The Raymer enterprise., 1918-04-18
CHAPTER vi.
The Siege Of the Submarine.

/" PpsitANS ~ % NhN VatNht StAf
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"
"It's plankton," answered Donald.
Marine 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, eayernous rock. Donald ex-
peeted to find the oll-ship. from which
bis stores were to be replenlshed.
Then he was to patrol the northern
area Of the North sea with the aid Of
the alrplane. A stock Of supplies in
the shape OF food was also expected
at the island.
But now Donald was wondering
whether II was not his duty to return
to the mainland to report the destruc-
tiOn OF the enemy cruiser. OF course
the officers Of the Flying corps who
would be with the airplane could un-
dertake this duty. But then there was
Ida. And there was the swarm of
devil men that had appeared.
How could he tell the navy depart
ment OF this without being relieved Of
his command? But how could he fail
to tell them2
Donald looked keenly at Davies.
He was nice little chap. disciplined,
clean. alert, the beau-ideal Of n naval
officer In embryo, What he liked best
about the little MILDLY was his resolu.
tion, he knew that Davies would
never hesitate to take responsibility
whenever he thought his duty required
q prompt decision.
Donald could have no better conf
dant. And he needed one as sorely as
Masterman had done.
Davies" he said. I'm going 10 tell
you something. It's not the engines,
but II isn't altogether the water ell
ther. The plankton wouldn't stop us.
And it's too fine TO clog the machu.
cry. Something is trying to push US
back. Davies"
II beg your pardon, sirf"
II was warned about II before /
left New York." continued Donald.
"What Tn going to tell you will
sound incredible, but 1t happens to
be true. You know, Davies. our an-
cestors were marine creaturesf'
Il thought they were monkeys, sir.
AT least, a long time ago"
Long before they were monkeys,
Davies. At least, they first lived In
the sea. And we became monkeys
afterward. and then men,
"Yes, sir. ! was going to say that
the electric engines show signs of de-
veloping-"
Zone moment. please, Davies.
There's another swarm of deep-sea
men coming to oyerrun the earth.
Masterman told me-you'ye heard of
Masterman, the marine explorerf He
told me he'd seen them-no, felt
them-before he died. | felt them to-
day. They attacked and upset US"
Excuse me, SIR" said Davies, "but
wouldn't you like to lie down? / can
take the F55 to the island. sir, and
we'll call YOU when we are at anchor"
"Please listen to me. Davies. They
are invisible, these monsters, all ex-
cept the eyes. which look like eur.
rants. When they die the albuminous
parts OF the body harden, producing
a milky opacity. They look then some
thing like hairless monsters. And
they're trying to stop the submarine
from making Fair island. just us they
tried to draw the boat there. They"
He broke on. nonplused by the
middy's polite, respectful stare. Don
aid had not imagined that the story
would sound so grotesque. He hardly
believed now that he could make Da-
vies realize its truth.
I'm sorry to hear about them, sir." !"
rid Davies. what do you wish me
% dor
!. sKesp sthe matches closed" aaid Don
id We ars taking Z riak not sub
m1rss ut ~ have Ct b make