diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/11556-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11556-8.txt | 7395 |
1 files changed, 7395 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/11556-8.txt b/old/11556-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..85e2f79 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11556-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7395 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Facing the Flag, by Jules Verne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Facing the Flag + +Author: Jules Verne + +Release Date: March 13, 2004 [EBook #11556] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FACING THE FLAG *** + + + + +Produced by Norm Wolcott and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + Facing the Flag by Jules Verne + +[Redactor's Note: _Facing the Flag_ {number V044 in the T&M listing of +Verne's works} is an anonymous translation of _Face au drapeau_ (1896) +first published in the U.S. by F. Tennyson Neely in 1897, and later +(circa 1903) republished from the same plates by Hurst and F.M. Lupton +(Federal Book Co.). This is a different translation from the one +published by Sampson & Low in England entitled _For the Flag_ (1897) +translated by Mrs. Cashel Hoey.] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +FACING THE FLAG + +BY + +J U L E S V E R N E + +AUTHOR OF "AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS"; "TWENTY +THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA"; "FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON," ETC. + +New York + +THE F. M. LUPTON PUBLISHING COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +1897 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + CONTENTS + + CHAP + + I. Healthful House + + + II. Count d'Artigas + + + III. Kidnapped + + + IV. The Schooner "Ebba" + + + V. Where am I.--(Notes by Simon Hart, the Engineer.) + + + VI. On Deck + + + VII. Two Days at Sea + + + VIII. Back Cup + + + IX. Inside Back Cup + + + X. Ker Karraje + + + XI. Five Weeks in Back Cup + + + XII. Engineer Serko's Advice + + + XIII. God Be with It + + + XIV. Battle Between the "Sword" and the Tug + + + XV. Expectation + + + XVI. Only a few more Hours + + + XVII. One against Five + + + XVIII. On Board the "Tonnant" + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +FACING THE FLAG. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HEALTHFUL HOUSE. + + +The _carte de visite_ received that day, June 15, 189-, by the +director of the establishment of Healthful House was a very neat one, +and simply bore, without escutcheon or coronet, the name: + + COUNT D'ARTIGAS. + +Below this name, in a corner of the card, the following address was +written in lead pencil: + +"On board the schooner _Ebba_, anchored off New-Berne, Pamlico Sound." + +The capital of North Carolina--one of the forty-four states of the +Union at this epoch--is the rather important town of Raleigh, which is +about one hundred and fifty miles in the interior of the province. It +is owing to its central position that this city has become the seat +of the State legislature, for there are others that equal and +even surpass it in industrial and commercial importance, such as +Wilmington, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Edenton, Washington, Salisbury, +Tarborough, Halifax, and New-Berne. The latter town is situated on +estuary of the Neuse River, which empties itself into Pamlico Sound, a +sort of vast maritime lake protected by a natural dyke formed by the +isles and islets of the Carolina coast. + +The director of Healthful House could never have imagined why the card +should have been sent to him, had it not been accompanied by a +note from the Count d'Artigas soliciting permission to visit the +establishment. The personage in question hoped that the director would +grant his request, and announced that he would present himself in the +afternoon, accompanied by Captain Spade, commander of the schooner +_Ebba_. + +This desire to penetrate to the interior of the celebrated sanitarium, +then in great request by the wealthy invalids of the United States, +was natural enough on the part of a foreigner. Others who did not bear +such a high-sounding name as the Count d'Artigas had visited it, and +had been unstinting in their compliments to the director. The latter +therefore hastened to accord the authorization demanded, and added +that he would be honored to open the doors of the establishment to the +Count d'Artigas. + +Healthful House, which contained a select _personnel_, and was assured +of the co-operation of the most celebrated doctors in the country, was +a private enterprise. Independent of hospitals and almshouses, but +subjected to the surveillance of the State, it comprised all the +conditions of comfort and salubrity essential to establishments of +this description designed to receive an opulent _clientele_. + +It would have been difficult to find a more agreeable situation than +that of Healthful House. On the landward slope of a hill extended a +park of two hundred acres planted with the magnificent vegetation that +grows so luxuriantly in that part of North America, which is equal in +latitude to the Canary and Madeira Islands. At the furthermost limit +of the park lay the wide estuary of the Neuse, swept by the cool +breezes of Pamlico Sound and by the winds that blew from the ocean +beyond the narrow _lido_ of the coast. + +Healthful House, where rich invalids were cared for under such +excellent hygienic conditions, was more generally reserved for the +treatment of chronic complaints; but the management did not decline to +admit patients affected by mental troubles, when the latter were not +of an incurable nature. + +It thus happened--a circumstance that was bound to attract a good deal +of attention to Healthful House, and which perhaps was the motive +for the visit of the Count d'Artigas--that a person of world-wide +notoriety had for eighteen months been under special observation +there. + +This person was a Frenchman named Thomas Roch, forty-five years of +age. He was, beyond question, suffering from some mental malady, but +expert alienists admitted that he had not entirely lost the use of +his reasoning faculties. It was only too evident that he had lost all +notion of things as far as the ordinary acts of life were concerned; +but in regard to subjects demanding the exercise of his genius, his +sanity was unimpaired and unassailable--a fact which demonstrates how +true is the _dictum_ that genius and madness are often closely +allied! Otherwise his condition manifested itself by complete loss +of memory;--the impossibility of concentrating his attention upon +anything, lack of judgment, delirium and incoherence. He no longer +even possessed the natural animal instinct of self-preservation, and +had to be watched like an infant whom one never permits out of one's +sight. Therefore a warder was detailed to keep close watch over him +by day and by night in Pavilion No. 17, at the end of Healthful House +Park, which had been specially set apart for him. + +Ordinary insanity, when it is not incurable, can only be cured by +moral means. Medicine and therapeutics are powerless, and their +inefficacy has long been recognized by specialists. Were these moral +means applicable to the case of Thomas Roch? One may be permitted +to doubt it, even amid the tranquil and salubrious surroundings of +Healthful House. As a matter of fact the very symptoms of uneasiness, +changes of temper, irritability, queer traits of character, +melancholy, apathy, and a repugnance for serious occupations were +distinctly apparent; no treatment seemed capable of curing or even +alleviating these symptoms. This was patent to all his medical +attendants. + +It has been justly remarked that madness is an excess of subjectivity; +that is to say, a state in which the mind accords too much to mental +labor and not enough to outward impressions. In the case of Thomas +Roch this indifference was practically absolute. He lived but within +himself, so to speak, a prey to a fixed idea which had brought him to +the condition in which we find him. Could any circumstance occur +to counteract it--to "exteriorize" him, as it were? The thing was +improbable, but it was not impossible. + +It is now necessary to explain how this Frenchman came to quit France, +what motive attracted him to the United States, why the Federal +government had judged it prudent and necessary to intern him in this +sanitarium, where every utterance that unconsciously escaped him +during his crises were noted and recorded with the minutest care. + +Eighteen months previously the Secretary of the Navy at Washington, +had received a demand for an audience in regard to a communication +that Thomas Roch desired to make to him. + +As soon as he glanced at the name, the secretary perfectly understood +the nature of the communication and the terms which would accompany +it, and an immediate audience was unhesitatingly accorded. + +Thomas Roch's notoriety was indeed such that, out of solicitude for +the interests confided to his keeping, and which he was bound to +safeguard, he could not hesitate to receive the petitioner and listen +to the proposals which the latter desired personally to submit to him. + +Thomas Roch was an inventor--an inventor of genius. Several important +discoveries had brought him prominently to the notice of the +world. Thanks to him, problems that had previously remained purely +theoretical had received practical application. He occupied a +conspicuous place in the front rank of the army of science. It will be +seen how worry, deceptions, mortification, and the outrages with which +he was overwhelmed by the cynical wits of the press combined to drive +him to that degree of madness which necessitated his internment in +Healthful House. + +His latest invention in war-engines bore the name of Roch's +Fulgurator. This apparatus possessed, if he was to be believed, such +superiority over all others, that the State which acquired it would +become absolute master of earth and ocean. + +The deplorable difficulties inventors encounter in connection with +their inventions are only too well known, especially when they +endeavor to get them adopted by governmental commissions. Several of +the most celebrated examples are still fresh in everybody's memory. +It is useless to insist upon this point, because there are sometimes +circumstances underlying affairs of this kind upon which it is +difficult to obtain any light. In regard to Thomas Roch, however, +it is only fair to say that, as in the case of the majority of his +predecessors, his pretensions were excessive. He placed such an +exorbitant price upon his new engine that it was practicably +impossible to treat with him. + +This was due to the fact--and it should not be lost sight of--that in +respect of previous inventions which had been most fruitful in result, +he had been imposed upon with the greatest audacity. Being unable +to obtain therefrom the profits which he had a right to expect, his +temper had become soured. He became suspicious, would give up nothing +without knowing just what he was doing, impose conditions that +were perhaps unacceptable, wanted his mere assertions accepted as +sufficient guarantee, and in any case asked for such a large sum of +money on account before condescending to furnish the test of practical +experiment that his overtures could not be entertained. + +In the first place he had offered the fulgurator to France, and made +known the nature of it to the commission appointed to pass upon his +proposition. The fulgurator was a sort of auto-propulsive engine, +of peculiar construction, charged with an explosive composed of new +substances and which only produced its effect under the action of a +deflagrator that was also new. + +When this engine, no matter in what way it was launched, exploded, not +on striking the object aimed at, but several hundred yards from it, +its action upon the atmospheric strata was so terrific that any +construction, warship or floating battery, within a zone of twelve +thousand square yards, would be blown to atoms. This was the principle +of the shell launched by the Zalinski pneumatic gun with which +experiments had already been made at that epoch, but its results were +multiplied at least a hundred-fold. + +If, therefore, Thomas Roch's invention possessed this power, it +assured the offensive and defensive superiority of his native country. +But might not the inventor be exaggerating, notwithstanding that the +tests of other engines he had conceived had proved incontestably that +they were all he had claimed them to be? This, experiment could alone +show, and it was precisely here where the rub came in. Roch would +not agree to experiment until the millions at which he valued his +fulgurator had first been paid to him. + +It is certain that a sort of disequilibrium had then occurred in his +mental faculties. It was felt that he was developing a condition of +mind that would gradually lead to definite madness. No government +could possibly condescend to treat with him under the conditions he +imposed. + +The French commission was compelled to break off all negotiations with +him, and the newspapers, even those of the Radical Opposition, had to +admit that it was difficult to follow up the affair. + +In view of the excess of subjectivity which was unceasingly augmenting +in the profoundly disturbed mind of Thomas Roch, no one will be +surprised at the fact that the cord of patriotism gradually relaxed +until it ceased to vibrate. For the honor of human nature be it said +that Thomas Roch was by this time irresponsible for his actions. He +preserved his whole consciousness only in so far as subjects bearing +directly upon his invention were concerned. In this particular he had +lost nothing of his mental power. But in all that related to the most +ordinary details of existence his moral decrepitude increased daily +and deprived him of complete responsibility for his acts. + +Thomas Roch's invention having been refused by the commission, steps +ought to have been taken to prevent him from offering it elsewhere. +Nothing of the kind was done, and there a great mistake was made. + +The inevitable was bound to happen, and it did. Under a growing +irritability the sentiment of patriotism, which is the very essence of +the citizen--who before belonging to himself belongs to his country-- +became extinct in the soul of the disappointed inventor. His thoughts +turned towards other nations. He crossed the frontier, and forgetting +the ineffaceable past, offered the fulgurator to Germany. + +There, as soon as his exorbitant demands were made known, the +government refused to receive his communication. Besides, it so +happened that the military authorities were just then absorbed by the +construction of a new ballistic engine, and imagined they could afford +to ignore that of the French inventor. + +As the result of this second rebuff Roch's anger became coupled with +hatred--an instinctive hatred of humanity--especially after his +_pourparlers_ with the British Admiralty came to naught. The English +being practical people, did not at first repulse Thomas Roch. They +sounded him and tried to get round him; but Roch would listen to +nothing. His secret was worth millions, and these millions he would +have, or they would not have his secret. The Admiralty at last +declined to have anything more to do with him. + +It was in these conditions, when his intellectual trouble was growing +daily worse, that he made a last effort by approaching the American +Government. That was about eighteen months before this story opens. + +The Americans, being even more practical than the English, did not +attempt to bargain for Roch's fulgurator, to which, in view of the +French chemist's reputation, they attached exceptional importance. +They rightly esteemed him a man of genius, and took the measures +justified by his condition, prepared to indemnify him equitably later. + +As Thomas Roch gave only too visible proofs of mental alienation, +the Administration, in the very interest of his invention, judged it +prudent to sequestrate him. + +As is already known, he was not confined in a lunatic asylum, but was +conveyed to Healthful House, which offered every guarantee for the +proper treatment of his malady. Yet, though the most careful attention +had been devoted to him, no improvement had manifested itself. + +Thomas Roch, let it be again remarked--this point cannot be too often +insisted upon--incapable though he was of comprehending and performing +the ordinary acts and duties of life, recovered all his powers when +the field of his discoveries was touched upon. He became animated, and +spoke with the assurance of a man who knows whereof he is descanting, +and an authority that carried conviction with it. In the heat of his +eloquence he would describe the marvellous qualities of his fulgurator +and the truly extraordinary effects it caused. As to the nature of the +explosive and of the deflagrator, the elements of which the latter was +composed, their manufacture, and the way in which they were employed, +he preserved complete silence, and all attempts to worm the secret out +of him remained ineffectual. Once or twice, during the height of the +paroxysms to which he was occasionally subject, there had been reason +to believe that his secret would escape him, and every precaution had +been taken to note his slightest utterance. But Thomas Roch had +each time disappointed his watchers. If he no longer preserved the +sentiment of self-preservation, he at least knew how to preserve the +secret of his discovery. + +Pavilion No. 17 was situated in the middle of a garden that was +surrounded by hedges, and here Roch was accustomed to take exercise +under the surveillance of his guardian. This guardian lived in the +same pavilion, slept in the same room with him, and kept constant +watch upon him, never leaving him for an hour. He hung upon +the lightest words uttered by the patient in the course of his +hallucinations, which generally occurred in the intermediary state +between sleeping and waking--watched and listened while he dreamed. + +This guardian was known as Gaydon. Shortly after the sequestration of +Thomas Roch, having learned that an attendant speaking French fluently +was wanted, he had applied at Healthful House for the place, and had +been engaged to look after the new inmate. + +In reality the alleged Gaydon was a French engineer named Simon Hart, +who for several years past had been connected with a manufactory of +chemical products in New Jersey. Simon Hart was forty years of age. +His high forehead was furrowed with the wrinkle that denoted the +thinker, and his resolute bearing denoted energy combined with +tenacity. Extremely well versed in the various questions relating to +the perfecting of modern armaments, Hart knew everything that had been +invented in the shape of explosives, of which there were over eleven +hundred at that time, and was fully able to appreciate such a man +as Thomas Roch. He firmly believed in the power of the latter's +fulgurator, and had no doubt whatever that the inventor had conceived +an engine that was capable of revolutionizing the condition of both +offensive and defensive warfare on land and sea. He was aware that the +demon of insanity had respected the man of science, and that in Roch's +partially diseased brain the flame of genius still burned brightly. +Then it occurred to him that if, during Roch's crises, his secret was +revealed, this invention of a Frenchman would be seized upon by some +other country to the detriment of France. Impelled by a spirit of +patriotism, he made up his mind to offer himself as Thomas Roch's +guardian, by passing himself off as an American thoroughly conversant +with the French language, in order that if the inventor did at any +time disclose his secret, France alone should benefit thereby. On +pretext of returning to Europe, he resigned his position at the New +Jersey manufactory, and changed his name so that none should know what +had become of him. + +Thus it came to pass that Simon Hart, alias Gaydon, had been an +attendant at Healthful House for fifteen months. It required no little +courage on the part of a man of his position and education to perform +the menial and exacting duties of an insane man's attendant; but, as +has been before remarked, he was actuated by a spirit of the purest +and noblest patriotism. The idea of depriving Roch of the legitimate +benefits due to the inventor, if he succeeded in learning his secret, +never for an instant entered his mind. + +He had kept the patient under the closest possible observation for +fifteen months yet had not been able to learn anything from him, +or worm out of him a single reply to his questions that was of the +slightest value. But he had become more convinced than ever of the +importance of Thomas Roch's discovery, and was extremely apprehensive +lest the partial madness of the inventor should become general, or +lest he should die during one of his paroxysms and carry his secret +with him to the grave. + +This was Simon Hart's position, and this the mission to which he had +wholly devoted himself in the interest of his native country. + +However, notwithstanding his deceptions and troubles, Thomas Roch's +physical health, thanks to his vigorous constitution, was not +particularly affected. A man of medium height, with a large head, +high, wide forehead, strongly-cut features, iron-gray hair and +moustache, eyes generally haggard, but which became piercing and +imperious when illuminated by his dominant idea, thin lips closely +compressed, as though to prevent the escape of a word that could +betray his secret--such was the inventor confined in one of +the pavilions of Healthful House, probably unconscious of his +sequestration, and confided to the surveillance of Simon Hart the +engineer, become Gaydon the warder. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +COUNT D'ARTIGAS. + + +Just who was this Count d'Artigas? A Spaniard? So his name would +appear to indicate. Yet on the stern of his schooner, in letters of +gold, was the name _Ebba_, which is of pure Norwegian origin. And had +you asked him the name of the captain of the _Ebba_, he would have +replied, Spade, and would doubtless have added that that of the +boatswain was Effrondat, and that of the ship's cook, Helim--all +singularly dissimilar and indicating very different nationalities. + +Could any plausible hypothesis be deducted from the type presented by +Count d'Artigas? Not easily. If the color of his skin, his black hair, +and the easy grace of his attitude denoted a Spanish origin, the +_ensemble_ of his person showed none of the racial characteristics +peculiar to the natives of the Iberian peninsula. + +He was a man of about forty-five years of age, about the average +height, and robustly constituted. With his calm and haughty demeanor +he resembled an Hindoo lord in whose blood might mingle that of some +superb type of Malay. If he was not naturally of a cold temperament, +he at least, with his imperious gestures and brevity of speech, +endeavored to make it appear that he was. As to the language usually +spoken by him and his crew, it was one of those idioms current in +the islands of the Indian Ocean and the adjacent seas. Yet when his +maritime excursions brought him to the coasts of the old or new world +he spoke English with remarkable facility, and with so slight an +accent as to scarcely betray his foreign origin. + +None could have told anything about his past, nor even about his +present life, nor from what source he derived his fortune,--obviously +a large one, inasmuch as he was able to gratify his every whim and +lived in the greatest luxury whenever he visited America,--nor where +he resided when at home, nor where was the port from which his +schooner hailed, and none would have ventured to question him upon any +of these points so little disposed was he to be communicative. He was +not the kind of man to give anything away or compromise himself in the +slightest degree, even when interviewed by American reporters. + +All that was known about him was what was published in the papers when +the arrival of the _Ebba_ was reported in some port, and particularly +in the ports of the east coast of the United States, where the +schooner was accustomed to put in at regular periods to lay in +provisions and stores for a lengthy voyage. She would take on board +not only flour, biscuits, preserves, fresh and dried meat, live stock, +wines, beers, and spirits, but also clothing, household utensils, and +objects of luxury--all of the finest quality and highest price, and +which were paid for either in dollars, guineas, or other coins of +various countries and denominations. + +Consequently, if no one knew anything about the private life of Count +d'Artigas, he was nevertheless very well known in the various ports of +the United States from the Florida peninsula to New England. + +It is therefore in no way surprising that the director of Healthful +House should have felt greatly flattered by the Count's visit, and +have received him with every mark of honor and respect. + +It was the first time that the schooner _Ebba_ had dropped anchor +in the port of New-Berne, and no doubt a mere whim of her owner had +brought him to the mouth of the Neuse. Otherwise why should he have +come to such a place? Certainly not to lay in stores, for Pamlico +Sound offered neither the resources nor facilities to be found in +such ports as Boston, New York, Dover, Savannah, Wilmington in North +Carolina, and Charleston in South Carolina. What could he have +procured with his piastres and bank-notes in the small markets of +New-Berne? This chief town of Craven County contained barely six +thousand inhabitants. Its commerce consisted principally in the +exportation of grain, pigs, furniture, and naval munitions. Besides, a +few weeks previously, the schooner had loaded up for some destination +which, as usual, was unknown. + +Had this enigmatical personage then come solely for the purpose of +visiting Healthful House? Very likely. There would have been nothing +surprising in the fact, seeing that the establishment enjoyed a high +and well-merited reputation. + +Or perhaps the Count had been inspired by curiosity to meet Thomas +Roch? This curiosity would have been legitimate and natural enough +in view of the universal renown of the French inventor. Fancy--a mad +genius who claimed that his discoveries were destined to revolutionize +the methods of modern military art! + +As he had notified the director he would do, the Count d'Artigas +presented himself in the afternoon at the door of Healthful House, +accompanied by Captain Spade, the commander of the _Ebba_. + +In conformity with orders given, both were admitted and conducted to +the office of the director. The latter received his distinguished +visitor with _empressement_, placed himself at his disposal, and +intimated his intention of personally conducting him over the +establishment, not being willing to concede to anybody else the honor +of being his _cicerone_. The Count on his part was profuse in the +expression of his thanks for the considerations extended to him. + +They went over the common rooms and private habitations of the +establishment, the director prattling unceasingly about the care with +which the patients were tended--much better care, if he was to be +believed, than they could possibly have had in the bosoms of their +families--and priding himself upon the results achieved, and which had +earned for the place its well-merited success. + +The Count d'Artigas listened to his ceaseless chatter with apparent +interest, probably in order the better to dissemble the real motive of +his visit. However, after going the rounds for an hour he ventured to +remark: + +"Have you not among your patients, sir, one anent whom there was a +great deal of talk some time ago, and whose presence here contributed +in no small measure to attract public attention to Healthful House?" + +"You refer to Thomas Roch, I presume, Count?" queried the director. + +"Precisely--that Frenchman--that inventor--whose mental condition is +said to be very precarious." + +"Very precarious, Count, and happily so, perhaps! In my opinion +humanity has nothing to gain by his discoveries, the application of +which would increase the already too numerous means of destruction." + +"You speak wisely, sir, and I entirely agree with you. Real progress +does not lie in that direction, and I regard as inimical to society +all those who seek to follow it. But has this inventor entirely lost +the use of his intellectual faculties?" + +"Entirely, no; save as regards the ordinary things of life. In this +respect he no longer possesses either comprehension or responsibility. +His genius as an inventor, however, remains intact; it has survived +his moral degeneracy, and, had his insensate demands been complied +with, I have no doubt he would have produced a new war engine--which +the world can get along very well without." + +"Very well without, as you say, sir," re-echoed the Count d'Artigas, +and Captain Spade nodded approval. + +"But you will be able to judge for yourself, Count, for here is the +pavilion occupied by Thomas Roch. If his confinement is well justified +from the point of view of public security he is none the less treated +with all the consideration due to him and the attention which his +condition necessitates. Besides, Healthful House is beyond the reach +of indiscreet persons who might...." + +The director completed the phrase with a significant motion of +his head--which brought an imperceptible smile to the lips of the +stranger. + +"But," asked the Count, "is Thomas Roch never left alone?" + +"Never, Count, never. He has a permanent attendant in whom we have +implicit confidence, who speaks his language and keeps the closest +possible watch upon him. If in some way or other some indication +relative to his discovery were to escape him, it would be immediately +noted down and its value would be passed upon by those competent to +judge." + +Here the Count d'Artigas stole a rapid and meaning glance at Captain +Spade, who responded with a gesture which said plainly enough: "I +understand." And had any one observed the captain during the visit, +they could not have failed to remark that he examined with the +greatest