The Washington times., 1917-08-13
HICTANER' The e. EN- MG 9. ! E rs!
A Strange Story of Mystery and
Funaticism
FUnHHCLSM

, companions. and the four men, swim
ming gently or floating on their
backs. stayed as near as possible to
the place where the electric launch
had bounded from the sea-
Night had come.
The oyerhanging rock, their guiding
point. stood out In black against the
clear sky, where stars and moon
spread their soft radiance.
Not O breath stirred the air. The
sea was calm and the chopping OF
the little waves against the cliff was
the only sound which broke the 81
lence Of sleeping nature.
The men did not speak, for they
knew how easily the voice carries
along the surface OF still waters.
They opened their ears wide, atten-
tive to the least noise which would
foretell the return Of the launch.
Suddenly Antil raised himself In
west.
'Listenr he breathed. at IL tie
sound OF q motor.
an three minutes the launch VIII
be here.
Don't forget my orders. II they
fight give them no quarter.
II know the launch's maneuvers.
could make II into q submerstble, ind
the channel and enter the grottoes-
Listen! Here It comes. Do not
raise your heads out OF the water"
Then, from the dark horizon a dark
er mass appeared. Tiny at first, II
rapidly grew larger. Then It was no
more than a few cable lengths from
the swimmers.
It was the electric launch. Slacken-
- NNNI ~
and suddenly stopped.
On the deck Vera was alone.
She stood up and scrutinized the
cliffs.
There It Is" she murmered.
To make q submersible OF the
launch II was only necessary to go
under the deck and press down
lever which Theoretically closed the
hatchways. Another le"sr filled the
water ballasts arrange both fore ana
aft. The launch then sank four Feet.
A searchlight placed on the PROV
lighted the launch in front, ana the
rudder was automatically guided oy
special mirrors rejecting all that
which surrounded the launch within
the lighted radius.
Having located the exact point IN
the cliffs before which she must SUD
merge her boat, Vera prepared 10 NIX
the helm with a screw. after which
she was TO 60 below the deck and
close the matches.
Vera Captured
As she turned the screw a strange
noise was heard at ner left
She Started Up, trembling and
turned toward the side from which
the noise had come.
At the same moment she felt her
boat tip over to port violently.
4 man was climbing over the edge.
Before she could move she was
seized from behind. knocked down and
securely bound.
Four men were bending over her.
One Of them drew a dagger from his
belt and, laying II at her throat, said:
you see, you are in our power.
Speak or you die! Where is Severac?"
Reviving from her first shock OF
terror and surprise. the dauntless
Vera had recovered all her GOODNESS.
The mans question brought a smile OF
scorn to her lips, and she responded,
calmly:
"Severac? You will not get him. He
is far away at this time. You could
Kill me before l would tell you where
he is"
when does he come back?"
when he pleases."
"Who are you?"
His servant"
where are you going"
81 don't know"
"Brayo!" exclaimed Brother Antil.
laughing. Here's brave young
thing! How we need half a dozen just
like her."
"Mademoiselle, we will catch SIEVE
rae later. At present we are looking
for some one else, and since you will
tell nothing. we will find her without
you.
"As for killing you. no! You have
filled me with respect for your youth.
your courage and your beauty. / will
take care OF you. We have spilled
enough blood in killing Mateo and
Torral. Do you know them. Ma
demoiselle?"
mo" answered Vera without NOV
ing an eyelid.
CONTINUED Tomorrow