to the one he had hoisted at the south pole. "Go down. sir" said he, turning fercely to Professor Aronnax. you and your companions. go below I am going to sink that vessel. Fate has shown you what you ought net to have seen:-~-Go below"
 The professor and his companions obeyed-there could be no argument The Nautilus sank below the waves so that she could ram the vessel below her water line. Then there came a swift rush of the submarine, a violent impact and the thing was done. Aronnax rushed into the saloon. Captain Memo was there looking through the port panel of glass. Then before his eyes Aronnax saw the horror of a sinking ship. The doomed man-of-war was a human anthill going down. down, to the depths, her decks and rigging crowded with drowning men. There was an explosion as the compress
 
 | then the dark mass disappeared with it's dead crew, drawn down by the strong eddy.
 | All during the voyage Ned Bland | had been planning and contriving to make his escape from his floating prison, but no opportunity had offered itself The professor. too, had become | wearied of his captivity. even with the wonders of the ocean to cheer him. This last tragedy decided him; he would escape at all hazards. Fitted into a depression in the back of the Nautilus was small boat covered over with a movable roof. A hatchway led through the deck of the Nautilus corresponding l with one in the bottom of the small boat. To use the small boat one went through these two matches, closing them both carefully after him by clamps and screws. Then the screws which held the small | boat to the deck of the larger one were unfastened and the small boat rose to the surface. when the movable | roof was slid back and down and the oars and sail stored there could be | used for an excursion on the top of | the sea.
 | To get possession of this small boat and escape in it was the plan of Ned Land. in which the professor and Con- sell agreed. Secretly they made their prepara tions. and one day when they were In high attitudes the opportunity | came. The prisoners had made their way to the small boat without discov- ortv, fo 1t from the hull of the Nautilus when suddenly they felt the whole ship begia to be whirled about In a fearful man. ner and at the same time they could hear men running about in the in- terior of the Nautilus and the shout arose: "The maelstromi" They felt their small boat torn violently from its fast enings, they felt themselves drawn down to great depths and whirled about frightfully Finally they were cast, more dead than alive, upon the shore of one of the Loffoden Islands. where the wondering fish ermen restored them to consciousness.
 So ended their voyage of twenty thousand leagues under the sea. Says the professor in closing his narrative: What became of the Nautilus? Did 1t resist the pressure of the maelstrom? Does Captain Nemo still live? What is the secret of his revenge and his mis- anthropy? If still he roams the ocean, his adopted country. may hatred be appeased in that savage heart, the avenger disappear and the philosopher alone survive"
 Next weeks one-page classic will be "The Knights Tale" from Chaucer's