American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-06-08

contrary 10 all laws Of physics. Mine
Colt. What issf'
"IIe suddenly went under water him
self, and, dropping the pike pole, !
grabbed him by the collar. Something
was pulling linn away.
"'llelp, Something hat my right
foot"
"'Lend a hand here" I yelled 10 the
men. and a few Joined me, grabbing
him by his clothing. We wrested him
free. Then ! distinctly saw the mass
u red move slowly forward and dis
appear under the forecastle deck.
"'You We're right. cried the pro
fessor. 'Dere Is something invisible Oh
der understanding dangerous. some
thing which violates all laws Of phys
les und optics oh. mine foot. How
il hurts,
Il grabbed fhe pike pole again. eau
fiously hooked the barb into the dead
mans clothing and. assisted by the
men. pulled him aft 70 the poop wher.
the professor had preceded and was
examining him.
Prank. the dead man, had been
strong, robust and full blooded. But
he bore no resemblance to his living
self. He lay there, %shrunken, short
ened and changed. a look OF agony on
his emaciated face.
He was SUI ked dry, Ike a lemon.
said Herr Smidt. Perhaps IN his
whole body there Is not an ounce OF
blood 0 fluid of any kind
Il secured an iron Delaying pin. tuck
ed It inside his shirt. and we hove him
overheard at once. for. IN the presence
Of this horror. we were not in the
mood for a burial service. There we
were, eleven men on a waterlogged
hulk. adrift on a heaving, greasy sea
and an invisible thing forward that
might seize any Of US at any moment
II chose. in the water or out. for Frank
had been caught and dragged down.
"Still. 7 ordered the men 20 remain
on the poor and 10 expect no hot
meals. as we could subsist for a time
on the canned food in the storeroom
and lazaret. While the professor went
down into his flooded room 20 doctor
his ankle. I armed every man ~ MS
with a sheath knife and belt. while
the sky grew muddier and the sun
darker It was the Java earthquake.
but We did not know It for a long time
"Soon the professor appeared and
announced that his instruments were
IN good condition.
81 must %reseusitize my plates. how
ever he said. Der salt water has
spoiled them. but the rest uf my things
are dry
well I answered. that's all right
But what are they in the face of this
emergency? Are YOU thinking Of pho
togranhine anything now
"Perhans. haf been thinking
"'Have Won thought out what thai
creature is forward there
"'partly. II is some creature throw
M from der bottom Of der sea unt
washed on board by der wave. Light
; ike wave notion. ends at n certain
dcrth. und we have over 1900 feet be
meath us. At that depth dore IS ahso
'ute darkness. hut we know that crea
turcs live dere
"'Rut why can't we soc that thingf
"'Recause fl has never been exposed
70 light I moan visible light. der Ugh
that contains der seven co'ors Of de
spectrum: hence It may not respond Z
, der three properties OF visible light
5 reflection. which would give il a colo
Of some kind: absorption. which woul'
g make it appear black, or ~refractior
which. In der absence OF der other two
5 would distort things seen through II
N for it would be transparent, YOU know
"'But what can be done"
Nothing. except that der next ma
attacked must use his knife. II b
u cannot see der creature he can feel I
Vt IND perhaps we may see Tits photr
graph You know, he said. that OF
u iects too small TO be seen by the m
u croscoDe. because smaller than de
u amplitude Of der shortest wave Of Wis
'e bio light. can he seen when exposed
~ der ultraviolet light-der dark light b.
Is vond der spectrum. Und you kno'
D. that this light is what acts der mo.
~ in photography, that It exposes on
VI sensitized plato new stars in der hea'
ems invisible To der eye through Il
strongest telescope.
.u Don't know anything about IT.
answered.
" "I must think. he said dreamil
." I hat a rock crystal lens which is re
mcahle to this lioht und which ! ca
niace I'm mine camera. must have