Evening star., 1925-01-26
The Ark of the Covenant
A Story of Mystery and Adventure
BY VICTOR MCCLURE.
BY VICTOR MCCLURE.
Copyright. 1874. BY Harper 4 Brothen

AS for Danny. his eyes were alight
with a queer excitement-for round
the room or cave, were disposed in
strument upon instrument, of all
queer shapes-the very stun that Dan
keeps his nose amongst normally in
his laboratory in New York.
Mr.. Lamont" said the chief of the
league. II do not know what feelings
you have about this capture, but
hope 1 may be able TO dissipate your
resentment by showing you some in
teresting sidelights on your own vein
of research. l have read your inter
esting little book on pleochroic halos,
together with other OF your works. I
have long had a bone to pick with
you on the subject of thorium disin-
tegration. Forgive me, then. II 1
welcome the happy accident that
brings you here"
You're very good, SIR said Dan.
redfaced as always by any reference
to his work.
why, that's we'll" said the little
man. 'T do not despair Of making
friends with you-with you all. Now,
gentlemen. il is obvious that I can
not release you until the task OF our
league is finished. We cannot afford
to have our secret laid bare. I do
not wish to keep you in close captiv-
ity, and you will therefore give me
your word that you will not attempt
to escape"
Danny and MilNken both looked at
me in inquiry. 1t was obvious that
the man in front of US had charmed
them as much as he charmed me, but
the question of giving parole was one
that could not be decided at a flash.
The chief picked up the thought.
Naturally, you will need time to
consider the question. To sit down
quietly in the present situation might
SAVIOUR of cowardice. Let me put II to
you. however. If do not have your
word, gentlemen. you Will be closely
confined, except for brief periods
when you may exercise. Your ma
| chine will be dismantled where she
| lies and brought to some other place,
so that that means Of escape will be
| cut off. The country round about us
| is nearly impossible without bear
| ers and stores. 1 may tell you that
| who have tried 1t, and 1 have an
| accurate knowledge of the dangers
| and difficulties that beset the traveller
| through the dense Amazon jungle. If
you are ignorant OF them, these dan
gers will not daunt you. They daunt
me. But take your time to consider
| the matter, by all means. Let me hear
| from you when you decide"
He turned back to his work at one
of the instruments. and the guards
| blindfolded US once more.
This time we had a cave 10 our
! selves, little cave, well enough
| lighted and ventilated by a winding
crack in the outer wall, through
which, however, it would have been
impossible TO make any exit. Three
beds were disposed about the cave,
and a rough stool or two. We found
all our clothes and stuff, brought
down from the Merlin, but they had
not left US even a pocket knife by
way OF weapon, or even watch by
way of a compass.
Food was brought to us by the
stout seaman who had been guarding g
US in the bigger cave-fragrant tea
in enameled mugs, with excellent
white bread and jam the first time,
| and later a savoury stew of venison
of some sort with vegetables. The
stout seaman was most unloquaciouS.
He waddled In and out without a
word, hardly ever looking at us, but
staring CLASSIFY In front Of him or
beyond US. He was, we found out
later, one Smithers, formerly a war
rant officer in the British navy. Only
once did this strange attendant speak
to us. Apropos of nothing. he sud
denly fixed the trio of US with a COM
prehenssve and basilisk glare. A
hoarse rumble mounted apparently
from his feet to his short throat.
Does any O you gentlemen know
anythin' about toucans?" he rumbled.
The appropriateness of the ques-
tion beat us into surprised silence.
We simply gazed at him open
mouthed. Again the hoarse rumble
welled up from the region Of his feet.
"I thought not" he said compla-
Gently. fWell-you soon willn'
And with a povtentous nod to the
company in general. this strange fell
low heaved himself from the cave.
We were we'll treated. Games of
sorts were offered to us, and we had
the use OF powerful electric lights
when night came but we were strict
ly left 10 ourselves. No guard was
left in our cave, but a peep round the
curtain over the entrance showed a
fellow with a rife sitting a little
along a well lit passage. It was a
trifie disconcerting to peep out and
find ourselves winked at serenely by
a. perfectly wide-awake and obviously
competent sentinel.
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr