The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-01-17
CHAPTER iII-(continued.)


ripples glide forward along the sur
face. strike the glass wall opposite
and continue Mt a right angle, turning
again and again as the creature con
tinued on Its steady course. The sen
satfon was uncanny. Captain Mas
terman's words came back to Donald
"Ive brought my specimen home" HI
was aware Of an impulse to bolt. In
stead Of which. however. he concen
trated oil his attention on the tank.
The movements In the water sub
sided. Donald had the impression tha,
the Invisible creature had stopped and
wns regarding him. He saw a gentle
swirl as II body stood upright with.
In the tank. Then a sound from the
second tank drew him toward II.
1t was q musical ringing. exactly
like that produced by drawing the
finger tip around the top Of a bowl OF
water-a long-dra~n 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 small currant. Donald went
nearer. He saw them move. Then he
started backward, overcome with hor-
ror.
The black specks were the pupils Of
q pair Of eyes fixed on his and fol-
lowing theml
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
door.
Dimly. through the gathering mists.
he made out the form Of q 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 rifing his pockets one by one,
until he came upon the envelope con-
tanning Masterman's communication.
MacBeard drew II forth with a grunt
and stood up under the gas to exam.
Inc II.
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 Il re-
sumed Its journeyings, for he started
an instant, and then, as II curious,
he drew nearer to the first Of the
tanks with the air-pipe attachment.
He stood quite still. looking at the
thing In the water. Donald wondered
whether he had discovered II, and
whether he had perceived the eyes.
He knew In a moment, for with o
yell MacBeard started backward. He
stumbled against one Of the palms
and sent II crashing to the floor.
MacBeard. who had fallen with II,
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
done 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 |
ther tank. Donald had q queer illu-V
sion.
He thought he saw the very misty
outlines Of the body Of q beautiful
woman, the merest shadowy shape,
which swan before his eyes and was
gone, and reappeared. yelled In q sort
Of prismatic blend OF coloring.
But before he had time to convince
himself that II was or was not the
result Of his injury, to his horror he
perceived very clearly a cloudy form
beginning to take shape within the
nearer tank.
The outlines grew clearer momen-
tarily. He saw what seemed to be
the body Of hairless monkey. sup
porting itself upon webbed feet. or
iappers. Budding out from the sides
we're two similar arms. the webbed
hands pressing against the sides Of 4
he tank.
The outlines were at first so vague
Is to be almost imperceptble; then
he crystalline body became opales-
'ent and milky, resembling the white
II an egg. II hardened and, as It
hardened, swelled. Donald saw the
hest heave, the gaplike mouth con-
orted. |,
And suddenly he realized that this