Gunnison news-champion., 1916-11-24

was iskIfr was Grihgfns Us nearer or
,akIn, n farther from the coast bue
no. the Nautilus Kept in Portuguese
waters
1 must therefore take my part sno
prepare for iigbt- Ny luggage was
NOT beavy-my notes; nothing more
Asto Captain Memo. ! asked myself
what he would think Of our escape
what trouble. what wrong. II miSns
-ausa him. and what be might do IN
cas-. Of it, discovery or failure Ger
tsluly I had no cause TO complain or
him. on the contrary. never was hos'
uitaIiry freer than his. In leaving him
/ could not be taxed with ingratitude.
No oath bound US to him. IL was on
the strength OF circumstances ne re-
He'd and not upon our word TO nx u
forever.
I had not seen the captain for sew
eral days. Would chance bring me 70
his presence before our departure. !
wished IL. and feared II at the same
time. I listened II could hear MIN
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 impatience.
Ny dinner was served In my room
ate but little-l was too preoccupied.
I left the table at o'clock A hun
ared and twenty minutes Il counted
them, still separated me from the mo-
ment in which was to join Ned Land.
Ny agitation redoubled. My pulse beat
violently. 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.
wanted to see the saloon for the
last time I descended the stairs and
arrived In the museum. where ] had
passed So many useful and agreeable
hours. looked at all It's riches. all Its
treasures. Ike n 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 20 many days. my life had
been concentrated. was going to
abandon them forever. | 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 n cloak
OF steel separated me from that ocean
wnicu 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.
I drew back. involuntarily. If Captain
Memo should be In his room he could
see me. But. hearing no noise. 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 S. The
FIRST beat Of the hammer on the bell
awoke me from my dreams. trem-
bled as if an invisible eye had plunged
into my most secret thoughts. and
hurried from the room.
There my eye fell upon the compass.
Our course was still north. The log
Indicated moderate speed, the manom.
eter a depth Of about sixty feet.
returned to my room. clothed my
self warmly-sea boots. an otter skin
cap. great coat of byssus. lined with
sealskin. I was ready; was waiting.
The vibration Of the screw alone broke
the deep silence which reigned on
board. listened attentively. Would
no loud voice suddenly inform me that
Ned Land had been surprised In his