Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-02-09
CHAPTER xlI-continued.

-14-
"She went inside the cave, think"
said Davies.
Eyes. I'm sure Of it." answered Don
aid; and he entered farther into its
eecesses, calling ida! Ida!"
They began to be alarmed. They
hurried from point to point. The cave
vas wide one, but tapered. some dis
lance back, into the neck Of q bottle.
Z seemed evident that Ida could not
have gone farther than this point.
run back. Davies. and see II she
can't be outside" said Donald.
And, while he called, Davies took up
de search without. Donald waited In
terror. He did not dare 60 farther
onto the cave just then.
Ten minutes later Davies returned.
4 glance at his face told that his mis-
Hon had been entirely frultless. They
looked at each other.
There's light ahead" said Davies.
They proceeded cautiously, and sud-
ienly they came upon little entrance
leading up from the sea. Close by
kas the point around which MacBeard
lad disappeared in his motorboat.
Davies saw Donald shaking with
nixed terror and rage. He stared out
Aopelessly toward the sea. Then.
brushing past Davies without a word,
ae almost ran into the bottle neck OF
Nc interior. The MILDLY followed him.
The ground grew damp, the floor
seemed to descend abruptly. Davies
eould hardly keep his feet. All at
Snee Tho heard DOnald's muffled voice
calling to him. He saw the squirt OF
4 match flame.
Ten PAGES farther Donald pulled
aim back Us his foot slipped on the
EDGE Of a precipice. Donald struck
another match and looked down.
Under them was the level Of the
Dcean bed. They were upon the very
verge Of a precipitous descent. a sheer
sail having, however, natural foot
holds ut regular intervals.
Something white fluttering near
arew their attention. Donald picked
t up and held It out. It was q wom-
ans handkerchief.
"She slipped here" began the little
mildly, but Donald took the words
from his mouth.
"No!" he cried furiously. "She was
caught in the cave by that ID
.coundrel MacBeard. He put his boat
b at the tiny cove and came on her
from behind. And he's taken her
ny God, he's taken her That's
ter message to me. that handker'
>hief. ."
His voice grew incoherent and he
broke down. Then he raised 1t In fu-
:ious defamation.
"But I'll follow that cur until die y
he swore. II may not rescue her-l
aOn't know, Davies, and I hardly dare
to hope. But I'll stay here and give
ny life"
He broke of suddenly. a spasm
passed across his features, and I'LL at
,nce he became completely calm once
more.
mo, I won't, Davies" he said. Its
ny duty now to fly to England with all
speed. You'll stay here and do what
fou can. 1t may be very little. old
man, but we mustn't think Of anything
but our Jobs"
mo, sir" said Davies.
There was nothing more to be done
but prepare for the journey. Donald
ielt reasonably sure that the F55 was
,ofe against the herd. The terrific
spward pressure of the night had not
started a rivet; lying as she was upon
the beach, she was unassailable.
They filed her oil-tanks and carried
The stores aboard. Then Donald filled
The gasoline tank Of the hydrOplane
end. entering, made short trial flight
out to sea and back. The machine
vas in perfect condition.
A grasp Of the hand, and Donald
vas gone upon his journey. From his
post in the coming tower Davies
watched the hydroplane rise and fall
to the wind. and sweep into the dis
lance, to dwindle and disappear.