Evening star., 1914-03-22

on en1-they're all crcling round" Flotsa-n said,
manipulating the umbrella and peering to right and
left. Good thing that old foghorn amt blowing: they'd
in
you'll hear somep'n if they do!7 said Jetsam,
sprawled out fiat on his stomach trying with all his
eyes to look under the steaning smoke.
ave got to find that ding old warhead-got to find
her!" They kept muttering it to up their
courage The black Smoke on the water almost
impenetrable reeking grease. Once sfadowy fin
slithered ahwart the craft and their hearts umped-a
shark
Smells u.s. Jetsam breathed. Centuries were pass
ing for minutes.
"Or Quin-Great Mackerel. Sam! Stop i'm! Choke
i'm! Gag 'im!' Equinox had seen the slithering fin
of the shark and recognized it, and he scrambled up
bracing himself on his short legs, his and
cooked heavenward he lifted his voice a succession
of blaring, deep toned brays that sounded the
water like the foghorn the Gridron, vitalized by
fear. The boys jumped for him; but he backed away
braying At the same time the fog around the cata
grew luminous and golden lighted stage;
the warshps in the distant secirce swung their search
lights after the other on the center of sound.
THE drama on; but neither Flotsam nor Jetsam
the quavering Quin dreamed that ten thousand
hearts knew that they daring death in the
of the sea, and knowing, beat faster.
For the squadron knew that the warhead was
"alive. The squadron knew, the boys had known all
along and the alarm had flashed forth to Ships Bottom
every ship, that terribly real danger menaced the
North Atlantic feet with its millions of men and money
In that second of alarm every mighty seafghter in
the danger beat to quarters though in the pres
of the enemy wre-rneshed torpedo nettings
flung round the warshps, and the reused feet formed
in ar-lung Semicircle, faced in, while a of
searchghts and thousand anxious eyes 1eveed
that luminous flare of fog off the Gridiron Reef.
From the shore the white storm fighter of Ships Bot
to already the alert stole out with padded tenders
the side; from the fleet the daring
heru herb decka
the naval craft that might dare explore the
lair of the lurking death where Fotsan and Jetsam
alone and unprotected, scouting their ramshacke
catamaran with Quin for ballast
A bell-mouthed siren, wailing to seaward, mingled
with Gums mournu bray 1t startled the boys jump
ing their hearts higher.
"Soun's like the Dago-the darn donks
tolin' her in us!" Jetsam quavered
h They've took US for the Grid along O.
GUMS talkin'!' Flotsam shriled @They
81 can't raise us in this fog. They can't see itl'
Listen, Sam!"
Out of the siren call came a slithering
splash Of great sea fowl skmming the and
ing Higher with the wall of the siren beating
muffled volley of buzzing birds wings, boring
ward into the focus of light. shadow fckered then
gray mass loomed overhead, like great ghostly bird
in the calcium beams, with long, thin legs like claws
tucked fore and aft, dripping water Flotsam and
Jetsam gave shout of envious recognition.
"She's the hyderplane from the 'Dago, huntin the
torp!"
"She's right behind you'll For Gawd sake watch out!7
The shri yell Gaping their shout came to the boys
yell clipped short by the onrushing hydropane, swal
lowed with its rider in the fog. Flotsam and Jetsam
stood staring their eyes the sea, their faces pad
in the glare of the searchghts. For the had
core, turning on them when they weren't looking!
0UT of the circle of light the iron shape walowed up
~ like wounded shark, scant boats length away
an ugly iron head with sheen of copper on its nose,
Ioroc Q,,fta Df