Oxford eagle., 1916-01-13
keNTY.FIRsT lNsTALLMENT
CHAPTER LxxiiI.


The Encounter at Sea.
Over the sea, up into the starr. sped
distress call Of the ship at sea:
O. S. Gretrhoreni 8. o. 8. Cretz-
fsa.-
Broken. incohereut at times, but I'm
rstiye. the strident wall Of the wire
s clamoring out into the empty air,
Ming for ears far away to listen to
a; Il said. And ears did hear-the
rs o, friends.
The prime minister of Gretzhofen,
has been said. had BY this time
cceeded in making some sort OF q
earance Of the unwelcome guests Of
Se Gretrhonen palace He had got
Ie king to bed. some Of his officers to
brse, and q few Of his servants to
ork. As for himself. he felt him
M unable to establish the broken
achinery OF the government on any
sting basis. Frederick-Count Fred
kick-the man with the strong brain
Ia arm-where was he?
Bent upon answering for himself
lis somewhat imperative question,
e prime minister made search here
hd there for some clue to the miss
kg nobleman. His agents ran the
all to lhe dock whence Count Fred
rick had sailed so many days ago.
e learned that at the time the kings
acht had put out there had been seen
be line Of smoke of . passing steam
!, far below, toward the mouth Of
be bay. Apparently the kings yacht
ID set out with the purpose Of inter
epting this steamer. What thea had
nppened none could tell Some
bhsrs out on the sea the nobleman
GretrhoHen had disappeared
Therefore. said the prime minister
himself. It might well be true that
,ount Frederick. having been gone .
pertain period OF time. might now be
lescy to return These long absences
fers usual with him. but always he
I'd come back Hitherto that had
heant his return by land Now 1t
aust mean his return by sea. II
.sht be quite as well. reasoned the
Prime minister. to Rave one Of the
ariiest Interviews with Count Fred
Prick On his return II was well. sure
y. TO be well established with those
sho would take control Of anairs in
ne distracted kingdom Of Gretz-
Aofen.
I shah even take our other yacht
ns Adelina." said the prime minister
p himself. "and put myself in the way
Pf TIE royal yacht. should IL now be re-
Burning And even 90 he did.
The Adelina was . stout little steam
|'ns eraft. Of good lines. and wen
|eaolgh armed.
he prime minister did not hasten
p his errand. for indeed he had no
eserifs purpose In view. Only. having
pas the Adelina into commission. hs
pssasc out quite beyond ths bay. un-
q ss felt the long roll Of the Med
HerTanean under him Then, a. it
esaaeed. II . point mot 20 far from
u Ate zhipvreck Of the Prins Al
-. Ne slAcksnsd speed and kept him
~ ssrsy under way. Having noth-
nS better 10 do. he waited.
II vas night now. and the stars we're
saining brightly above. The gentle
m Of the South European sea were
son and languorous. Bet. to the prime
minister. - he resfisssiy paced the
esex OF the Adeiina, these things
sse lost He was engaged in refec-
.oes OF none too pleasant . nature.
s'saing. be said to himself: There II
70 use IN this. I might a. well put
ne turned as the boats wireless op-
s1ator fastened to him now. a paper
y nls hand. He had not noticed the
1'aekle Of bis own wireless masts Of
-'e' although from time to time he
"a sent out signals In the hope Of
VIKING somewhere some information
ssAuns the missing craft
i beg pardon. SIR said the messen-
Ief exeitedly. but We have Just got
= ). o. s. Someone II calling the
Ldelina."
eAlng us-where IL it-who 10
: demanded the prime minister.
they are calling Gretxhoren and
.snfas Frederick II is s. o. S.
aes are in trouble somewhere Who
Il. ercellency~
HE prime minister started as
.cssa struck by an electric shock
sfederiek. Who but the very man
sant-count Frederick-snd calling
:. Ten me-what Is IL that he says
only the same thing. exceiiency-
!. o. s.-Gretxhoren-Adslina-I
lscerick And. yes-he says One
lnaFed and seventy-nve miles south
o1thwest.
one hundred and sevenfy-fve miles
Iast' OF course. must mean from the
- Ne-zse he sailed We are more