Oxford eagle., 1915-11-25


heard above the loud drone of the en-.
gines. What have we gained? What
do we know7"
Look" said she. Look at them
below us yonder. They want what
we want. They pursue what we pur-
sue? Why, Believe me. they know
that the coin Is on ahead. II they
know It. why shouldn't we? Monsieur
lie eomte. your ride this morning was
an inspiration. The accident OF fol
lowing what might have been the
wake of q fish. but was the fash OF
submarine-the accident Of seeing
yonder cloud OF smoke ahead-that
was fate fighting with US. Believe
me-. Roleau is yonder on that boat,
Believe me. he has the coin. Fate Is
fighting with US at last. say. The
end OF all our troubles II at hand. /"
As they swept forward. now near.
now dropping OF from the course OF
the speeding yacht. always Kitty
turned her glass upon the decks OF
the water craft. At length she ex-
claimed:
1T is he, see him He is there.
standing looking back. He has no
glass. He cannot recognize us now.
But II Is he. All, trust yonder faith
ful soul not to be travelling IN vain.
am sure. as though I saw IL. that he
has the coin with him there. I am
sure. as though I saw him. that It is
Count Saehio himself In yonder sub
marine pursuing him. Come, Lit
orally. we must fy."
And fly they did. Moment after mo-
ment. hour after hour. until at length
the smoke above Gretxhoffen harbor
thickened. until the towers of the
cathedrals and the palace appeared.
until the shipping grew more distinct,
until the long green slope OF the coast
Notifications showed to the eyes OF
Count Frederick. high above the level
OF the sea.
I'VE will make IL safely, made
moiselie." said Count Frederick. at
last For some reason the subma-
rfne does not attack. I do not know
why. The three OF us soon will be
within reach Of our own guns. I won
der"
The wonder OF Count Frederick was
not Ill placed. In few moments they
heard the dull report of a 30-centi-
meter piece OF one OF the coast bat
teries-saw the white cloud OF smoke
burst from the emplacement in front
Of the disappearing gun. On ahead
they saw the white splash Of the shell
across the bows OF the advancing
yacht.
What do they meanr' exclaimed
Count Frederick. "Ah, / see. The
yatch carries the ensign of the royal
navy OF Grahoffen. It Is armed. Our
gunners take ii for an enemy. Now
heaven send them bad aim for once,"
A shot. and yet another followed.
bracketing the yacht between the
ranges Count Frederick held his
breath for what he knew would come.
Come 1t did. The yacht. struck fun
by the impact Of heavy shell. reeled.
careened. half broke apart and began
to settle by the head.
1T is too bad" exclaimed Count
Frederick; sunk by our own men,
Yonder yacht was coming to our har-
Dor for protection. carrying our own
man--carrying our own fortune-the
Gretzhoffen coin. And now all Is
LOST"
He turned the PROV Of the air craft
full toward the settling yacht. The
wake OF the submarine was no longer
visible.
Then. what the men Of the Gretz.
hofen batteries saw-what the men
OF the submarine might have seen had
their periscope then been above the
surface-was the swift voIplane Of
the air craft which they so long had
followed. It swept down now like q
giant bird. at q keen angle, as though
itself would dip into the sea. Below
II there swept the great anchor rope,
its end whipping white here and there
on the tops Of the waves.
"Ahoy. Roleau." cried the voice OF
Count Frederick.
Roleau looked up at this summons
nom the clouds. and saw above the
ran Of the air craft he so long had
noted In wonder two faces that he
knew and loved. A great sob shook
his giant chest Even his cailous soul
was affected. Out OF the very deep
they had come-his master and his
save him. when he
thought all was lost. He lifted up his
hands.
The whipping rope coiled and
turned. twisted this way and that. But
the steady hand at the rudder OF the
air craft guided it straight onward,
downward.
Roleau reached out. made q swim
grasp. felt himself swept free. OF his
feet. An instant later, hand over
hand. he began his ascent from what
had been the EXTREMIST peril of his
life.
GRO BE coNTINUEpA