The Raymer enterprise., 1918-06-27
CHAPTER xv-contInusd.

it,
She ran unchallenged through the
destroyer hotilla and came alongside
the rear-admlral's flagship. q monster
cruiser armed with powerful battery,
on which he had hoisted his pennant.
A few minutes later Davies and Ida
clambered aboard, leaving Clouts in
charge Of the submarine Of the
queen Of the swarm.
HALF an hour later Clouts received
the command to take the F55 to Lon
don as best he could. Davies inter
view with the rear-admiral had decided
the Inter to open hostilities immedi-
ately. The squadron spread out and
approached the Dogger fanwise, to en-
circle the monsters.
MacBeard. who had Just awakened
aboard the motorboat, 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, dasAed wildly In all directiops.
and, finding themselves ringed in,
churned up the water madly. The man
In the chains on the flagship looked at
his lead incredulously. It marked
II fathoms, where It should have
marked Is. It 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, radIat.
Ing outward from the still vortex In
which the motorboat reeled dizzily,
lashed them and buffeted them afioat.
Beyond control, the dismantled, fleeing
squadron drove under the pounding
waves In all directions.
Out Of the yapor chugged a motor
boat. Slowly, as the haze subsided,
sho drew alongside. In her stood Mac
Beard, triumphant In this display Of
his power.
Five minutes later he stood In the
presence Of the rear admiral, Davies
and Ida. a. well az Of the Junior Of
ficers.
"You see, we are unconquerable," he
said grimly. "But have come to offer
you terms"
As 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 theyr he inquired cour-
teously.
"First." said MacBeard. personal
indemnity"
I'm return for whatr
'1n return for the destruction Of this
menace. I pledge my word that 1t
shall disappear forever"
"But howf
MacBeard hesitated. Eager as he
now was to destroy the herd, he was
not overanxious to reveal his plans.
However. he yielded the point.
"As you have observed" he said,
"they are completely under my control.
I will take them into Skiold fjord, on
the Norwegian coast. As you know. 1t
is a huge body Of water. surrounded
By cliffs Of high basalt, and having an
entrance barely large enough to admit
q small steamship. Once they are
there, the entrance can be blockaded
until they are dead Of famine. In re-
turn demand possession Of" and be
looked toward Ida.
he did not know her name, but 1t
did not strike him a. peculiar.
A glance at Ida's horror.strickken
face was sufficient to enable the I'D.
mIral to decide.
I'VE refuse" he said.
But Ida stepped forward and laid
her hand on the admiral's arm.
Il cannot let you refuse" she said.
Il an nothing"
mol" cried Davies. You shall not
,ccept his termsl"
= s'Yes." answered the girl. facing him
quietly. 1T Is only myself, and there
II the whole world at stake. Wouldn't
Donald do a. much for meT
And Davies was sllent For Donald
b, d said very much the same thing
when he thought Ida dead on Fair
island.
Ida turned to MacBeard. "You wish
me to be your wifeT she asked.
"Yes-if you like to call It so," he
stammered In answer.
II will 60 with you," she said.
The admiral interposed.
IF you wish to 60. Miss Kennedy,
I must accept the sacrifice" he said.
But It can only come from you" He
addressed MacBeard. " am willing SO
far" he sold. The government can
not refuse to ratify those terms. What
II your nextr
my third and last demand is-nfty
gallons Of gasolina."
CHAPTER XVI.
The oussn's Call.