The midland journal., 1917-10-26

be fight to the death. Happily, it
isn't hard to kill them, only we can't
see them. They are quite invisible, re-
member. killed two of them. Better
serve out cutlasses-"
"We won't stand for any nonsense
from them, sir" answered the MILDLY.
Excuse me, sir, while / call Clouts
to take the lookout" He moved
toward the entrance.
In few moments Sam Clouts came
in. He saluted, but instead of taking
his post at the observation port, he
remained standing in front of Donald.
wouldn't you like to lie down be-
low, sir?" he asked.
whats thatT' demanded Donald.
what do you mean, Clouts?"
Excuse me, sir, but I think a rest
would do you good" said the sailor.
'Get to your post!' said Donald
sharply.
''But, really, sir"
SIS this insubordination, Clouts?'
"No, sir. But it would be best for
you to rest, sir" persisted Clouts.
Davies reappeared at the door.
"He's quite right, sir" he said.
"He's acting under my orders. You
need to rest for a WHILE"
Donald suddenly began to under
stand.
"Davies, do you imagine that 1 am
crazy?" he cried. 'Why, that's what
they told MaSterman!"
Il think, sir, you ought to rest"
said Davies. Meanwhile I am assum-
ing command"
s.Ill have you court-martialed, Da-
vies!" cried Donald angrily.
"I'll face that, SIR" returned the
little MILDLY. "You see, sir, it amounts
to this: have only spoken to Clouts
so far. 1t would be better to lie down
quietly than to have the rest of the
men know about this. 1t would be
very prejudicial to discipline, sir. And
in the morning, when you feel differ
ent, I shall resign the command to
you again."
Donald began to realize the impos-
sibility of convincing Davies. The
MILDLY evidently believed that his ex-
posure in the boat had turned his
brain. 1t was useless to attempt to
argue. OF course he ought never to
have spoken about the monsters, but
they had been so real, so recent in
his mind. However,
Davies, you may take command I'M
til morning." said Donald. "Only re-
member my warning about the
hatches."
He turned toward the door. Dauies
saluted him. Sam Clouts accompanied
him to his cabin below.
"We put the lady in here, SIR" he
said, pausing in front of the door.
"Quite right" answered Donald.
"Fou may sling me a hammock in the
officers messroom."
"Pve done it, sir" Clouts answered.
A moment later Donald found him
self prisoner on board his own ship.
For, on making his exit, Clouts had
locked the door. The action was done
with dispatch, and the key was turned
almost noiselessly, but Donald had
heard it.
| He got into 4his hammock and tried
to compose his mind, but he discov-
cred that the events of the day had
shaken him more than he had imag-
ined. Those awful memories recurred
to him against his volition. Worst of
all was the knowledge that precious
time was passing while he was a pris-
oner. And he recollected that the
monstrous horde, surrounding the sub
marine, no doubt, had already discov-
cred that men were food. If Davies
took off the hatches-perhaps he had
already done so.
His mind became obSessed by the
threatened danger. He sprang from
his hammock, trembling. He tried to
open the door. He set his shoulder
against 1t. Outside he heard the reedy
notes of a mouth organ, and Sam
Clouts suddenly stood before him.
Donald had an impulse to appeal to
the man, but at once he saw its fu-
tility.
"Ten Mr.. Davies that he is on no
account to take off the hatches," he
said.
Snm CIouts saluted him and calmly
locked the door again. Outside the
strains Of the mouth organ were