minuteness that portion of the park surrounding Pavilion No. +17, and the different paths leading to the latter--probably in view of +some prearranged scheme. + +The garden of the pavilion was near the high wall surrounding the +property, from the foot of which on the other side the hill sloped +gently to the right bank of the Neuse. + +The pavilion itself was a one-story building surmounted by a terrace +in the Italian style. It contained two rooms and an ante-room with +strongly-barred windows. On each side and in rear of the habitation +were clusters of fine trees, which were then in full leaf. In front +was a cool, green velvety lawn, ornamented with shrubs and brilliantly +tinted flowers. The whole garden extended over about half an acre, and +was reserved exclusively for the use of Thomas Roch, who was free to +wander about it at pleasure under the surveillance of his guardian. + +When the Count d'Artigas, Captain Spade, and the director entered the +garden, the first person they saw was the warder Gaydon, standing +at the door of the pavilion. Unnoticed by the director the Count +d'Artigas eyed the attendant with singular persistence. + +It was not the first time that strangers had come to see the occupant +of Pavilion No. 17, for the French inventor was justly regarded as the +most interesting inmate of Healthful House. Nevertheless, Gaydon's +attention was attracted by the originality of the type presented by +the two visitors, of whose nationality he was ignorant. If the name +of the Count d'Artigas was not unfamiliar to him, he had never had +occasion to meet that wealthy gentleman during the latter's sojourn in +the eastern ports. He therefore had no idea as to who the Count was. +Neither was he aware that the schooner _Ebba_ was then anchored at the +entrance to the Neuse, at the foot of the hill upon which Healthful +House was situated. + +"Gaydon," demanded the director, "where is Thomas Roch?" + +"Yonder," replied the warder, pointing to a man who was walking +meditatively under the trees in rear of the pavilion. + +"The Count d'Artigas has been authorized to visit Healthful House," +the director explained; "and does not wish to go away without having +seen Thomas Roch, who was lately the subject of a good deal too much +discussion." + +"And who would be talked about a great deal more," added the Count, +"had the Federal Government not taken the precaution to confine him in +this establishment." + +"A necessary precaution, Count." + +"Necessary, as you observe, Mr. Director. It is better for the peace +of the world that his secret should die with him." + +After having glanced at the Count d'Artigas, Gaydon had not uttered a +word; but preceding the two strangers he walked towards the clump of +trees where the inventor was pacing back and forth. + +Thomas Roch paid no attention to them. He appeared to be oblivious of +their presence. + +Meanwhile, Captain Spade, while being careful not to excite suspicion, +had been minutely examining the immediate surroundings of the pavilion +and the end of the park in which it was situated. From the top of the +sloping alleys he could easily distinguish the peak of a mast which +showed above the wall of the park. He recognized the peak at a glance +as being that of the _Ebba_, and knew therefore that the wall at this +part skirted the right bank of the Neuse. + +The Count d'Artigas' whole attention was concentrated upon the French +inventor. The latter's health appeared to have suffered in no way +from his eighteen months' confinement; but his queer attitude, his +incoherent gestures, his haggard eye, and his indifference to what was +passing around him testified only too plainly to the degeneration of +his mental faculties. + +At length Thomas Roch dropped into a seat and with the end of a switch +traced in the sand of the alley the outline of a fortification. Then +kneeling down he made a number of little mounds that were evidently +intended to represent bastions. He next plucked some leaves from a +neighboring tree and stuck them in the mounds like so many tiny +flags. All this was done with the utmost seriousness and without any +attention whatever being paid to the onlookers. + +It was the amusement of a child, but a child would have lacked this +characteristic gravity. + +"Is he then absolutely mad?" demanded the Count d'Artigas, who +in spite of his habitual impassibility appeared to be somewhat +disappointed. + +"I warned you, Count, that nothing could be obtained from him." + +"Couldn't he at least pay some attention to us?" + +"It would perhaps be difficult to induce him to do so." + +Then turning to the attendant: + +"Speak to him, Gaydon. Perhaps he will answer you." + +"Oh! he'll answer me right enough, sir, never fear," replied Gaydon. + +He went up to the inventor and touching him on the shoulder, said +gently: "Thomas Roch!" + +The latter raised his head, and of the persons present he doubtless +saw but his keeper, though Captain Spade had come up and all formed a +circle about him. + +"Thomas Roch," continued Gaydon, speaking in English, "here are some +visitors to see you. They are interested in your health--in your +work." + +The last word alone seemed to rouse him from his indifference. + +"My work?" he replied, also in English, which he spoke like a native. + +Then taking a pebble between his index finger and bent thumb, as a +boy plays at marbles, he projected it against one of the little +sand-heaps. It scattered, and he jumped for joy. + +"Blown to pieces! The bastion is blown to pieces! My explosive has +destroyed everything at one blow!" he shouted, the light of triumph +flashing in his eyes. + +"You see," said the director, addressing the Count d'Artigas. "The +idea of his invention never leaves him." + +"And it will die with him," affirmed the attendant. + +"Couldn't you, Gaydon, get him to talk about his fulgurator?" asked +his chief. + +"I will try, if you order me to do so, sir." + +"Well, I do order you, for I think it might interest the Count +d'Artigas." + +"Certainly," assented the Count, whose physiognomy betrayed no sign of +the sentiments which were agitating him. + +"I ought to warn you that I risk bringing on another fit," observed +Gaydon. + +"You can drop the conversation when you consider it prudent. Tell +Thomas Roch that a foreigner wishes to negotiate with him for the +purchase of his fulgurator." + +"But are you not afraid he may give his secret away?" questioned the +Count. + +He spoke with such vivacity that Gaydon could not restrain a glance of +distrust, which, however, did not appear to disturb the equanimity of +that impenetrable nobleman. + +"No fear of that," said the warder. "No promise would induce him to +divulge his secret. Until the millions he demands are counted into his +hand he will remain as mute as a stone." + +"I don't happen to be carrying those millions about me," remarked the +Count quietly. + +Gaydon again touched Roch on the shoulder and repeated: + +"Thomas Roch, here are some foreigners who are anxious to acquire your +invention." + +The madman started. + +"My invention?" he cried. "My deflagrator?" + +And his growing animation plainly indicated the imminence of the fit +that Gaydon had been apprehensive about, and which questions of this +character invariably brought on. + +"How much will you give me for it--how much?" continued Roch. "How +much--how much?" + +"Ten million dollars," replied Gaydon. + +"Ten millions! Ten millions! A fulgurator ten million times more +powerful than anything hitherto invented! Ten millions for an +autopropulsive projectile which, when it explodes, destroys everything +in sight within a radius of over twelve thousand square yards! Ten +millions for the only deflagrator that can provoke its explosion! Why, +all the wealth of the world wouldn't suffice to purchase the secret +of my engine, and rather than sell it at such a price I would cut +my tongue in half with my teeth. Ten millions, when it is worth a +billion--a billion--a billion!" + +It was clear that Roch had lost all notion of things, and had Gaydon +offered him ten billions the madman would have replied in exactly the +same manner. + +The Count d'Artigas and Captain Spade had not taken their eyes off +him. The Count was impassible as usual, though his brow had darkened, +but the captain shook his head in a manner that implied plainly: +"Decidedly there is nothing to hope from this poor devil!" + +After his outburst Roch fled across the garden crying hoarsely: + +"Billions! Billions!" + +Gaydon turned to the director and remarked: + +"I told you how it would be." + +Then he rushed after his patient, caught him by the arm, and led him, +without any attempt at resistance, into the pavilion and closed the +door. + +The Count d'Artigas remained alone with the director, Captain Spade +having strolled off again in the direction of the wall at the bottom +of the park. + +"You see I was not guilty of exaggeration, Count," said the director. +"It is obvious to every one that Thomas Roch is becoming daily worse. +In my opinion his case is a hopeless one. If all the money he asks for +were offered to him, nothing could be got from him." + +"Very likely," replied the Count, "still, if his pecuniary demands are +supremely absurd, he has none the less invented an engine the power of +which is infinite, one might say." + +"That is the opinion expressed by competent persons, Count. But what +he has discovered will ere long be lost with himself in one of these +fits which are becoming more frequent and intense. Very soon even the +motive of interest, the only sentiment that appears to have survived +in his mind, will become extinct." + +"Mayhap the sentiment of hatred will remain, though," muttered the +Count, as Spade joined them at the garden gate. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +KIDNAPPED. + + +Half an hour later the Count d'Artigas and Captain Spade were +following the beech-lined road that separated the Healthful House +estate from the right bank of the Neuse. Both had taken leave of the +director, the latter declaring himself greatly honored by their visit, +and the former thanking him warmly for his courteous reception. A +hundred-dollar bill left as a tip for the staff of the establishment +had certainly not belied the Count's reputation for generosity. He +was--there could be no doubt about it--a foreigner of the highest +distinction, if distinction be measured by generosity. + +Issuing by the gate at the main entrance to Healthful House, they had +skirted the wall that surrounded the property, and which was high +enough to preclude the possibility of climbing it. Not a word passed +between them for some time; the Count was deep in thought and Captain +Spade was not in the habit of addressing him without being first +spoken to. + +At last when they stood beneath the rear wall behind which, though it +was not visible, the Count knew Pavilion No. 17 was situated, he said: + +"You managed, I presume, to thoroughly explore the place, and are +acquainted with every detail of it?" + +"Certainly, _Count_" replied Captain Spade, emphasizing the title. + +"You are perfectly sure about it?" + +"Perfectly. I could go through the park with my eyes shut. If you +still persist in carrying out your scheme the pavilion can be easily +reached." + +"I do persist, Spade." + +"Notwithstanding Thomas Roch's mental condition?" + +"Notwithstanding his condition; and if we succeed in carrying him +off----" + +"That is my affair. When night comes on I undertake to enter the park +of Healthful House, and then the pavilion garden without being seen by +anybody." + +"By the entrance gate?" + +"No, on this side." + +"Yes, but on this side there is the wall, and if you succeed in +climbing it, how are you going to get over it again with Thomas Roch? +What if the madman cries out--what if he should resist--what if his +keeper gives the alarm?" + +"Don't worry yourself in the least about that. We have only got to go +in and come out by this door." + +Captain Spade pointed to a narrow door let into the wall a few +paces distant, and which was doubtless used by the staff of the +establishment when they had occasion to go out by the river. + +"That is the way I propose to go in. It's much easier than scaling the +wall with a ladder." + +"But the door is closed." + +"It will open." + +"Has it no bolts?" + +"Yes, but I shot them back while we were strolling about, and the +director didn't notice what I had done." + +"How are you going to open it?" queried the Count, going to the door. + +"Here is the key," replied Spade, producing it. + +He had withdrawn it from the lock, where it happened to be, when he +had unbolted the door. + +"Capital!" exclaimed the Count. "It couldn't be better. The business +will be easier than I expected. Let us get back to the schooner. At +eight o'clock one of the boats will put you ashore with five men." + +"Yes, five men will do," said Captain Spade. "There will be enough of +them to effect our object even if the keeper is aroused and it becomes +necessary to put him out of the way." + +"Put him out of the way--well, if it becomes absolutely necessary of +course you must, but it would be better to seize him too and bring him +aboard the _Ebba_ Who knows but what he has already learned a part of +Roch's secret?" + +"True." + +"Besides, Thomas Roch is used to him, and I don't propose to make him +change his habitudes in any way." + +This observation was accompanied by such a significant smile that +Captain Spade could entertain no doubt as to the rôle reserved for the +warder of Healthful House. + +The plan to kidnap them both was thus settled, and appeared to have +every chance of being successful; unless during the couple of hours of +daylight that yet remained it was noticed that the key of the door had +been stolen and the bolts drawn back, Captain Spade and his men could +at least count upon being able to enter the park, and the rest, the +captain affirmed, would be easy enough. + +Thomas Roch was the only patient in the establishment isolated and +kept under special surveillance. All the other invalids lived in the +main building, or occupied pavilions in the front of the park. The +plan was to try and seize Roch and Gaydon separately and bind and gag +them before they could cry out. + +The Count d'Artigas and his companion wended their way to a creek +where one of the _Ebba's_ boats awaited them. The schooner was +anchored two cable lengths from the shore, her sails neatly rolled +upon her yards, which were squared as neatly as those of a pleasure +yacht or of a man-of-war. At the peak of the mainmast a narrow red +pennant was gently swayed by the wind, which came in fitful puffs from +the east. + +The Count and the captain jumped into the boat and a few strokes of +the four oars brought them alongside of the schooner. They climbed +on deck and going forward to the jib-boom, leaned over the starboard +bulwark and gazed at an object that floated on the water a few strokes +ahead of the vessel. It was a small buoy that was rocked by the ripple +of the ebbing tide. + +Twilight gradually set in, and the outline of New-Berne on the left +bank of the sinuous Neuse became more and more indistinct until it +disappeared in the deepening shades of night. A mist set in from the +sea, but though it obscured the moon it brought no sign of rain. The +lights gleamed out one by one in the houses of the town. The fishing +smacks came slowly up the river to their anchorage, impelled by the +oars of their crews which struck the water with sharp, rhythmical +strokes, and with their sails distended on the chance of catching an +occasional puff of the dropping wind to help them along. A couple of +steamers passed, sending up volumes of black smoke and myriads of +sparks from their double stacks, and lashing the water into foam with +their powerful paddles. + +At eight o'clock the Count d'Artigas appeared on the schooner's deck +accompanied by a man about fifty years of age, to whom he remarked: + +"It is time to go, Serko." + +"Very well, I will tell Spade," replied Serko. + +At that moment the captain joined them. + +"You had better get ready to go," said the Count. + +"All is ready." + +"Be careful to prevent any alarm being given, and arrange matters so +that no one will for a minute suspect that Thomas Roch and his keeper +have been brought on board the _Ebba_." + +"They wouldn't find them if they came to look for them," observed +Serko, shrugging his shoulders and laughing heartily as though he had +perpetrated a huge joke. + +"Nevertheless, it is better not to arouse their suspicion," said +d'Artigas. + +The boat was lowered, and Captain Spade and five sailors took their +places in it. Four of the latter got out the oars. The boatswain, +Effrondat, who was to remain in charge of the boat, went to the stern +beside Captain Spade and took the tiller. + +"Good luck, Spade," said Serko with a smile, "and don't make more +noise about it than if you were a gallant carrying off his lady-love." + +"I won't--unless that Gaydon chap--" + +"We must have both Roch and Gaydon," insisted the Count d'Artigas. + +"That is understood," replied Spade. + +The boat pushed off, and the sailors on the deck of the schooner +watched it till it was lost to sight in the darkness. + +Pending its return, no preparations for the _Ebba's_ departure were +made. Perhaps there was no intention of quitting the port after the +men had been kidnapped. Besides, how could the vessel have reached the +open sea? Not a breath of air was now stirring, and in half an hour +the tide would be setting in again, and rising strongly and rapidly +for several miles above New-Berne. + +Anchored, as has already been said, a couple of cable-lengths from the +shore, the _Ebba_ might have been brought much nearer to it, for the +water was deep enough, and this would have facilitated the task of the +kidnappers when they returned from their expedition. If, however, the +Count d'Artigas preferred to let the vessel stay where she was, he +probably had his reasons. + +Not a soul was in sight on the bank, and the road, with its borders +of beech trees that skirted the wall of Healthful House estate, was +equally deserted. The boat was made fast to the shore. Then Captain +Spade and his four sailors landed, leaving the boatswain in charge, +and disappeared amid the trees. + +When they reached the wall Captain Spade stopped and the sailors drew +up on each side of the doorway. The captain had only to turn the key +in the lock and push the door, unless one of the servants, noticing +that the door was not secured as usual, had bolted it. In this event +their task would be an extremely difficult one, even if they succeeded +in scaling the high wall. + +The captain put his ear to the key-hole and listened. + +Not a sound was to be heard in the park. Not even a leaf was rustling +in the branches of the beeches under which they were standing. The +surrounding country was wrapt in the profoundest silence. + +Captain Spade drew the key from his pocket, inserted it in the lock +and turned it noiselessly. Then he cautiously pushed the door, which +opened inward. + +Things were, then, just as he had left them, and no one had noticed +the theft of the key. + +After assuring himself that nobody happened to be in the neighborhood +of the pavilion the captain entered, followed by his men. The door was +left wide open, so that they could beat a hurried and uninterrupted +retreat in case of necessity. The trees and bushes in this shady part +of the park were very thick, and it was so dark that it would not have +been easy to distinguish the pavilion had not a light shone brightly +in one of the windows. + +No doubt this was the window of the room occupied by Roch and his +guardian, Gaydon, seeing that the latter never left the patient placed +in his charge either by night or day. Captain Spade had expected to +find him there. + +The party approached cautiously, taking the utmost precaution to avoid +kicking a pebble or stepping on a twig, the noise of which might have +revealed their presence. In this way they reached the door of the +pavilion near which was the curtained window of the room in which the +light was burning. + +But if the door was locked, how were they going to get in? Captain +Spade must have asked himself. He had no key, and to attempt to effect +an entrance through the window would be hazardous, for, unless Gaydon +could be prevented from giving the alarm, he would rouse the whole +establishment. + +There was no help for it, however. The essential was to get possession +of Roch. If they could kidnap Gaydon, too, in conformity with the +intentions of the Count d'Artigas, so much the better. If not-- + +Captain Spade crept stealthily to the window, and standing on tiptoe, +looked in. Through an aperture in the curtain he could see all over +the room. + +Gaydon was standing beside Thomas Roch, who had not yet recovered from +the fit with which he had been attacked during the Count d'Artigas' +visit. His condition necessitated special attention, and the warder +was ministering to the patient under the direction of a third person. + +The latter was one of the doctors attached to Healthful House, and had +been at once sent to the pavilion by the director when Roch's +paroxysm came on. His presence of course rendered the situation more +complicated and the work of the kidnappers more difficult. + +Roch, fully dressed, was extended upon a sofa. He was now fairly calm. +The paroxysm, which was abating, would be followed by several hours of +torpor and exhaustion. + +Just as Captain Spade peeped through the window the doctor was making +preparations to leave. The Captain heard him say to Gaydon that his +(the doctor's) presence was not likely to be required any more that +night, and that there was nothing to be done beyond following the +instructions he had given. + +The doctor then walked towards the door, which, it will be remembered, +was close to the window in front of which Spade and his men were +standing. If they remained where they were they could not fail to be +seen, not only by the doctor, but by the warder, who was accompanying +him to the door. + +Before they made their appearance, however, the sailors, at a sign +from their chief, had dispersed and hidden themselves behind the +bushes, while Spade himself crouched in the shadow beneath the window. +Luckily Gaydon had not brought the lamp with him, so that the captain +was in no danger of being seen. + +As he was about to take leave of Gaydon, the doctor stopped on the +step and remarked: + +"This is one of the worst attacks our patient has had. One or two more +like that and he will lose the little reason he still possesses." + +"Just so," said Gaydon. "I wonder that the director doesn't prohibit +all visitors from entering the pavilion. Roch owes his present attack +to a Count d'Artigas, for whose amusement harmful questions were put +to him." + +"I will call the director's attention to the matter," responded the +doctor. + +He then descended the steps and Gaydon, leaving the door of the +pavilion ajar, accompanied him to the end of the path. + +When they had gone Captain Spade stood up, and his men rejoined him. + +Had they not better profit by the chance thus unexpectedly afforded +them to enter the room and secure Roch, who was in a semi-comatose +condition, and then await Gaydon's return, and seize the warder as he +entered? + + +This would have involved considerable risk. Gaydon, at a glance, would +perceive that his patient was missing and raise an alarm; the doctor +would come running back; the whole staff of Healthful House would +turn out, and Spade would not have time to escape with his precious +prisoner and lock the door in the wall after him. + +He did not have much chance to deliberate about it, for the warder was +heard returning along the gravel path. Spade decided that the best +thing to be done was to spring upon him as he passed and stifle +his cries and overpower him before he could attempt to offer any +resistance. The carrying off of the mad inventor would be easy enough, +inasmuch as he was unconscious, and could not raise a finger to help +himself. + +Gaydon came round a clump of bushes and approached the entrance to the +pavilion. As he raised his foot to mount the steps the four sailors +sprang upon him, bore him backwards to the ground, and had gagged him, +securely bound him hand and foot, and bandaged his eyes before he +began to realize what had happened. + +Two of the men then kept guard over him, while Captain Spade and the +others entered the house. + +As the captain had surmised, Thomas Roch had sunk into such a torpor +that he could have heard nothing of what had been going on outside. +Reclining at full length, with his eyes closed, he might have been +taken for a dead man but for his heavy breathing. There was no need +either to bind or gag him. One man took him by the head and another by +the feet and started off with him to the schooner. + +Captain Spade was the last to quit the house after extinguishing the +lamp and closing the door behind him. In this way there was no reason +to suppose that the inmates would be missed before morning. + +Gaydon was carried off in the same way as Thomas Roch had been. The +two remaining sailors lifted him and bore him quietly but rapidly down +the path to the door in the wall. The park was pitch dark. Not even a +glimmer of the lights in the windows of Healthful House could be seen +through the thick foliage. + +Arrived at the wall, Spade, who had led the way, stepped aside to +allow the sailors with their burdens to pass through, then followed +and closed and locked the door. He put the key in his pocket, +intending to throw it into the Neuse as soon as they were safely on +board the schooner. + +There was no one on the road, nor on the bank of the river. + +The party made for the boat, and found that Effrondat, the boatswain, +had made all ready to receive them. + +Thomas Roch and Gaydon were laid in the bottom of the boat, and the +sailors again took their places at the oars. + +"Hurry up, Effrondat, and cast off the painter," ordered the captain. + +The boatswain obeyed, and pushed the boat off with his foot as he +scrambled in. + +The men bent to their oars and rowed rapidly to the schooner, which +was easily distinguishable, having hung out a light at her mizzenmast +head. + +In two minutes they were alongside. + +The Count d'Artigas was leaning on the bulwarks by the gangway. + +"All right, Spade?" he questioned. + +"Yes, sir, all right!" + +"Both of them?" + +"Both the madman and his keeper." + +"Doesn't anybody know about it up at Healthful House? + +"Not a soul." + +It was not likely that Gaydon, whose eyes and ears were bandaged, but +who preserved all his sang-froid, could have recognized the voices of +the Count d'Artigas and Captain Spade. Nor did he have the chance to. +No attempt was immediately made to hoist him on board. He had been +lying in the bottom of the boat alongside the schooner for fully +half an hour, he calculated, before he felt himself lifted, and then +lowered, doubtless to the bottom of the hold. + +The kidnapping having been accomplished it would seem that it only +remained for the _Ebba_ to weigh anchor, descend the estuary and make +her way out to sea through Pamlico Sound. Yet no preparations for +departure were made. + +Was it not dangerous to stay where they were after their daring +raid? Had the Count d'Artigas hidden his prisoners so securely as to +preclude the possibility of their being discovered if the _Ebba_, +whose presence in proximity to Healthful House could not fail to +excite suspicion, received a visit from the New-Berne police? + +However this might have been, an hour after the return of the +expedition, every soul on board save the watch--the Count d'Artigas, +Serko, and Captain Spade in their respective cabins, and the crew in +the fore-castle, were sound asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SCHOONER EBBA. + + +It was not till the next morning, and then very leisurely, that +the _Ebba_ began to make preparations for her departure. From the +extremity of New-Berne quay the crew might have been seen holystoning +the deck, after which they loosened the reef lines, under the +direction of Effrondat, the boatswain, hoisted in the boats and +cleared the halyards. + +At eight o'clock the Count d'Artigas had not yet appeared on deck. +His companion, Serko the engineer, as he was called on board, had not +quitted his cabin. Captain Spade was strolling quietly about giving +orders. + +The _Ebba_ would have made a splendid racing yacht, though she had +never participated in any of the yacht races either on the North +American or British coasts. The height of her masts, the extent of +the canvas she carried, her shapely, raking hull, denoted her to be a +craft of great speed, and her general lines showed that she was also +built to weather the roughest gales at sea. In a favorable wind she +would probably make twelve knots an hour. + +Notwithstanding these advantages, however, she must in a dead calm +necessarily suffer from the same disadvantages as other sailing +vessels, and it might have been supposed that the Count d'Artigas +would have preferred a steam-yacht with which he could have gone +anywhere, at any time, in any weather. But apparently he was satisfied +to stick to the old method, even when he made his long trips across +the Atlantic. + +On this particular morning the wind was blowing gently from the west, +which was very favorable to the _Ebba_, and would enable her to stand +straight out of the Neuse, across Pamlico Sound, and through one of +the inlets that led to the open sea. + +At ten o'clock the _Ebba_ was still rocking lazily at anchor, her stem +up stream and her cable tautened by the rapidly ebbing tide. The small +buoy that on the previous evening had been moored near the schooner +was no longer to be seen, and had doubtless been hoisted in. + +Suddenly a gun boomed out and a slight wreath of white smoke arose +from the battery. It was answered by other reports from the guns on +the chain of islands along the coast. + +At this moment the Count d'Artigas and Engineer Serko appeared on +deck. Captain Spade went to meet them. + +"Guns barking," he said laconically. + +"We expected it," replied Serko, shrugging his shoulders. "They are +signals to close the passes." + +"What has that to do with us?" asked the Count d'Artigas quietly. + +"Nothing at all," said the