Evening star., 1925-01-19
The Ark of the Covenant
Story of Mystery and Adventure
BY VICTOR MCCLURE.
BY VICTOR MacCLURE
Copyright. 1924. By Harp. & Brothers.

only set down the results l saw. And
with motives, personalities, charac-
ters, l must-to lapse Willingly into
Scots-just hirple along.
1t was like the master to be con-
cerned over the possible effect of
the radium rays on Lin Green
sleeve and me. The little man.
VINO could not heal the great burns
SO far advanced on his own frail
body' made both of us strip and un-
dergo a medicated bath and ointment
preventive treatment of his own pre-
pairing. For some time no day passed
but that he would have US appear for
examination
Nothing, l am convinced, held ter
ror for our fragile little chief as
concerned himself, but, under his ha-
bitual repose of manner, Lin and ]
thousht we read a mortal terror for
US. However that may be, in the end
we were pronounced to be without
seattle.
Members OF the crew were strictly
forbidden to enter the passage or go
near the cave until we had taken
steps to secure the contents of the
radium cache, which the chief on in
spection declared to hold an aston
ishlng quantity. We had no lead In
the cavern, but one of the mechanics
remembered that the floor of the
Clutha's engine room was covered
with the metal, and some men were
sent down to the wharf to rip II off
and bring 1t to the cavern.
The chief designed a leaden shield.
This had two ingeniously jointed
arms ending in boxlike mitts, which
permitted the handling OF little
spade by one, and the holding of a
",
OF the operation OF case and spade
was given by a periscope. and ligh,
was thrown on the subject by electric
bulbs attached to the top Of the
leaden screen
When this contrivance was ready
Lin Greensleeve and myself cleared
away the debris on the cave floor oy
working with spades from behind two
lead shields. The debris was re-
moved, the working screen was
pushed against the aperture of the
cache, and Lin, whose hands We're
more fitted in size for the box-mitts
than my great fists, Spooned the pre-
cious salts into the case, and wheI.
the crevice was cleared the lid was
dropped home. The treasure, worth
an enormous fortune, was deposited
in a little cave right in the heart o.
the cave system.
Lin Greensleeve now made a survey
with proper instruments, and found
the right spot for breaking through
into the other passage. Within day
or two the passage to the radium
cave was impossible by reason OF
the fumes from Lin's furnaces He
was not cheated, for when the damp
ers were up the roar of the draught
through his furnaces rivaled the wa
terfail in filling every Granny of tn
caverns with noise.
The position of affairs with III
league at this time was so:
We had, apart from the master, /
men signatory TO the covenant 70
peace-Devonridge Greyson, Fitzalar
Haynes, Lippencott. Curtis. Green.
sleeve, Whitaker, Grumstock. Hig
gins. Dane, Thetford and myself:
work in the cavern. Outside were
Travers, Lippcncott and Brooks in
America. Smithers at the storehouse
downriver.
We had perfected the chiefs labora-
tory, harnessed the waterpower Of
the fall and provided ample electricity
for all requirements; we had secured
our oil supply. and were able 10 refin
1t and store the pure spirit and lubri
eating oils, and we had wax for ou'
electrical instruments; the gas fo-
lifting our alrships was available i.
great quantity. and we were able 4
reduce il to its liQuefying constan
and to store It; our engine shop. up
to-date in every particular. was ir
full working order: we had the build
ing slips ready for the erection 0
the dtrigiblesi and we had the livinf
accommodations for our full compile
ment OF so men all ready for occu-
patton.
The plans of the chief and his ex
pertments We're well advanced. He
had standardized his formula for, anC
was ready to manufacture. the anes
thetizing gas. He assured me thai
he was nearing the end of the devel
opment of the power that was tc
bring the world into line with the
ideas of the league. In addition to this
he and Thetford. as a relaxation foI
the chief, had prepared numerous in
struments for the navigation Of oui
ships. and had made models OF many
contrivances for the controls and the
manipulation OF our lifting gas ri
nally. we possessed a supply OF ra-
dium greater than had ever beer
known before in the world, and worth
enough money TO set us all in luxury
for the rest of our lives.
In the matter of creature comforts
we were very well off. We had vege-
tables growing in a clearing down
the river; we had fish and venison and
wild pig. with occasional snatches of
frozen beef and mutton; we had Of
course, the best of canned foods, milk.
meat and fruit: and we had ducks and
chickens thriving in a cave at the
south end OF our main cavern-the
ducks coralled by wire netting.
To reach this point in our prepara-
tiOn had taken over two wears and
indeed We had celebrated two Christ
mas feasts and two THANKSGIVING in
the big living-cave of the plateau
We had come to the stage once
more when we would have to make a
journey to the outside world. BY now
the materials for our two airships
with the necessary instruments would
be waiting for us at New Orleans. and
we were due to complete the number
of our company.
Before setting out on our last yoy-
ages. l put the whole of the men on
constructing great doors for the main
and smaller entrances of the cavern
These we made of trellis-work in
heavy scantlings of wood, overla id with
wire nets and We fixed floating boxes
of soil at their bases, planting quick
growing creepeTs on them. We plant
ed we'll past the hinges of each flap
to a good distance along the cliffs on
either side of our waterway. When
we returned from our next voyage.