Gunnison news-champion., 1916-11-10

O14u- SOoSe1l, mteIeSteu III eptte VI
himself, l stupeded. awaited In silence
the result Of this scene.
The commander. leaning against .
corner Of the table with his arms fold
ed. scanned US with profound atteE-
ton Did he hesitate to speak: Did
he regret the words which ne had
Just spoken In French: One might
almost think so.
After some moments OF silence. which
not one OF US dreamed Of breaking
Gentlemen" said be In Q calm and
penetrating voice. Il speak French.
English. German and Latin equally
well. could. therefore. have answer
ed you At our hrst interview. but
wished to know you frst. then to re
nect- The story told by each one. en-
tirely agreeing in the main points. con
vinced me Of your identity. know
now that chance has brought before
me n. Pierre Aronnax. professor OF
natural history At the Museum OF Par
ID. intrusted with . scientific mission
abroad: Conseil. his servant. and Ned
Land. OF Canadian origin. harpooner
on board the friSate Abraham Lincoln
Of the navy Of the United States Of
America"
I bowed assent II was not q qses
tion that the commander put to me
Therefore there vas NO answer to be
made. This man expressed himself
with perfect ease without any accent
His sentences were well turned. his
words clear and his fluency Of speech
remarkable. Yet ] did not recognize
In him fellow countryman.
Hc continued the conversation in
these terms:
"You have doubtless thought. sir.
that have delayed long In paying you
this second visit The reason Is that
your identity recognized. I wished to
weigh maturely what part to act to
ward you. have hesitated much
Most annoying circumstances have
brought you into the presence Of a
man who has broken all the ties Of
humanity. You have come to trouble
my existence"
"Unintentionally," said I.
"Unintentionaliy 2" replied the stran.
ger. raising his voice little. "was II
unintentionally that the Abraham Lin
coin pursued me all over the seasi
Was II unintentionally that you took
passage In this frigate? Was II unin-
tentionally that your cannon balls re
bounded Oh the plating Of my vessel1
Was It unintentionally that Mr.. Land
struck my ship with his harpoon?"
detected restrained irritation In
,OrHo nut 90
tons had very natural answer to
make. and I made II.
"Sir." said I. mo doubt you are ig.
norant Of the discussions which have
taken place concerning you in Ameri.a
and Europe. You do not know that
divers accidents. caused by collisions
with your submarine machine, have
excited public feeling In the two con
tinents. omit the hypothesis with
out number by which 1t was sought to
explain the inexplicable phenomena.
Of which you alone possess the secret
But you must understand that In pur
suing you over the high seas OF the
Pacific the Abraham Lincoln believed
itself to be chasing some powerful sea
monster Of which It was necessary to
rid the ocean at any price"
A half smile curled the lips Of the
commander. then in calmer tone. IN.
Aronnax." be replied. dare you at.
flrm that your frigate would not as
soon have pursued and cannonaded 9
submarine boat as a monster?'
This question embarrassed me. for
certainly Captain Farragut might not
have hesitated. He might have thought
It his duty to destroy 4 contrivance Of
this kind ~ he would q gigantic mar
whal.
you understand. then. sir" contin
ued the stranger. "that have the
right to treat You As enemies7''
! answered nothing purposely. for
what good would It be to discuss such
. proposition when force could destroy
the best arguments7
II hesitated for some time." contin.
ued the commander. .'Nothing obliged
me to show you hospitality. II chose
to separate myself from you should
have no interest In seeing you again
! couh place you upon the deck Of
this vessel. which has served you % 4
refuge: ! could sink beneath the va.
ters and forget that you had ever ex.
istsd Would not that b my sightr'
ut might be the right Of q savage"
! answered. .'but not that OF Q civ.
ilixed man."
professor" replied the commander
quickly. II am not what you call .
civilized man. have done with soci.
ETY. entirely for reasons which alone
have the right Of appreciatins. ! do
not therefore obey its laws, and de-
sire you never to allude to them before
me again!'
This was said plainly. A dash Of an
Ker and disdain kindled In the eyes Of
the unknown. and had a glimpse Of
terrible past In the life Of this man
Not only had he put himself beyond
the pale Of human laws. but he had
made himself independent OF them
free In the gtricfpSf acconfa ff0n ~ the