The Washington herald., 1914-04-05

very slowly. and very slowly the dim
irradiation was gathered together into
more definite shapes.
lit was nearly 5 O'Clock before he came
over this luminous area and by that time
he could make out an arrangement sug-
gestiye of streets and houses grouped
about vast roofless erection that was
grotesquely suggestive of a ruined alb
hey. 1t was spread out like map below
him. The houses were all roohess in
closures of walls. and their substance
being. as he afterward saw, of phos-
phorescent bones, gave the place an ap-
pearance as if it were built of drowned
moonshine.
Among the inner caves of the place
waving trees of crinoid stretched their
tentacles, and tall, slender, CLASSY
sponges shot like shining minarets and
lilies of flmy light out OF the general
glow of the city. In the open spaces of
the place he could see a stirring move
ment as of crowds OF people, but he
was too many fathoms above them to
distinguish the individuals in those
crowds.
Then slowly they pulled him down,
and as they did so the details of the
place crept slowly upon his apprehen-
sion. He saw that the courses of the
cloudy building were marked out with
beaded lines of round objects, and then
he perceived that at several points be-
low him %. broad open spaces were
forms like the incrusted shapes of ships.
Slowly and surely he was drawn down
and the forms below him became bright
er, clearer, were more distinct. He was
being pulled down, he perceived, toward
the large building in the center OF the
town, and he could catch a glimpse ever
and again OF the mudtitudinous forms
that were Juggling at his cord. He was
astonished to see that the rigging OF one
OF the ships, which formed such a prom
inent feature OF the place. was crowded
with a host OF gesticulating figures
regarding him, and then the walls of
the great building rose about him 81
lently, and hid the city from his eyes.
And such walls they were, of water
logged wood, and twisted wire rope and
iron spars, and copper. and the bones
and skulls OF dead men.
The skulls ran in curious zigzag lines
and spirals and fantastic curves over
the building; and in and out of their
eye sockets, and over the whole surface
of the place, lurked and played a null
titude of silvery little fishes.
And now he was at such level that
he could see these strange people OF the
abyss plainly once more. To his aston
ishment. he perceived that they were
prostrating themselves before him. all
save one, dressed, as it seemed, in
robe OF placoid scales, and crowned
with luminous diadem, who stood with
his reptilian mouth opening and shutting
as though he led the chanting OF the
worShipers.
They stood worshipiug him. without
rest or intermission, for the space OF
three hours.
Most circumstantial was Elstead's ac-
count OF this astounding city and its
people. these people OF perpetual night,
who have never seen sun or moon or
stars. green vegetation, nor any living
air-breathing creatures. who know moth
ing OF fire, nor any light but the phos-
phorescent light of living things.
The manner OF his release Elsted did
not understand, but to Judge by the end
OF the cord that hung from the sphere.
it had been cut through by rubbing
against the edge OF the altar. Abruptly
the sphere rolled over. and he swept
up. out OF their world, As an ethereal
creature clothed in i vacuum would
sweep through our own atmosphere
back to its native ether again. He must
have torn out OF their sight as a hy-
drogen bubble hastcns upward from or
air \ strange ascension it must have
seemed to them.
The sphere rushed up with even great
cr velocity than. when weighted with
The lead sinkcrS, it had rushed down. II
became exceedingly hot. 1t drove up
with the windows uppermost, and he re-
members the torrent OF bubbles frothing
against the glass. Every moment he eN-
Dected this to fly. Then suddenly some
hing like huge wheel seemed to be
-clcased in his head, the padded COM
'artment began spinning about him, and
Ic tainted. is next recollection was OF
lis cabin. and OF the doctors voice.
1t remains only to tell that on Feb
,uary ,, 1896, Elstcad made his second
lescent into the ocean abyss, with the
his first experience sug-
,cSted. What happened We shall prob
bly, never know. He never returned. The
'tarmigan beat about over the point of
lis submersion. seeking him in vain for
hirtPeu daNS Then she returnrJ To Pc