engineer. + +They all, of course, knew that the alarm-guns indicated that the +disappearance of Thomas Roch and the warder Gaydon from Healthful +House had been discovered. + +At daybreak the doctor had gone to Pavilion No. 17 to see how +his patient had passed the night, and had found no one there. He +immediately notified the director, who had the grounds thoroughly +searched. It was then discovered that the door in rear of the park was +unbolted, and that, though locked, the key had been taken away. It was +evident that Roch and his attendant had been carried out that way. But +who were the kidnappers? No one could possibly imagine. All that could +be ascertained was that at half-past seven on the previous night one +of the doctors had attended Thomas Roch, who was suffering from one of +his fits, and that when the medical man had left him the invalid was +in an unconscious condition. What had happened after the doctor took +leave of Gaydon at the end of the garden-path could not even be +conjectured. + +The news of the disappearance was telegraphed to New Berne, and thence +to Raleigh. On receipt of it the Governor had instantly wired orders +that no vessel was to be allowed to quit Pamlico Sound without having +been first subjected to a most rigorous search. Another dispatch +ordered the cruiser _Falcon_, which was stationed in the port, to +carry out the Governor's instructions in this respect. At the same +time measures were taken to keep a strict lookout in every town and +village in the State. + +The Count d'Artigas could see the _Falcon_, which was a couple of +miles away to the east in the estuary, getting steam up and making +hurried preparations to carry out her mission. It would take at least +an hour before the warship could be got ready to steam out, and the +schooner might by that time have gained a good start. + +"Shall I weigh anchor?" demanded Captain Spade. + +"Yes, as we have a fair wind; but you can take your time about it," +replied the Count d'Artigas. + +"The passes of Pamlico Sound will be under observation," observed +Engineer Serko, "and no vessel will be able to get out without +receiving a visit from gentlemen as inquisitive as they will be +indiscreet." + +"Never mind, get under way all the same," ordered the Count. "When the +officers of the cruiser or the Custom-House officers have been over +the _Ebba_ the embargo will be raised. I shall be indeed surprised if +we are not allowed to go about our business." + +"With a thousand pardons for the liberty taken, and best wishes for a +good voyage and speedy return," chuckled Engineer Serko, following the +phrase with a loud and prolonged laugh. + +When the news was received at New-Berne, the authorities at first were +puzzled to know whether the missing inventor and his keeper had fled +or been carried off. As, however, Roch's flight could not have taken +place without the connivance of Gaydon, this supposition was speedily +abandoned. In the opinion of the director and management of Healthful +House the warder was absolutely above suspicion. They must both, then, +have been kidnapped. + +It can easily be imagined what a sensation the news caused in the +town. What! the French inventor who had been so closely guarded had +disappeared, and with him the secret of the wonderful fulgurator that +nobody had been able to worm out of him? Might not the most serious +consequences follow? Might not the discovery of the new engine be lost +to America forever? If the daring act had been perpetrated on behalf +of another nation, might not that nation, having Thomas Roch in +its power, be eventually able to extract from him what the Federal +Government had vainly endeavored to obtain? And was it reasonable, was +it permissible, to suppose for an instant that he had been carried off +for the benefit of a private individual? + +Certainly not, was the emphatic reply to the latter question, which +was too ridiculous to be entertained. Therefore the whole power of +the State was employed in an effort to recover the inventor. In every +county of North Carolina a special surveillance was organized on +every road and at every railroad station, and every house in town +and country was searched. Every port from Wilmington to Norfolk was +closed, and no craft of any description could leave without being +thoroughly overhauled. Not only the cruiser _Falcon_, but every +available cutter and launch was sent out with orders to patrol +Pamlico Sound and board yachts, merchant vessels and fishing smacks +indiscriminately whether anchored or not and search them down to the +keelson. + +Still the crew of the _Ebba_ prepared calmly to weigh anchor, and the +Count d'Artigas did not appear to be in the least concerned at the +orders of the authorities and at the consequences that would ensue, if +Thomas Roch and his keeper, Gaydon, were found on board. + +At last all was ready, the crew manned the capstan bars, the sails +were hoisted, and the schooner glided gracefully through the water +towards the Sound. + +Twenty miles from New-Berne the estuary curves abruptly and shoots off +towards the northwest for about the same distance, gradually widening +until it empties itself into Pamlico Sound. + +The latter is a vast expanse about seventy miles across from Sivan +Island to Roanoke. On the seaward side stretches a chain of long and +narrow islands, forming a natural breakwater north and south from +Cape Lookout to Cape Hatteras and from the latter to Cape Henry, near +Norfolk City, in Virginia. + +Numerous beacons on the islands and islets form an easy guide for +vessels at night seeking refuge from the Atlantic gales, and once +inside the chain they are certain of finding plenty of good anchoring +grounds. + +Several passes afford an outlet from the Sound to the sea. Beyond +Sivan Island lighthouse is Ocracoke inlet, and next is the inlet of +Hatteras. There are also three others known as Logger Head inlet, New +inlet, and Oregon inlet. The Ocracoke was the one nearest the _Ebba_, +and she could make it without tacking, but the _Falcon_ was searching +all vessels that passed through. This did not, however, make any +particular difference, for by this time all the passes, upon which +the guns of the forts had been trained, were guarded by government +vessels. + +The _Ebba_, therefore, kept on her way, neither trying to avoid +nor offering to approach the searchers. She seemed to be merely a +pleasure-yacht out for a morning sail. + +No attempt had up to that time been made to accost her. Was she, then, +specially privileged, and to be spared the bother of being searched? +Was the Count d'Artigas considered too high and mighty a personage to +be thus molested, and delayed even for an hour? It was unlikely, for +though he was regarded as a distinguished foreigner who lived the life +of luxury enjoyed by the favored of fortune, no one, as a matter of +fact, knew who he was, nor whence he came, nor whither he was going. + +The schooner sped gracefully over the calm waters of the sound, her +flag--a gold crescent in the angle of a red field--streaming proudly +in the breeze. Count d'Artigas was cosily ensconced in a basket-work +chair on the after-deck, conversing with Engineer Serko and Captain +Spade. + +"They don't seem in a hurry to board us," remarked Serko. + +"They can come whenever they think proper," said the Count in a tone +of supreme indifference. + +"No doubt they are waiting for us at the entrance to the inlet," +suggested Captain Spade. + +"Let them wait," grunted the wealthy nobleman. + +Then he relapsed into his customary unconcerned impassibility. + +Captain Spade's hypothesis was doubtless correct. The _Falcon_ had as +yet made no move towards the schooner, but would almost certainly do +so as soon as the latter reached the inlet, and the Count would have +to submit to a search of his vessel if he wished to reach the open +sea. + +How was it then that he manifested such extraordinary unconcern? Were +Thomas Roch and Gaydon so safely hidden that their hiding-place could +not possibly be discovered? + +The thing was possible, but perhaps the Count d'Artigas would not have +been quite so confident had he been aware that the _Ebba_ had been +specially signalled to the warship and revenue cutters as a suspect. + +The Count's visit to Healthful House on the previous day had now +attracted particular attention to him and his schooner. Evidently, at +the time, the director could have had no reason to suspect the motive +of his visit. But a few hours later, Thomas Roch and his keeper had +been carried off. No one else from outside had been near the pavilion +that day. It was admitted that it would have been an easy matter for +the Count's companion, while the former distracted the director's +attention, to push back the bolts of the door in the wall and steal +the key. Then the fact that the _Ebba_ was anchored in rear of, and +only a few hundred yards from, the estate, was in itself suspicious. +Nothing would have been easier for the desperadoes than to enter by +the door, surprise their victims, and carry them off to the schooner. + +These suspicions, neither the director nor the _personnel_ of the +establishment had at first liked to give expression to, but when +the _Ebba_ was seen to weigh anchor and head for the open sea, they +appeared to be confirmed. + +They were communicated to the authorities of New-Berne, who +immediately ordered the commander of the _Falcon_ to intercept the +schooner, to search her minutely high and low, and from stem to stern, +and on no account to let her proceed, unless he was absolutely certain +that Roch and Gaydon were not on board. + +Assuredly the Count d'Artigas could have had no idea that his vessel +was the object of such stringent orders; but even if he had, it is +questionable whether this superbly haughty and disdainful nobleman +would have manifested any particular anxiety. + +Towards three o'clock, the warship which was cruising before the +inlet, after having sent search parties aboard a few fishing-smacks, +suddenly manoeuvred to the entrance of the pass, and awaited the +approaching schooner. The latter surely did not imagine that she could +force a passage in spite of the cruiser, or escape from a vessel +propelled by steam. Besides, had she attempted such a foolhardy +trick, a couple of shots from the _Falcon's_ guns would speedily have +constrained her to lay to. + +Presently a boat, manned by two officers and ten sailors, put off from +the cruiser and rowed towards the _Ebba_. When they were only about +half a cable's length off, one of the men rose and waved a flag. + +"That's a signal to stop," said Engineer Serko. + +"Precisely," remarked the Count d'Artigas. + +"We shall have to lay to." + +"Then lay to." + +Captain Spade went forward and gave the necessary orders, and in a few +minutes the vessel slackened speed, and was soon merely drifting with +the tide. + +The _Falcon's_ boat pulled alongside, and a man in the bows held on to +her with a boat-hook. The gangway was lowered by a couple of hands on +the schooner, and the two officers, followed by eight of their men, +climbed on deck. + +They found the crew of the _Ebba_ drawn up in line on the forecastle. + +The officer in command of the boarding-party--a first +lieutenant--advanced towards the owner of the schooner, and the +following questions and answers were exchanged: + +"This schooner belongs to the Count d'Artigas, to whom, I presume, I +have the honor of speaking?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What is her name?" + +"The _Ebba_." + +"She is commanded by?--" + +"Captain Spade." + +"What is his nationality?" + +"Hindo-Malay." + +The officer scrutinized the schooner's flag, while the Count d'Artigas +added: + +"Will you be good enough to tell me, sir, to what circumstance I owe +the pleasure of your visit on board my vessel?" + +"Orders have been received," replied the officer, "to search every +vessel now anchored in Pamlico Sound, or which attempts to leave it." + +He did not deem it necessary to insist upon this point since the +_Ebba_, above every other, was to be subjected to the bother of a +rigorous examination. + +"You, of course, sir, have no intention of refusing me permission to +go over your schooner?" + +"Assuredly not, sir. My vessel is at your disposal from peaks to +bilges. Only I should like to know why all the vessels which happen to +be in Pamlico Sound to-day are being subjected to this formality." + +"I see no reason why you should not be informed, Monsieur the Count," +replied the officer. "The governor of North Carolina has been apprised +that Healthful House has been broken into and two persons kidnapped, +and the authorities merely wish to satisfy themselves that the persons +carried off have not been embarked during the night." + +"Is it possible?" exclaimed the Count, feigning surprise. "And who are +the persons who have thus disappeared from Healthful House?" + +"An inventor--a madman--and his keeper." + +"A madman, sir? Do you, may I ask, refer to the Frenchman, Thomas +Roch?" + +"The same." + +"The Thomas Roch whom I saw yesterday during my visit to the +establishment--whom I questioned in presence of the director--who +was seized with a violent paroxysm just as Captain Spade and I were +leaving?" + +The officer observed the stranger with the keenest attention, in an +effort to surprise anything suspicious in his attitude or remarks. + +"It is incredible!" added the Count, as though he had just heard about +the outrage for the first time. + +"I can easily understand, sir, how uneasy the authorities must be," +he went on, "in view of Thomas Roch's personality, and I cannot but +approve of the measures taken. I need hardly say that neither the +French inventor nor his keeper is on board the _Ebba_. However, you +can assure yourself of the fact by examining the schooner as minutely +as you desire. Captain Spade, show these gentlemen over the vessel." + +Then saluting the lieutenant of the _Falcon_ coldly, the Count +d'Artigas sank into his deck-chair again and replaced his cigar +between his lips, while the two officers and eight sailors, conducted +by Captain Spade, began their search. + +In the first place they descended the main hatchway to the after +saloon--a luxuriously-appointed place, filled with art objects of +great value, hung with rich tapestries and hangings, and wainscotted +with costly woods. + +It goes without saying that this and the adjoining cabins were +searched with a care that could not have been surpassed by the most +experienced detectives. Moreover, Captain Spade assisted them by every +means in his power, obviously anxious that they should not preserve +the slightest suspicion of the _Ebba's_ owner. + +After the grand saloon and cabins, the elegant dining-saloon was +visited. Then the cook's galley, Captain Spade's cabin, and the +quarters of the crew in the forecastle were overhauled, but no sign of +Thomas Roch or Gaydon was to be seen. + +Next, every inch of the hold, etc., was examined, with the aid of a +couple of lanterns. Water-kegs, wine, brandy, whisky and beer barrels, +biscuit-boxes, in fact, all the provision boxes and everything the +hold contained, including the stock of coal, was moved and probed, and +even the bilges were scrutinized, but all in vain. + +Evidently the suspicion that the Count d'Artigas had carried off +the missing men was unfounded and unjust. Even a rat could not have +escaped the notice of the vigilant searchers, leave alone two men. + +When they returned on deck, however, the officers, as a matter of +precaution looked into the boats hanging on the davits, and punched +the lowered sails, with the same result. + +It only remained for them, therefore, to take leave of the Count +d'Artigas. + +"You must pardon us for having disturbed you, Monsieur the Count," +said the lieutenant. + +"You were compelled to obey your orders, gentlemen." + +"It was merely a formality, of course," ventured the officer. + +By a slight inclination of the head the Count signified that he was +quite willing to accept this euphemism. + +"I assure you, gentlemen, that I have had no hand in this kidnapping." + +"We can no longer believe so, Monsieur the Count, and will withdraw." + +"As you please. Is the _Ebba_ now free to proceed?" + +"Certainly." + +"Then _au revoir_, gentlemen, _au revoir_, for I am an _habitué_ of +this coast and shall soon be back again. I hope that ere my return you +will have discovered the author of the outrage, and have Thomas Roch +safely back in Healthful House. It is a consummation devoutly to be +wished in the interest of the United States--I might even say of the +whole world." + +The two officers courteously saluted the Count, who responded with a +nod. Captain Spade accompanied them to the gangway, and they were soon +making for the cruiser, which had steamed near to pick them up. + +Meanwhile the breeze had freshened considerably, and when, at a sign +from d'Artigas, Captain Spade set sail again, the _Ebba_ skimmed +swiftly through the inlet, and half an hour after was standing out to +sea. + +For an hour she continued steering east-northeast, and then, the wind, +being merely a land breeze, dropped, and the schooner lay becalmed, +her sails limp, and her flag drooping like a wet rag. It seemed that +it would be impossible for the vessel to continue her voyage that +night unless a breeze sprang up, and of this there was no sign. + +Since the schooner had cleared the inlet Captain Spade had stood in +the bows gazing into the water, now to port, now to starboard, as if +on the lookout for something. Presently he shouted in a stentorian +voice: + +"Furl sail!" + +The sailors rushed to their posts, and in an instant the sails came +rattling down and were furled. + +Was it Count d'Artigas' intention to wait there till daybreak brought +a breeze with it? Presumably, or the sails would have remained hoisted +to catch the faintest puff. + +A boat was lowered and Captain Spade jumped into it, accompanied by +a sailor, who paddled it towards an object that was floating on the +water a few yards away. + +This object was a small buoy, similar to that which had floated on the +bosom of the Neuse when the _Ebba_ lay off Healthful House. + +The buoy, with a towline affixed to it, was lifted into the boat that +was then paddled to the bow of the _Ebba_, from the deck of which +another hawser was cast to the captain, who made it fast to the +towline of the buoy. Having dropped the latter overboard again, the +captain and the sailor returned to the ship and the boat was hoisted +in. + +Almost immediately the hawser tautened, and the _Ebba_, though not a +stitch of canvas had been set, sped off in an easterly direction at a +speed that could not have been less than ten knots an hour. + +Night was falling fast, and soon the rapidly receding lights along the +American coast were lost in the mist on the horizon. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +WHERE AM I? + +(Notes by Simon Hart, the Engineer.) + + +Where am I? What has happened since the sudden aggression of which I +was the victim near the pavilion? + +I had just quitted the doctor, and was about to mount the steps, close +the door and resume my post beside Thomas Roch when several men +sprang upon me and knocked me down. Who are they? My eyes having been +bandaged I was unable to recognize them. I could not cry for help, +having been gagged. I could make no resistance, for they had bound me +hand and foot. Thus powerless, I felt myself lifted and carried about +one hundred paces, then hoisted, then lowered, then laid down. + +Where? Where? + +And Thomas Roch, what has become of him? It must have been he rather +than I they were after. I was but Gaydon, the warder. None suspected +that I was Simon Hart, the engineer, nor could they have suspected my +nationality. Why, therefore, should they have desired to kidnap a mere +hospital attendant? + +There can consequently be no doubt that the French inventor has been +carried off; and if he was snatched from Healthful House it must have +been in the hope of forcing his secret from him. + +But I am reasoning on the supposition that Thomas Roch was carried off +with me. Is it so? Yes--it must be--it is. I can entertain no doubt +whatever about it. I have not fallen into the hands of malefactors +whose only intention is robbery. They would not have acted in this +way. After rendering it impossible for me to cry out, after having +thrown me into a clump of bushes in the corner of the garden, after +having kidnapped Thomas Roch they would not have shut me up--where I +now am. + +Where? This is the question which I have been asking myself for hours +without being able to answer it. + +However, one thing is certain, and that is that I have embarked upon +an extraordinary adventure, that will end?--In what manner I know +not--I dare not even imagine what the upshot of it will be. Anyhow, +it is my intention to commit to memory, minute by minute, the least +circumstance, and then, if it be possible, to jot down my daily +impressions. Who knows what the future has in store for me? And who +knows but what, in my new position, I may finally discover the secret +of Roth's fulgurator? If I am to be delivered one day, this secret +must be made known, as well as who is the author, or who are the +authors, of this criminal outrage, which may be attended with such +serious consequences. + +I continually revert to this question, hoping that some incident will +occur to enlighten me: + +Where am I? + +Let me begin from the beginning. + +After having been carried by the head and feet from Healthful House, +I felt that I was laid, without any brutality, I must admit, upon the +stretchers of a row-boat of small dimensions. + +The rocking caused by the weight of my body was succeeded shortly +afterwards by a further rocking--which I attribute to the embarking of +a second person. Can there be room for doubt that it was Thomas +Roch? As far as he was concerned they would not have had to take the +precaution of gagging him, or of bandaging his eyes, or of binding +him. He must still have been in a state of prostration which precluded +the possibility of his making any resistance, or even of being +conscious of what was being done. The proof that I am not deceiving +myself is that I could smell the unmistakable odor of ether. Now, +yesterday, before taking leave of us, the doctor administered a few +drops of ether to the invalid and--I remember distinctly--a little of +this extremely volatile substance fell upon his clothing while he was +struggling in his fit. There is therefore nothing astonishing in the +fact that this odor should have clung to him, nor that I should have +distinguished it, even beneath the bandages that covered my face. + +Yes, Thomas Roch was extended near me in the boat. And to think that +had I not returned to the pavilion when I did, had I delayed a few +minutes longer, I should have found him gone! + +Let me think. What could have inspired that Count d'Artigas with the +unfortunate curiosity to visit Healthful House? If he had not been +allowed to see my patient nothing of the kind would have happened. +Talking to Thomas Roch about his inventions brought on a fit of +exceptional violence. The director is primarily to blame for not +heeding my warning. Had he listened to me the doctor would not have +been called upon to attend him, the door of the pavilion would have +been locked, and the attempt of the band would have been frustrated. + +As to the interest there could have been in carrying off Thomas Roch, +either on behalf of a private person or of one of the states of the +Old World, it is so evident that there is no need to dwell upon it. +However, I can be perfectly easy about the result. No one can possibly +succeed in learning what for fifteen months I have been unable to +ascertain. In the condition of intellectual collapse into which my +fellow-countryman has fallen, all attempts to force his secret from +him will be futile. Moreover, he is bound to go from bad to worse +until he is hopelessly insane, even as regards those points upon which +he has hitherto preserved his reason intact. + +After all, however, it is less about Thomas Roch than myself that I +must think just now, and this is what I have experienced, to resume +the thread of my adventure where I dropped it: + +After more rocking caused by our captors jumping into it, the boat +is rowed off. The distance must be very short, for a minute after we +bumped against something. I surmise that this something must be +the hull of a ship, and that we have run alongside. There is some +scurrying and excitement. Indistinctly through my bandages I can hear +orders being given and a confused murmur of voices that lasts for +about five minutes, but I cannot distinguish a word that is said. + +The only thought that occurs to me now is that they will hoist me on +board and lower me to the bottom of the hold and keep me there till +the vessel is far out at sea. Obviously they will not allow either +Thomas Roch or his keeper to appear on deck as long as she remains in +Pamlico Sound. + +My conjecture is correct. Still gagged and bound I am at last lifted +by the legs and shoulders. My impression, however, is that I am not +being raised over a ship's bulwark, but on the contrary am being +lowered. Are they going to drop me overboard to drown like a rat, so +as to get rid of a dangerous witness? This thought flashes into my +brain, and a quiver of anguish passes through my body from head to +foot. Instinctively I draw a long breath, and my lungs are filled with +the precious air they will speedily lack. + +No, there is no immediate cause for alarm. I am laid with comparative +gentleness upon a hard floor, which gives me the sensation of metallic +coldness. I am lying at full length. To my extreme surprise, I find +that the ropes with which I was bound have been untied and loosened. +The tramping about around me has ceased. The next instant I hear a +door closed with a bang. + +Where am I? And, in the first place, am I alone? I tear the gag from +my mouth, and the bandages from my head. + +It is dark--pitch dark. Not a ray of light, not even the vague +perception of light that the eyes preserve when the lids are tightly +closed. + +I shout--I shout repeatedly. No response. My voice is smothered. The +air I breathe is hot, heavy, thick, and the working of my lungs will +become difficult, impossible, unless the store of air is renewed. + +I extend my arms and feel about me, and this is what I conclude: + +I am in a compartment with sheet-iron walls, which cannot measure more +than four cubic yards. I can feel that the walls are of bolted plates, +like the sides of a ship's water-tight compartment. + +I can feel that the entrance to it is by a door on one side, for the +hinges protrude somewhat. This door must open inwards, and it is +through here, no doubt, that I was carried in. + +I place my ear to the door, but not a sound can be heard. The silence +is as profound as the obscurity--a strange silence that is only broken +by the sonorousness of the metallic floor when I move about. None of +the dull noises usually to be heard on board a ship is perceptible, +not even the rippling of the water along the hull. Nor is there the +slightest movement to be felt; yet, in the estuary of the Neuse, the +current is always strong enough, to cause a marked oscillation to any +vessel. + +But does the compartment in which I am confined, really belong to +a ship? How do I know that I am afloat on the Neuse, though I was +conveyed a short distance in a boat? Might not the latter, instead of +heading for a ship in waiting for it, opposite Healthful House, have +been rowed to a point further down the river? In this case is it not +possible that I was carried into the cellar of a house? This would +explain the complete immobility of the compartment. It is true that +the walls are of bolted plates, and that there is a vague smell of +salt water, that odor _sui generis_ which generally pervades the +interior of a ship, and which there is no mistaking. + +An interval, which I estimate at about four hours, must have passed +since my incarceration. It must therefore be near midnight. Shall I be +left here in this way till morning? Luckily, I dined at six o'clock, +which is the regular dinner-hour at Healthful House. I am not +suffering from hunger. In fact I feel more inclined to sleep than +to eat. Still, I hope I shall have energy enough to resist the +inclination. I will not give way to it. I must try and find out what +is going on outside. But neither sound nor light can penetrate this +iron box. Wait a minute, though; perhaps by listening intently I may +hear some sound, however feeble. Therefore I concentrate all my vital +power in my sense of hearing. Moreover, I try--in case I should +really not be on _terra firma_--to distinguish some movement, some +oscillation of my prison. Admitting that the ship is still at anchor, +it cannot be long before it will start--otherwise I shall have to give +up imagining why Thomas Roch and I have been carried off. + +At last--it is no illusion--a slight rolling proves to me, beyond a +doubt, that I am not on land. We are evidently moving, but the motion +is scarcely perceptible. It is not a jerky, but rather a gliding +movement, as though we were skimming through the water without effort, +on an even keel. + +Let me consider the matter calmly. I am on board a vessel that was +anchored in the Neuse, waiting under sail or steam, for the result of +the expedition. A boat brought me aboard, but, I repeat, I did not +feel that I was lifted over her bulwarks. Was I passed through a +porthole? But after all, what does it matter? Whether I was lowered +into the hold or not, I am certainly upon something that is floating +and moving. + +No doubt I shall soon be let out, together with Thomas Roch, supposing +them to have locked him up as carefully as they have me. By being let +out, I mean being accorded permission to go on deck. It will not be +for some hours to come, however, that is certain, for they won't want +us to be seen, so that there is no chance of getting a whiff of fresh +air till we are well out at sea. If it is a sailing vessel, she must +have waited for a breeze--for the breeze that freshens off shore at +daybreak, and is favorable to ships navigating Pamlico Sound. + +It certainly cannot be a steamer. I could not have failed to smell the +oil and other odors of the engine-room. And