The Elbert County tribune., 1915-10-22

| ready Woodward had had a fast launch
brought up, ready for use.
When Woodward. Arnold and the at
tacking party had discovered me un-
conscious in Del Mars study. there
had been no time to wait for me to re-
gain full consciousness.
Now. however, ! slowly regained my
senses and. looking about vaguely be-
gan to realize what had happened.
My first impulse was to search the
study, looking in all the closets and
table drawers. In n corner was a large
chest. ! opened it. Inside were sew
eral of the queer helmets and suits
which l had seen Del Mar use and
one of which he had placed ON Elaine.
For some moments | examined them
curiously, wondering what their use
could be.
Then my eye fell on the broken
panel l entered it and groped eau
tiously down the passageway. At the
end l gazed about, trying TO discover
which way they had all gone.
At last, down on the shore, before
wharf l could see Woodward, the
strange old hermit. and the rest.
ran toward them. calling.
By this time the soldier who had
been sent for the submarine tele-
scope arrived at last. with the tele-
scope in sections in several long cases.
Good" exclaimed the old hermit. al
most seizing the package which the
soldier handed him.
He unwrapped II and Joined the va
rious sections together. 1t was, as
have said, a submarine telescope, but
after a design entirely new. differing
from the ordinary submarine tele-
scope. 1t had an arm bent at right
angles. with prismatic mirrors so
that it was not only possible to see
the bottom of the sea, but by an ad-
1ustment also to see at right angles.
or. as 1t were, around a corner
1t was while he was joining this con-
trivance together that | came up from
the end of the secret passage down to
the wharf.
why. here's Jameson" greeted
Woodward. I'm glad you're so much
better"
Where's Elaine?9 interrupted
breathlessly.
They began to tell me.
Aren't you going to follow" |
cried.
Follow? How can we follow"
Excitedly 1 told of my discovery OF
the helmets.
Just the thing,' exclaimed the her
NIT. Send someone back to get
them" art
1t was only few minutes later
Z, that. in Del Mars own car, drove up
to the wharf again and we unloaded
the curious submarine helmets and
suits.
Quickly Woodward posted several
of his men to act as sentries on the
beach, then with the rest we climbed
into the launch and slipped off down
the shore.
The launch which Woodward had
Communicated moving along in, the
general direction which they had seen
Del Mar and his men take with Elaine.
With the telescope over the side, we
cruised about slowly In a circle. Ar
mold gazing through the eye-piece.
All of us were by this time in the
diving suits which had brought from
Del Mars, except that we had not
yet strapped on the helmets.
Suddenly Arnold raised his hand
and signaled to stop the launch
''Look!" he cried. indicating the eye
piece of the submarine telescope
which he had let down over the side
Woodward gazed into the eye-piece
and then / did. also. There we could
see the side OF submerged subma-
rine a short distance away, through
the cavelike entrance of what ap
peared to be great underwater har-
bor.
What shall we dor" queried Wood
ward.
Attack it now before they are pre-
pared" replied the hermit decisively.
Put on the helmets"
AS soon as we had finished. one
| after another we let ourselves over the
side of the boat and sank to the bot
tom.
On the bottom we gathered and
slowly, in the heavy unaccustomed ele-
| ment and cumbersome suits, we made
our way in a body through the en-
trance of the harbo-.
Upward through the archway we
went, clinging to rocks, anything, but
always upward.
AS we emerged a shot rang out. One
| of our men threw up his arms and
fell back into the water.
On we pressed.
Elaine sat in corner of the office.
mute, while the man who was guard
ing her, heavily armed. paced up and
down.