Williams news., 1918-03-28
CHAPTER lll-(continued.)

CHAPTER IlI-(continued.)
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 He could trace the movements, as of some invisible body. He saw the ripples glide forward along the sur face, strike the glass wall opposite and continue at a right angle, turning again and again as the creature con- tinued on its steady course. The sen- satiOn was uncanny. Captain Mas terman'S words came back to Donald : i've brought my specimen hOme." He was aware of an impulse to bolt. In- stead of which, however, he concen- trated all his attention on the tank.
 The movements in the water sub- sided. Donald had the impression that the invisible creature had stopped and was regarding him. He saw a gentle swirl as if a body stood upright with in the tank. Then a sound from the second tank drew him toward it.
 It was a musical ringing, exactly like that produced by drawing the finger tip around the top of bowl of water-a 1ong-drawn sound, sweet and clear. Donald looked into this tank, which was open at the top and not connected with the apparatus. But he could see nothing there, either.
 He turned back to the first tank, and all at once he perceived two black specks, close together, halfway be- tween the top of the water and the glass roof. Each was about the size of a small currant. Donald went nearer. He saw them move. Then he started backward, overcome with hor- TOT.
 The black specks were the pupils of a pair of eyes fixed on his and fol lowing themi
 Like all sailors, Donald Paget was not free from superstition. Any known danger he could have faced bravely. but this unknown thing was terrify- ing. He felt his knees give under him. His impulse was to fly.
 He turned, and at that moment something descended upon his head and struck him, half conscious, to the floor.
 Dimly, through the gathering mists. he made out the form of a middle aged bearded man. He saw the red face, the shrewd gray eyes that looked into his, and recognized MacBeard. Beside him lay the sandbag with which the man had felled him.
 Unable to move, Donald felt Mac Beard rif1fng his pockets one by one, until he came upon the envelope con- taining Masterman's communication. MacBeard drew 1t forth with a grunt and stood up under the gas to exam inc 1t.
 A brief survey satisfied him that he had found what he was seeking. He grunted again and looked down at Donald. Apparently satisfied with his work, he turned toward the water tanks. He must have heard the splashing of the monster as it re- stunned it's journeyings, for he started an instant, and then, as if curious, he drew nearer to the first of the tanks with the air-pipe attachment.
 He stood quite still, looking at the whether he had discovered it, and whether he had perceived the eyes.
 He knew in moment, for with a yell MacBeard staI ted backward. He stumbled against one of the palms and sent it crashing to the floor.
 MacBeard, who had fallen with it, picked himself up and ran in terror. Donald heard his footsteps pattering along the flags outside. He heard the slam of the creaking gate. He knew that the professor, having obtained the document, was not likely to re- turn. And he could not blame him for his nervousness, for he had almost dcne the same thing himself.
 Donald staggered to his feet, clutched at the wall to steady himself, and remained thus. while the swim ming room gradually grew still. The light from the gas-jet fell upon the water tanks. And, looking at the far thCr tank, Donald had a queer illu- sion.
 He thought he saw the very misty outlines of the body of a beautiful woman, the merest shadowy shape, which swan before his eyes and was gone, and reappeared, yelled in a sort of prismatic blend of coloring.
 But before he had time to convince himself that 1t was or was not the result of his injury, to his horror he perceived very clearly a cloudy form zeginning to take shape within the nearer tank.
 The outlines grew clearer Tnomen- earily. He saw what seemed to he the body of a hairless monkey. SUD- porting itself upon webbed feet. or dappers. Budding out from the sides were two similar arms, the webhed hands pressing against the sides cf the tank.
 The outlines were at first so vague as to De almost innperceptible; then the crystalline body became opajes- cent and milky, resembling the white of an egg. It hardened and, as t hardened, swelled. Donald saw the chest heave, the gaplike mouth con- torted.
 And suddenly he realized that this