then I should feel +the trembling of the machinery, the jerks of the pistons, and the +movements of the screws or paddles. + +The best thing to do is to wait patiently. I shan't be taken out of +this hole until to-morrow, anyway. Moreover, if I am not released, +somebody will surely bring me something to eat. There is no reason to +suppose that they intend to starve me to death. They wouldn't have +taken the trouble to bring me aboard, but would have dropped me to the +bottom of the river had they been desirous of getting rid of me. Once +we are out at sea, what will they have to fear from me? No one could +hear my shouts. As to demanding an explanation and making a fuss, it +would be useless. Besides, what am I to the men who have carried us +off? A mere hospital attendant--one Gaydon, who is of no consequence. +It is Thomas Roch they were after. I was taken along too because I +happened to return to the pavilion at the critical moment. + +At any rate, no matter what happens, no matter who our kidnappers may +be, no matter where we are taken, I shall stick to this resolution: I +will continue to play my role of warder. No one, no! none, can suspect +that Gaydon is Simon Hart, the engineer. There are two advantages in +this: in the first place, they will take no notice of a poor devil +of a warder, and in the second, I may be able to solve the mystery +surrounding this plot and turn my knowledge to profit, if I succeed in +making my escape. + +But whither are my thoughts wandering? I must perforce wait till we +arrive at our destination before thinking of escaping. It will be time +enough to bother about that when the occasion presents itself. Until +then the essential is that they remain ignorant as to my identity, and +they cannot, and shall not, know who I am. + +I am now certain that we are going through the water. But there is one +thing that puzzles me. It is not a sailing vessel, neither can it be a +steamer. Yet it is incontestably propelled by some powerful machine. +There are none of the noises, nor is there the trembling that +accompanies the working of steam engines. The movement of the vessel +is more continuous and regular, it is a sort of direct rotation that +is communicated by the motor, whatever the latter may be. No mistake +is possible: the ship is propelled by some special mechanism. But what +is it? + +Is it one of those turbines that have been spoken of lately, which, +fitted into a submerged tube, are destined to replace the ordinary +screw, it being claimed that they utilize the resistance of the water +better than the latter and give increased speed to a ship? + +In a few hours' time I shall doubtless know all about this means of +locomotion. + +Meanwhile there is another thing that equally puzzles me. There is not +the slightest rolling or pitching. How is it that Pamlico Sound is so +extraordinarily calm? The varying currents continuously ruffle the +surface of the Sound, even if nothing else does. + +It is true the tide may be out, and I remember that last night +the wind had fallen altogether. Still, no matter, the thing is +inexplicable, for a ship propelled by machinery, no matter at what +speed she may be going, always oscillates more or less, and I cannot +perceive the slightest rocking. + +Such are the thoughts with which my mind is persistently filled. +Despite an almost overpowering desire to sleep, despite the torpor +that is coming upon me in this suffocating atmosphere, I am resolved +not to close my eyes. I will keep awake till daylight, and there will +be no daylight for me till it is let into my prison from the outside. +Perhaps even if the door were open it would not penetrate to this +black hole, and I shall probably not see it again until I am taken on +deck. + +I am squatting in a corner of my prison, for I have no stool or +anything to sit upon, but as my eyelids are heavy and I feel somnolent +in spite of myself, I get up and walk about. Then I wax wrathful, +anger fills my soul, I beat upon the iron walls with my fists, and +shout for help. In vain! I hurt my hands against the bolts of the +plates, and no one answers my cries. + +Such conduct is unworthy of me. I flattered myself that I would remain +calm under all circumstances and here I am acting like a child. + +The absence of any rolling or lurching movement at least proves that +we are not yet at sea. Instead of crossing Pamlico Sound, may we not +be going in the opposite direction, up the River Neuse? No! What would +they go further inland for? If Thomas Roch has been carried off from +Healthful House, his captors obviously mean to take him out of the +United States--probably to a distant island in the Atlantic, or to +some point on the European continent. It is, therefore, not up the +Neuse that our maritime machine, whatever it may be, is going, but +across Pamlico Sound, which must be as calm as a mirror. + +Very well, then, when we get to sea I shall soon, know, for the vessel +will rock right enough in the swell off shore, even though there be +no wind,--unless I am aboard a battleship, or big cruiser, and this I +fancy can hardly be! + +But hark! If I mistake not--no, it was not imagination--I hear +footsteps. Some one is approaching the side of the compartment where +the door is. One of the crew no doubt. Are they going to let me out at +last? I can now hear voices. A conversation is going on outside the +door, but it is carried on in a language that I do not understand. I +shout to them--I shout again, but no answer is vouchsafed. + +There is nothing to do, then, but wait, wait, wait! I keep repeating +the word and it rings in my ears like a bell. + +Let me try to calculate how long I have been here. The ship must have +been under way for at least four or five hours. I reckon it must be +past midnight, but I cannot tell, for unfortunately my watch is of no +use to me in this Cimmerian darkness. + +Now, if we have been going for five hours, we must have cleared +Pamlico Sound, whether we issued by Ocracoke or Hatteras inlet, and +must be off the coast a good mile, at least. Yet I haven't felt any +motion from the swell of the sea. + +It is inexplicable, incredible! Come now, have I made a mistake? Am +I the dupe of an illusion? Am I not imprisoned in the hold of a ship +under way? + +Another hour has passed and the movement of the ship suddenly ceases; +I realize perfectly that she is stationary. Has she reached her +destination? In this event we can only be in one of the coast ports +to the north or south of Pamlico Sound. But why should Thomas Roch be +landed again? The abduction must soon have been discovered, and our +kidnappers would run the greatest risk of falling into the hands of +the authorities if they attempted to disembark. + +However this may be, if the vessel is coming to anchor I shall hear +the noise of the chain as it is paid out, and feel the jerk as +the ship is brought up. I know that sound and that jerk well from +experience, and I am bound to hear and feel them in a minute or two. + +I wait--I listen. + +A dead and disquieting silence reigns on board. I begin to wonder +whether I am not the only living being in the ship. + +Now I feel an irresistible torpor coming over me. The air is vitiated. +I cannot breathe. My chest is bursting. I try to resist, but it is +impossible to do so. The temperature rises to such a degree that I am +compelled to divest myself of part of my clothing. Then I lie me down +in a corner. My heavy eyelids close, and I sink into a prostration +that eventually forces me into heavy slumber. + +How long have I been asleep? I cannot say. Is it night? Is it day? I +know not. I remark, however, that I breathe more easily, and that the +air is no longer poisoned carbonic acid. + +Was the air renewed while I slept? Has the door been opened? Has +anybody been in here? + +Yes, here is the proof of it! + +In feeling about, my hand has come in contact with a mug filled with +a liquid that exhales an inviting odor. I raise it to my lips, which, +are burning, for I am suffering such an agony of thirst that I would +even drink brackish water. + +It is ale--an ale of excellent quality--which refreshes and comforts +me, and I drain the pint to the last drop. + +But if they have not condemned me to die of thirst, neither have they +condemned me to die of hunger, I suppose? + +No, for in one of the corners I find a basket, and this basket +contains some bread and cold meat. + +I fall to, eating greedily, and my strength little by little returns. + +Decidedly, I am not so abandoned as I thought I was. Some one entered +this obscure hole, and the open door admitted a little of the oxygen +from the outside, without which I should have been suffocated. Then +the wherewithal to quench my thirst and appease the pangs of hunger +was placed within my reach. + +How much longer will this incarceration last? Days? Months? I cannot +estimate the hours that have elapsed since I fell asleep, nor have I +any idea as to what time of the day or night it may be. I was careful +to wind up my watch, though, and perhaps by feeling the hands--Yes, I +think the little hand marks eight o'clock--in the morning, no doubt. +What I do know, however, is that the ship is not in motion. There is +not the slightest quiver. + +Hours and hours, weary, interminable hours go by, and I wonder whether +they are again waiting till night comes on to renew my stock of +air and provisions. Yes, they are waiting to take advantage of my +slumbers. But this time I am resolved to resist. I will feign to be +asleep--and I shall know how to force an answer from whoever enters! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ON DECK. + + +Here I am in the open air, breathing freely once more. I have at last +been hauled out of that stifling box and taken on deck. I gaze around +me in every direction and see no sign of land. On every hand is that +circular line which defines earth and sky. No, there is not even a +speck of land to be seen to the west, where the coast of North America +extends for thousands of miles. + +The setting sun now throws but slanting rays upon the bosom of the +ocean. It must be about six o'clock in the evening. I take out my +watch and it marks thirteen minutes past six. + +As I have already mentioned, I waited for the door of my prison to +open, thoroughly resolved not to fall asleep again, but to spring upon +the first person who entered and force him to answer my questions. I +was not aware then that it was day, but it was, and hour after hour +passed and no one came. I began to suffer again from hunger and +thirst, for I had not preserved either bite or sup. + +As soon as I awoke I felt that the ship was in motion again, after +having, I calculated, remained stationary since the previous day--no +doubt in some lonely creek, since I had not heard or felt her come to +anchor. + +A few minutes ago--it must therefore have been six o'clock--I again +heard footsteps on the other side of the iron wall of my compartment. +Was anybody coming to my cell? Yes, for I heard the creaking of the +bolts as they were drawn back, and then the door opened, and the +darkness in which I had been plunged since the first hour of my +captivity was illumined by the light of a lantern. + +Two men, whom I had no time to look at, entered and seized me by the +arms. A thick cloth was thrown over my head, which was enveloped in +such a manner that I could see absolutely nothing. + +What did it all mean? What were they going to do with me? I struggled, +but they held me in an iron grasp. I questioned them, but they made +no reply. The men spoke to each other in a language that I could not +understand, and had never heard before. + +They stood upon no ceremony with me. It is true I was only a madhouse +warder, and they probably did not consider it necessary to do so; but +I question very much whether Simon Hart, the engineer, would have +received any more courtesy at their hands. + +This time, however, no attempt was made to gag me nor to bind either +my arms or legs. I was simply restrained by main force from breaking +away from them. + +In a moment I was dragged out of the compartment and pushed along a +narrow passage. Next, the steps of a metallic stairway resounded under +our feet. Then the fresh air blew in my face and I inhaled it with +avidity. + +Finally they took their hands from off me, and I found myself free. I +immediately tore the cloth off my head and gazed about me. + +I am on board a schooner which is ripping through the water at a great +rate and leaving a long white trail behind her. + +I had to clutch at one of the stays for support, dazzled as I was +by the light after my forty-eight hours' imprisonment in complete +obscurity. + +On the deck a dozen men with rough, weather-beaten faces come and +go--very dissimilar types of men, to whom it would be impossible to +attribute any particular nationality. They scarcely take any notice of +me. + +As to the schooner, I estimate that she registers from two hundred and +fifty to three hundred tons. She has a fairly wide beam, her masts are +strong and lofty, and her large spread of canvas must carry her along +at a spanking rate in a good breeze. + +Aft, a grizzly-faced man is at the wheel, and he is keeping her head +to the sea that is running pretty high. + +I try to find out the name of the vessel, but it is not to be seen +anywhere, even on the life-buoys. + +I walk up to one of the sailors and inquire: + +"What is the name of this ship?" + +No answer, and I fancy the man does not understand me. + +"Where is the captain?" I continue. + +But the sailor pays no more heed to this than he did to the previous +question. + +I turn on my heel and go forward. + +Above the forward hatchway a bell is suspended. Maybe the name of the +schooner is engraved upon it. I examine it, but can find no name upon +it. + +I then return to the stern and address the man at the wheel. He gazes +at me sourly, shrugs his shoulders, and bending, grasps the spokes of +the wheel solidly, and brings the schooner, which had been headed off +by a large wave from port, stem on to sea again. + +Seeing that nothing is to be got from that quarter, I turn away and +look about to see if I can find Thomas Roch, but I do not perceive +him anywhere. Is he not on board? He must be. They could have had no +reason for carrying me off alone. No one could have had any idea +that I was Simon Hart, the engineer, and even had they known it what +interest could they have had in me, and what could they expect of me? + +Therefore, as Roch is not on deck, I conclude that he is locked in one +of the cabins, and trust he has met with better treatment than his +ex-guardian. + +But what is this--and how on earth could I have failed to notice it +before? How is this schooner moving? Her sails are furled--there is +not an inch of canvas set--the wind has fallen, and the few puffs that +occasionally come from the east are unfavorable, in view of the fact +that we are going in that very direction. And yet the schooner speeds +through the sea, her bows down, throwing off clouds of foam, and +leaving a long, milky, undulating trail in her wake. + +Is she a steam-yacht? No--there is not a smokestack about her. Is she +propelled by electricity--by a battery of accumulators, or by piles of +great power that work her screw and send her along at this rate? + +I can come to no other conclusion. In any case she must be fitted with +a screw, and by leaning over the stern I shall be able to see it, and +can find out what sets it working afterwards. + +The man at the wheel watches me ironically as I approach, but makes no +effort to prevent me from looking over. + +I gaze long and earnestly, but there is no foaming and seething of +the water such as is invariably caused by the revolutions of the +screw--naught but the long white furrow that a sailing vessel leaves +behind is discernible in the schooner's wake. + +Then, what kind of a machine is it that imparts such a marvellous +speed to the vessel? As I have already said, the wind is against her, +and there is a heavy swell on. + +I must--I will know. No one pays the slightest attention, and I again +go forward. + +As I approach the forecastle I find myself face to face with a man who +is leaning nonchalantly on the raised hatchway and who is watching me. +He seems to be waiting for me to speak to him. + +I recognize him instantly. He is the person who accompanied the Count +d'Artigas during the latter's visit to Healthful House. There can be +no mistake--it is he right enough. + +It was, then, that rich foreigner who abducted Thomas Roch, and I am +on board the _Ebba_ his schooner-yacht which is so well known on the +American coast! + +The man before me will enlighten me about what I want to know. I +remember that he and the Count spoke English together. + +I take him to be the captain of the schooner. + +"Captain," I say, "you are the person I saw at Healthful House. You +remember me, of course?" + +He looks me up and down but does not condescend to reply. + +"I am Warder Gaydon, the attendant of Thomas Roch," I continue, "and I +want to know why you have carried me off and placed me on board this +schooner?" + +The captain interrupts me with a sign. It is not made to me, however, +but to some sailors standing near. + +They catch me by the arms, and taking no notice of the angry movement +that I cannot restrain, bundle me down the hatchway. The hatchway +stair in reality, I remark, is a perpendicular iron ladder, at the +bottom of which, to right and left, are some cabins, and forward, the +men's quarters. + +Are they going to put me back in my dark prison at the bottom of the +hold? + +No. They turn to the left and push me into a cabin. It is lighted by +a port-hole, which is open, and through which the fresh air comes in +gusts from the briny. The furniture consists of a bunk, a chair, a +chest of drawers, a wash-hand-stand and a table. + +The latter is spread for dinner, and I sit down. Then the cook's mate +comes in with two or three dishes. He is a colored lad, and as he is +about to withdraw, I try to question him, but he, too, vouchsafes no +reply. Perhaps he doesn't understand me. + +The door is closed, and I fall to and eat with an excellent appetite, +with the intention of putting off all further questioning till some +future occasion when I shall stand a chance of getting answered. + +It is true I am a prisoner, but this time I am comfortable enough, and +I hope I shall be permitted to occupy this cabin for the remainder of +the voyage, and not be lowered into that black hole again. + +I now give myself up to my thoughts, the first of which is that it was +the Count d'Artigas who planned the abduction; that it was he who is +responsible for the kidnapping of Thomas Roch, and that consequently +the French inventor must be just as comfortably installed somewhere on +board the schooner. + +But who is this Count d'Artigas? Where does he hail from? If he has +seized Thomas Roch, is it not because he is determined to secure the +secret of the fulgurator at no matter what cost? Very likely, and I +must therefore be careful not to betray my identity, for if they knew +the truth, I should never be afforded a chance to get away. + +But what a lot of mysteries to clear up, how many inexplicable things +to explain--the origin of this d'Artigas, his intentions as to the +future, whither we are bound, the port to which the schooner belongs, +and this mysterious progress through the water without sails and +without screws, at a speed of at least ten knots an hour! + +The air becoming keener as night deepens, I close and secure the +port-hole, and as my cabin is bolted on the outside, the best thing I +can do is to get into my bunk and let myself be gently rocked to sleep +by the broad Atlantic in this mysterious cradle, the _Ebba_. + +The next morning I rise at daybreak, and having performed my +ablutions, dress myself and wait. + +Presently the idea of trying the door occurs to me. I find that it has +been unbolted, and pushing it open, climb the iron ladder and emerge +on deck. + +The crew are washing down the deck, and standing aft and conversing +are two men, one of whom is the captain. The latter manifests no +surprise at seeing me, and indicates my presence to his companion by a +nod. + +This other man, whom I have never before seen, is an individual of +about fifty years of age, whose dark hair is streaked with gray. +His features are delicately chiselled, his eyes are bright, and his +expression is intelligent and not at all displeasing. He is somewhat +of the Grecian type, and I have no doubt that he is of Hellenic origin +when I hear him called Serko--Engineer Serko--by the Captain of the +_Ebba_. + +As to the latter, he is called Spade--Captain Spade--and this name has +an Italian twang about it. Thus there is a Greek, an Italian, and a +crew recruited from every corner of the earth to man a schooner with a +Norwegian name! This mixture strikes me as being suspicious. + +And that Count d'Artigas, with his Spanish name and Asiatic type, +where does he come from? + +Captain Spade and Engineer Serko continue to converse in a low tone of +voice. The former is keeping a sharp eye on the man at the wheel, who +does not appear to pay any particular attention to the compass in +front of him. He seems to pay more heed to the gestures of one of the +sailors stationed forward, and who signals to him to put the helm to +port or to starboard. + +Thomas Roch is near them, gazing vacantly out upon the vast expanse +which is not limited on the horizon by a single speck of land. Two +sailors watch his every movement. It is evidently feared that the +madman may possibly attempt to jump overboard. + +I wonder whether I shall be permitted to communicate with my ward. + +I walk towards him, and Captain Spade and Engineer Serko watch me. + +Thomas Roch doesn't see me coming, and I stand beside him. Still he +takes no notice of me, and makes no movement. His eyes, which sparkle +brightly, wander over the ocean, and he draws in deep breaths of the +salt, vivifying atmosphere. Added to the air surcharged with oxygen is +a magnificent sunset in a cloudless sky. Does he perceive the change +in his situation? Has he already forgotten about Healthful House, the +pavilion in which he was a prisoner, and Gaydon, his keeper? It is +highly probable. The past has presumably been effaced from his memory +and he lives solely in the present. + +In my opinion, even on the deck of the _Ebba_, in the middle of the +sea, Thomas Roch is still the helpless, irresponsible man whom I +tended for fifteen months. His intellectual condition has undergone no +change, and his reason will return only when he is spoken to about +his inventions. The Count d'Artigas is perfectly aware of this mental +disposition, having had a proof of it during his visit, and he +evidently relies thereon to surprise sooner or later the inventor's +secret. But with what object? + +"Thomas Roch!" I exclaim. + +My voice seems to strike him, and after gazing at me fixedly for an +instant he averts his eyes quickly. + +I take his hand and press it. He withdraws it brusquely and walks +away, without having recognized me, in the direction of Captain Spade +and Engineer Serko. + +Does he think of speaking to one or other of these men, and if they +speak to him will he be more reasonable than he was with me, and reply +to them? + +At this moment his physiognomy lights up with a gleam of intelligence. +His attention, obviously, has been attracted by the queer progress +of the schooner. He gazes at the masts and the furled sails. Then he +turns back and stops at the place where, if the _Ebba_ were a steamer, +the funnel ought to be, and which in this case ought to be belching +forth a cloud of black smoke. + +What appeared so strange to me evidently strikes Thomas Roch as being +strange, too. He cannot explain what I found inexplicable, and, as I +did, he walks aft to see if there is a screw. + +On the flanks of the _Ebba_ a shoal of porpoises are sporting. +Swift as is the schooner's course they easily pass her, leaping and +gambolling in their native element with surprising grace and agility. + +Thomas Roch pays no attention to them, but leans over the stern. + +Engineer Serko and Captain Spade, fearful lest he should fall +overboard, hurry to him and drag him gently, but firmly, away. + +I observe from long experience that Roch is a prey to violent +excitement. He turns about and gesticulates, uttering incoherent +phrases the while. + +It is plain to me that another fit is coming on, similar to the one he +had in the pavilion of Healthful House on the night we were abducted. +He will have to be seized and carried down to his cabin, and I shall +perhaps be summoned to attend to him. + +Meanwhile Engineer Serko and Captain Spade do not lose sight of him +for a moment. They are evidently curious to see what he will do. + +After walking towards the mainmast and assuring himself that the sails +are not set, he goes up to it and flinging his arms around it, tries +with all his might to shake it, as though seeking to pull it down. + + +Finding his efforts futile, he quits it and goes to the foremast, +where the same performance is gone through. He waxes more and more +excited. His vague utterances are followed by inarticulate cries. + +Suddenly he rushes to the port stays and clings to them, and I +begin to fear that he will leap into the rigging and climb to the +cross-tree, where he might be precipitated into the sea by a lurch of +the ship. + +On a sign from Captain Spade, some sailors run up and try to make him +relinquish his grasp of the stays, but are unable to do so. I know +that during his fits he is endowed with the strength of ten men, and +many a time I have been compelled to summon assistance in order to +overpower him. + +Other members of the crew, however, come up, and the unhappy madman is +borne to the deck, where two big sailors hold him down, despite his +extraordinary strength. + +The only thing to do is to convey him to his cabin, and let him +lie there till he gets over his fit. This is what will be done in +conformity with orders given by a new-comer whose voice seems familiar +to me. + +I turn and recognize him. + +He is the Count d'Artigas, with a frown on his face and an imperious +manner, just as I had seen him at Healthful House. + +I at once advance toward him. I want an explanation and mean to have +it. + +"By what right, sir?"--I begin. + +"By the right of might," replies the Count. + +Then he turns on his heel, and Thomas Roch is carried below. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +TWO DAYS AT SEA. + + +Perhaps--should circumstances render it necessary--I may be induced to +tell the Count d'Artigas that I am Simon Hart, the engineer. Who knows +but what I may receive more consideration than if I remain Warder +Gaydon? This measure, however, demands reflection. I have always been +dominated by the thought that if the owner of the _Ebba_ kidnapped the +French inventor, it was in the hope of getting possession of Roch's +fulgurator, for which, neither the old nor new continent would pay the +impossible price demanded. In that case the best thing I can do is to +remain Warder Gaydon, on the chance that I may be allowed to continue +in attendance upon him. In this way, if Thomas Roch should ever +divulge his secret, I may learn what it was impossible to do at +Healthful House, and can act accordingly. + +Meanwhile, where is the _Ebba_ bound?--first question. + +Who and what is the Count d'Artigas?