Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-12-12
CHAPTER vi.
The sieue of the Submarine.

"Pm positive it's the water, SIR
said Davies. "We've tried running
submerged, and the electric engines
won't drive her any faster than the
petrol ones. It's like running a loco
motive on greasy rails"
ITS pIankton," answered Donald.
Marine organisms, you know"
He was standing beside Davies in
the coming tower. Ida had been
taken below and placed in Donald's
cabin. She had been hardly conscious
since her rescue; she was too numbed
from exposure to realize what had
occurred, and she had fallen asleep
Immediately.
At Fair island, which was an unin-
terrupted, cavernous rock, Donald ex-
peCted to find the Oil-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-
ton Of the enemy cruiser. OF course
The officers of the Flying corps who
would be with the airplane could n
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
nent of this without being relieved of
bis command? But how could he fail
to tell them?
Donald looked keenly at Davies.
De was a nice little chap, disciplined,
clean, alert, the beau-ideal of a naval
Ohcer in embryo. What he liked best
about the little MILDLY was his resolu-
ton; he knew that Davies would
never hesitate to take responsibility
whenever he thought his duty required
prompt decision.
Donald could have no better conf
lant. And he needed one as sorely as
AaSterman had done.
Davies" he said, I'm going to tell
you something. It's not the engines,
out It isn't altogether the water Ell
uef' The planktOn wouldn't stop us.
AAd It's too fine to clog the machin-
~. Something is trying to push US
back, Davies"
Deg your pardon, sir?"
/ was warned about it before
gI New York." continued Donald.
"nat I'm going to tell you will
%uld Incredible, but it happens to
Ye Hue. You know, Davies, our an
'sStoFS We're marine creatures?"
thought they were monkeys, sir. |
d. ieaSt, a long time ago.
Long before they were monkeys, |
SS'4es. At least, they first lived in
- sea- And we became monkeys
~'eWard, and then men,"
les sir. was going to say that
Is electric engines show signs of de-
'elOping-"
que moment please, Davies.
-IeEeS another swarm of deep-sea
~ W. coming to overrun the earth.
r1S'erman told me-you've heard of
,r 49, the marine explorer? He
~. me he'd seen them-nO, felt
ssI-0efOre he died. 1 felt them to-
~ 1hey attacked and upset u.s."
~ ,4cuSe me, sir" said Davies, ''but
~ You Ike to lie down? / can
I'm ue F55 to the island, sir, and
~, eSA you when we are at anchor"
=. ',ease listen to me, Davies. They
Nv. Invisible, these monsters, all ex-
~. ue eyes, which look like cur
,.~ hhen they die The albuminous
Mn, u the body harden, producing
a1.'A! opacity. They look then some ;
ss-s IKE hairless monsters. And
h., 's trying to stop the submarine
b. making Fair island, just as they
y, u draw the boat there. They" {
broke off, nonplused by the ;
"a , polite, respectful stare. DON
s,o, ,"u not imagined that the story {
81 sound so grotesque. He hardly
rs - now that he could make Da-
sr- .eaIize is truth. I
hir - sorry to hear about them, sir"
fo 2a'leS. What do you wish me &
u Yep Up the matches closed" said Don
es,,, we are taking a risk not sub 1
but We have got to make :