Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Snonne Diver.

Annette opened wide her eyes. She
uttered an exclamation of delight as
she saw Neal Hardin.
"Well, we're here" she said.
'I should think we were," said Neal
He looked about him. Annette was
bound firmly to the only chair in the
place and he was tied quite as firmly
to a stanchion in another corner. The
place was a rude hut.
II see," said Neal. that we're not
alone"
obviously not" returned Annette
On the floor between them lay the
brute resting but wide eyed with the
lash Of whip lying across his shoul
ders. Ponto, the Mexican, watched
red eyed and gloating.
Something happened in a corner. A
portion of the floor rose from the
ground and two men struggled ur
from passageway. One OF them was
Hernandez; the other was the SNUG
gler of Martinique. Hernandez nod
ded to Neal and to Annette. He took
from his pocket a tattered parchment
map which he had pasted we'll to
gether.
''It is the map of the lost Isle OF
Cinnabar," he said in suave accents,
land l have other evidence besides >
He glanced uncertainty toward the
brute. AN identifying locket," he
went on, "and other things"
what do you expect to do With
them?" said Annette belligerently
A iou are not Annette Ilington."
Hernandez smiled-smiled a bit toe
grimly. Perhaps" he said, Il can
find some Annette Ilington who will
do my bidding. At any rate there will
hereafter be no Annette Ilington who
will try to thwart me-"
Neal started. What do you mean"
he said.
Il mean" returned Hernandez, with
a gesture toward the smuggler of Mar
Unique, that in all parts of the world
l am able to find people who do my
bidding. This gentleman can do it
we'll. may as we'll tell you, children,
that you have perhaps an hour to live,
perhaps less"
The brute looked up, his eyes
CLASSY, strange. He rubbed red spot
on his arm-the mark left by Herman.
dez' hypodermic needle.
you are right, Ponto," said Herman.
dez, ''it was the only way to drug him
Lend me your whip"
He seized the whip and struck the
brute heavily across the shoulders
The brute sprang to his feet, growing
in his throat, but he fell back before
Hernandez.
Ponto united a single knot-the
knot that bound Neal to a stanchion.
Then at another word the brute
seized Neal, struggling, in his arms,
and with him descended through the
passageway.
Annette viewed this proceeding
with alarm. She struggled iercely.
Five minutes later the brute re-
turned and once more under the sting
ing lash of the whip seized Annette
and bore her below. Hernandez and
his two companions followed them
down.
All" said the smuggler to Neal and
Annette, this house has all appoint
ments. This is the swimming pool,
my friends. You can swim here for
one hour-or less. This is in truth
a cavern of death. hate to do it."
he added Just before he disappeared,
but needs must when the devil
drives"
There was a click as the stone trap
dropped into place.
This is pretty pickle" exclaimed
Neal to Annette.
They were lying on opposite sides
OF that black pool.
"If you can crawl" said Neal, crawl
for your life."
Annette understood. Little by little
Neal worked himself along his side OF
the ledge and Annette along hers,
each gradually approaching the other
around the circle. Finally their heads
>puched.
Careful" said Neal; CLOSE to the
wall. Now let me have your hands.
Let me unbind you first"
On the surface of the earth above
Hernandez and his companions loaded
their cases into a cart and drove far
across the wilderness into a ravine.
Here" said the man of Martinique,
lifting up the cover of a metal box
set in the rock, here is the switch OF
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