--second question. + +The first will be answered in a few days' time, no doubt, in view of +the rapidity with which we are ripping through the water, under the +action of a means of propulsion that I shall end by finding out +all about. As regards the second, I am by no means so sure that my +curiosity will ever be gratified. + +In my opinion this enigmatical personage has an all important reason +for hiding his origin, and I am afraid there is no indication by which +I can gauge his nationality. If the Count d'Artigas speaks English +fluently--and I was able to assure myself of that fact during his +visit to Pavilion No. 17,--he pronounces it with a harsh, vibrating +accent, which is not to be found among the peoples of northern +latitudes. I do not remember ever to have heard anything like it in +the course of my travels either in the Old or New World--unless it +be the harshness characteristic of the idioms in use among the Malays. +And, in truth, with his olive, verging on copper-tinted skin, his +jet-black, crinkly hair, his piercing, deep-set, restless eyes, his +square shoulders and marked muscular development, it is by no means +unlikely that he belongs to one of the extreme Eastern races. + +I believe this name of d'Artigas is an assumed one, and his title of +Count likewise. If his schooner bears a Norwegian name, he at any rate +is not of Scandinavian origin. He has nothing of the races of Northern +Europe about him. + +But whoever and whatever he may be, this man abducted Thomas Roch--and +me with him--with no good intention, I'll be bound. + +But what I should like to know is, has he acted as the agent of a +foreign power, or on his own account? Does he wish to profit alone by +Thomas Roch's invention, and is he in the position to dispose of it +profitably? That is another question that I cannot yet answer. Maybe +I shall be able to find out from what I hear and see ere I make my +escape, if escape be possible. + +The _Ebba_ continues on her way in the same mysterious manner. I am +free to walk about the deck, without, however, being able to go beyond +the fore hatchway. Once I attempted to go as far as the bows where I +could, by leaning over, perceive the schooner's stem as it cut through +the water, but acting, it was plain, on orders received, the watch +on deck turned me back, and one of them, addressing me brusquely in +harsh, grating English, said: + +"Go back! Go back! You are interfering with the working of the ship!" + +With the working of the ship! There was no working. + +Did they realize that I was trying to discover by what means the +schooner was propelled? Very likely, and Captain Spade, who had looked +on, must have known it, too. Even a hospital attendant could not fail +to be astonished at the fact that a vessel without either screw or +sails was going along at such a speed. However this may be, for some +reason or other, the bows of the _Ebba_ are barred to me. + +Toward ten o'clock a breeze springs up--a northwest wind and very +favorable--and Captain Spade gives an order to the boatswain. The +latter immediately pipes all hands on deck, and the mainsail, the +foresail, staysail and jibs are hoisted. The work could not have been +executed with greater regularity and discipline on board a man-of-war. + +The _Ebba_ now has a slight list to port, and her speed is notably +increased. But the motor continues to push her along, as is evident +from the fact that the sails are not always as full as they ought +to be if the schooner were bowling along solely under their action. +However, they continue to render yeoman's service, for the breeze has +set in steadily. + +The sky is clear, for the clouds in the west disappear as soon as they +attain the horizon, and the sunlight dances on the water. + +My preoccupation now is to find out as near as possible where we +are bound for. I am a good-enough sailor to be able to estimate +the approximate speed of a ship. In my opinion the _Ebba_ has been +travelling at the rate of from ten to eleven knots an hour. As to the +direction we have been going in, it is always the same, and I have +been able to verify this by casual glances at the binnacle. If the +fore part of the vessel is barred to Warder Gaydon he has been allowed +a free run of the remainder of it. Time and again I have glanced at +the compass, and noticed that the needle invariably pointed to the +east, or to be exact, east-southeast. + +These are the conditions in which we are navigating this part of the +Atlantic Ocean, which is bounded on the west by the coast of the +United States of America. + +I appeal to my memory. What are the islands or groups of islands to +be found in the direction we are going, ere the continent of the Old +World is reached? + +North Carolina, which the schooner quitted forty-eight hours ago, is +traversed by the thirty-fifth parallel of latitude, and this parallel, +extending eastward, must, if I mistake not, cut the African coast at +Morocco. But along the line, about three thousand miles from America, +are the Azores. Is it presumable that the _Ebba_ is heading for this +archipelago, that the port to which she belongs is somewhere in these +islands which constitute one of Portugal's insular domains? I cannot +admit such an hypothesis. + +Besides, before the Azores, on the line of the thirty-fifth parallel, +is the Bermuda group, which belongs to England. It seems to me to be a +good deal less hypothetical that, if the Count d'Artigas was entrusted +with the abduction of Thomas Roch by a European Power at all, it was +by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The possibility, +however, remains that he may be acting solely in his own interest. + +Three or four times during the day Count d'Artigas has come aft and +remained for some time scanning the surrounding horizon attentively. +When a sail or the smoke from a steamer heaves in sight he examines +the passing vessel for a considerable time with a powerful telescope. +I may add that he has not once condescended to notice my presence on +deck. + +Now and then Captain Spade joins him and both exchange a few words in +a language that I can neither understand nor recognize. + +It is with Engineer Serko, however, that the owner of the _Ebba_ +converses more readily than with anybody else, and the latter appears +to be very intimate with him. The engineer is a good deal more free, +more loquacious and less surly than his companions, and I wonder what +position he occupies on the schooner. Is he a personal friend of the +Count d'Artigas? Does he scour the seas with him, sharing the enviable +life enjoyed by the rich yachtsman? He is the only man of the lot who +seems to manifest, if not sympathy with, at least some interest in me. + +I have not seen Thomas Roch all day. He must be shut in his cabin, +still under the influence of the fit that came upon him last night. + +I feel certain that this is so, when about three o'clock in the +afternoon, just as he is about to go below, the Count beckons me to +approach. + +I do not know what he wishes to say to me, this Count d'Artigas, but I +do know what I will say to him. + +"Do these fits to which Thomas Roch is subject last long?" he asks me +in English. + +"Sometimes forty-eight hours," I reply. + +"What is to be done?" + +"Nothing at all. Let him alone until he falls asleep. After a night's +sleep the fit will be over and Thomas Roch will be his own helpless +self again." + +"Very well, Warder Gaydon, you will continue to attend him as you did +at Healthful House, if it be necessary." + +"To attend to him!" + +"Yes--on board the schooner--pending our arrival." + +"Where?" + +"Where we shall be to-morrow afternoon," replies the Count. + +To-morrow, I say to myself. Then we are not bound for the coast of +Africa, nor even the Azores. There only remains the hypothesis that we +are making for the Bermudas. + +Count d'Artigas is about to go down the hatchway when I interrogate +him in my turn: + +"Sir," I exclaim, "I desire to know, I have the right to know, where I +am going, and----" + +"Here, Warder Gaydon," he interrupted, "you have no rights. All you +have to do is to answer when you are spoken to." "I protest!" + +"Protest, then," replies this haughty and imperious personage, +glancing at me menacingly. + +Then he disappears down the hatchway, leaving me face to face with +Engineer Serko. + +"If I were you, Warder Gaydon, I would resign myself to the +inevitable," remarks the latter with a smile. "When one is caught in a +trap----" + +"One can cry out, I suppose?" + +"What is the use when no one is near to hear you?" + +"I shall be heard some day, sir." + +"Some day--that's a long way off. However, shout as much as you +please." + +And with this ironical advice, Engineer Serko leaves me to my own +reflections. + +Towards four o'clock a big ship is reported about six miles off to +the east, coming in our direction. She is moving rapidly and grows +perceptibly larger. Black clouds of smoke pour out of her two funnels. +She is a warship, for a narrow pennant floats from her main-mast, +and though she is not flying any flag I take her to be an American +cruiser. + +I wonder whether the _Ebba_ will render her the customary salute as +she passes. + +No; for the schooner suddenly changes her course with the evident +intention of avoiding her. + +This proceeding on the part of such a suspicious yacht does not +astonish me greatly. But what does cause me extreme surprise is +Captain Spade's way of manoeuvring. + +He runs forward to a signalling apparatus in the bows, similar to that +by which orders are transmitted to the engine room of a steamer. As +soon as he presses one of the buttons of this apparatus the _Ebba_ +veers off a point to the south-west. + +Evidently an order of "some kind" has been transmitted to the driver +of the machine of "some kind" which causes this inexplicable movement +of the schooner by the action of a motor of "some kind" the principle +of which I cannot guess at. + +The result of this manoeuvre is that the _Ebba_ slants away from the +cruiser, whose course does not vary. Why should this warship cause a +pleasure-yacht to turn out of its way? I have no idea. + +But the _Ebba_ behaves in a very different manner when about six +o'clock in the evening a second ship comes in sight on the port bow. +This time, instead of seeking to avoid her, Captain Spade signals an +order by means of the apparatus above referred to, and resumes his +course to the east--which will bring him close to the said ship. + +An hour later, the two vessels are only about four miles from each +other. + +The wind has dropped completely. The strange ship, which is a +three-masted merchantman, is taking in her top-gallant sails. It is +useless to expect the wind to spring up again during the night, and +she will lay becalmed till morning. The _Ebba_, however, propelled by +her mysterious motor, continues to approach her. + +It goes without saying, that Captain Spade has also begun to take in +sail, and the work, under the direction of the boatswain Effrondat, is +executed with the same precision and promptness that struck me before. + +When the twilight deepens into darkness, only a mile and a half +separates the vessels. + +Captain Spade then comes up to me--I am standing on the starboard +side--and unceremoniously orders me to go below. + +I can but obey. I remark, however, ere I go, that the boatswain has +not lighted the head-lamps, whereas the lamps of the three-master +shine brightly--green to starboard, and red to port. + +I entertain no doubt that the schooner intends to pass her without +being seen; for though she has slackened speed somewhat, her direction +has not been in any way modified. + +I enter my cabin under the impression of a vague foreboding. My supper +is on the table, but uneasy, I know not why, I hardly touch it, and +lie down to wait for sleep that does not come. + +I remain in this condition for two hours. The silence is unbroken save +by the water that ripples along the vessel's sides. + +My mind is full of the events of the past two days, and other thoughts +crowd thickly upon me. To-morrow afternoon we shall reach our +destination. To-morrow, I shall resume, on land, my attendance upon +Thomas Roch, "if it be necessary," said the Count d'Artigas. + +If, when I was thrown into that black hole at the bottom of the hold, +I was able to perceive when the schooner started off across Pamlico +Sound, I now feel that she has come to a stop. It must be about ten +o'clock. + +Why has she stopped? When Captain Spade ordered me below, there was no +land in sight. In this direction, there is no island until the Bermuda +group is reached--at least there is none on the map--and we shall have +to go another fifty or sixty miles before the Bermudas can be +sighted by the lookout men. Not only has the _Ebba_ stopped, but her +immobility is almost complete. There is not a breath of wind, and +scarcely any swell, and her slight, regular rocking is hardly +perceptible. + +Then my thoughts turn to the merchantman, which was only a mile and a +half off, on our bow, when I came below. If the schooner continued her +course towards her, she must be almost alongside now. We certainly +cannot be lying more than one or two cables' length from her. The +three-master, which was becalmed at sundown, could not have gone west. +She must be close by, and if the night is clear, I shall be able to +see her through the porthole. + +It occurs to me, that perhaps a chance of escape presents itself. Why +should I not attempt it, since no hope of being restored to liberty is +held out to me? It is true I cannot swim, but if I seize a life buoy +and jump overboard, I may be able to reach the ship, if I am not +observed by the watch on deck. + +I must quit my cabin and go up by the forward hatchway. I listen. I +hear no noise, either in the men's quarters, or on deck. The sailors +must all be asleep at this hour. Here goes. + +I try to open the door, and find it is bolted on the outside, as I +might have expected. + +I must give up the attempt, which, after all, had small chance of +success. + +The best thing I can do, is to go to sleep, for I am weary of mind, +if not of body. I am restless and racked by conflicting thoughts, and +apprehensions of I know not what. Oh! if I could but sink into the +blessed oblivion of slumber! + +I must have managed to fall asleep, for I have just been awakened by +a noise--an unusual noise, such as I have not hitherto heard on board +the schooner. + +Day begins to peer through the glass of my port-hole, which is turned +towards the east. I look at my watch. It is half-past four. + +The first thing I wonder is, whether the _Ebba_ has resumed her +voyage. + +No, I am certain she has not, either by sail, or by her motor. The +sea is as calm at sunrise as it was at sunset. If the _Ebba_ has been +going ahead while I slept, she is at any rate, stationary now. + +The noise to which I referred, is caused by men hurrying to and fro on +deck--by men heavily laden. I fancy I can also hear a similar noise +in the hold beneath my cabin floor, the entrance to which is situated +abaft the foremast. I also feel that something is scraping against the +schooner's hull. Have boats come alongside? Are the crew engaged in +loading or unloading merchandise? + +And yet we cannot possibly have reached our journey's end. The Count +d'Artigas said that we should not reach our destination till this +afternoon. Now, I repeat, she was, last night, fully fifty or sixty +miles from the nearest land, the group of the Bermudas. That she could +have returned westward, and can be in proximity to the American coast, +is inadmissible, in view of the distance. Moreover, I have reason to +believe that the _Ebba_ has remained stationary all night. Before I +fell asleep, I know she had stopped, and I now know that she is not +moving. + +However, I shall see when I am allowed to go on deck. My cabin door is +still bolted, I find on trying it; but I do not think they are likely +to keep me here when broad daylight is on. + +An hour goes by, and it gradually gets lighter. I look out of my +porthole. The ocean is covered by a mist, which the first rays of the +sun will speedily disperse. + +I can, however, see for a half a mile, and if the three-masted +merchantman is not visible, it is probably because she is lying off +the other, or port, side of the _Ebba_. + +Presently I hear a key turned in my door, and the bolts drawn. I push +the door open and clamber up the iron ladder to the deck, just as the +men are battening down the cover of the hold. + +I look for the Count d'Artigas, but do not see him. He has not yet +left his cabin. + +Aft, Captain Spade and Engineer Serko are superintending the stowing +of some bales, which have doubtless been hoisted from the hold. This +explains the noisy operations that were going on when I was awakened. +Obviously, if the crew are getting out the cargo, we are approaching +the end of our voyage. We are not far from port, and perhaps in a few +hours, the schooner will drop anchor. + +But what about the sailing ship that was to port of us? She ought to +be in the same place, seeing that there has been and is no wind. + +I look for her, but she is nowhere to be seen. There is not a sail, +not a speck on the horizon either east, west, north or south. + +After cogitating upon the circumstance I can only arrive at the +following conclusion, which, however, can only be accepted under +reserve: Although I did not notice it, the _Ebba_ resumed her voyage +while I slept, leaving the three-master becalmed behind her, and this +is why the merchantman is no longer visible. + +I am careful not to question Captain Spade about it, nor even Engineer +Serko, as I should certainly receive no answer. + +Besides, at this moment Captain Spade goes to the signalling apparatus +and presses one of the buttons on the upper disk. Almost immediately +the _Ebba_ gives a jerk, then with her sails still furled, she starts +off eastward again. + +Two hours later the Count d'Artigas comes up through the main hatchway +and takes his customary place aft. Serko and Captain Spade at once +approach and engage in conversation with him. + +All three raise their telescopes and sweep the horizon from southeast +to northeast. + +No one will be surprised to learn that I gaze intently in the same +direction; but having no telescope I cannot distinguish anything. + +The midday meal over we all return on deck--all with the exception of +Thomas Roch, who has not quitted his cabin. + +Towards one o'clock land is sighted by the lookout man on the foretop +cross-tree. Inasmuch as the _Ebba_ is bowling along at great speed I +shall soon be able to make out the coast line. + +In effect, two hours later a vague semicircular line that curves +outward is discernible about eight miles off. As the schooner +approaches it becomes more distinct. It is a mountain, or at all +events very high ground, and from its summit a cloud of smoke ascends. + +What! A volcano in these parts? It must then be---- + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BACK CUP. + + +In my opinion the _Ebba_ could have struck no other group of islands +but the Bermudas in this part of the Atlantic. This is clear from the +distance covered from the American coast and the direction sailed in +since we issued from Pamlico Sound. This direction has constantly been +south-southeast, and the distance, judging from the _Ebba's_ rate of +speed, which has scarcely varied, is approximately seven hundred and +fifty miles. + +Still, the schooner does not slacken speed. The Count d'Artigas and +Engineer Serko remain aft, by the man at the wheel. Captain Spade has +gone forward. + +Are we not going to leave this island, which appears to be isolated, +to the west? + +It does not seem likely, since it is still broad daylight, and the +hour at which the _Ebba_ was timed to arrive. + +All the sailors are drawn up on deck, awaiting orders, and Boatswain +Effrondat is making preparations to anchor. + +Ere a couple of hours have passed I shall know all about it. It will +be the first answer to one of the many questions that have perplexed +me since the schooner put to sea. + +And yet it is most unlikely that the port to which the _Ebba_ belongs +is situated on one of the Bermuda islands, in the middle of an English +archipelago--unless the Count d'Artigas has kidnapped Thomas Roch for +the British government, which I cannot believe. + +I become aware that this extraordinary man is gazing at me with +singular persistence. Although he can have no suspicion that I am +Simon Hart, the engineer, he must be asking himself what I think of +this adventure. If Warder Gaydon is but a poor devil, this poor devil +will manifest as much unconcern as to what is in store for him as any +gentleman could--even though he were the proprietor of this queer +pleasure yacht. Still I am a little uneasy under his gaze. + +I dare say that if the Count d'Artigas could guess how certain things +have suddenly become clear to me, he would not hesitate to have me +thrown overboard. + +Prudence therefore commands me to be more circumspect than ever. + +Without giving rise to any suspicion--even in the mind of Engineer +Serko--I have succeeded in raising a corner of the mysterious veil, +and I begin to see ahead a bit. + +As the _Ebba_ draws nearer, the island, or rather islet, towards which +she is speeding shows more sharply against the blue background of the +sky. The sun which has passed the zenith, shines full upon the western +side. The islet is isolated, or at any rate I cannot see any others of +the group to which it belongs, either to north or south. + +This islet, of curious contexture, resembles as near as possible a +cup turned upside down, from which a fuliginous vapor arises. Its +summit--the bottom of the cup, if you like--is about three hundred +feet above the level of the sea, and its flanks, which are steep and +regular, are as bare as the sea-washed rocks at its base. + +There is another peculiarity about it which must render the islet +easily recognizable by mariners approaching it from the west, and this +is a rock which forms a natural arch at the base of the mountain--the +handle of the cup, so to speak--and through which the waves wash as +freely as the sunshine passes. Seen this way the islet fully justifies +the name of Back Cup given to it. + +Well, I know and recognize this islet! It is situated at the extremity +of the archipelago of the Bermudas. It is the "reversed cup" that I +had occasion to visit a few years ago--No, I am not mistaken. I then +climbed over the calcareous and crooked rocks at its base on the east +side. Yes, it is Back Cup, sure enough! + +Had I been less self-possessed I might have uttered an exclamation +of surprise--and satisfaction--which, with good reason, would have +excited the attention and suspicion of the Count d'Artigas. + +These are the circumstances under which I came to explore Back Cup +while on a visit to Bermuda. + +This archipelago, which is situated about seven hundred and fifty +miles from North Carolina is composed of several hundred islands or +islets. Its centre is crossed by the sixty-fourth meridian and the +thirty-second parallel. Since the Englishman Lomer was shipwrecked +and cast up there in 1609, the Bermudas have belonged to the United +Kingdom, and in consequence the colonial population has increased to +ten thousand inhabitants. It was not for its productions of cotton, +coffee, indigo, and arrowroot that England annexed the group--seized +it, one might say; but because it formed a splendid maritime station +in that part of the Ocean, and in proximity to the United States of +America. Possession was taken of it without any protest on the part of +other powers, and Bermuda is now administered by a British governor +with the addition of a council and a General Assembly. + +The principal islands of the archipelago are called St. David, +Somerset, Hamilton, and St. George. The latter has a free port, and +the town of the same name is also the capital of the group. + +The largest of these isles is not more than seventeen miles long and +five wide. Leaving out the medium-sized ones, there remains but an +agglomeration of islets and reefs scattered over an area of twelve +square leagues. + +Although the climate of Bermuda is very healthy, very salubrious, the +isles are nevertheless frightfully beaten by the heavy winter tempests +of the Atlantic, and their approach by navigators presents certain +difficulties. + +What the archipelago especially lacks are rivers and rios. However, +as abundant rains fall frequently, this drawback is got over by the +inhabitants, who treasure up the heaven-sent water for household and +agricultural purposes. This has necessitated the construction of vast +cisterns which the downfalls keep filled. These works of engineering +skill justly merit the admiration they receive and do honor to the +genius of man. + +It was in connection with the setting up of these cisterns that I made +the trip, as well as out of curiosity to inspect the fine works. + + +I obtained from the company of which I was the engineer in New +Jersey a vacation of several weeks, and embarked at New York for the +Bermudas. + +While I was staying on Hamilton Island, in the vast port of +Southampton, an event occurred of great interest to geologists. + +One day a whole flotilla of fishers, men, women and children, entered +Southampton Harbor. For fifty years these families had lived on the +east coast of Back Cup, where they had erected log-cabins and houses +of stone. Their position for carrying on their industry was an +exceptionally favorable one, for the waters teem with fish all the +year round, and in March and April whales abound. + +Nothing had hitherto occurred to disturb their tranquil existence. +They were quite contented with their rough lot, which was rendered +less onerous by the facility of communication with Hamilton and St. +George. Their solid barks took cargoes of fish there, which they +exchanged for the necessities of life. + +Why had they thus abandoned the islet with the intention, as it pretty +soon appeared, of never returning to it? The reason turned out to be +that they no longer considered themselves in safety there. + +A couple of months previously they had been at first surprised, then +alarmed, by several distinct detonations that appeared to have taken +place in the interior of the mountain. At the same time smoke and +flames issued from the summit--or the bottom of the reversed cup, if +you like. Now no one had ever suspected that the islet was of volcanic +origin, or that there was a crater at the top, no one having been able +to climb its sides. Now, however, there could be no possible doubt +that the mountain was an ancient volcano that had suddenly become +active again and threatened the village with destruction. + +During the ensuing two months internal rumblings and explosions +continued to be heard, which were accompanied by bursts of flame +from the top--especially at night. The island was shaken by the +explosions--the shocks could be distinctly felt. All these phenomena +were indicative of an imminent eruption, and there was no spot at the +base of the mountain that could afford any protection from the rivers +of lava that would inevitably pour down its smooth, steep slopes +and overwhelm the village in their boiling flood. Besides, the very +mountain might be destroyed in the eruption. + +There was nothing for the population exposed to such a dire +catastrophe to do but leave. This they did. Their humble Lares +and Penates, in fact all their belongings, were loaded into the +fishing-smacks, and the entire colony sought refuge in Southhampton +Harbor. + +The news that a volcano, that had presumably been smouldering for +centuries at the western extremity of the group, showed signs of +breaking out again, caused a sensation throughout the Bermudas. But +while some were terrified, the curiosity of others was aroused, mine +included. The phenomenon was worth investigation, even if the simple +fisher-folk had exaggerated. + +Back Cup, which, as already stated, lies at the western extremity of +the archipelago, is connected therewith by a chain of small islets +and reefs, which cannot be approached from the east. Being only three +hundred feet in altitude, it cannot be seen either from St. George or +Hamilton. I joined a party of explorers and we embarked in a cutter +that landed us on the island, and made our way to the abandoned +village of the Bermudan fishers. + +The internal crackings and detonations could be plainly heard, and a +sheaf of smoke was swayed by the wind at the summit. + +Beyond a peradventure the ancient volcano had been started again +by the subterranean fire, and an eruption at any moment was to be +apprehended. + +In vain we attempted to climb to the mouth of the crater. The mountain +sheered down at an angle of from seventy-five to eighty degrees, and +its smooth, slippery sides afforded absolutely no foothold. Anything +more barren than this rocky freak of nature it would be difficult to +conceive. Only a few tufts of wild herbs were to be seen upon the +whole island, and these seemed to have no _raison d'être_. + +Our explorations were therefore necessarily limited, and in view of +the active symptoms of danger that manifested themselves, we could but +approve the action of the villagers in abandoning the place; for we +entertained no doubt that its destruction was imminent. + +These were the circumstances in which I was led to visit Back Cup, and +no one will consequently be surprised at the fact that I recognized it +immediately we hove in sight of the queer structure. + +No, I repeat, the Count d'Artigas would probably not be overpleased +if he were aware that Warder Gaydon is perfectly acquainted with this +islet, even if the _Ebba_ was to anchor there--which, as there is no +port, is, to say the least, extremely improbable. + +As we draw nearer, I attentively examine Back Cup. Not one of +its former inhabitants has been induced to return, and, as it is +absolutely deserted, I cannot imagine why the schooner should visit +the place. + +Perhaps, however, the Count d'Artigas and his companions have no +intention of landing there. Even though the _Ebba_ should find +temporary shelter between the rocky sides of a narrow creek there is +nothing to give ground to the supposition that a wealthy yachtsman +would have the remotest idea of fixing upon as his residence an arid +cone exposed to all the terrible tempests of the Western Atlantic. To +live here is all very well for rustic fishermen, but not for the Count +d'Artigas, Engineer Serko, Captain Spade and his crew. + +Back Cup is now only half a mile off, and the seaweed thrown up on its +rocky base is plainly discernible. The only living things upon it are +the sea-gulls and other birds that circle in clouds around the smoking +crater. + +When she is only two cable's lengths off, the schooner slackens speed, +and then stops at the entrance of a sort of natural canal formed by a +couple of reefs that barely rise above the water. + +I wonder whether the _Ebba_ will venture to try the dangerous feat of +passing through it. I do not think so. She will probably lay where she +is--though why she should do so I do not know--for a few hours, and +then continue her voyage towards the east. + +However this may be I see no preparations in progress for dropping +anchor. The anchors are suspended in their usual places, the cables +have not been cleared, and no motion has been made to lower a single +boat. + +At this moment Count d'Artigas, Engineer Serko and Captain Spade go +forward and perform some manoeuvre that is inexplicable to me. + +I walk along the port side of the deck until I am near the foremast, +and then I can see a small buoy that the sailors are hoisting in. +Almost immediately the water, at the same spot becomes dark and I +observe a black mass rising to the surface. Is it a big whale rising +for air, and is the _Ebba_ in danger of being shattered by a blow from +the monster's tail? + +Now I understand! At last the mystery is solved. I know what was the +motor that caused the schooner to go at such an extraordinary speed +without sails and without a screw. Her indefatigable motor is emerging +from the sea, after having towed her from the coast of America to +the archipelago of the Bermudas. There it is, floating alongside--a +submersible boat, a submarine tug, worked by a screw set in motion by +the current from a battery of accumulators or powerful electric piles. + +On the upper part of the long cigar-shaped iron tug is a platform in +the middle of which is the "lid" by which an entrance is effected. In +the fore part of the platform projects a periscope, or lookout, formed +by port-holes or lenses through which an electric searchlight can +throw its gleam for some distance under water in front of and on each +side of the tug. Now relieved of its ballast of water the boat has +risen to the surface. Its lid will open and fresh air will penetrate +it to every part. In all probability, if it remained submerged during +the day it rose at night and towed the _Ebba_ on the surface. + +But if the mechanical power of the tug is produced by electricity the +latter must be furnished by some manufactory where it is stored, and +the means of procuring the batteries is not to be found on Back Cup, I +suppose. + +And then, why does the _Ebba_ have recourse to this submarine towing +system? Why is she not provided with her own means of propulsion, like +other pleasure-boats? + +These are things, however, upon which I have at present no leisure to +ruminate. + +The lid of the tug opens and several men issue on to the platform. +They are the crew of this submarine boat, and Captain Spade has been +able to communicate with them and transmit his orders as to the +direction to be taken by means of electric signals connected with the +tug by a wire that passes along the stem of the schooner. + +Engineer Serko approaches me and says, pointing to the boat: + +"Get in." + +"Get in!" I exclaim. + +"Yes, in the tug, and look sharp about it." + +As usual there is nothing for it but to obey. I hasten to comply with +the order and clamber over the side. + +At the same time Thomas Roch appears on deck accompanied by one of the +crew. He appears to be very calm, and very indifferent too, and makes +no resistance when he is lifted over and lowered into the tug. When he +has been taken in, Count d'Artigas and Engineer Serko follow. + +Captain Spade and the crew of the _Ebba_ remain behind, with the +exception of four men who man the dinghy, which has been lowered. They +have hold of a long hawser, with which the schooner is probably to be +towed through the reef. Is there then a creek in the middle of the +rocks where the vessel is secure from the breakers? Is this the port +to which she belongs? + +They row off with the hawser and make the end fast to a ring in the +reef. Then the crew on board haul on it and in five minutes the +schooner is so completely lost to sight among the rocks that even the +tip of her mast could not be seen from the sea. + +Who in Bermuda imagines that a vessel is accustomed to lay up in +this secret creek? Who in America would have any idea that the rich +yachtsman so well known in all the eastern ports abides in the +solitude of Back Cup mountain? + +Twenty minutes later the dinghy returns with the four men towards the +tug which was evidently waiting for them before proceeding--where? + +They climb on board, the little boat is made fast astern, a movement +is felt, the screw revolves rapidly and the tug skims along the +surface to Back Cup, skirting the reefs to the south. + +Three cable's lengths further on, another tortuous canal is seen that +leads to the island. Into this the tug enters. When it gets close +inshore, an order is given to two men who jump out and haul the dinghy +up on a narrow sandy beach out of the reach of wave or weed, and where +it will be easily get-at-able when wanted. + +This done the sailors return to the tug and Engineer Serko signs to me +to go below. + +A short iron ladder leads into a central cabin where various bales and +packages are stored, and for which no doubt there was not room in the +hold of the schooner. I am pushed into a side cabin, the door is shut +upon me, and here I am once more a prisoner in profound darkness. + +I recognize the cabin the moment I enter it. It is the place in which +I spent so many long hours after our abduction from Healthful House, +and in which I was confined until well out at sea off Pamlico Sound. + +It is evident that Thomas Roch has been placed in a similar +compartment. + +A loud noise is heard, the banging of the lid as it closes, and the +tug begins to sink as the water is admitted to the tanks. + +This movement is succeeded by another--a movement that impels the boat +through the water. + +Three minutes later it stops, and I feel that we are rising to the +surface again. + +Another noise made by the lid being raised. + +The door of my cabin opens, and I rush out and clamber on to the +platform. + +I look around and find that the tug has penetrated to the interior of +Back Cup mountain. + +This is the mysterious retreat where Count d'Artigas lives with his +companions--out of the world, so to speak. