The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-02-14
CHAPTER xv-continued.

Sstss &Hs
IL
She ran u~nchallenged through the
destroyer lotilla and came alongside
the rear-admiral's flagship, a monster
cruiser armed with a powerful battery,
on which he had hoisted his pennant.
Al few minutes later Davies and Ida
cIambered aboard, leaving Clouts in
charge Of the submarine-and Of the
queen Of the swarm.
Half an hour later Clouts received
the command to take the F55 to Lon
DON Us best he could. Davies inter
view with the ~rear-admiral had decided
the Inter to open hostilities immedi-
ateIy. The squadron spread out and
approached the Dogger fanwise, to en-
circle the monsters.
= MacBeard, who had just awakened
aboard the m~otorboat, saw in terror
the great shells dropping all about
HIM He thought this was the end of
all his plans. 1t seemed impossible to
escape.
But the monsters, terrified by the VI
bration, dashed wildly In oil directions,
and, finding themselves ringed In,
churned up the water madly. The man
In the chains on the flagship looked ut
his lead increduIously. It marked
~ fathoms. where 1t should have
marked %. II marked ten, seven,
four-and suddenly the sea seemed to
open. Half the vessels in the attack
Ing squadron grounded. They lay on
their sides in the North sea sand. one
set OF guns pointing heavenward, the
other toward the bowels Of the earth.
Then a huge, agitated wave, radlat-
Ing outward from the still vortex In
which the motorboat reeled dizzily,
dashed them and buffeted them afioat.
Beyond control, the dismantled. fleeing
squadron drove under the pounding
waves In all directions.
Out Of the vapor chugged a motor
boat. Slowly. as the haze subsidized,
she drew alongside. In her stood Mac
Beard. triumphant In this display of
mis- power.
Five minutes later he stood In the
presence Of the rear admiral, Davies
and Ida. AZ well as Of the junior Of
dcers.
avon zee. we are unecneuerablc," he
said grimiy. sBut 1 have come to OFFER
you terms"
As a public enemy. many afterward
said that he should have been hanged
then and there, In spite Of his envoy.
ship. But the rear admiral refused to
violate the traditions Of the sea-or
perhaps he realized that. MacBeard
dead, he could hope for no means OF
subduing his unclaimed devils.
~What are theyf' he inquired cour.
teously.
'Tirst," said MacBeard. personal
Indemnity"
eTn return for whatf"
Sin return for the destruction Of this
menace. I pledge my word that II
shall disappear forever"
s9srst how7
MacBeard hesitated. Eager "a he
now was to destroy the herd, he was
not o~veranxlous to reveal his plans.
However, he yielded the point.
SAs you have observed" he said,
they r completely under my control.
4 viii take them Into Skiold ford, on
the Norwegian coast. As you know, 1t
Is n huge body Of water. surrounded
By cliffs Of high basalt, and having an
entrance barely large enough to admit
d small steamship. Once they are
there. the entrance can be blockaded
until they are dead Of famine. In re-
turn / demand possession Of" and he
looked toward Ida.
He did not know her name, but Il
did not strike him ms peculiar.
4 glance at Ida's horror-strickken
face was sufficient to enable the ad-
miral to decide.
we refuse" he said.
But Ida stepped forward and laid
Aer hand on the admiral's arm.
II cannot let you refuse" she said.
II ana nothing-~
sNol" cried Davies. 'You shall not
accept his terms"
sxes." answered the girl. facing him
Quietly. TT u only myself, and there
xs the whole world at stake. Wouldn't
Donald do % much for mer'
And Davies was silent. For Donald
had said very much the same thing
when he thought Ida dead on Fair
ffland.
Ida turned to MacBeard. sYou wish
M to be yOur wife9s che asked