The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-09-01
HICTANER The e. "a. Mq q ! E Is!
A Strange Story of Mystery and
FdnaticiSm
FGnGHciSnI

I eye to the greatest depths.
Hictaner agreed to the plans and
In the sustaining hope that the pow
ers would yield to his ultimatum and
surrender Moisette without a strug.
J gle, he prepared at once with Joy
to go forth to the encounter.
While hs was CLEARING and armIrS
his Torpedo in the grotto set apart
for that purpose, Oxus and Fulbert
went to the libarry and Loo:si n
| parchment in indelible ink the text
Of the ultimatum which they had
prepared in advance.
This was its wording:
ITO Admirals Beresford and Ger
minet, in command of the naval ex-
petition against the Lost Isle:
'Gentlemen-We have been notI-
fled that, under pretext of taking n
young girl, Moisette, from US (who,
however, is in your power), you are
advancing to attack the Lost Isle with
the real object of overcoming its in
habitants and capturing or killing
Hictaner.
to reply as follows:
"First-If on April 20 you have not
sent us an envoy assuring US that
Moisette will be returned to US before
the end Of the month, and that your
ally, Charles Severac, will be sur
rendered at the same time, we shall
consider ourselves in a state OF war
against you, and will destroy your
ships one by one.
"Second-If you will. on the con-
trary, give up Moisette and Severac,
we will consider discussing a modus
vlyendi between the civilized world
and ourselves.
IF one OF your battleships crosses
the Straits OF Ormuz to enter the
Persian Gulf we win consider this
ultimatum disregarded. and win
begin the attack.
IF you send an envoy, Il should
be by deep-sea torpedo boat, which
VIII stop at the entrance of the
straits OF Ormuz and hoist a white
flag.
HoxUs,
"FULBERT,
''HICTANER.
Lost Isle, April H."
But Moisette was not in the hand
OF Severac or the powers.
Moisette was at the Lost Isle in the |
sole possession Of Oxus and Fulbert- |
No human being at liberty knew II. |
No one could reveal the diabolical /
truth to Hictaner.
On the other hand, the powers could /
not yield to the ultimatum. On the
other, Hictaner had no way Of learn
ing the truth.
He persisted in demanding Moisette
OF those who could not give her UP.
Severac, for his part, was bent upon
Oxus and Fulbert in order
70 gain Moisette, whom he knew with
put proofs to be in their possession.
Therefore, II was a struggle which
must end In the destruction OF one
adversary or the other.
The reward of victory to Severac
would not even be Moisette, since
Oxus and Fulbert were resolved to
bury themselves with her in the Lost
Isle II Hictaner were killed and the
sland taken.
For Hictaner the reward would be
but only when Oxus and
Tulbert were masters of the world.
Fulbert's plan showed the genius
" the man. He seemed the embodi-
nent OF that terrible Lucifer who, &C
.ording to the Scriptures. fought
Igainst God and was only half con-
luered, since there remained to him
me empire, the empire of hell.
As soon as word had come from the
salearics that Hictaner was speeding
o the Lost Isle without delay. Fulbert
nd Oxus had carried out the first part /
Z their plan to conceal Vera and |
ioisette, together with their servants. so .
hat no human being could betray their
resence.
Therefore Vera and MoiSette. with the
Dung negress. Dora. had been shut in
secret apartment back Of Oxus' bed
pom, the only communication between
hitch being by a little hidden door.
Irs. Martha had been relegated TO an
Their secret apartment behind Fulbert's
pom with her servant. Baucis.
The negro. Scipio. whose discretion
as TO be relied upon. had been told by
is master Of these arrangements.