The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-01-11
CHAPTER vI--con.Inued.

B.
Donald heard him leap Into the tor
pedo room below. A moment later his
voice came 40 the funnel. "pm ready
for the lady. Eirr he called.
Donald ralsed Ida ia his arms and
lowered her through the tube.
after you, SIR said Davies.
a hive assumed command. Davies
Donald replied
"Nery well, SIR" said the MILDLY qui.
city, and descended. Donald followed
him. A. he Jumped FOR the floor Of
the sarpedo room, be heard the scrap
ing sound OF clippers on the floor above.
hnt the creaking Of the coming tower
door had censed.
Were saved !" cried Donald. "Da-
ylus, they can't force the coming
hwer or course not. That sound Ia
one or two OF the beasts who have
come down the matches. You closed
themY
NO, sir. There wasn't time"
Then they tried 10 get through the
counting tower. and hadn't reason
enough 70 know that they could get
through the hatchcsl" cried Donald
joyfully.
~rhclr reason won't get them down
the tube. SIR, unless they've got bodies
A. slim az ours" said Clouts. "And
they feel like--like barrels. sir" he
added.
Overhead, the scrnplng continued.
sometimes approaching the tube and
then rccedlng. Presently there came
the sound OF commotlon. Donald
Inferred that the sea devils had found
the one that ne had injured. and that
they were satlating their horrible can
nlhallstic Instincts. He heard body
dragged this way and that, and a
dreadful rcndlng.
After a while the swishlng began
again, and a faint tapping OF clippers
against the walls. as IL the creatures
were endeayorlng 20 explore the in
terror Of the ship. Occasionally a
faint. phosphoreseent luminosity was
visible at the top Of the tube. But the
monsters made no attempt 20 descend
into the torpedo room. An Idea came
10 Donald.
"Dayiesl listen 10 mep nc said
'sThey don't know we're here"
"No, sir. / was thinking"
''rhat they have no sense OF smell"
"Yes. STR
aAnd little hearing. AZ least, that
they distinguish sounds only as vlbra-
lions"
eyes. sir, And of course their sense
o. sight must be- extremely limited.
and so. roughly. that leaves them only
the use Of taste and touch, but prob
ably developed far above our own"
"Ne'il beat them. Davies"
III that's true as they can't hear
much. think. II might sir, I'll play
be on My mouth organ" said Clouts.
'Just a low. humming. SIR"
Right, Ciouts," answered Donald.
but simultaneously with the first
notes there came from above singu-
lar sound. IL seemed 10 be very far
away, Il was a single, mellow note, the
q ~ o Violin, ana exqulsitely true. II
might have been a distant warning
buoy anchored amid the tides.
What's that. DayiesT asked Don.
aid
Il don't know, sir The lighthouse
stopped operating when the war broke
out aud the buoys were taken up"
0pee mere the sound was heard
Aud suddenly Oonald knew that he had
heard Il before. the same note. though
infinitely less powerful Il was the
sound u the finger on the bowl %
water within the house ia baltimore
The sersping 10 the passage ended
IL a scurry and did not rceur. Az
through the night they Crouehed 81
the torpedo room. watching and sleep
ing by turns, and the silence was bro
ken nniy By passing word and the 0c
casi0nai tunefulness 81 Clouts mouth
organ as be played sally in Our Al
ley"
CHAPTER VII