The midland journal., 1917-12-14
| TheDeep Sea Peril
Bu VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Bu VICTOR ROUSSEAU
lcOpyright By W. G. Chapman)
CHAPTER xII-continucd.

"a
'She went inside the cave, think" :"
said Davies.
.sYes, I'm sure of it," answered Don
aid; and he entered farther into it's
recesses, calling "Idal Ida!"
They began to be alarmed. They
hurried from point to point. The cave
was wide one, but tapered, some dis
tance back, into the neck of bottle.
1t seemed evident that Ida could not
have gone farther than this point.
''Run back, Davies, and see if she
can't be outside" said Donald.
And, while he called, Davies took up
she search without. Donald waited in
terror. He did not dare go farther
into the cave just then.
Ten minutes later Davies returned.
A glance at his face told that his mis-
sion had been entirely fruitless. They
looked at each other.
'sThere's light ahead" said Davies.
They proceeded cautiously, and sud-
denly they came upon little entrance
leading up from the sea. Close by
was the point around which MacBeard
had disappeared in his motorboat.
Davies saw Donald shaking with
mixed terror and rage. He stared out
hopelessly toward the sea. Then,
brushing past Davies without word,
he almost ran into the bottle neck of
the interior. The MILDLY followed him.
The ground grew damp, the floor
seemed to descend abruptly. Davies
could hardly keep his feet. All at
once he heard Donald's muf1ed voice
calling to him. He saw the squirt of
a match flame.
Ten PAGES farther Donald pulled
him back as his foot slipped on the
edge of a precipice. Donald struck
another match and looked down.
Under them was the level Of the
ocean bed. They were upon the very
verge of precipitous descent, sheer
wall having, however, natural foot
holds at regular intervals.
Something white fluttering near
drew their attention. Donald picked
it up and held it out. It was wom-
ans handkerchief.
"She slipped here" began the little
MILDLY, but Donald took the words
from his mouth.
ssNo!" he cried furiously. "She was
caught in the cave by that ID
scoundrel MacBeard. He put his boat
in at the tiny cove and came on her
from behind. And he's taken her
my God, he's taken her That's
her message to me, that handker-
chief.
His voice grew incoherent and he
broke down. Then he raised 1t in fu-
rious defamation.
"But I'll follow that cur until die r
he swore. 81 may not rescue her-l
don't know, Davies, and hardly dare
to hope. But I'll stay here and give
my life
He broke off suddenly, spasm
passed across his features, and all at
once he became completely calm once
more.
"No, won't, Davies" he said. '.It's
my duty now to fly to England with all
speed. You'll stay here and do what
you can. It may be very little, old
man, but we mustn't think of anything
but our jobs"
'No, SIR" said Davies.
There was nothing more to- be done
but prepare for the journey. Donald
felt reasonably sure that the F55 was
safe against the herd. The terrific
upward pressure of the night had not
started rivet; lying as she was upon
the beach, she was unassailable.
They filled her oil-tanks and carried
the stores aboard. Then Donald filled
the gasoline tank of the hydroplane
and, entering, made short trial flight
out to sea and back. The machine
was in perfect condition.
A grasp of the hand, and Donald
was gone upon his journey. From his
post in the coming tower Davies
watched the hydroplane rise and fal
to the wind, and sweep into the dis
tance, to dwindle and disappear.
AaAnTEn NuRI