The Washington times., 1917-08-30
HCTANER The q IN Mqn a. ! Eish TSsI
A Strange Story of Mystery and
Fanaticism

members OF the committee who had
Questioned the anarchist several days
earlier. Also there were the two
vice-presidents IL the world congress.
the general in command of the gar
rison at Marseilles, the prefect, the
mayor. Lieutenants de Ciserat and
Douzans. Ensign Sainte Claire and
several other army and navy onicers.
1t was a splendid banquet, in honor
OF Charles Severac.
How had his sudden revival OF
good fortune come about?
What caused the triumphant ascent
to the Capitol, barely twelve days
after their hero had escaped being
thrown from the Tarpeian rock?
There were two causes:
One material-the electric mirror.
The other moral-Severac's skill in
persuading Admiral Germinet, during
their secret converEation at Cabrera,
that HIctaner had been making sport
OF the Powers.
This theory was easily acceptable
by the admiral, since he believed him
self to be Hictaner's dupe. Owing to
supposltions built up on the little
which Severac and the admiral really
knew OF Moisette's disappearance, the
admiral had accused HictAner OF hav-
the aid OF accomplices while the 40
tIlla was proceeding from Marseilles
to Cape Creus.
He accused him OF having only
feigned an interest in the searches
OF the squadron in order to give Antil
time TO take Moisette and Vera to the
Lost Isle.
A most powerful element OF conVic-
tion for the admiral was the other
wise unexplicable fact OF Hictaner's
disappearance and failing to keep his
engagement.
Therefore, in view Of the fact that
hostilities were evidently to be re-
sumed, the admiral judged 1t to be
good generalshlp to ally himself with
Severac.
With the electric mirror the former
anarchist could destroy the lair in the
Lost Isle. and IL 1t were possible TO
lure him from the W ater, he could
strike Hictaner down.
So, leaving his four companions in
charge at Cabrera, Severac returned
to Marseilles on the Cyclone.
The admiral straiEhtaway made his
report to the congress in session.
At q supplementary meeting, held
at night, a treaty in due form had
upon. The morning after, the am
bassadors and Severac had signed the
treaty, which stipulated an offensive
and defensive alliance, with several
provisions, the chief OF which was
that Moisette should be given to Sew
erac as soon as she was taken, that
the Island of Madagascar be given
the anarchist and his companions,
where they might found a nation
along the collectivist lines, and that
the world endow the new nation with
20, ,O00, 600, 900 francs.
Severac, in return. undertook to
destroy the Lost Isle and its inhab-
itants. and to kill or capture Hictaner
within three months.
After this time, II Severac had not
succeeded, the congress was to meet
and draw up a new treaty.
And so. In order 10 celebrate the
alliance between one man and all
other men, OF an anarchist with all
the enemies of anarchy. a grand off,
cial banquet was given at the pre-
lecture OF MarBeilles.
A week later. a feet OF the worlds
warships was drawn up in order out
side the harbor OF MarseilIes. It
comprised 102 msn-of-war, 1T2 armor-
ed cruisers. 600 torpedoes and de-
stroyers. 404 submarines and sub
mersibles.
One of the cruisers. moreover, bore
a newly formed battalion Of 500
divers. Admiral Beresford was chief
in command, assisted by a council OF
thirty admirals over which Admiral
Germinet presided.
A plan OF attack, in which they ex-
pected a 80 per cent loss in men and
ships, was arranged and approved.
At a signal from the vessel Dread
nought the high admiral in command.
this colossal armada set forth one
fne morning to concentrate in the
Persian Gulf around the Lost Isle.
Ito Re Cotiuued TomorrouO