The Washington times., 1912-04-02

six miles under their feet, and a 700
poignant recollection of the disastrous
escape of the royal family from over
whelmed London seven months before
AS reckoned by the almanac, it was
the 18th of August, more than fifteen
months since Cosmo had sent out his
first warning TO the public, when tho
Ark crossed the meridian of "a degrees
west, in about Il degrees north latitude
and the adventures knew that New
York was once more beneath them.
There was great emotion amcng both
passengers and crew, for the majority
of them mad either dwelt in New York
or been in some way associated with its
enterprises and Its people, and, vain as
must be the hope of seeing any relic of
the buried metropolis, every eye was on
the alert
They looked across the boundless sea
in every direction, interrogat ating every
suspicious o. object on the far horizon
and even peering curiously lnto the blue
abyss, as If something might suddenly
appear there which would speak 10
them like voice from the past.
But they saw only shafts OF sunlight
running into bottomless depths, and oc-
casionally some oceanic creature float
ing lazily far below. The color of the
sea was wonderful. 1t had attracted
their attention after the submergence Of
Mt. Everest, but at that time it had
not yet assumed it's full splendor.
At first no doubt there was cOnsd-
cradle dissolved matter in the water,
but gradually this settled, and the sea
became bluer and blucr-not the deep
indigo of the cid ocean, but a much
lighter and more brilliant hue-and
here, over the site OF New York, the
waters were of bright, luminous sap
phire that dazzled the eye.
Cosmo declared that the change of the
sea color was undoubtedly due to some
| quality in the nebnla from whose con-
| densation the water had been produced,
| but neither his own analyses nor those
| of the chemists aboard the Ark were
| able to detect the subtle element to
| whose presence the peculiar tint was
| due.
But whatever it may have been, it i'm
| parted to the ocean an ethereal, impon-
| derous look, which was sometimes start
| ling. There were moments when they
| almost expected to see it expand back
| into the nebulous form and fly away.
! On the afternoon of the second day,
after they again left the vicinity OF
| New York, COsmo went out on the rear
| of the Ark, and, leaning over the rail,
seemed to be watching intently some
| thing in the water a considerable dis
tance astern. Suddenly he leaned over,
and, losing his balance, plunged head
A cry rose from those who had been
watching him from q distance, and a
rush was mad by Joseph Smith for
|
Tible news to Captain Arms; The latter
| knew what to do when there was a
man overheard" Instantly he signaled
to stop the ship and lower the boats. TWO
were got into the water inside of three
minutes for fortunately the sea- was
calm and the Ark was running slowly,
The captain and Smith tumbed into
the first boat, and set out at full speed
mer, was keeping himself afioat without
much difficulty. Presently they spied
him, battling manfully with the slight
ment to him. But they had still a long
distance to row, for there had been nc
time TO lower an auto and they
bent to their work like madmen.
They had got within five rods of the
struggling man, when the captain ut
tered a cry of dlsmay.
Look at thlt!' he yelled. "Gee-he's
"A shark" cried Smith, almost drop
ping his oar in his excitement.
NO" shouted the captain over hi
shoulder as he bent to his oar, its {
sea serpent"
BY this time Cosmo had heard a grea
thrashing of water behind him. and MI
face looked white as he lifted 1t aboV'
the waves in a supreme effort to IN
:, crease his speed. He must have seeI
the monster behind him as 1t raised it
horrible head, with huge jaws agape,
Far behind the head the affrightet
captain and his companion, who was al
but unneTVeu, saw Ill6 surface Oh III
water churned into foam by a long
Rinuous body Whose coils rose and fel
with swift motion.
The awful head rose higher, as II I
r make surcr of the prey, and was abou
= to drop upon COsmo, whose bald hea
: seemed a pitiful mouthful for thos
; mighty jaws, when a blue beam sho
from the captains outstretched han
e and the "ruh-ruh-ruh" of a big auto
matte pistol discharging its fire in a.
uninteImltted stream of projection, wa
heard.
Captain Arms had dropped his oar an
i leYeled the weapon almost at singl
: motion. The huge creatures head droE
! ped to one side, but still the jaws mad
= a swooping snap at Cosmo, who avolde
y them by a desperate leap into the watel
The captain seized his oar again an
dashed the boat forward, unaided b
Smith, who was now completely ovel
come with terror and excitement. Bu
before they could reach him Cosmo ha
been thrown under water by a bio
:. from one of the thrashing coils.
eI Still the captain pressed on, shoutin
: to Smith 10 help him, and in momer
+ the boat was itself in the midst of III
7 terrible coils. The head OF the monstt
Il lay upon the water, staining II red; b.
n life was by no means extinct, and III
!. coils continued TO churn the sea I'M
l. foam.