The Washington times., 1912-03-16
CHAPTER XIV (Continued).

discarded planes, promised to
i serve their purpose well, and the
cabin remained for a comfort
able "deckhouse." A rudder had been
contrived by an alteration of the one
which had served for guiding the aero
In its flights
The water was close to their feet. and
there was no great difficulty in pushing
the affair off the rocks and getting It
af1oat. The women and children were
hrst put aboard and then the men
scrambled in,' and Pludder set the mo-
tors going. The improvised propeller
churned and spluttered, but it did its
work after a fashion, and under a blue
SKY, In dazzling sunshine, with a soft
southerly breeze tanning the strange
sea that spread around them, they soon
saw the barred rocks and deeply scored
hanks of Mt. Michel receding behind
them.
They were delighted to find that they
were making at the very start no less
than three miles an hour Pludder clap
ped his hands and eXClaimed
This is capital! In but little over
two weeks we shall be safe on the great
plains l have good hope that many
have survived there, and that we shall
u,
With the instruments that were aboard
the aero l can make observations to
determine our position, and | shall steer
for the Pixies Peak region"
When the party had become accus-
toned to their situation and had gained
confidence in their craft by observing
how buoyantly it bore them they be-
came almost cheerful in their demeanor.
The children gradually lost all fear
and. with the thOughtless joy of child
mood in the pleasures and wonders OF
the present moment, amused themselves
IN the cabin and about the deck which
had been surrounded with guard lines
made Of wire cable.
The water was almost waveless, and
II no storm should arise there appeared
to be no reason for anxiety COnCerning
the outcome OF their adventure But a.
they drove slowly on over the sub.
merged range of the Great Smokes anC
across the valleys of eastern Tennessee
and then over the Cumberland range
and so out above the lowlands they
could not keep their thoughts from turn
ing to what lay beneath that fearfu
ocean. And occasionally somethin,
foated to the surface that wrencheC
their heart-strings and caused them t,
avert their faces.
Prof. Pluddcr kept them informed O
their location. Now they were ove
Central Tennessee; now Nashville la,
more than 5000 feet beneath their keel
now they were crossing the valley o
the Tennessee river; now the great Mis-
sissippi was under them, hidden dee
beneath the universal flood; now the,
were 'over the highlands of SOutheri
Missouri, and now over those of Kan
sas.
George" said Prof. Pludder one day
addressing the President with NOR
emotion than was often to be detecte
in his voice, would you like to know
what Is beneath lis now?"
what is it, Abel?"
Our bOyhOOd hOme-WiChita."
The President bowed his head upo
his hands and groaned.
"fes, continued Prof. Pludder mus
ingly, there it lies. 5000 feet dceI
There is the Arkansas, along who's
banks we used to play, with its golde
waters now minging fecbly with tn
mighty flood that covers them. Their
is the sChoolhousC and the sandy roa
where we ran races barefoOted in tn
hot summer dust. There is your fatt
ers house and mine and the homes {
all our early fTiends-and where ar
they: Would to God that l had nc
b. en- so blind!'
But there was another not so blind,
said the President with something {
the COndemnatory manner of his forme
speech.
- know it--I know 1t too well now,
returned the professor. But DO nc
condemn me, George, for what | did n
fovesee and could not help
Il am sorry" said the President sa,
lY, that you have awakened these o.
memories. But | do not condemn 20
though | condemn your sCicnC"-or Eol
lack of science. But we can do nOthin
Let us speak of ii no more
The weather was wonderful, ConSide
ing what had so recently occurred. \
clouds formed in the sky, there W.
only a gentle breeze stirring, at mig
the heavens glittCred with starry gem
and by day the sun shOne so hOtlN tn,
awnings were spread over those who
duties required them to be emploNI
outside the shelter of the rabih. II
improVised propeller and rudd"r Wor
ed to admiration and some days TN,
made as much as eighty miles IN Il
twenty-fOur hours.
At length, on the fourteenth day
their strange voyage, they caught sig
Of a Curiously shaped pike that pr
iected above the horizon FAR to u
west. AT the same time they saw II
far away toward the north and iowa
the south a low line like a sea beach.
I'VE are getting into shallow W
ter now" said Professor Pludder:
have been following the course OF -
Arkansas in order to be sure OF
sufficient depth, but now We must
very careful. We are close to the 81
of Las Animas, which is surround
with land rising 400 feet above $
level. If we should get aground me
would be no hope for us That pike
the distance Is Pixies Peak
And what is that long line of bea
that stretches on the north a
SOUTH" asked the President.
1T is the topographic line of 40
feet" replied the Professor
And we shall encounter IT ahCa4
Yes; il makes curve about l.
Animas, and then the land lies at
average elevation of 1000 feet un
II takes another rise beyond l'uehlt
But we cannot sail across this ha
submerged area" said the President
There are dcpressiOns," Frof plu
der responded. and / hope TO be at
10 follow their traces until We rea
land that sim lies well above
water"
Near nightfal they got so close