The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-26
CHAPTER xvII-continued.

There's no hurry now" answered
Donald.
Suddenly Davies voice came up in
agitated tones. Donald 20 he cried.
1T looks as if the monsters are fol-
lowing MacBeard after all Don't you
see, they are with him, not us?-'
They wouldn't keep US in the center
necessarily said Donald. Yesterday
we nearly lost them"
But then-dO you suppose they are
leading US somewhere"
81 don't know" Donald answered.
Full speed!"
Donald. hazarding rocks, drove the
F55 hard between the mighty walls of
granite. In front Of him he saw an
open body of water, ringed with far
away hills. He was in Skiold ford.
But not q vestige of the monsters was
to be seen.
Once through that gateway he dashed
the wheel and went on deck. The
quarry had disappeared. A glance as
sured him of that. The Iimpid water
Of the ford lay motiOnless before him.
Behind him the passage seemed to have
closed.
He rushed back into the coming
tower
"Shut DOWN. he yelled to Davies.
Tell CIouts to let the anchor go. Mac
Beard has beaten u.s.
Davies, released from duty, rushed
up. to find his chief standing at the en-
trance to the coming tower, prey to
abject despair.
Its finished, Davies" he said wear
lily. Were beaten. There's a missing
factor in-that-damned equation of
yours"
And he toppled over into Davies
arms, insensible from want of sleep.
The tension Of his nerves was broken.
Davies and ClOuts carried him to his
cabin and laid him down. They re-
turned to the reck, almost equally de-
spairing.
''The herd has left US, Clouts," said
the MILDLY. ST don't know can't I'M
derstand it. Clouts," he continued,
with sudden inspiration, 'do you
think that you could induce the queen
to sound that call again?"
What, me, STRIP inquired Clouts.
starting back. 'Why-she's not a
woman, sir, she's a devil incarnate
She won't eat, sir" His voice fell to
husky whisper "And she won't
wear the captains blankets. sir"
Perhaps she doesn't like them,
Clouts. However-what are we to
do?"
81 say. make for home, sir" said
Clouts. 81 never took no stock in the
whole thing, Mr. Davies"
What are you talking about,
CloutsT'
Why, sir, I never believed in it from
the first, and 1 believe in it still less
now. It's all a dream, sir. There
never was no monsters
But you've seen them, Clouts.
You've been under the sea with them ~
"Ah, I know, sir, that's what we
both think" answered CIouts with a
wise smile. But it's Just a dream, sir.
1 expect that German cruiser torpe-
doed US. instead Of US torpedoing her g;
or maybe she sank US with her guns,
and we're going to wake up In a Ger
man hospital in Hamburg in a moment.
You haven't pinched yourself, STRIP
Davies was shaken. He looked at
Clouts, blandly smiling at him, Open
mouthed. He almost believed his the
DRY. Clouts. unequal to the strain
upon his limited mentality, had adopt
ed solution which seemed, under the
circumstances. feasible.
Il think we'd better pinch each
other, sir" said CIouts. Mrs. Clouts
always used to say, when in doubt"
But, breaking of at this juncture.
he pulled his mouth organ from his
pocket and blew the most discordant
medley OF dissOnants that ever issued
from the apertures OF that much
abused instrument
To their amazement, the water was
instantaneously churned into foam all
round them. The F55 tossed like a
cork upon the waves A fleeing mist
began to rise from the surface of the
ford.
Matches onl" gasped Davies. and
they ran to save the F55 from sub
mersion.
Hardly had they succeeded in this
and reached the coming tower when
Donald appeared at the head of the
ladder below. His eyes were clear
again; it seemed as if his half-hour of
sleep had recreated him.
Whats happened, Dav1es?" he
asked.
''T,he monstersI They're all about
u.s. cried the MILDLY.
swell, of course" said Donald.
You don't suppose came here on a
wild-goose chase, do you?"
But you said we were beaten. sir.
and"
"Nonsensei :" said Donald angrsJv
They've been with US all the time.
You don't expect that they can keep
on condensing hydrogen forever with
out taking a rest, do you? Muscular
fatigue, Davies. Hello!
He pointed through the observation
port, and, about a mile to port of them.
they saw the motorboat, bobbing upon
the agitated waves
We've got him, Davies" said Don
aid. 81 knew it. 1 knew it all I'm INV
sleep-the solution and-and-ifs 90
ing to be ali right"
They were amazed at his resolution
He uttered his orders In firm voice
he seemed now absolutely sure of his
success Tdr0r1rF fha - -