The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-02-07
CHAPTER xll-continued.

IL
"She went inside the cave, / think"
baid Davies.
ayes, Tn sure of IT," answered Don
I'D; and he entered farther into its
recesses, calling ida Ida !"
They began to be alarmed. They
hurried from point to point. The cave
Ras wide one, but tapered, some dis
lance back. into the neck of bottle.
Il seemed evident that Ida could not
have gone farther than this point.
"Run back, Davies, and see If she
can't be outside" said Donald.
And, while he called, Davies took up
lle search without. Donald waited In
terror. He did not dare go farther
into the cave just then.
Ten minutes later Davies returned.
A glance at his face told that his mis-
,lon had been entirely frultless. They
looked at each other.
'There's light ahead" said Davies.
They proceeded cautiously, and sud
senly they came upon little entrance
leading up from the sea. Close by
vas the point around which MacBeard
bad disappeared In his motorboat.
Davies saw Donald shaking with
mixed terror and rage. He stared out
hopelessly toward the sea. Then,
brushing past Davies without n word,
10 almost ran into the bottle neck Of
lhe interior. The MILDLY followed him.
The ground grew damp, the floor
,eemed to descend abruptly. Davies
tould hardly keep his feet. All at
bnce he heard Donald's mufiled voice
calling to him. He saw the squirt Of
q match flame.
Ten PAGES farther Donald pulled
bin back as his foot slipped on the
ldge OF a precipice. Donald struck
another match and looked down.
Under them was the level of the
pecan bed. They were upon the very
verge OF n precipitous descent, sheer
Eall having, however, natural foot
holds at regular intervals.
Something white fluttering near
7rew their attention. Donald picked
h up and held It out. 1t was wom-
ans handkerchief.
"She slipped here" began the little
mildly, but Donald took the words
from his mouth.
"No!" he cried furiously. "She was
enught In the cave by that ID
ycoundrel MacBeard. He put his boat
IN at the tiny cove and came on her
from behind. And he's taken her
my God, he's taken her That's
Der message to me, that handker-
thief.
His voice grew incoherent and he
broke down. Then he raised 1t In fu-
,lous defamation.
"But I'll follow that cur until die y
he swore. 81 may not rescue her-l
font know, Davies, and I hardly dare
10 hope. But I'll stay here and give
my life"
He broke of suddenly, n spasm
passed across his features, and all at
bnce he became completely calm once
more.
"No, l won't, Davies" he said. TITS
my duty now to fly to England with all
tpeed. You'll stay here and do what
sou can. 1t may be very little, old
nan. but we mustn't think of anything
but our jobs"
an ,t- eoId no vfao
There was nothing more to be done
but prepare for the journey. Donald
telt reasonably sure that the F55 was
safe against the herd. The terrific
upward pressure Of the night had moi
started rivet; lying as she was upon
The beach, she was unassailable.
They filed her oil-tanks and carried
The stores aboard Then Donald filled
ihe gasoline tank of the hydroplane
Ind, entering. made short trial flight
put to sea and back. The machine
was In perfect condition.
A grasp of the hand, and Donald
was gone upon his journey. From his
post in the coming tower Davies
watched the hydroplane rise and fal
10 the wind, and sweep into the dis
lance, to dwindle and disappear.