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +INSIDE BACK CUP. + + +The next morning I am able to make a first inspection of the vast +cavern of Back Cup. No one seeks to prevent me. + +What a night I have passed! What strange visions I have seen! With +what impatience I waited for morning! + +I was conducted to a grotto about a hundred paces from the edge of +the lake where the tug stopped. The grotto, twelve feet by ten, was +lighted by an incandescent lamp, and fitted with an entrance door that +was closed upon me. + +I am not surprised that electricity is employed in lighting the +interior of the cavern, as it is also used in the submarine boat. But +where is it generated? Where does it come from? Is there a manufactory +installed somewhere or other in this vast crypt, with machinery, +dynamos and accumulators? + +My cell is neatly furnished with a table on which provisions are +spread, a bunk with bedding, a basket chair, a wash-hand-stand with +toilet set, and a closet containing linen and various suits of +clothes. In a drawer of the table I find paper, ink and pens. + +My dinner consists of fresh fish, preserved meat, bread of excellent +quality, ale and whisky; but I am so excited that I scarcely touch it. +Yet I feel that I ought to fortify myself and recover my calmness of +mind. I must and will solve the mystery surrounding the handful of men +who burrow in the bowels of this island. + +So it is under the carapace of Back Cup that Count d'Artigas has +established himself! This cavity, the existence of which is not even +suspected, is his home when he is not sailing in the _Ebba_ along the +coasts of the new world or the old. This is the unknown retreat he has +discovered, to which access is obtained by a submarine passage twelve +or fifteen feet below the surface of the ocean. + +Why has he severed himself from the world? What has been his past? +If, as I suspect, this name of d'Artigas and this title of Count are +assumed, what motive has he for hiding his identity? Has he been +banished, is he an outcast of society that he should have selected +this place above all others? Am I not in the power of an evildoer +anxious to ensure impunity for his crimes and to defy the law by +seeking refuge in this undiscoverable burrow? I have the right of +supposing anything in the case of this suspicious foreigner, and I +exercise it. + +Then the question to which I have never been able to suggest a +satisfactory answer once more surges into my mind. Why was Thomas Roch +abducted from Healthful House in the manner already fully described? +Does the Count d'Artigas hope to force from him the secret of his +fulgurator with a view to utilizing it for the defence of Back Cup in +case his retreat should by chance be discovered? Hardly. It would be +easy enough to starve the gang out of Back Cup, by preventing the tug +from supplying them with provisions. On the other hand, the schooner +could never break through the investing lines, and if she did her +description would be known in every port. In this event, of what +possible use would Thomas Roch's invention be to the Count d'Artigas +Decidedly, I cannot understand it! + +About seven o'clock in the morning I jump out of bed. If I am a +prisoner in the cavern I am at least not imprisoned in my grotto cell. +The door yields when I turn the handle and push against it, and I walk +out. + +Thirty yards in front of me is a rocky plane, forming a sort of quay +that extends to right and left. Several sailors of the _Ebba_ are +engaged in landing bales and stores from the interior of the tug, +which lays alongside a little stone jetty. + +A dim light to which my eyes soon grow accustomed envelops the cavern +and comes from a hole in the centre of the roof, through which the +blue sky can be seen. + +"It is from that hole that the smoke which can be seen for such a +distance issues," I say to myself, and this discovery suggests a whole +series of reflections. + +Back Cup, then, is not a volcano, as was supposed--as I supposed +myself. The flames that were seen a few years ago, and the columns +of smoke that still rise were and are produced artificially. The +detonations and rumblings that so alarmed the Bermudan fishers were +not caused by the internal workings of nature. These various phenomena +were fictitious. They manifested themselves at the mere will of the +owner of the island, who wanted to scare away the inhabitants who +resided on the coast. He succeeded, this Count d'Artigas, and remains +the sole and undisputed monarch of the mountain. By exploding +gunpowder, and burning seaweed swept up in inexhaustible quantities by +the ocean, he has been able to simulate a volcano upon the point of +eruption and effectually scare would-be settlers away! + +The light becomes stronger as the sun rises higher, the daylight +streams through the fictitious crater, and I shall soon be able to +estimate the cavern's dimensions. This is how I calculate: + +Exteriorly the island of Back Cup, which is as nearly as possible +circular, measures two hundred and fifty yards in circumference, and +presents an interior superficies of about six acres. The sides of the +mountain at its base vary in thickness from thirty to a hundred yards. + +It therefore follows that this excavation practically occupies the +whole of that part of Back Cup island which appears above water. As to +the length of the submarine tunnel by which communication is obtained +with the outside, and through which the tug passed, I estimate that it +is fifty yards in length. + +The size of the cavern can be judged from these approximate figures. +But vast as it is, I remember that there are caverns of larger +dimensions both in the old and new worlds. For instance in Carniole, +Northumberland, Derbyshire, Piedmont, the Balearics, Hungary +and California are larger grottoes than Back Cup, and those at +Han-sur-Lesse in Belgium, and the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky, are also +more extensive. The latter contain no fewer than two hundred and +twenty-six domes, seven rivers, eight cataracts, thirty two wells of +unknown depth, and an immense lake which extends over six or seven +leagues, the limit of which has never been reached by explorers. + +I know these Kentucky grottoes, having visited them, as many thousands +of tourists have done. The principal one will serve as a comparison +to Back Cup. The roof of the former, like that of the latter, is +supported by pillars of various lengths, which give it the appearance +of a Gothic cathedral, with naves and aisles, though it lacks the +architectural regularity of a religious edifice. The only difference +is that whereas the roof of the Kentucky grotto is over four hundred +feet high, that of Back Cup is not above two hundred and twenty at +that part of it where the round hole through which issue the smoke and +flames is situated. + +Another peculiarity, and a very important one, that requires to be +pointed out, is that whereas the majority of the grottoes referred to +are easily accessible, and were therefore bound to be discovered some +time or other, the same remark does not apply to Back Cup. Although it +is marked on the map as an island forming part of the Bermuda group, +how could any one imagine that it is hollow, that its rocky sides +are only the walls of an enormous cavern? In order to make such a +discovery it would be necessary to get inside, and to get inside a +submarine apparatus similar to that of the Count d'Artigas would be +necessary. + +In my opinion this strange yachtsman's discovery of the tunnel by +which he has been able to found this disquieting colony of Back Cup +must have been due to pure chance. + +Now I turn my attention to the lake and observe that it is a +very small one, measuring not more than four hundred yards in +circumference. It is, properly speaking, a lagoon, the rocky sides of +which are perpendicular. It is large enough for the tug to work about +in it, and holds enough water too, for it must be one hundred and +twenty-five feet deep. + +It goes without saying that this crypt, given its position and +structure, belongs to the category of those which are due to the +encroachments of the sea. It is at once of Neptunian and Plutonian +origin, like the grottoes of Crozon and Morgate in the bay of +Douarnenez in France, of Bonifacio on the Corsican coast, Thorgatten +in Norway, the height of which is estimated at over three hundred +feet, the catavaults of Greece, the grottoes of Gibraltar in Spain, +and Tourana in Cochin China, whose carapace indicates that they are +all the product of this dual geological labor. + +The islet of Back Cup is in great part formed of calcareous rocks, +which slope upwards gently from the lagoon towards the sides and are +separated from each other by narrow beaches of fine sand. Thick layers +of seaweed that have been swept through the tunnel by the tide and +thrown up around the lake have been piled into heaps, some of which +are dry and some still wet, but all of which exhale the strong odor of +the briny ocean. This, however, is not the only combustible employed +by the inhabitants of Back Cup, for I see an enormous store of coal +that must have been brought by the schooner and the tug. But it is the +incineration of masses of dried seaweed that causes the smoke vomited +forth by the crater of the mountain. + +Continuing my walk I perceive on the northern side of the lagoon the +habitations of this colony of troglodytes--do they not merit the +appellation? This part of the cavern, which is known as the Beehive, +fully justifies its name, for it is honeycombed by cells excavated +in the limestone rock and in which these human bees--or perhaps they +should rather be called wasps--reside. + +The lay of the cavern to the east is very different. Here hundreds of +pillars of all shapes rise to the dome, and form a veritable forest of +stone trees through the sinuous avenues of which one can thread one's +way to the extreme limit of the place. + +By counting the cells of the Beehive I calculate that Count d'Artigas' +companions number from eighty to one hundred. + +As my eye wanders over the place I notice that the Count is standing +in front of one of the cells, which is isolated from the others, and +talking to Engineer Serko and Captain Spade. After a while they stroll +down to the jetty alongside which the tug is lying. + +A dozen men have been emptying the merchandise out of the tug and +transporting the goods in boats to the other side, where great cellars +have been excavated in the rocks and form the storehouses of the band. + +The orifice of the tunnel is not visible in the waters of the lagoon, +and I remember that when I was brought here I felt the tug sink +several feet before it entered. In this respect therefore Back Cup +does not resemble either the grottoes of Staffa or Morgate, entrance +to which is always open, even at high tide. There may be another +passage communicating with the coast, either natural or artificial, +and this I shall have to make my business to find out. + +The island well merits its name of Back Cup. It is indeed a gigantic +cup turned upside down, not only to outward appearance, but inwardly, +too, though people are ignorant of the fact. + +I have already remarked that the Beehive is situated to the north of +the lagoon, that is to say to the left on entering by the tunnel. On +the opposite side are the storerooms filled with provisions of all +kinds, bales of merchandise, barrels of wine, beer, and spirits and +various packets bearing different marks and labels that show that they +came from all parts of the world. One would think that the cargoes of +a score of ships had been landed here. + +A little farther on is a large wooden shed the nature of which is +easily distinguishable. From a pole above it a network of thick copper +wires extends which conducts the current to the powerful electric +lights suspended from the roof or dome, and to the incandescent lamps +in each of the cells of the hive. A large number of lamps are also +installed among the stone pillars and light up the avenues to their +extremities. + +"Shall I be permitted to roam about wherever I please?" I ask myself. +I hope so. I cannot for the life of me see why the Count d'Artigas +should prohibit me from doing so, for I cannot get farther than the +surrounding walls of his mysterious domain. I question whether there +is any other issue than the tunnel, and how on earth could I get +through that? + +Besides, admitting that I am able to get through it, I cannot get off +the island. My disappearance would be soon noticed, and the tug would +take out a dozen men who would explore every nook and cranny. I should +inevitably be recaptured, brought back to the Beehive, and deprived of +my liberty for good. + +I must therefore give up all idea of making my escape, unless I can +see that it has some chance of being successful, and if ever an +opportunity does present itself I shall not be slow to take advantage +of it. + +On strolling round by the rows of cells I am able to observe a few of +these companions of the Count d'Artigas who are content to pass their +monotonous existence in the depths of Back Cup. As I said before, +calculating from the number of cells in the Beehive, there must be +between eighty and a hundred of them. + +They pay no attention whatever to me as I pass, and on examining them +closely it seems to me that they must have been recruited from every +country. I do not distinguish any community of origin among them, not +even a similarity by which they might be classed as North Americans, +Europeans or Asiatics. The color of their skin shades from white to +yellow and black--the black peculiar to Australia rather than to +Africa. To sum up, they appear for the most part to pertain to the +Malay races. I may add that the Count d'Artigas certainly belongs +to that particular race which peoples the Dutch isles in the West +Pacific, while Engineer Serko must be Levantine and Captain Spade of +Italian origin. + +But if the inhabitants of Back Cup are not bound to each other by +ties of race, they certainly are by instinct and inclination. What +forbidding, savage-looking faces they have, to be sure! They are men +of violent character who have probably never placed any restraint upon +their passions, nor hesitated at anything, and it occurs to me that +in all likelihood they have sought refuge in this cavern, where they +fancy they can continue to defy the law with impunity, after a +long series of crimes--robbery, murder, arson, and excesses of all +descriptions committed together. In this case Back Cup is nothing but +a lair of pirates, the Count d'Artigas is the leader of the band and +Serko and Spade are his lieutenants. + +I cannot get this idea out of my head, and the more I consider the +more convinced I am that I am right, especially as everything I see +during my stroll about the cavern seems to confirm my opinion. + +However this may be, and whatever may be the circumstances that have +brought them together in this place, Count d'Artigas' companions +appear to accept his all-powerful domination without question. On the +other hand, if he keeps them under his iron heel by enforcing the +severest discipline, certain advantages, some compensation, +must accrue from the servitude to which they bow. What can this +compensation be? + +Having turned that part of the bank under which the tunnel passes, I +find myself on the opposite side of the lagoon, where are situated the +storerooms containing the merchandise brought by the _Ebba_ on each +trip, and which contain a great quantity of bales. + +Beyond is the manufactory of electric energy. I gaze in at the windows +as I pass and notice that it contains machines of the latest invention +and highest attained perfection, which take up little space. Not one +steam engine, with its more or less complicated mechanism and need +of fuel, is to be seen in the place. As I had surmised, piles of +extraordinary power supply the current to the lamps in the cavern, +as well as to the dynamos of the tug. No doubt the current is also +utilized for domestic purposes, such as warming the Beehive and +cooking food, I can see that in a neighboring cavity it is applied to +the alembics used to produce fresh water. At any rate the colonists +of Back Cup are not reduced to catching the rain water that falls so +abundantly upon the exterior of the mountain. + +A few paces from the electric power house is a large cistern that, +save in the matter of proportions, is the counterpart of those I +visited in Bermuda. In the latter place the cisterns have to supply +the needs of over ten thousand people, this one of a hundred--what? + +I am not sure yet what to call them. That their chief had serious +reasons for choosing the bowels of this island for his abiding place +is obvious. But what were those reasons? I can understand monks +shutting themselves behind their monastery walls with the intention of +separating themselves from the world, but these subjects of the Count +d'Artigas have nothing of the monk about them, and would not be +mistaken for such by the most simple-minded of mortals. + +I continue my way through the pillars to the extremity of the cavern. +No one has sought to stop me, no one has spoken to me, not a soul +apparently has taken the very slightest notice of me. This portion of +Back Cup is extremely curious, and comparable to the most marvellous +of the grottoes of Kentucky or the Balearics. I need hardly say that +nowhere is the labor of man apparent. All this is the handiwork of +nature, and it is not without wonder, mingled with awe, that I reflect +upon the telluric forces capable of engendering such prodigious +substructions. The daylight from the crater in the centre only strikes +this part of the cavern obliquely, so that it is very imperfectly +lighted, but at night, when illuminated by the electric lamps, its +aspect must be positively fantastic. + +I have examined the walls everywhere with minute attention, but have +been unable to discover any means of communicating with the outside. + +Quite a colony of birds--gulls, sea-swallows and other feathery +denizens of the Bermudan beaches have made their home in the cavern. +They have apparently never been hunted, for they are in no way +disturbed by the presence of man. + +But besides sea-birds, which are free to come and go as they please +by the orifice in the dome, there is a whole farmyard of domestic +poultry, and cows and pigs. The food supply is therefore no less +assured than it is varied, when the fish of all kinds that abound in +the lagoon and around the island are taken into consideration. + +Moreover, a mere glance at the colonists of Back Cup amply suffices +to show that they are not accustomed to fare scantily. They are all +vigorous, robust seafaring men, weatherbeaten and seasoned in the +burning beat of tropical latitudes, whose rich blood is surcharged +with oxygen by the breezes of the ocean. There is not a youth nor an +old man among them. They are all in their prime, their ages ranging +from thirty to fifty. + +But why do they submit to such an existence? Do they never leave their +rocky retreat? + +Perhaps I shall find out ere I am much older. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +KER KARRAJE. + + +The cell in which I reside is about a hundred paces from the +habitation of the Count d'Artigas, which is one of the end ones of +this row of the Beehive. If I am not to share it with Thomas Roch, I +presume the latter's cell is not far off, for in order that Warder +Gaydon may continue to care for the ex-patient of Healthful House, +their respective apartments will have to be contiguous. However, I +suppose I shall soon be enlightened on this point. + +Captain Spade and Engineer Serko reside separately in proximity to +D'Artigas' mansion. + +Mansion? Yes, why not dignify it with the title since this habitation +has been arranged with a certain art? Skillful hands have carved an +ornamental façade in the rock. A large door affords access to it. +Colored glass windows in wooden frames let into the limestone +walls admit the light. The interior comprises several chambers, a +dining-room and a drawing-room lighted by a stained-glass window, the +whole being perfectly ventilated. The furniture is of various styles +and shapes and of French, English and American make. The kitchen, +larder, etc., are in adjoining cells in rear of the Beehive. + +In the afternoon, just as I issue from my cell with the firm intention +of "obtaining an audience" of the Count d'Artigas, I catch sight of +him coming along the shore of the lagoon towards the hive. Either he +does not see me, or wishes to avoid me, for he quickens his steps and +I am unable to catch him. + +"Well, he will have to receive me, anyhow!" I mutter to myself. + +I hurry up to the door through which he has just disappeared and which +has closed behind him. + +It is guarded by a gigantic, dark-skinned Malay, who orders me away in +no amiable tone of voice. + +I decline to comply with his injunction, and repeat to him twice the +following request in my very best English: + +"Tell the Count d'Artigas that I desire to be received immediately." + +I might just as well have addressed myself to the surrounding rock. +This savage, no doubt, does not understand a word of English, for he +scowls at me and orders me away again with a menacing cry. + +I have a good mind to attempt to force the door and shout so that the +Count d'Artigas cannot fail to hear me, but in all probability I shall +only succeed in rousing the wrath of the Malay, who appears to be +endowed with herculean strength. I therefore judge discretion to be +the better part of valor, and put off the explanation that is owing +to me--and which, sooner or later, I will have--to a more propitious +occasion. + +I meander off in front of the Beehive towards the east, and my +thoughts revert to Thomas Roch. I am surprised that I have not seen +him yet. Can he be in the throes of a fresh paroxysm? + +This hypothesis is hardly admissible, for if the Count d'Artigas is to +be believed, he would in this event have summoned me to attend to the +inventor. + +A little farther on I encounter Engineer Serko. + +With his inviting manner and usual good-humor this ironical individual +smiles when he perceives me, and does not seek to avoid me. If he +knew I was a colleague, an engineer--providing he himself really is +one--perhaps he might receive me with more cordiality than I have yet +encountered, but I am not going to be such a fool as to tell him who +and what I am. + +He stops, with laughing eyes and mocking mouth, and accompanies a +"Good day, how do you do?" with a gracious gesture of salutation. + +I respond coldly to his politeness--a fact which he affects not to +notice. + +"May Saint Jonathan protect you, Mr. Gaydon!" he continues in his +clear, ringing voice. "You are not, I presume, disposed to regret +the fortunate circumstance by which you were permitted to visit this +surpassingly marvellous cavern--and it really is one of the finest, +although the least known on this spheroid." + +This word of a scientific language used in conversation with a simple +hospital attendant surprises me, I admit, and I merely reply: + +"I should have no reason to complain, Mr. Serko, if, after having had +the pleasure of visiting this cavern, I were at liberty to quit it." + +"What! Already thinking of leaving us, Mr. Gaydon,--of returning to +your dismal pavilion at Healthful House? Why, you have scarcely had +time to explore our magnificent domain, or to admire the incomparable +beauty with which nature has endowed it." + +"What I have seen suffices," I answer; "and should you perchance be +talking seriously I will assure you seriously that I do not want to +see any more of it." + +"Come, now, Mr. Gaydon, permit me to point out that you have not yet +had the opportunity of appreciating the advantages of an existence +passed in such unrivalled surroundings. It is a quiet life, exempt +from care, with an assured future, material conditions such as are not +to be met with anywhere, an even climate and no more to fear from the +tempests which desolate the coasts in this part of the Atlantic than +from the cold of winter, or the heat of summer. This temperate and +salubrious atmosphere is scarcely affected by changes of season. Here +we have no need to apprehend the wrath of either Pluto or Neptune." + +"Sir," I reply, "it is impossible that this climate can suit you, that +you can appreciate living in this grotto of----" + +I was on the point of pronouncing the name of Back Cup. Fortunately I +restrained myself in time. What would happen if they suspected that +I am aware of the name of their island, and, consequently, of its +position at the extremity of the Bermuda group? + +"However," I continue, "if this climate does not suit me, I have, I +presume, the right to make a change." + +"The right, of course." + +"I understand from your remark that I shall be furnished with the +means of returning to America when I want to go?" + +"I have no reason for opposing your desires, Mr. Gaydon," Engineer +Serko replies, "and I regard your presumption as a very natural +one. Observe, however, that we live here in a noble and superb +independence, that we acknowledge the authority of no foreign power, +that we are subject to no outside authority, that we are the +colonists of no state, either of the old or new world. This is worth +consideration by whomsoever has a sense of pride and independence. +Besides, what memories are evoked in a cultivated mind by these +grottoes which seem to have been chiselled by the hands of the gods +and in which they were wont to render their oracles by the mouth of +Trophonius." + +Decidedly, Engineer Serko is fond of citing mythology! Trophonius +after Pluto and Neptune? Does he imagine that Warder Gaydon ever heard +of Trophonius? It is clear this mocker continues to mock, and I have +to exercise the greatest patience in order not to reply in the same +tone. + +"A moment ago," I continue shortly, "I wanted to enter yon habitation, +which, if I mistake not, is that of the Count d'Artigas, but I was +prevented." + +"By whom, Mr. Gaydon?" + +"By a man in the Count's employ." + +"He probably had received strict orders about it." + +"Possibly, yet whether he likes it or not, Count d'Artigas will have +to see me and listen to me." + +"Maybe it would be difficult, and even impossible to get him to do +so," says Engineer Serko with a smile. + +"Why so?" + +"Because there is no such person