Evening star., 1925-02-01
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

The disappearance of the Merlir
nd of my party was a matter for
1mment and speculat ton not only in
merica, but in England, for we
ere supposed to be the first victims
f the raiders. The pilot of the air
| nlane which had passed us that day
fter our capture had reported sight
7g us, and that we were heading t.
nod shape for Caracas. The conclu-
sion was ultimately arrived at that
we had either met with an accident,
had been sent down by the raiders
nd sunk in the sea We were given
p for lost. and Dan and I had the
doubtful pleasure of reading our own
obituary notices. The anxiety of my
s7ther and his sorrow for my sup
noSed demise gave me a great deal
If concern. a feeling shared by Dan
md Milliken on account of their re-
lations and friends. But we were
forbidden TO attempt any communica-
tion with the outside world, nor
would the Chief permit the sending
of any message that might have al
aged the doubts of our friends, since
Z would perhaps have been obvious
hat we had been captured some
where on our journey from Guaya-
'lull, FeNelaIlOn InaI might nave
brought greater numbers of search
ers on our trail. We knew, from the
American papers, that both Didcot
md Dick Schuyler on new Merlins.
were searching the Caribbean and
Antilles for some trace of us.
Our days in the cavern were full
Of interest At first, Milliken and
myself had been content to go about
looking around US, but as week after
week passed, we found our hands
could no longer keep still, and we
began to help the company in small
ways that did not offend our con-
sciences. With Lord Devonridge and
Haynes, and with one Moggs, an ex
gamekeeper of the former, we went
out hunting, and we found the three
Englishmen excellent companions.
Our hunting expeditions had to be
worked in between raids, for both
Devonridge and Haynes had special
duties on the ships.
The raids were always made in
pairs. The first ship would go out
with 25 men or so aboard, and on its
return the second ship would depart
mediately with a fresh crew, ex-
cept for the Chief, Seton, and a few
Of the officers. who seemed capable
Of sustaining the most prolonged
strains. At the end of the second
voyage period of rest would ensue,
and then the process would be started
all over again.
Dan Lamont was now installed
definitely as scientific helper to the
Chief, and, save that he did not ac-
company the leader on the raids, he
worked untiringIy. His adherence to
the cause of the League did not bring
any arrangement between him and
Milliken and myself. Our views
with regard to the members of the
League had taken on a complete
change of color, for the sincerity
actuating these men was unmistak-
able, and l truly think that both
Mllliken and I secretly envied our
comrade his courage in openly taking
the course his conscience dictated.
However that may be, Milliken
and ] could not find it in our hearts
to take the same step, and l dare say
the thought of Kirsteen Torrance
as in my own. If we could have de-
clared our purpose to her, and could
have put the ideal that underlay the
operations of the League before her,
the step might have been possible.
For myself, as an additional factor, I
still had the Presidents commission
in my pocket, and until I could hand
it back to him in honesty, I could not
depart from it's terms. But l am
certain that the opinion of Kirsteen
counted most with me.
Yet, with this enforced aloofness
to the purpose of the League it vas
not possible for either Milliken or
myself to regard its operation with
out something of thrill. That the
struggle between those selfiess men
and the world at large was nearing
its climax could not be doubted Each
new demonstration of the power of
the League was more amazing than
it's precursor. Towns were attacked
if that word may be used regard
ing raids so careful of human life
with more open methods each time.
No longer was the approach made in
the dead of night. The airship would
come down on a. city in broad day,
and the business of creating chaos in