Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-10-25

Looking Over the Rocks, They Saw a
Man in Large Motorboat.
| tons. with fragments of clothing near
| them. Donald stopped and picked up
q morsel
"Khaki government Khaki" he
said 81 wonder who"
But the explanation became too OBJ
| vious when, projecting from behind a
| rock near by, they saw the wing Of an
airplane The missing aviators had
been found. And the manner Of their
death was only too clear. They must
have been seized, while sleeping, by
the sea devils.
The airplane, which was of the
hydroplane type, had evidently been
drawn within the cave and left there
by the aviators. "A hasty examination
showed Donald that 1t was uninjured.
Perhaps MacBeard had intended to
make use Of it; or 1t was possible that
he had not seen it, for it was hardly
distinguishable among the shadows.
Miss Kennedy called Donald.
IDA! Where are youP Don't go too
farp'
No answer came, and they began to
grow uneasy.
"She went inside the cave, think, -
said Davies.
ayes, I'm sure of It," answered Don
aid; and he entered farther into its
recesses, calling ida! Ida"
nh - h0 nIn cd HOY
hurried from point to point. The cave
was wide one, but tapered, some dis
lance back, into the neck Of q bottle.
It 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
the 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.
"There'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 Donalds muffied voice
calling to him. He saw the squirt OF
a match fame.
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 a precipitouss descent, sheer
wall having, however, natural foot
holds at regular intervals.
Something white futtering near
drew their attention. Donald picked
| II I'D and held 1t out. 1t was a wom-
ans handkerchief.
"She slipped here began the little
MILDLY, but Donald took the words
from his mouth.
"No!" 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-
His voice grew incoherent and he
broke down. Then he raised 1t In flu
rious defamation.
"But I'll follow that cur until l die y
he swore. 81 may not rescue her.
don't know, Davies, and hardly dare
to hope. But I'll stay here and give
my life
He broke off suddenly, a spasm
passed across his features, and all at
once he became completely calm once
more.
mo. I 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"
mo, 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 a rivet; lying as she was upon
| the beach, she was unassailable.
They filed her oil-tanks and carried
the stores aboard. Then Donald filled
the gasoline tank Of the hydroplane,
and, entering. made short trial fight
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 fall
to the wind, and sweep into the dis
lance, to dwindle and disappear.
CHAPTER XIII.
Tho ~ ha Hard