as Count d'Artigas here." + +"You are jesting, I presume; I have just seen him." + +"It was not the Count d'Artigas whom you saw, Mr. Gaydon." + +"Who was it then, may I ask?" + +"The pirate Ker Karraje." + +This name was thrown at me in a hard tone of voice, and Engineer Serko +walked off before I had presence of mind enough to detain him. + +The pirate Ker Karraje! + +Yes, this name is a revelation to me. I know it well, and what +memories it evokes! It by itself explains what has hitherto been +inexplicable to me. I now know into whose hands I have fallen. + +With what I already knew, with what I have learned since my arrival in +Back Cup from Engineer Serko, this is what I am able to tell about the +past and present of Ker Karraje: + +Eight or nine years ago, the West Pacific was infested by pirates +who acted with the greatest audacity. A band of criminals of various +origins, composed of escaped convicts, military and naval deserters, +etc., operated with incredible audacity under the orders of a +redoubtable chief. The nucleus of the band had been formed by men +pertaining to the scum of Europe who had been attracted to New South +Wales, in Australia, by the discovery of gold there. Among these +gold-diggers, were Captain Spade and Engineer Serko, two outcasts, +whom a certain community of ideas and character soon bound together in +close friendship. + +These intelligent, well educated, resolute men would most assuredly +have succeeded in any career. But being without conscience or +scruples, and determined to get rich at no matter what cost, deriving +from gambling and speculation what they might have earned by patient +and steady work, they engaged in all sorts of impossible adventures. +One day they were rich, the next day poor, like most of the +questionable individuals who had hurried to the gold-fields in search +of fortune. + +Among the diggers in New South Wales was a man of incomparable +audacity, one of those men who stick at nothing--not even at +crime--and whose influence upon bad and violent natures is +irresistible. + +That man's name was Ker Karraje. + +The origin or nationality or antecedents of this pirate were never +established by the investigations ordered in regard to him. He eluded +all pursuit, and his name--or at least the name he gave himself--was +known all over the world, and inspired horror and terror everywhere, +as being that of a legendary personage, a bogey, invisible and +unseizable. + +I have now reason to believe that Ker Karraje is a Malay. However, it +is of little consequence, after all. What is certain is that he was +with reason regarded as a formidable and dangerous villain who had +many crimes, committed in distant seas, to answer for. + +After spending a few years on the Australian goldfields, where he made +the acquaintance of Engineer Serko and Captain Spade, Ker Karraje +managed to seize a ship in the port of Melbourne, in the province +of Victoria. He was joined by about thirty rascals whose number was +speedily tripled. In that part of the Pacific Ocean where piracy is +still carried on with great facility, and I may say, profit, the +number of ships pillaged, crews massacred, and raids committed in +certain western islands which the colonists were unable to defend, +cannot be estimated. + +Although the whereabouts of Ker Karraje's vessel, commanded by Captain +Spade, was several times made known to the authorities, all attempts +to capture it proved futile. The marauder would disappear among the +innumerable islands of which he knew every cove and creek, and it was +impossible to come across him. + +He maintained a perfect reign of terror. England, France, Germany, +Russia and America vainly dispatched warships in pursuit of the +phantom vessel which disappeared, no one knew whither, after robberies +and murders that could not be prevented or punished had been committed +by her crew. + +One day this series of crimes came to an end, and no more was heard of +Ker Karraje. Had he abandoned the Pacific for other seas? Would this +pirate break out in a fresh place? It was argued that notwithstanding +what they must have spent in orgies and debauchery the pirate and his +companions must still have an enormous amount of wealth hidden in some +place known only to themselves, and that they were enjoying their +ill-gotten gains. + +Where had the band hidden themselves since they had ceased their +depredations? This was a question which everybody asked and none was +able to answer. All attempts to run them to earth were vain. Terror +and uneasiness having ceased with the danger, Ker Karraje's exploits +soon began to be forgotten, even in the West Pacific. + +This is what had happened--and what will never be known unless I +succeed in escaping from Back Cup: + +These wretches were, as a matter of fact, possessed of great wealth +when they abandoned the Southern Seas. Having destroyed their ship +they dispersed in different directions after having arranged to meet +on the American continent. + +Engineer Serko, who was well versed in his profession, and was a +clever mechanic to boot, and who had made a special study of submarine +craft, proposed to Ker Karraje that they should construct one of +these boats in order to continue their criminal exploits with greater +secrecy and effectiveness. + +Ker Karraje at once saw the practical nature of the proposition, and +as they had no lack of money the idea was soon carried out. + +While the so-called Count d'Artigas ordered the construction of the +schooner _Ebba_ at the shipyards of Gotteborg, in Sweden, he gave to +the Cramps of Philadelphia, in America, the plans of a submarine boat +whose construction excited no suspicion. Besides, as will be seen, it +soon disappeared and was never heard of again. + +The boat was constructed from a model and under the personal +supervision of Engineer Serko, and fitted with all the known +appliances of nautical science. The screw was worked with electric +piles of recent invention which imparted enormous propulsive power to +the motor. + +It goes without saying that no one imagined that Count d'Artigas was +none other than Ker Karraje, the former pirate of the Pacific, and +that Engineer Serko was the most formidable and resolute of his +accomplices. The former was regarded as a foreigner of noble birth and +great fortune, who for several months had been frequenting the ports +of the United States, the _Ebba_ having been launched long before the +tug was ready. + +Work upon the latter occupied fully eighteen months, and when the boat +was finished it excited the admiration of all those interested in +these engines of submarine navigation. By its external form, its +interior arrangements, its air-supply system, the rapidity with which +it could be immersed, the facility with which it could be handled and +controlled, and its extraordinary speed, it was conceded to be far +superior to the _Goubet,_ the _Gymnote_, the _Zede_, and other similar +boats which had made great strides towards perfection. + +After several extremely successful experiments a public test was given +in the open sea, four miles off Charleston, in presence of several +American and foreign warships, merchant vessels, and pleasure boats +invited for the occasion. + +Of course the _Ebba_ was among them, with the Count d'Artigas, +Engineer Serko, and Captain Spade on board, and the old crew as well, +save half a dozen men who manned the submarine machine, which was +worked by a mechanical engineer named Gibson, a bold and very clever +Englishman. + +The programme of this definite experiment comprised various evolutions +on the surface of the water, which were to be followed by an immersion +to last several hours, the boat being ordered not to rise again until +a certain buoy stationed many miles out at sea had been attained. + +At the appointed time the lid was closed and the boat at first +manoeuvred on the surface. Her speed and the ease with which +she turned and twisted were loudly praised by all the technical +spectators. + +Then at a signal given on board the _Ebba_ the tug sank slowly out +of sight, and several vessels started for the buoy where she was to +reappear. + +Three hours went by, but there was no sign of the boat. + +No one could suppose that in accordance with instructions received +from the Count d'Artigas and Engineer Serko this submarine machine, +which was destined to act as the invisible tug of the schooner, would +not emerge till it had gone several miles beyond the rendezvous. +Therefore, with the exception of those who were in the secret, no one +entertained any doubt that the boat and all inside her had perished +as the result of an accident either to her metallic covering or +machinery. + +On board the _Ebba_ consternation was admirably simulated. On board +the other vessels it was real. Drags were used and divers sent down +along the course the boat was supposed to have taken, but it could +not be found, and it was agreed that it had been swallowed up in the +depths of the Atlantic. + +Two days later the Count d'Artigas put to sea again, and in +forty-eight hours came up with the tug at the place appointed. + +This is how Ker Karraje became possessed of the admirable vessel +which was to perform the double function of towing the schooner and +attacking ships. With this terrible engine of destruction, whose very +existence was ignored, the Count d'Artigas was able to recommence his +career of piracy with security and impunity. + +These details I have learned from Engineer Serko, who is very proud of +his handiwork,--and also very positive that the prisoner of Back Cup +will never be able to disclose the secret. + +It will easily be realized how powerful was the offensive weapon +Ker Karraje now possessed. During the night the tug would rush at a +merchant vessel, and bore a hole in her with its powerful ram. At +the same time the schooner which could not possibly have excited any +suspicion, would run alongside and her horde of cutthroats would pour +on to the doomed vessel's deck and massacre the helpless crew, after +which they would hurriedly transfer that part of the cargo that was +worth taking to the _Ebba_. Thus it happened that ship after ship +was added to the long list of those that never reached port and were +classed as having gone down with all on board. + +For a year after the odious comedy in the bay of Charleston Ker +Karraje operated in the Atlantic, and his wealth increased to enormous +proportions. The merchandise for which he had no use was disposed of +in distant markets in exchange for gold and silver. But what was sadly +needed was a place where the profits could be safely hidden pending +the time when they were to be finally divided. + +Chance came to their aid. While exploring the bottom of the sea in +the neighborhood of the Bermudas, Engineer Serko and Driver Gibson +discovered at the base of Back Cup island the tunnel which led to the +interior of the mountain. Would it have been possible for Ker Karraje +to have found a more admirable refuge than this, absolutely safe as it +was from any possible chance of discovery? Thus it came to pass that +one of the islands of the Archipelago of Bermuda, erstwhile the haunt +of buccaneers, became the lair of another gang a good deal more to be +dreaded. + +This retreat having been definitely adopted, Count d'Artigas and his +companions set about getting their place in order. Engineer Serko +installed an electric power house, without having recourse to machines +whose construction abroad might have aroused suspicion, simply +employing piles that could be easily mounted and required but metal +plates and chemical substances that the _Ebba_ procured during her +visits to the American coast. + +What happened on the night of the 19th inst. can easily be divined. +If the three-masted merchantman which lay becalmed was not visible at +break of day it was because she had been scuttled by the tug, boarded +by the cut-throat band on the _Ebba_, and sunk with all on board after +being pillaged. The bales and things that I had seen on the schooner +were a part of her cargo, and all unknown to me the gallant ship was +lying at the bottom of the broad Atlantic! + +How will this adventure end? Shall I ever be able to escape from +Back Cup, denounce the false Count d'Artigas and rid the seas of Ker +Karraje's pirates? + +And if Ker Karraje is terrible as it is, how much more so will he +become if he ever obtains possession of Roch's fulgurator! His power +will be increased a hundred-fold! If he were able to employ this new +engine of destruction no merchantman could resist him, no warship +escape total destruction. + +I remain for some time absorbed and oppressed by the reflections with +which the revelation of Ker Karraje's name inspires me. All that I +have ever heard about this famous pirate recurs to me--his existence +when he skimmed the Southern Seas, the useless expeditions organized +by the maritime powers to hunt him down. The unaccountable loss of so +many vessels in the Atlantic during the past few years is attributable +to him. He had merely changed the scene of his exploits. It was +supposed that he had been got rid of, whereas he is continuing his +piratical practices in the most frequented ocean on the globe, by +means of the tug which is believed to be lying at the bottom of +Charleston Bay. + +"Now," I say to myself, "I know his real name and that of his +lair--Ker Karraje and Back Cup;" and I surmise that if Engineer Serko +has let me into the secret he must have been authorized to do so. Am I +not meant to understand from this that I must give up all hope of ever +recovering my liberty? + +Engineer Serko had manifestly remarked the impression created upon me +by this revelation. I remember that on leaving me he went towards Ker +Karraje's habitation, no doubt with the intention of apprising him of +what had passed. + +After a rather long walk around the lagoon I am about to return to my +cell, when I hear footsteps behind me. I turn and find myself face to +face with the Count d'Artigas, who is accompanied by Captain Spade. +He glances at me sharply, and in a burst of irritation that I cannot +suppress, I exclaim: + +"You are keeping me here, sir, against all right. If it was to wait +upon Thomas Roch that you carried me off from Healthful House, I +refuse to attend to him, and insist upon being sent back." + +The pirate chief makes a gesture, but does not reply. + +Then my temper gets the better of me altogether. + +"Answer me, Count d'Artigas--or rather, for I know who you are--answer +me, Ker Karraje!" I shout. + +"The Count d'Artigas is Ker Karraje," he coolly replies, "just as +Warder Gaydon is Engineer Simon Hart; and Ker Karraje will never +restore to liberty Engineer Simon Hart, who knows his secrets." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +FIVE WEEKS IN BACK CUP. + + +The situation is plain. Ker Karraje knows who I am. He knew who I was +when he kidnapped Thomas Roch and his attendant. + +How did this man manage to find out what I was able to keep from the +staff of Healthful House? How comes it that he knew that a French +engineer was performing the duties of attendant to Thomas Roch? I do +not know how he discovered it, but the fact remains that he did. + +Evidently he had means of information which must have been costly, but +from which he has derived considerable profit. Besides, men of his +kidney do not count the cost when they wish to attain an end they have +in view. + +Henceforward Ker Karraje, or rather Engineer Serko, will replace me +as attendant upon Thomas Roch. Will he succeed better than I did? God +grant that he may not, that the civilized world may be spared such a +misfortune! + +I did not reply to Ker Karraje's Parthian shot, for I was stricken +dumb. I did not, however, collapse, as the alleged Count d'Artigas +perhaps expected I would. + +No! I looked him straight in the eyes, which glittered angrily, and +crossed my arms defiantly, as he had done. And yet he held my life in +his hands! At a sign a bullet would have laid me dead at his feet. +Then my body, cast into the lagoon, would have been borne out to sea +through the tunnel and there would have been an end of me. + +After this scene I am left at liberty, just as before. No measure is +taken against me, I can walk among the pillars to the very end of the +cavern, which--it is only too clear--possesses no other issue except +the tunnel. + +When I return to my cell, at the extremity of the Beehive, a prey to a +thousand thoughts suggested by my situation, I say to myself: + +"If Ker Karraje knows I am Simon Hart, the engineer, he must at any +rate never know that I am aware of the position of Back Cup Island." + +As to the plan of confiding Thomas Roch to my care, I do not think +he ever seriously entertained it, seeing that my identity had been +revealed to him. I regret this, inasmuch as the inventor will +indubitably be the object of pressing solicitations, and as Engineer +Serko will employ every means in his power to obtain the composition +of the explosive and deflagrator, of which he will make such +detestable use during future piratical exploits. Yes, it would have +been far better if I could have remained Thomas Roch's keeper here, as +in Healthful House. + +For fifteen days I see nothing of my late charge. No one, I repeat, +has placed any obstacles in the way of my daily peregrinations. I have +no need to occupy myself about the material part of my existence. My +meals are brought to me regularly, direct from the kitchen of the +Count d'Artigas--I cannot accustom myself to calling him by any other +name. The food leaves nothing to be desired, thanks to the provisions +that the _Ebba_ brings on her return from each voyage. + +It is very fortunate, too, that I have been supplied with all the +writing materials I require, for during my long hours of idleness I +have been able to jot down in my notebook the slightest incidents that +have occurred since I was abducted from Healthful House, and to keep +a diary day by day. As long as I am permitted to use a pen I shall +continue my notes. Mayhap some day, they will help to clear up the +mysteries of Back Cup. + +_From July 5 to July 25._--A fortnight has passed, and all my attempts +to get near Thomas Roch have been frustrated. Orders have evidently +been given to keep him away from my influence, inefficacious though +the latter has hitherto been. My only hope is that the Count +d'Artigas, Engineer Serko, and Captain Spade will waste their time +trying to get at the inventor's secrets. + +Three or four times to my knowledge, at least, Thomas Roch and +Engineer Serko have walked together around the lagoon. As far as I +have been able to judge, the former listened with some attention to +what the other was saying to him. Serko has conducted him over the +whole cavern, shown him the electric power house and the mechanism of +the tug. Thomas Roch's mental condition has visibly improved since his +departure from Healthful House. + +Thomas Roch lives in a private room in Ker Karraje's "mansion." I +have no doubt that he is daily sounded in regard to his discoveries, +especially by Engineer Serko. Will he be able to resist the temptation +if they offer him the exorbitant price that he demands? Has he any +idea of the value of money? These wretches may dazzle him with the +gold that they have accumulated by years of rapine. In the present +state of his mind may he not be induced to disclose the composition +of his fulgurator? They would then only have to fetch the necessary +substances and Thomas Roch would have plenty of time in Back Cup to +devote to his chemical combinations. As to the war-engines themselves +nothing would be easier than to have them made in sections in +different parts of the American continent. My hair stands on end when +I think what they could and would do with them if once they gained +possession of them. + +These intolerable apprehensions no longer leave me a minute's peace; +they are wearing me out and my health is suffering in consequence. +Although the air in the interior of Back Cup is pure, I become subject +to attacks of suffocation, and I feel as though my prison walls were +falling upon me and crushing me under their weight. I am, besides, +oppressed by the feeling that I am cut off from the world, as +effectually as though I were no longer upon our planet,--for I know +nothing of what is going on outside. + +Ah! if it were only possible to escape through that submarine tunnel, +or through the hole in the dome and slide to the base of the mountain! + +On the morning of the 25th I at last encounter Thomas Roch. He is +alone on the other side of the lagoon, and I wonder, inasmuch as +I have not seen them since the previous day, whether Ker Karraje, +Engineer Serko, and Captain Spade have not gone off on some +expedition. + +I walk round towards Thomas Roch, and before he can see me I examine +him attentively. + +His serious, thoughtful physiognomy is no longer that of a madman. He +walks slowly, with his eyes bent on the ground, and under his arm a +drawing-board upon which is stretched a sheet of paper covered with +designs. + +Suddenly he raises his head, advances a step and recognizes me. + +"Ah! Gaydon, it is you, is it?" he cries, "I have then escaped from +you! I am free!" + +He can, indeed, regard himself as being free--a good deal more at +liberty in Back Cup than he was in Healthful House. But maybe my +presence evokes unpleasant memories, and will bring on another fit, +for he continues with extraordinary animation: + +"Yes, I know you, Gaydon.--Do not approach me! Stand off! stand off! +You would like to get me back in your clutches, incarcerate me again +in your dungeon! Never! I have friends here who will protect me. They +are powerful, they are rich. The Count d'Artigas is my backer and +Engineer Serko is my partner. We are going to exploit my invention! We +are going to make my fulgurator! Hence! Get you gone!" + +Thomas Roch is in a perfect fury. He raises his voice, agitates his +arms, and finally pulls from his pockets many rolls of dollar bills +and banknotes, and handfuls of English, French, American and German +gold coins, which slip through his fingers and roll about the cavern. + +How could he get all this money except from Ker Karraje, and as the +price of his secret? The noise he makes attracts a number of men to +the scene. They watch us for a moment, then seize Thomas Roch and drag +him away. As soon as I am out of his sight he ceases-to struggle and +becomes calm again. + +_July 27._--Two hours after meeting with Thomas Roch, I went down to +the lagoon and walked out to the edge of the stone jetty. + +The tug is not moored in its accustomed place, nor can I see it +anywhere about the lake. Ker Karraje and Engineer Serko had not gone +yesterday, as I supposed, for I saw them in the evening. + +To-day, however, I have reason to believe that they really have gone +away in the tug with Captain Spade and the crew of the _Ebba_, and +that the latter must be sailing away. + +Have they set out on a piracy expedition? Very likely. It is equally +likely that Ker Karraje, become once more the Count d'Artigas, +travelling for pleasure on board his yacht, intends to put into some +port on the American coast to procure the substances necessary to the +preparation of Roch's fulgurator. + +Ah! if it had only been possible for me to hide in the tug, to slip +into the _Ebba's_ hold, and stow myself away there until the schooner +arrived in port! Then perchance I might have escaped and delivered the +world from this band of pirates. + +It will be seen how tenaciously I cling to the thought of escape--of +fleeing--fleeing at any cost from this lair. But flight is impossible, +except through the tunnel, by means of a submarine boat. Is it not +folly to think of such a thing? Sheer folly, and yet what other way is +there of getting out of Back Cup? + +While I give myself up to these reflections the water of the lagoon +opens a few yards from me and the tug appears. The lid is raised and +Gibson, the engineer, and the men issue on to the platform. Other men +come up and catch the line that is thrown to them. They haul upon it, +and the tug is soon moored in its accustomed place. + +This time, therefore, at any rate, the schooner is not being towed, +and the tug merely went out to put Ker Karraje and his companions +aboard the _Ebba_. + +This only confirms my impression that the sole object of their trip is +to reach an American port where the Count d'Artigas can procure the +materials for making the explosive, and order the machines in some +foundry. On the day fixed for their return the tug will go out through +the tunnel again to meet the schooner and Ker Karraje will return to +Back Cup. + +Decidedly, this evildoer is carrying out his designs and has succeeded +sooner than I thought would be possible. + +_August 3._--An incident occurred to-day of which the lagoon was the +theatre--a very curious incident that must be exceedingly rare. + +Towards three o'clock in the afternoon there was a prodigious bubbling +in the water, which ceased for a minute or two and then recommenced in +the centre of the lagoon. + +About fifteen pirates, whose attention had been attracted by this +unaccountable phenomenon, hurried down to the bank manifesting signs +of astonishment not unmingled with fear--at least I thought so. + +The agitation of the water was not caused by the tug, as the latter +was lying alongside the jetty, and the idea that some other submarine +boat had found its way through the tunnel was highly improbable. + +Almost at the same instant cries were heard on the opposite bank. The +newcomers shouted something in a hoarse voice to the men on the side +where I was standing, and these immediately rushed off towards the +Beehive. + +I conjectured that they had caught sight of some sea-monster that had +found its way in, and was floundering in the lagoon, and that they had +rushed off to fetch arms and harpoons to try and capture it. + +I was right, for they speedily returned with the latter weapons and +rifles loaded with explosive bullets. + +The monster in question was a whale, of the species that is common +enough in Bermudan waters, which after swimming through the tunnel was +plunging about in the narrow limits of the lake. As it was constrained +to take refuge in Back Cup I concluded that it must have been hard +pressed by whalers. + +Some minutes elapsed before the monster rose to the surface. Then the +green shiny mass appeared spouting furiously and darting to and fro as +though fighting with some formidable enemy. + +"If it was driven in here by whalers," I said to myself, "there must +be a vessel in proximity to Back Cup--peradventure within a stone's +throw of it. Her boats must have entered the western passes to the +very foot of the mountain. And to think I am unable to communicate +with them! But even if I could, I fail to see how I could go to them +through these massive walls." + +I soon found, however, that it was not fishers, but sharks that had +driven the whale through the tunnel, and which infest these waters in +great numbers. I could see them plainly as they darted about, turning +upon their backs and displaying their enormous mouths which were +bristling with their cruel teeth. There were five or six of the +monsters, and they attacked the whale with great viciousness. The +latter's only means of defence was its tail, with which it lashed at +them with terrific force and rapidity. But the whale had received +several wounds and the water was tinged with its life-blood; for +plunge and lash as it would, it could not escape the bites of its +enemies. + +However, the voracious sharks were not permitted to vanquish their +prey, for man, far more powerful with his instruments of death, was +about to take a hand and snatch it from them. Gathered around the +lagoon were the companions of Ker Karraje, every whit as ferocious as +the sharks themselves, and well deserving the same name, for what else +are they? + +Standing amid a group, at the extremity of the jetty, and armed with +a harpoon, was the big Malay who had prevented me from entering Ker +Karraje's house. When the whale got within shot, he hurled the harpoon +with great force and skill, and it sank into the leviathan's flesh +just under the left fin. The whale plunged immediately, followed by +the relentless sharks. The rope attached to the weapon ran out for +about sixty yards, and then slackened. The men at once began to haul +on it, and the monster rose to the surface again near the end of the +tunnel, struggling desperately in its death agony, and spurting great +columns of water tinged with blood. One blow of its tail struck a +shark, and hurled it clean out of water against the rocky side, where +it dropped in again, badly, if not fatally injured. + +The harpoon was torn from the flesh by the jerk, and the whale went +under. It came up again for the last time, and lashed the water so +that it washed up from the tunnel end, disclosing the top of the +orifice. + +Then the sharks again rushed on their prey, but were scared off by a +hail of the explosive bullets. Two men then jumped into a boat and +attached a line to the dead monster. The latter was hauled into the +jetty, and the Malays started to cut it up with a dexterity that +showed they were no novices at the work. + +No more sharks were to be seen, but I concluded that it would be as +well to refrain from taking a bath in the lagoon for some days to +come. + +I now know exactly where the entrance to the tunnel is situated. The +orifice on this side is only ten feet below the edge of the western +bank. But of what use is this knowledge to me? + +_August 7_.--Twelve days have elapsed since the Count d'Artigas, +Engineer Serko, and Captain Spade put to sea. There is nothing to +indicate that their return is expected, though the tug is always kept +in readiness for immediate departure by Gibson, the engine-driver. If +the _Ebba_ is not afraid to enter the ports of the United States by +day, I rather fancy she prefers to enter the rocky channel of Back +Cup at nightfall. I also fancy, somehow, that Ker Karraje and his +companions will return to-night. + +_August 10_.