Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-06-06
CHAPTER vi.
The Siege Of the Submarine.


"Tm positive It's the water, sir"
said Davies. "We've tried running
submerged, and the electric engines
won't drive her any faster than the
petrol ones. It's like running loco
motive on greasy rails"
Its plankton," answered Donald.
,sMarine organisms, you know"
He was standing beside Davies in
the coming tower. Ida had been
taken below and placed in DOnald's
cabin. She had been hardly conscious
since her rescue; she was too numbed
from exposure to realize what had
occurred, and she had fallen asleep
Immediately.
At Fair island, which was an unin-
terrupted, cnvernous rock. Donald ex-
pected to find the oil-ship, from which
his stores We're to be replenished.
area of the North sea with the aid Of
the airplane. A stock of supplies in
the shape Of food was also expected
at the island.
But now Donald was wondering
whether it was not his duty to return
to the mainland to report the destruc-
ton of the enemy cruiser. OF course
the officers of the Flying corps who
would be with the airplune could un-
dertake this duty. But then there was
Ida. And there was the swarm Of
devil men that had appeared.
e..tI a.
ment of this without being relieved of
his command? But how could he fail
to tell then?
Donald looked keenly ut Davies
He was nice little chap, disciplined
clean. alert, the beuu-ideal of u naval
officer in embryo. What he liked bes,
about the little MILDLY was his resolu
ton; he knew that Davies would
never hesitate to take responsibility
whenever he thought his duty required
prompt decision.
Donald could have no better conf
dant. And he needed one US sorely a:
Masterman had done.
Davies he said, I'm going to tel
you something. It's not the engines
but it isn't altogether the water Ell
Their. The plankton wouldn't stop us
And it's too fine to clog the machin
cry. Something Is trying to push u,
hack, Davies"
II beg your pardon, sir?"
II was warned about 1t before
left New York. continued Donald
what I'm going to tell you viii
sound incredible, but it happens Il
be true. You know, Davies, our an
cestOrs were Murine creatures?"
II thought they were monkeys, sir
At least, long time ago"
Long before they were monkeys
Davies. At least, they first lived IL
the sea. And We became monkey
afterward, and then men,"
"Yes, sir. was going to say tina
the electric engines show signs of de
veloping-"
zone moment, please, Davies
There's another swarm of deep-se
men coming to overrun the eartf
Masterman told me-you've heard o
Masterman, the marine explorer? FL
told me he'd seen them-no, fell
them-before he died. l felt them t.
day. They attacked and upset u.s.
Excuse me, sir" said Davies, "bu
wouldn't you like to lie down? ca
take the F55 to the island, sir. an
we'll call you when we are ut anchor.
"Please listen to me. Davies. The
are invisible, these monsters, all. e!
cept the eyes. which look like GU
rants. When they die the albuminou
parts Of the body harden. producin
q milky opacity. They look then SOM
thing like hairless monsters. An
they're trying to stop the submartr
from making Fair island, just as the
tried to draw the boat there. They
He broke on. nonpiused by II