Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-12-06

blows freely. have your word. NJ
Aronnax. and l rely upon you."
As was still silent the Canadian
approached me.
Tonight at 8 o'clock" said he. II
have warned Conseil. At that mo-
ment Captain Memo will be shut up in
his room. probably in bed. Neither the
engineers nor the ships crew can see
u.s. Conseil and | will gain the central
staircase and you. NJ. Aronnax.i will
remain In the library, two steps from
US. waiting my signal. The oars, tho
mast and the sail are In the canoe
have even succeeded in getting in some
provisions. l have procured an Eng,
lish wrench to unfasten the bolts which
attach it to the shell of the Nautilus
So all Is ready till tonight
1.-The sea is bad"
THAT l allow" replied the Cana
dian, ''but we must risk that Liberty
is worth paying for, besides the boat IL
strong. and a few miles with fair
wind to carry US is no great thing:
Who knows but by tomorrow we may
be hundred leagues away7 Let cir.
cumstances only favor US. and by 10
or II o'clock we shall have landed on
some spot of terra frma alive or dead
But adieu now till tonight"
With these words the Canadian with
drew, leaving me almost dumb. ! had
imagined that, the chance gone, !
should have time to reflect and discuss
the matter. My obstinate companion
had given me no time. And, after all,
what could have said to him1 Ned
Land was perfectly right. There was
almost the opportunity to profit by.
Could l retract my word and take
upon myself the responsibility Of COM
promising the future Of my compan-
ions2 Tomorrow Captain Memo might
take US far from land.
At that moment rather loud hiss
ing told me that the reservoirs were
filing and that the Nautilus was sink
ing under the waves Of the Atlantic.
A sad day l passed between the de-
sire of regaining my liberty Of action
and of abandoning the wonderful Nau-
titus and leaving my submarine stud.
les incomplete.
What dreadful hours l passed thus.
sometimes seeing myself and compan.
ions safely landed, sometimes wishing
in spite Of my reason that some un-
foreseen circumstances would prevent
the realization Of Ned Lands project
Twice l went to the saloon. l wish
ed to consult the compass. l wished
to see If the direction the Nautilus
was taking was bringing US nearer or
taking us farther from the coast. But
no; the Nautilus kept In Portuguese
waters.
must therefore take my part and
prepare for fight. My luggage was
not heavy-my notes: nothing more.
As to Captain Memo. l asked myself
what he would think Of our escape.
what trouble. what wrong, it might
cause him. and what he might do in
case of its discovery or failure. Ger.
tainIy I had no cause to complain OF
him. On the contrary. never was hos
pitality freer than his. In leaving him
could not be taxed with ingratitude.
No oath bound us to him. 1t was o.
the strength Of circumstances he re-
lied and not upon our word to f3x 10
forever.
had not seen the captain for sew
eral days. Would chance bring me to
his presence before our DEPARTURE?
wished it, and feared 1t at the same
time. listened If could hear him
walking in the room contiguous to
mine. No sound reached my ear.
felt an unbearable uneasiness. This
day Of waiting seemed eternal Hours
struck too slowly to keep pace with
my Impotence.
My dinner was served in my room. ]
ate but little-I was too preoccupied
left the table at Z o'clock. A hun
bred and twenty minutes Il counted
them) still separated me from the mo
ment in which was to join Ned Land.
My agitation redoubled. My pulse beat
violently. I could not remain quiet ]
went and came, hoping to calm my
troubled spirit by constant movement
The idea of failure In our bold enter
prise was the least painful of my anx'
ieties, but the thought Of seeing our
project discovered before leaving the
Nautilus, Of being brought before Cap
tain Memo, irritated or, what was
worse. saddened at my desertion. made
my heart beat
I wanted to see the saloon for the
last time. descended the stairs and
arrived In the museum. where l had
passed 30 many useful and agreeable
hours. l looked at all its riches, all it,
treasurer, like man on the eve Of an
eternal exile who was leaving never to
return. These wonders Of nature.
these masterpieces Of art, among
which. for SO many days. my life had
been concentrated, was going to
abandon them forever! l should like
to have taken a last look through the
windows Of the saloon into the wa
tiers Of the Atlantic. but the panels
were Theoretically closed. and a cloak
Of steel separated me from that ocean
which had not yet explored.
In passing through the saloon I came
near the door, let into the angle, which
opened into the captains room. To
my great surprise this door was ajar.
l drew back, involuntarily. II Captain
Memo should be in his room he could
see me-. But. hearing no noise, I drew
nearer. The room was deserted. I
pushed open the door and took some
steps forward. Still the same monk.
like severity Of aspect.
Suddenly the clock struck 8. The