Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-01-11
Copyright BY W 9 ChApmAnI

the key-tone Of their language.
Unfortunately FOR MacBcnrd, he had
been unable to learn much more than
this. The last page Of the manuscript,
as well aS the first. was missing, Mac
Beard was sure that Donald had kept
possession Of them.
Had he possessed them, he would
have learned that the power Of utter
ing these calls rested with the queen
" the swarm alone. Il human organ
ism. the type Of the race toward which
the monsters tended, difercntiating
from them rs the queen bee differs
from the worker or the drone.
He had discovered that the search
for food was the one purpose of the
creatures existence. 1t had assumed
a religious aspect, Their god, their
altar stone, the sacriticlal rite were
all the souls instructive cropping up
ward, based upon the dominating ami
NAL impulse.
The tune that Clouts had played,
with Its discOrds, had been the deep
gen equivalent Of an artillery salvO.
The terrified monsters had dispersed
in all directions, letting down the cur
tain OF condensed hydrogen. FOrtu-
| Entely for the professor, the main por'
ton OF the herd had kept together, and
this afforded him n medium in which
he could, with difficulty, breathe. But
their rapid movement kept the hydro
gen stirred up, and he was nearly as
phyxiated before he reached his refuge
within the cave. He did not like in
hallng carbonated jelly.
Seeing Donald and Davies upon the
island, he had attempted to open negO-
t~iations with them. Repulscd, he fled
in terror, and on rounding the point
saw Ida alone at the caves mouth. At
once his scheme was born in his mind.
Pushing ashore, he entered the cave
Ivy the narrow way toward the g
lie came upon Ida suddenly, and
| graSping her In his arms, he placed
one hand over her mouth, preventing
her from crying for mid. Then, drag
ging her to the top of the precipice, he
sounded the assembly call.
Instantly the water beneath began
TO dissolve. Thick clouds Of steaming
hydrogen rolled up to the caves roof.
Soon there was q natural passage,
three hundred feet deep, from the in
terror OF the cave to the crater below.
He carried Ida down the descent.
The girl, who had contrivcd to drop
her handkerchief, was no match for
twice, but the echoes of the cavern ab-
SorbCd the sound of her voice. And so
she found herself again within the sub
marine temple.
MaCBcard released her and stood in
front of her, devouring her with his
| gaze. He could not understand whence
this novel emotion in his heart derived
its power; and, now that she was his
captive, he did not know what to do.
Geometry, physics. mathematics and
the calculus all failed to help solve his
problem.
Overcome by the presence of the
woman he loved, the professor Stam-
mcred like a youth wSth his first sweet
heart.
"Why have you brought me here?"
asked Ida.
Observation-Disclosures I-er-I love
YOU" answered MaCBeard.
Ida burst into ironical laughter. The
situation was so impossible that there
was room for no emotion but amuse-
mcnt. And In that laugh the professor
felt n thousand arrows Of jealousy
rcnd him.
Listen to me!' he exclaimed pas
Sionatcly. "You don't know who | am
or what am trying to do. I am going
to obliterate the earth, az It Is known
to you. | command the Man of the
Future. The Man who is to come. The
new race OF the sea, which is to sweep
away the puny monkcy-man. And I
want You to share my power with me-"
Ida laughed Historically. She could
not help herself. MacBeard glared at
her. He did not know what to do.
"You shall seew he cried, beside
himself with anger. you don't be-
lieyc what I tell you? I'll prove It,"
ut doesn't make any difference, pro-
! f,y1Ar IN, not 4, I1,,1.I.,,l u, -
severed Ida, "Will you kindly take me
back to the place you brought me
from?"
mo-" shouted MacBeard. You'll
stay here until you learn to love me.
Why can't you love me?"
lda's look was touched with pity.
She did not answer him.
MacBeard sounded his tuning fork,
and Immediately the monsters gath
cred about them. The hydrogen haze
rolled higher, disclosing the entire in
terror OF the cave, and the idol. Mac
Beard sounded another fork, and the
creatures began edging Ida toward the
reCoSSeS Of the cave.
III | sound the sacrifclal note you
de" snorted MacReard.
ida, perfectly passive, waited. The
monsters guarded the entrance. She
was alone. Outside MacBeard paced
up and down beneath the sea In fury.
He had encountered a problem which
seemed insoluble.