Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-12-24


When Woodward. Arnold and the at.
lacking 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 q corner was a large
chest. l opened 1t. Inside were sew.
eral of the queer helmets and suits
which ! had seen Del Mar use and
one Of which he had placed on Elaine.
For some moments l examined them
curiously. wondering what their use
could be.
Then my eye fell on the broken
panel. ! entered 1t and CROPPED 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
q wharf l could see Woodward. the
strange old hermit, and the rest.
Iran 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 1t and Joined the va
rous sections together. It was. -
have said. submarine telescope, but
after q design entirely new. differing
from the ordinary submarine tele-
scope. It had an arm bent at right
angles. with prismatic mirrors %
that 1t was not only possible to see
the bottom Of the sea, but by an ad-
5ustment also to see at right angles.
or. - 1t were, around q corner.
II 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 20 much
better"
where's Elsine!" interrupted
breathlessly.
They began to tell me.
Aren't you going to follow?" ]
cried.
Follow? How can we follow"
Excitedly I told Of my discovery of
the helmets.
Just the thing!" exclaimed the her
init. Send someone back to get
them"
It was only . few minutes later
that in Del Mars own car. I drove up
to the wharf again and we unloaded
the curious submarine helmets and
suits.
Quickly Woodward posted several
Of his men to act a. sentries ON the
beach, then with the rest We climbed
into the launch and slipped Oh down
the shore.
The launch which Woodward had
commandeered 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 . circle, Ar
mold gazing through the eye-piece.
All Of NJ 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 . short distance away. through
the cavelike entrance Of what ap
peared to be . great underwater har-
Dor.
what shall We dot" queried Wood
ward.
ATTACK 1t now before they are pre-
pared" replied the hermit decisively.
Put on the helmets"
Al soon a. 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 . body through the en-
trance Of the harbor.
Upward through the archway we
went. clinging to rocks. anything. but
always upward.
A We emerged . shot rang out. One
OF our men threw up his arms and
fell hack into the water.
On We pressed.
Elaine sat in . corner Of the ONCE.
mute. while the man who was guard
ing her. heavily armed. paced mp and
down.
Suddenly IN overwhelming desire
came over her to attempt an escape.
But NO sooner had she made . motion
- though to run through the door.
than the man seized her and drove her
back to her corner.
Take your positions here" ordered
Del Mar to several Of the men. II
II, buttermilk.' ! laughed, but IN an
seriousness he went on to enlarge On
the merits Of this homely fare In .
manner that aroused my interest IN