The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-24
6OOCY cOumn, nyurUscu ouICnol sou

with atmospheric dust. was passing up
the Norwegian coast.
At noon Davies, whose duties hat
not been constant enough to prevent
him from enjoying . short slumber,
begged to take Donald's place. But
Donald refused.
As he ran the boat his brain ham,
mered out the clear outlines Of his
plan. He would lead the herd into
Skiold ford, leave Davies In charge,
kill MacBeard and rescue Ida. Then
he would send her overland southwark
with Clouts, and remain until slip
could arrive with materials to block
the passage.
The high, precipitous cliffs Of the
ford would effectively bar in the mon
sters. For few days or weeks the
worlds menace would writhe there like
a wounded snake. Then it would pass.
Donald had no doubt Of his plan.
But he did not dare to dream Of
Ida; only he set himself resolutely to
the pursuit.
So they drove on up the Norwegian
coast all day, and when night fell they
were still hard on the chase.
Davies called through the engine
room tube.
There isn't much power in the bat
teries, SIR" he said. THAT salt water
cut our running reserve in half, and
we've been using 1t pretty freely. The
dynamo coil was injured by the sea
water"
go on, full speed" said Donald.
'MacBeard must have been running
slowly, sir, to save his gasoline. If he
puts ON squirt we're DONE"
"Drive till the electrics fail, then
we'll come up and use the petrol mo-
tors"
Donald could see by the chart that
they were within twenty miles Of their
destination when the speed Of the F55
began to fail. She dropped to nine
knots, to eight. The sounds Of the
gasoline engine were growing fainter.
Donald called down the tube.
Bring her up" he shouted.
AYE, aye, SIR" Clouts called back.
And the F55, climbing out Of the
water like a sea otter, seemed to shake
the drops from her, and continued I'M
der the moon.
Far in the distance Donald could see
the dense column Of fog, as 1t dis
appeared toward the Norwegian shore.
That smoky devil MacBeard had
wrapped himself in obscurity to his
own undOing. He did not dream dd
the Nemesis upon his heels.
Hes squirting for Skiold ford"
said Davies.
"There's no hurry now," answered
Donald.
Suddenly Davies voice came up in
agitated tones. "Donald!" he cried.
1T looks as if the monsters are fol-
lowing MacBeard after all Don't you
see, they are with him, not us?"
'They wouldn't keep us in the center
necessarily" said Donald. yesterday
we nearly lost them
'But then-do you suppose they are
leading us somewhere"
Il don't know" Donald answered.
Full speed"
Donald, hazarding rocks, drove the
F55 hard between the mighty walls Of
granite. In front Of him he saw an
open body Of water, ringed with far
away hills. He was in Skiold ford.
But not a vestige Of the monsters was
to be seen.
Once through that gateway he dashed
the wheel and went on deck. The
quarry had disappeared. A glance as
sured him Of that. The limpid water
Of the ford lay motionless before him.
Behind him the passage seemed to have
closed.
He rushed back into the coming
tower.
"Shut down." he yelled to Davies.
Tell Clovts to let the anchor 60. Mac
Beard has beaten US"
Davies. released from duty. rushed
up. to find his chief standing at the en-
trance to the coming tower, a prey to
AFFECT despair.
TITS finished, Davies" he said wear
lily. "We're beaten. There's a missing
factor in-that-damned equation Of
yours"
And he toppled over into Davies
arms, insensible from want Of sleep.
The tension Of his nerves was broken.
Davies and Clouts carried him to his
cabin and laid him down. They re-
turned to the reck, almost equally de-
spairing.
"The herd has left US, Clouts," said
the MILDLY. II don't knOw-I can't I'M
derstand it. Clouts," he continued.
with sudden inspiration, "do you
think that you could induce the queen
to sound that call again?"
'What me, sir?" inquired Clouts,
starting back. "Why-she's not
woman, sir, she's a devil incarnate!
She won't eat, sir" His voice fell to
husky whisper. "And she won't
wear the captains blankets, sir"
perhaps she doesn't like them,
Clouts. However-what are we to
do?"
Il say, make for home, sir" said
CleutS ~ never took no stock in the