The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-26

ranged IN order, numbered ana held
in reserve in a cavern of the former
magazine Of the grottoes.
1t was Severac, really, who had In
vented and constructed the first sub
mersible launch. In order to easily
and quickly repair any damage, he
had all the parts duplicated.
4 Later, after his rescue by Fulbert
when he found himself at the Ba,
learics, he had gone to Barcelona
under the pretext OF bringing away
the electric launch which one OF his
| comrades In anarchy had hidden He
had not told Fulbert that the launch
was hidden at Rosas Grottoes. Full
bert, only knowing OF the existence
of the grottoes through Antil, was
ignorant that Seyerac was always
sure to find there the material of
which to construct 4 new launch in
q few days.
While his four companions were
working to put together the mum
bered parts OF the submersible, which
bore the name Of l5akouvine, Severac
was constructing his marvellous eIec.
trio mirror in solitude
| He was able to do this In spite of
the destruction of the plans In the
/ demolition OF the grottoes, because
the inventors prodiEious memory
easily took the place OF written docu-
ments.
The i've men were working in alb
solute calm, since the searches and
the soundings OF the engineering SOL
diers on Cape Circus were futile.
Well might they push aside rocks
search thickets, blow up boulders, lay
their ears to earth and stone, for they
discovered neither entrances to grot-
i
where they found the earth's face
hard and almost unpenetrable.
By sea Admiral Germinets divers
and Hictaner himself had had no sue
cess. That was easily explained,
since the submarine entrance to the
| grottoes had been obstructed and de-
stroyed by Antil.
After q seven days search a confer
ence was held aboard the Cyclone.
composed OF Hictaner, Mr.. White, the
Admiral, Ciserat, Douzans, sainte
Claire, and the colonel Of the engi-
neers.
The discussions were animated and
lasted well into the night.
| It was Hictaner who finally formu-
lated these conclusions.
81 am convinced, he said, sadly,
that the grottoes lay where we now
/ see q QemOllSneQ GILL.
There can be no entrance by land.
IAN unexplainable upheaval has de-
stroyed them. Everything leads one
to suppose that MoIsette is a victim
of the catacIysm. Yes. everything
points that way, and yet do not be-
=, lieve II, for IL in my heart / were
convinced OF Moisette's death, 1
should 20 to the top OF rock and
hurl myself down to die"
He was siIent-and the others re-
spected his sorrow.
mo, Moisette has not perished.' he
went on with conviction something
| in my heart afflrms 1t. My mind says
II just as surely, for I cannot forget
the plank which I threw into the
water upon which was freshly
scratched with the point of a knife
the word BALEAR.
az even remember that now. How
is it have not told you before! FER
haps Il has some Importance.
aI remember now that there was
another.mark on the plank. My eyes
saw It without my mind noticing II.
But for two days the mark has
haunted me, and I have come TO
think, don't know why, that 1t hao
some special meaning. Give me
pencil, please" s.,
Much mystified the officers crowded
round. Ciserat was the first to take
pencil from his pocket and oner II TO
Then he took . sheet OF paper and
unhesitatingIy. as II by a freak OF
memory, he made several marks upon
the white page.
The Mysterious Clue.
When they saw the characters NJ.
White end the admiral uttered
sharp exclamation together and
Jumped to their feet.
Are you sure: Are you sureT" said
the admiral.
yes" replied Hictaner. do you
know the signs?"
sit is Severac's mark.
(which only Vera knsws." ex-
claimed NJ. White.
"And Vera was with Moisetts in the
grottoes."
| "Ah"
There was a long silence. The
same tumult OF thoughts throbbed In
the mind of Hictaner and the others
as disturbed Seversc upon discover
aThey would be at the Balearics,"
said Hictaner. But how?"
why?"
Hictaner made the same resolve as
we must 20 to the Balsarics."
The discussion was reopened-ani-
mated by an emotion which made
their eyes shine, their voices break
their hands tremble feverishly.
At 2 o'clock that afternoon the or
der to depart was given.
Tho torpedo boats and submarines
proceeded out TO sea, while the colo
mel narshaled his men. sent them to
RoHaa. whe q the were to drive to
FIKueros to take the train for France.
"steer for the southern end OF the
Island OF Cabrera" said Hictaner TO
the admiral, and he plunged into the
sea to md his Torpedo,
An hour later, the moving rocks Of
PoIR de las POrlas on Cape Creus sep
nrated and let Ave men out. Four OF
them were bearing with difficulty a
launch whose brasses HhOne In the
pale light OF the moon, The hfth'
who walked In advance. lighted the
path with an electric lamp and car
ried sIung from his shoulder. square
box OF the dimensions OF medium
sized photograph camera,
1t was only by taking infinite care
and by resting every twenty steps,
that the four men could reach the in.
let of Canlep WITHOUT accident.
! TheT walked dbW-n into the sea