Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-05-09

Granting the incredible supposition
that these deep-sea organisms exist
and could live under . pressure enoe.
mously increased, and breathe"
.We're supposing that lieutenant"
"How could they survive the strug-
gle for existence In sn unnatural ele-
mentf'
"Lieutenant, man has existed since
tertiary times, but he never learned
to fiy till 1908. He never went up In
balloon until q hundred and iifty
years ago. Our imaginatons can't
rise to the realization Of what this
generation has done, but Our descend
ants will look on Us as demigods. and
the Wright brothers will become
myths, like that chap that invented
cooking, Prom-Pr0m-"
"Prometheus."
eyes, sir. Well. then, after living
for thousands of years at the bottom
Of five miles Of air, an ocean Of oxy.
gen and nitrogen, we've found out how
to get up on top Of 1t. They are liv-
ing Mt the bottom of an ocean of Oxy-
gen and hydrogen. Suppose they
learned to fly, too!
"You can see what they'd do. Some
Of their scouts, Who had gone on
ahead, would discover that the dry
land was teeming with food. Food in
| such quantities as these hungry mon
sters had never dreamed about. Food
in solid chunks, instead of dissolved
particles of plankton, varied with an
occasional cannibdl dinner. And light
by WHICH to capture it-sunlight! No
more hunting down their prey with
phosphOrescent torchesl
AT first they'd nibble the grass and
leaves of the trees. But they'd find
that cellulose Is pretty indigestible
stuff. Then one of them would dis
cover dead bird or rabbit, and an
other that sheep and cattle make good
eating, and then"
''rhen mani" muttered Donald,
gripping the arms of his chair. The
,nadmnn's picture had become dread
fully real to him.
"Other bodies would follow the
scouts, Donald. They wouldn't be
quite adapted to dry land ut first.
They'd make their way along the
river beds. They'd swarm up the Hud-
son, the Rhine. the Severn, the Mis-
sissippi That's what we did, and
even today we haven't got very far
from the river banks. Well, they'd
rest and recuperare. eating the t1sn
they found, until the supply became
exhausted. Then"
"Good Lord" gasped Donald, And
then the reaction came. OF course
Masterman was raving mad, the mad
dest member Of the March Hares'
club. What fool he had been to let
the old fellows dismal prophecies get
on his nerves!
He leaned forward and placed his
hand on Masterman's knee.
ibid you go to the navy Office with
the idea Of telling that to the secre-
tary?" he asked. -
IT did, SIR" answered Masterman.
'Then, If may say so without Civ.
ing offense, it is mercy that you
} fniled to secure an interview with
him." said Donald. "Why, Masterman
-er-you know how hard it is to
convince anyone of the truth Of any.
thing little out Of the ordinary" He
was feeling his way carefully now
to avoid hurting the old fellow. "Why
/ Aiastermnn, If you were to make such
Il suggestion as that ut the navy Office
they'd shut you up us a-as not quite
rlgLt," he said.
IT know It, my boy" the captain an
: swercl. 1--WE been called crazy evel
sinceI saw tile sea serpent off Aber
deem. l have to thank Macl'ehrd fol
that. Ever since he learned that
was on the track Of something big
he has been trying to queer me. Ant
, when l discovered mammalian life OF
the sea floor, l was called an imp0s
tor. which hurt more. But as l Sc,
1t, lieutenant, man can only be tru,
, to himself, ana stand for truth ant
fair play, moderation and courteous
, dealings, not mudsl.nging and invec
tive, and calling names, like that pig
, eon-braineti, pot-faced porous plaster
: MacBeard."
l "But mt least you won't mention
= these matters 10 people who-wh'
8 haven't open minds" pleaded Donald
: mo, sir. wash my hands Of then
oil. That's why have told you abou
this. But If you don't. listen, If yo'
], don't warn the world"
III" exclaimed Donald. "Good Lord
4 Masterman, you can't suppose that
g am able to stake my professional ca
}. reer upon the retailing Of such
9 story! Even supposing 1t true, tn
i thing won't happen in our time. VIII
: should world epoch terminate II
t this particular generation and anothe
begin?"
I Masteriran lcaped out of his chat
= and stood beside the lieutenant. ii
!. twined his fingers convulsively in hi
$ long beard, and there was look Q
, fanaticisn upon his face.
Because 1t has already terminate