The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-12-20
CHAPTER VI.
The Siege Of the Submarine.

III poSlllNe IL y lnc NulSi, SlI, 1,
said Davies. "Weve tried running
submerged, and the electric engine
won't drive her any faster than th
petrol ones. It's like running loco
motive on greasy rails"
ITS plankton," answered Donald
Marine organisms, you know"
He was standing beside Davies II
the coming tower. Ida had beer
taken below and placed in Donald!
cabin. She had been hardly conscious
since her rescue; she was too numbet
from eXposur, to realize what hat
occurred, and she had fallen asleer
Immediately.
At Fair island, which was an unin
terrupted, cavernous rock, Donald eX
pected to find the oi-ship, from which
his stores were to be repleniShed
Then he was to patrol the northern
area of the North sea with the aid OF
the airplane. A stock of supplies in
the shape Of food was also expected
at the island.
But now Donald was wondering
whether it was not his duty to return
to the mainland to report the destruc-
tion of the enemy cruiser. OF course
the officers of the Flying corps who
would be with the airplane could un-
dertake this duty. But then there was
Ida. And there was the swarm of
devil men that had appeared.
How could he tell the navy depart
ment of this without being relieved of
his command! But how could he fail
to tell them?
Donald looked keenly Mt Davies.
He was nice little chap, disciplined,
clean, alert, the beau-ideal OF n naval
officer In embryo. What he liked best
about the little MILDLY was his resolu-
tlon; he knew that Davies would
never hesitate to take responsibility
whenever he thought his duty required
Il prompt decision.
Donald could have no better conf
dant. And he needed one as sorely as
Masterman had done.
Davies" he said, I'm going to tell
you something. It's not the engines,
but 1t isn't altogether the water Ell
ther. The plankton wouldn't stop us.
And it's too fine to clog the machin-
cry. Something is trying to push us
back, Davies"
II beg your pardon, sir?"
II was warned about 1t before l
left New York." continued Donald.
"What I'm going to tell you will
sound incredible, but it happens to
be true. You know, Davies our an
cestors were marine creaturesW
Il thought they were monkeys, sir.
AT least, n long time ago"
Long before they were monkeys,
Davies. AT least, they first lived in
the sea. And we became monkeys
afterward, and then men,"
"Yes, sir. was going to say that
the electric engines show signs of de-
veloping-"
"One moment, please, Davies.
There's another swarm Of deep-sea
men coming to overrun the earth.
Masterman told me-you've heard of
the marine explorer? He
told me he'd seen them-no, felt
them-before he died. felt them to-
day. They attacked and upset us"
Excuse me, sir" said Davies, "but |
wouldn't you like to lie down? I can |
take the F55 to the island, sir, and |
we'll call you when we are at anchor"
please listen to me, Davies. They |
are invisible, these monsters, all ex-
rept the eyes, which look like cur
rants. When they die the albuminous
parts of the body harden, producing
milky opacity. They look then some
hing like hairless monsters. And
hey're trying to stop the submarine
rom making Fair island, just as they
rled to draw the boat there. They"
He broke off, nonplused by the
niddy's polite, respectful stare. Don
I'D had not imagined that the story
would sound so grotesque. He hardly
believed now that he could make Da-
lies realize its truth.
I'm sorry to hear about them, SIR"
aid Davies. "What do you wish me
o do?"
"Keep the matches closed" said Don
Id. I'VE are taking risk not SUBJ
merging, but we have got to make
'air island. If they get aboard, 1t will {
e a fight to the death. Happily, it
snt hard to kill them. only we can't {
ee them. They are quite invisible, re-
lember. killed two of them. Better
erve out cutlasses-" Ir
1--WE won't stand for nny nonsense
rom them, sir" answered the MILDLY. c
Excuse me, sir, while call Clouts r
D take the lookout" lie moved 6
)wnrd tho --trance. N-
In few moments Sam Clouts came v
!. He saluted, bat instead of taking q
Is post at the observation port he 0
'nnined standing in front Of Donald.