The Washington times., 1917-08-06
tCopyrighted3
PART I (ContInued).

- n bhEAh WAS dppEbaNhAho
with its accustomed glory.
Not a cloud marred the per
- feet blue of the sky in which
rose a dazzling sun. The waves OF tn
calm sea. chopped into foam by the
passing torpedo boat, passed by her
with a soft, rustling sound.
Fine weather for dying" said Cise-
yes. and for living" replied sainte
Claire.
by the way. do you know how far
the World Congress has progressed?"
mo, only know, as Gvery one
else does, that today is February 80.
"In three days the unknown's truce
will end. II the worlds Congress
submits. we shall see very extraordi-
nary things"
"And II they do not submit We
shall die-that's ALL"
That will be too bad! 1 should
have liked to look at the unknown
before that"
The torpedo boat was about 10 pass
q lighthouse which rose several cable
lengths away to starboard. They cir
cled the light and turned honieward,
this time skirting the islands OF 20
meague and Rottoneau.
Nothing so far" said Ciserat.
But as he started forward to order
the directions changed. he saw the
water bubbling 100 feet away to star
board.
"sainte CIairem
The cry died in his throat
ClInging to the handrail IN their
agitation. the two officers saw long
shining object dart from the water.
AxTfnU
hsh. and dive back into the sea at
starboard, disappearing with a sharp,
swishing sound.
"Sainte Claire!" Ciserat cried again,
pale and CONCEALED with instructive
fear.
The two men looked at one an
other. and each sensed the others
foreboding. They shuddered. and
stammered in one breath:
THE Unknown"
The sailors who had been busy on
deck had all seen the stupefying phe-
nomenon.
officers. The foremost one stumbled
against a bundle OF cloth on tine deck
and fell
This incident brought the two Of
ficers to their senses.
The lieutenant stopped the sailors
with a motion OF his hand.
Did you see it," he asked in Il
voice which tried in vain to be calm
and clear.
Yes. Lieutenant"
An old quartermaster, less excitable
than the others, added:
"It was like a flying torpedo"
The pacZage OF sailcloth had not
been on the deck before the strange
object darted by. The fallen sailor
arose, holding It. The ensign took Il
from his hands and said, showing It to
Ciserat
"Look-the sailcloth is still wet.
at was hot there a moment ago.
where did It come from? The un.
known must have thrown 1t as he
went by"
Ciserat and Sainte Clair tried nerv.
ously to open the bundle. II was GOV.
cred with coarse tarred canvas and
fastened with piece OF cordaEe.
The trembling fingers OF the two
! officers could not unite the knot.
First Mate Matthew very calmly
| handed an open knife to the command
ant.
This simple act quieted Ciserat and
| Sainte Claire.
stop" cried the lieutenant. "Order
/ all hands on deck. u. Sainte Claire
Please form the men in a semicIrcle
Sailors. at your postsr
The orders were swiftly carried out
The men with silver-braided sleeves
were soon assembled in a semi-circle
! The common sailors went back to
their respective posts.
Then. regaining calmness, Ciserat
said:
Il shall open the package. You are
all to witness what Is about to take
place. But you must not speak to any
| one OF what you see"
with a quick motion the lieutenant
cut the cordage which tied the pack
age.
When the first covering was re
moved a second piece OF sailcloth was
revealed. This was OF finer quality
and less thickly covered with tar.
Beneath the attentive gaze OF Saints
! Claire and the men, Ciserat unfolded
this second piece OF cloth. It was
white on one side, with several lines
written in red.
Once more master of himself. the
lieutenant OF the vessel was about n
read the portentous message when