Gunnison news-champion., 1916-12-01

ny bodily agitation. Ny nerves were
somewhat calmer. bu, ia nay excited
brain I saw over again all my exist
euce on board the Nautilus Every in
ilcnt. either hsrpy or unfortunate.
whieh had happened s!nre my disap-
0earanee from the Abraham Lincoln.
II WAS then half past o. held my
head between my hands TO keep il
from bursting. closed my eyes. I
would not think any longer There
vas another half hour 10 wait. another
half hour Of n nightmare. which might
drive me mad
At that moment ! heard the distant
strains OF the organ, a sad harmony TO
IN undefnable chant. the wall OF a
soul longing 10 break these earthly
hOnds. listened with every sense.
scarcely breathing: plunged. like Cap
tain Memo. In that musical ecstasy.
which was drawing him in spirit to
the end Of life.
Then a sudden thought terrified me.
Captain Memo had left his room. He
was In the saloon. which ! must cross
TO fy. There ! should meet him for
the last time. He would see me. per-
haps speak to me. A gesture OF his
might destroy me. q single word chain
me on board.
But 10 was about to strike. The
moment had come for me to leave my
room and Join my companions.
must not hesitate. even II Captain
Memo himself should rise before me.
opened my door carefully. and even
then as II turned on its hinges II seem
ed to me TO mate q dreadful noise.
Perhaps 1t only existed In my own i'm
agination-
l crept along the dark stairs Of the
Nautilus, stopping at each step to
check the beating OF my heart. I
reached the door OF the saloon and
opened II gently. II was plunged In
profound darkness. The strains OF the
organ sounded family. Captain Memo
was there. He did not see me. In the
full light do not think he would have
noticed me so entirely was he absorbed
in the ecstasy.
crept along the carpet. avoiding the
slightest sound which might betray my
presence. was at least FIVE minutes
reaching the door at the opposite side
opening into the library.
was going TO open It when a sigh
from Captain Memo nailed me to the
spot knew that he was rising. I
could even see him. for the light from
the library came through to the saloon.
He came toward me silently. with his
arms crossed. gliding like q specfer
rather than walking His breast was
swelling with sobs. and ! heard him
murmur these wonis. the last which
ever struck my ear:
Almighty God. Enough. Enough"
Was II a confession OF remorse
which thus escaped from this mans
conscience?
In desperation I rushed through the
library. mounted the central staircase
and. following the upper flight reached
the boat crept through the opening
which had already admitted my two
companions.
Let us EV- Let uS EU. eAtiulHleu
Directly" replied the Canadian.
The orifice In the plates Of the Nau-
illus was FIRST closed and fastened
down by means OF false KEY with
which Ned Land had provided him
self. The opening In the boat was also
closed. The Canadian began To loosen
the bolts which still held us to the sub.
marine boat.
Suddenly noise within was heard.
Voices were answering each other loud.
discovered our fightt felt Ned Land
slipping dagger into my hand
YES" ! murmured. I'VE know how
to die-'
The Canadian had stopped in his
work. But one word many times re-
peated. dreadful word. revealed the
cause OF the agitation spreading on
board the Nautilus II was not we the
crew were looking after
"The maelstrom. The maeistromr'
I exclaimed.
The maelstrom! Could more dread
have sounded In our ears: we were
then upon the dangerous coast Of Nor
way. Was the Nautilus being drawn
into this gulf at the moment our boat
was going to leave its sides: We
knew that Mt the tide the pentup wa
ters between the islands OF Ferro
and Lofoten rush with Irresistible vio-
hence. forming q whirlpool from when
no vessel ever escapes. From ever!
point Of the horizon enormous waves
were meeting. forming a gulf JUST,
called the Navel Of the Ocean.
whose power OF attraction extends u
. distance OF twelve miles There not
only vessels. but whales. are Sc vriticed.
~ well as white bears from t.. north
ern regions.
Il b thither that the Nautilus. VOL
unfairly or involuntarily. had been run
BY the captain.
II was describing a spiral. the cir
conference Of which was lessening tr