--At ten o'clock last night, as I anticipated, the tug +went under and out, just in time to meet the _Ebba_ and tow her +through the channel to her creek, after which she returned with Ker +Karraje and the others. + +When I look out this morning, I see Thomas Roch and Engineer Serko +walking down to the lagoon, and talking. What they are talking about I +can easily guess. I go forward and take a good look at my ex-patient. +He is asking questions of Engineer Serko With great animation. His +eyes gleam, his face is flushed, and he is all eagerness to reach the +jetty. Engineer Serko can hardly keep up with him. + +The crew of the tug are unloading her, and they have just brought +ashore ten medium-sized boxes. These boxes bear a peculiar red mark, +which Thomas Roch examines closely. + +Engineer Serko orders the men to transport them to the storehouses on +the left bank, and the boxes are forthwith loaded on a boat and rowed +over. + +In my opinion, these boxes contain the substances by the combination +or mixture of which, the fulgurator and deflagrator are to be made. +The engines, doubtless, are being made in an American foundry, and +when they are ready, the schooner will fetch them and bring them to +Back Cup. + +For once in a while, anyhow, the _Ebba_ has not returned with any +stolen merchandise. She went out and has returned with a clear bill. +But with what terrible power Ker Karraje will be armed for both +offensive and defensive operations at sea! If Thomas Roch is to be +credited, this fulgurator could shatter the terrestrial spheroid at +one blow. And who knows but what one day, he will try the experiment? + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ENGINEER SERKO'S ADVICE. + + +Thomas Roch has started work and spends hours and hours in a wooden +shed on the left bank of the lagoon that has been set apart as his +laboratory and workshop. No one enters it except himself. Does he +insist upon preparing the explosive in secret and does he intend to +keep the formula thereof to himself? I should not wonder. + +The manner of employing Roch's fulgurator is, I believe, very simple +indeed. The projectile in which it is used requires neither gun nor +mortar to launch it, nor pneumatic tube like the Zalinski shell. It is +autopropulsive, it projects itself, and no ship within a certain zone +when the engine explodes could escape utter destruction. With such a +weapon as this at his command Ker Karraje would be invincible. + +_From August 11 to August 17_.--During the past week Thomas Roch has +been working without intermission. Every morning the inventor goes to +his laboratory and does not issue therefrom till night. I have made no +attempt to stop him or speak to him, knowing that it would be useless +to do so. + +Although he is still indifferent to everything that does not touch +upon his work he appears to be perfectly self-possessed. Why should he +not have recovered his reason? Has he not obtained what he has so long +sought for? Is he not at last able to carry out the plans he formed +years and years ago? + +_August 18_.--At one o'clock this morning I was roused by several +detonations. + +"Has Back Cup been attacked?" was my first thought. "Has the schooner +excited suspicion, and been chased to the entrance to the passes? Is +the island being bombarded with a view to its destruction? Has justice +at last overtaken these evil-doers ere Thomas Roch has been able +to complete the manufacture of his explosive, and before the +autopropulsive engine could be fetched from the continent?" + +The detonations, which are very violent, continue, succeeding each +other at regular intervals, and it occurs to me that if the schooner +has been destroyed, all communication with the bases of supply being +impossible, Back Cup cannot be provisioned. + +It is true the tug would be able to land the Count d'Artigas somewhere +on the American coast where, money being no object, he could easily +buy or order another vessel. But no matter. If Back Cup is only +destroyed before Ker Karraje has Roch's fulgurator at his disposal I +shall render thanks to heaven. + +A few hours later, at the usual time, I quit my cell. All is quiet at +the Beehive. The men are going about their business as usual. The tug +is moored near the jetty. Thomas Roch is going to his laboratory, and +Ker Karraje and Engineer Serko are tranquilly pacing backwards and +forwards by the lake and chatting. The island therefore could not have +been attacked during the night. Yet I was awakened by the report of +cannon, this I will swear. + +At this moment Ker Karraje goes off towards his abode and Engineer +Serko, smilingly ironical, as usual, advances to meet me. + +"Well, Mr. Simon Hart," he says, "are you getting accustomed to +your tranquil existence? Do you appreciate at their just merit the +advantages of this enchanted grotto? Have you given up all hope of +recovering your liberty some day or other?" + +What is the use of waxing wroth with this jester? I reply calmly: + +"No, sir. I have not given up hope, and I still expect that I shall be +released." + +"What! Mr. Hart, separate ourselves from a man whom we all esteem--and +I from a colleague who perhaps, in the course of Thomas Roch's fits of +delirium, has learned some of his secrets? You are not serious!" + +So this is why they are keeping me a prisoner in Back Cup! They +suppose that I am in part familiar with Roch's invention, and they +hope to force me to tell what I know if Thomas Roch refuses to give up +his secret. This is the reason why I was kidnapped with him, and why +I have not been accommodated with an involuntary plunge in the lagoon +with a stone fastened to my neck. I see it all now, and it is just as +well to know it. + +"Very serious," I affirm, in response to the last remark of my +interlocutor. + +"Well," he continues, "if I had the honor to be Simon Hart, the +engineer, I should reason as follows: 'Given, on the one hand, the +personality of Ker Karraje, the reasons which incited him to select +such a mysterious retreat as this cavern, the necessity of the said +cavern being kept from any attempt to discover it, not only in the +interest of the Count d'Artigas, but in that of his companions--'" + +"Of his accomplices, if you please." + +"'Of his accomplices,' then--'and on the other hand, given the +fact that I know the real name of the Count d'Artigas and in what +mysterious safe he keeps his riches--'" + +"Riches stolen, and stained with blood, Mr. Serko." + +"'Riches stolen and stained with blood,' if you like--'I ought +to understand that this question of liberty cannot be settled in +accordance with my desires.'" + +It is useless to argue the point under these conditions, and I switch +the conversation on to another line. + +"May I ask," I continue, "how you came to find out that Gaydon, the +warder, was Simon Hart, the engineer?" + +"I see no reason for keeping you in ignorance on the subject, my dear +colleague. It was largely by hazard. We had certain relations with the +manufactory in New Jersey with which you were connected, and which you +quitted suddenly one day under somewhat singular circumstances. Well, +during a visit I made to Healthful House some months before the Count +d'Artigas went there, I saw and recognized you." + +"You?" + +"My very self, and from that moment I promised myself the pleasure of +having you for a fellow-passenger on board the _Ebba_." + +I do not recall ever having seen this Serko at Healthful House, but +what he says is very likely true. + +"I hope your whim of having me for a companion will cost you dear, +some day or other," I say to myself. + +Then, abruptly, I go on: + +"If I am not mistaken, you have succeeded in inducing Thomas Roch to +disclose the secret of his fulgurator?" + +"Yes, Mr. Hart. We paid millions for it. But millions, you know, are +nothing to us. We have only the trouble of taking them! Therefore we +filled all his pockets--covered him with millions!" + +"Of what use are these millions to him if he is not allowed to enjoy +them outside?" + +"That, Mr. Hart, is a matter that does not trouble him a little bit! +This man of genius thinks nothing of the future: he lives but in the +present. While engines are being constructed from his plans over +yonder in America, he is preparing his explosive with chemical +substances with which he has been abundantly supplied. He! he! What an +invention it is, this autopropulsive engine, which flies through +the air of its own power and accelerates its speed till the goal is +reached, thanks to the properties of a certain powder of progressive +combustion! Here we have an invention that will bring about a radical +change in the art of war." + +"Defensive war, Mr. Serko." + +"And offensive war, Mr. Hart." + +"Naturally," I answer. + +Then pumping him still more closely, I go on: + +"So, what no one else has been able to obtain from Thomas Roch--" + +"We obtained without much difficulty." + +"By paying him." + +"By paying him an incredible price--and, moreover, by causing to +vibrate what in him is a very sensitive chord." + +"What chord?" + +"That of vengeance!" + +"Vengeance?--against whom?" + +"Against all those who have made themselves his enemies by +discouraging him, by spurning him, expelling him, by constraining +him to go a-begging from country to country with an invention of +incontestable superiority! Now all notion of patriotism is extinct in +his soul. He has now but one thought, one ferocious desire: to avenge +himself upon those who have denied him--and even upon all mankind! +Really, Mr. Hart, your governments of Europe and America committed a +stupendous blunder in refusing to pay Roch the price his fulgurator is +worth!" + +And Engineer Serko describes enthusiastically the various advantages +of the new explosive which, he says, is incontestably superior to any +yet invented. + +"And what a destructive effect it has," he adds. "It is analogous to +that of the Zalinski shell, but is a hundred times more powerful, and +requires no machine for firing it, as it flies through the air on its +own wings, so to speak." + +I listen in the hope that Engineer Serko will give away a part of the +secret, but in vain. He is careful not to say more than he wants to. + +"Has Thomas Roch," I ask, "made you acquainted with the composition of +his explosive?" + +"Yes, Mr. Hart--if it is all the same to you--and we shall shortly +have considerable quantities of it stored in a safe place." + +"But will there not be a great and ever-impending danger in +accumulating large quantities of it? If an accident were to happen it +would be all up with the island of----!" + +Once more the name of Back Cup was on the point of escaping me. +They might consider me too well-informed if they were aware that in +addition to being acquainted with the Count d'Artigas' real name I +also know where his stronghold is situated. + +Luckily Engineer Serko has not remarked my reticence, and he replies: + +"There will be no cause for alarm. Thomas Roch's explosive will not +burn unless subjected to a special deflagrator. Neither fire nor shock +will explode it." + +"And has Thomas Roch also sold you the secret of his deflagrator?" + +"Not yet, Mr. Hart, but it will not be long before the bargain is +concluded. Therefore, I repeat, no danger is to be apprehended, and +you need not keep awake of nights on that account. A thousand devils, +sir! We have no desire to be blown up with our cavern and treasures! A +few more years of good business and we shall divide the profits, which +will be large enough to enable each one of us to live as he thinks +proper and enjoy life to the top of his bent--after the dissolution +of the firm of Ker Karraje and Co. I may add that though there is +no danger of an explosion, we have everything to fear from a +denunciation--which you are in the position to make, Mr. Hart. +Therefore, if you take my advice, you will, like a sensible man, +resign yourself to the inevitable until the disbanding of the company. +We shall then see what in the interest of our security is best to be +done with you!" + +It will be admitted that these words are not exactly calculated to +reassure me. However, a lot of things may happen ere then. I have +learned one good thing from this conversation, and that is that if +Thomas Roch has sold his explosive to Ker Karraje and Co., he has +at any rate, kept the secret of his deflagrator, without which the +explosive is of no more value than the dust of the highway. + +But before terminating the interview I think I ought to make a very +natural observation to Mr. Serko. + +"Sir," I say, "you are now acquainted with the composition of Thomas +Roch's explosive. Does it really possess the destructive power that +the inventor attributes to it? Has it ever been tried? May you not +have purchased a composition as inert as a pinch of snuff?" + +"You are doubtless better informed upon this point than you pretend, +Mr. Hart. Nevertheless, I thank you for the interest you manifest in +our affairs, and am able to reassure you. The other night we made +a series of decisive experiments. With only a few grains of this +substance great blocks of rock were reduced to impalpable dust!" + +This explanation evidently applies to the detonation I heard. + +"Thus, my dear colleague," continues Engineer Serko, "I can assure you +that our expectations have been answered. The effects of the explosive +surpass anything that could have been imagined. A few thousand tons of +it would burst our spheroid and scatter the fragments into space. You +can be absolutely certain that it is capable of destroying no matter +what vessel at a distance considerably greater than that attained by +present projectiles and within a zone of at least a mile. The weak +point in the invention is that rather too much time has to be expended +in regulating the firing." + +Engineer Serko stops short, as though reluctant to give any further +information, but finally adds: + +"Therefore, I end as I began, Mr. Hart. Resign yourself to the +inevitable. Accept your new existence without reserve. Give yourself +up to the tranquil delights of this subterranean life. If one is in +good health, one preserves it; if one has lost one's health, one +recovers it here. That is what is happening to your fellow countryman. +Yes, the best thing you can do is to resign yourself to your lot." + +Thereupon this giver of good advice leaves me, after saluting me +with a friendly gesture, like a man whose good intentions merit +appreciation. But what irony there is in his words, in his glance, in +his attitude. Shall I ever be able to get even with him? + +I now know that at any rate it is not easy to regulate the aim of +Roch's auto-propulsive engine. It is probable that it always bursts at +the same distance, and that beyond the zone in which the effects of +the fulgurator are so terrible, and once it has been passed, a ship is +safe from its effects. If I could only inform the world of this vital +fact! + +_August 20_.--For two days no incident worth recording has occurred. I +have explored Back Cup to its extreme limits. At night when the long +perspective of arched columns are illuminated by the electric lamps, I +am almost religiously impressed when I gaze upon the natural wonders +of this cavern, which has become my prison. I have never given up hope +of finding somewhere in the walls a fissure of some kind of which the +pirates are ignorant and through which I could make my escape. It is +true that once outside I should have to wait till a passing ship hove +in sight. My evasion would speedily be known at the Beehive, and I +should soon be recaptured, unless--a happy thought strikes me--unless +I could get at the _Ebba's_ boat that was drawn up high and dry on the +little sandy beach in the creek. In this I might be able to make my +way to St. George or Hamilton. + +This evening--it was about nine o'clock--I stretched myself on a bed +of sand at the foot of one of the columns, about one hundred yards to +the east of the lagoon. Shortly afterwards I heard footsteps, then +voices. Hiding myself as best I could behind the rocky base of the +pillar, I listened with all my ears. + +I recognized the voices as those of Ker Karraje and Engineer Serko. +The two men stopped close to where I was lying, and continued their +conversation in English--which is the language generally used in Back +Cup. I was therefore able to understand all that they said. + +They were talking about Thomas Roch, or rather his fulgurator. + +"In a week's time," said Ker Karraje, "I shall put to sea in the +_Ebba_, and fetch the sections of the engines that are being cast in +that Virginian foundry." + +"And when they are here," observed Engineer Serko, "I will piece them +together and fix up the frames for firing them. But beforehand, there +is a job to be done which it seems to me is indispensable." + +"What is that?" + +"To cut a tunnel through the wall of the cavern." + +"Through the wall of the cavern?" + +"Oh! nothing but a narrow passage through which only one man at a time +could squeeze, a hole easy enough to block, and the outside end of +which would be hidden among the rocks." + +"Of what use could it be to us, Serko?" + +"I have often thought about the utility of having some other way of +getting out besides the submarine tunnel. We never know what the +future may have in store for us." + +"But the walls are so thick and hard," objected Ker Karraje. + +"Oh, with a few grains of Roch's explosive I undertake to reduce the +rock to such fine powder that we shall be able to blow it away with +our breath," Serko replied. + +It can easily be imagined with what interest and eagerness I listened +to this. Here was a ray of hope. It. was proposed to open up +communication with the outside by a tunnel in the wall, and this held +out the possibility of escape. + +As this thought flashed through my mind, Ker Karraje said: + +"Very well, Serko, and if it becomes necessary some day to defend Back +Cup and prevent any ship from approaching it----. It is true," he went +on, without finishing the reflection, "our retreat would have to have +been discovered by accident--or by denunciation." + +"We have nothing to fear either from accident or denunciation," +affirmed Serko. + +"By one of our band, no, of course not, but by Simon Hart, perhaps." + +"Hart!" exclaimed Serko. "He would have to escape first and no one can +escape from Back Cup. I am, by the bye, interested in this Hart. He is +a colleague, after all, and I have always suspected that he knows more +about Roch's invention than he pretends. I will get round him so that +we shall soon be discussing physics, mechanics, and matters ballistic +like a couple of friends." + +"No matter," replied the generous and sensible Count d'Artigas, "when +we are in full possession of the secret we had better get rid of the +fellow." + +"We have plenty of time to do that, Ker Karraje." + +"If God permits you to, you wretches," I muttered to myself, while my +heart thumped against my ribs. + +And yet, without the intervention of Providence, what hope is there +for me? + +The conversation then took another direction. + +"Now that we know the composition of the explosive, Serko," said Ker +Karraje, "we must, at all cost, get that of the deflagrator from +Thomas Roch." + +"Yes," replied Engineer Serko, "that is what I am trying to do. +Unfortunately, however, Roch positively refuses to discuss it. Still +he has already made a few drops of it with which those experiments +were made, and he will furnish as with some more to blow a hole +through the wall." + +"But what about our expeditions at sea?" queried Ker Karraje. + +"Patience! We shall end by getting Roch's thunderbolts entirely in our +own hand, and then----" + +"Are you sure, Serko?" + +"Quite sure,--by paying the price, Ker Karraje." + +The conversation dropped at this point, and they strolled off without +having seen me--very luckily for me, I guess. If Engineer Serko spoke +up somewhat in defence of a colleague, Ker Karraje is apparently +animated with much less benevolent sentiments in regard to me. On the +least suspicion they would throw me into the lake, and if I ever got +through the tunnel, it would only be as a corpse carried out by the +ebbing tide. + +_August 21_.--Engineer Serko has been prospecting with a view to +piercing the proposed passage through the wall, in such a way that its +existence will never be dreamed of outside. After a minute examination +he decided to tunnel through the northern end of the cavern about +sixty feet from the first cells of the Beehive. + +I am anxious for the passage to be made, for who knows but what it may +be the way to freedom for me? Ah! if I only knew how to swim, perhaps +I should have attempted to escape through the submarine tunnel, as +since it was disclosed by the lashing back of the waters by the whale +in its death-struggle, I know exactly where the orifice is situated. +It seems to me that at the time of the great tides, this orifice must +be partly uncovered. At the full and new moon, when the sea attains +its maximum depression below the normal level, it is possible that--I +must satisfy myself about this. + +I do not know how the fact will help me in any way, even if the +entrance to the tunnel is partly uncovered, but I cannot afford to +miss any detail that may possibly aid in my escape from Back Cup. + +_August 29_.--This morning I am witnessing the departure of the tug. +The Count d'Artigas is, no doubt, going off in the _Ebba_ to fetch +the sections of Thomas Roch's engines. Before embarking, the Count +converses long and earnestly with Engineer Serko, who, apparently, is +not going to accompany him on this trip, and is evidently giving him +some recommendations, of which I may be the object. Then, having +stepped on to the platform, he goes below, the lid shuts with a bang, +and the tug sinks out of sight, leaving a trail of bubbles behind it. + +The hours go by, night is coming on, yet the tug does not return. I +conclude that it has gone to tow the schooner, and perhaps to destroy +any merchant vessels that may come in their way. + +It cannot, however, be absent very long, as the trip to America and +back will not take more than a week. + +Besides, if I can judge from the calm atmosphere in the interior of +the cavern, the _Ebba_ must be favored with beautiful weather. This +is, in fact, the fine season in this part of the world. Ah! if only I +could break out of my prison! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +GOD BE WITH IT. + + +_From August 29 to September 10_.--Thirteen days have gone by and +the _Ebba_ has not returned. Did she then not make straight for the +American coast? Has she been delayed by a buccaneering cruise in the +neighborhood of Back Cup? It seems to me that Ker Karraje's only +desire would be to get back with the sections of Roch's engines as +soon as possible. Maybe the Virginian foundry had not quite finished +them. + +Engineer Serko does not display the least anxiety or impatience. He +continues to greet me with his accustomed ironical cordiality, and +with a kindly air that I distrust--with good reason. He affects to be +solicitous as to my health, urges me to make the best of a bad job, +calls me Ali Baba, assures me that there is not, in the whole world, +such an enchanting spot as this Arabian Nights cavern, observes that I +am fed, warmed, lodged, and clothed, that I have no taxes to pay, and +that even the inhabitants of the favored principality of Monaco do not +enjoy an existence more free from care. + +Sometimes this ironical verbiage brings the blood to my face, and I +am tempted to seize this cynical banterer by the throat and choke the +life out of him. They would kill me afterwards. Still, what would that +matter! Would it not be better to end in this way than to spend years +and years amid these infernal and infamous surroundings? However, +while there is life there is hope, I reflect, and this thought +restrains me. + +I have scarcely set eyes upon Thomas Roch since the _Ebba_ went away. +He shuts himself up in his laboratory and works unceasingly. If he +utilizes all the substances placed at his disposition there will be +enough to blow up Back Cup and the whole Bermudan archipelago with it! + +I cling to the hope that he will never consent to give up the secret +of his deflagrator, and that Engineer Serko's efforts to acquire it +will remain futile. + +_September 3_.--To-day I have been able to witness with my own eyes +the power of Roch's explosive, and also the manner in which the +fulgurator is employed. + +During the morning the men began to pierce the passage through the +wall of the cavern at the spot fixed upon by Engineer Serko, who +superintended the work in person. The work began at the base, where +the rock is as hard as granite. To have continued it with pickaxes +would have entailed long and arduous labor, inasmuch as the wall at +this place is not less than from twenty to thirty yards in thickness, +but thanks to Roch's fulgurator the passage will be completed easily +and rapidly. + +I may well be astonished at what I have seen. The pickaxes hardly made +any impression on the rock, but its disaggregation was effected with +really remarkable facility by means of the fulgurator. + +A few grains of this explosive shattered the rocky mass and reduced it +to almost impalpable powder that one's breath could disperse as easily +as vapor. The explosion produced an excavation measuring fully a cubic +yard. It was accompanied by a sharp detonation that may be compared to +the report of a cannon. + +The first charge used, although a very small one, a mere pinch, blew +the men in every direction, and two of them were seriously injured. +Engineer Serko himself was projected several yards, and sustained some +rather severe contusions. + +Here is how this substance, whose bursting force surpasses anything +hitherto conceived, is employed. + +A small hole about an inch and a half in length is pierced obliquely +in the rock. A few grains of the explosive are then inserted, but no +wad is used. + +Then Thomas Roch steps forward. In his hand is a little glass phial +containing a bluish, oily liquid that congeals almost as soon as it +comes in contact with the air. He pours one drop on the entrance of +the hole, and draws back, but not with undue haste. It takes a certain +time--about thirty-five seconds, I reckon--before the combination of +the fulgurator and deflagrator is effected. But when the explosion +does take place its power of disaggregation is such--I repeat--that +it may be regarded as unlimited. It is at any rate a thousand times +superior to that of any known explosive. + +Under these circumstances it will probably not take more than a week +to complete the tunnel. + +_September 19_.--For some time past I have observed that the tide +rises and falls twice every twenty-four hours, and that the ebb and +flow produce a rather swift current through the submarine tunnel. It +is pretty certain therefore that a floating object thrown into the +lagoon when the top of the orifice is uncovered would be carried out +by the receding tide. It is just possible that during the lowest +equinoctial tides the top of the orifice is uncovered. This I shall be +able to ascertain, as this is precisely the time they occur. To-day, +September 19, I could almost distinguish the summit of the hole under +the water. The day after to-morrow, if ever, it will be uncovered. + +Very well then, if I cannot myself attempt to get through, may be a +bottle thrown into the lagoon might be carried out during the last +few minutes of the ebb. And might not this bottle by chance--an +ultra-providential chance, I must avow--be picked up by a ship passing +near Back Cup? Perhaps even it might be borne away by a friendly +current and cast upon one of the Bermudan beaches. What if that bottle +contained a letter? + +I cannot get this thought out of my mind, and it works me up into a +great state of excitement. Then objections crop up--this one among +others: the bottle might be swept against the rocks and smashed ere +ever it could get out of the tunnel. Very true, but what if, instead +of a bottle a diminutive, tightly closed keg were used? It would not +run any danger of being smashed and would besides stand a much better +chance of reaching the open sea. + +_September 20_.--This evening, I, unperceived, entered one of the +store houses containing the booty pillaged from various ships and +procured a keg very suitable for my experiment. + +I hid the keg under my coat, and returned to the Beehive and my cell. +Then without losing an instant I set to work. Paper, pen, ink, nothing +was wanting, as will be supposed from the fact that for three months I +have been making notes and dotting down my impressions daily. + +I indite the following message: + +"On June 15 last Thomas Roch and his keeper Gaydon, or rather Simon +Hart, the French engineer who occupied Pavilion No. 17, at Healthful +House, near New-Berne, North Carolina, United States of America, were +kidnapped and carried on board the schooner _Ebba_, belonging to the +Count d'Artigas. Both are now confined in the interior of a cavern +which serves as a lair for the said Count d'Artigas--who is really Ker +Karraje, the pirate who some time ago carried on his depredations in +the West Pacific--and for about a hundred men of which his band is +composed. + +"When he has obtained possession of Roch's fulgurator whose power is, +so to speak, without limit, Ker Karraje will be in a position to carry +on his crimes with complete impunity. + +"It is therefore urgent that the states interested should destroy his +lair without delay. + +"The cavern in which the pirate Ker Karraje has taken refuge is in the +interior of the islet of Back Cup, which is wrongly regarded as +an active volcano. It is situated at the western extremity of the +archipelago of Bermuda, and on the east is bounded by a range of +reefs, but on the north, south, and west is open. + +"Communication with the inside of the mountain is only possible +through a tunnel a few yards under water in a narrow pass on the west. +A submarine apparatus therefore is necessary to effect an entrance, at +any rate until a tunnel they are boring through the northwestern wall +of the cavern is completed. + +"The pirate Ker Karraje employs an apparatus of this kind--the +submarine boat that the Count d'Artigas ordered of the Cramps and +which was supposed to have been lost during the public experiment with +it in Charleston Bay. This boat is used not only for the purpose of +entering and issuing from Back Cup, but also to tow the schooner and +attack merchant vessels in Bermudan waters. + +"This schooner _Ebba_, so well known on the American coast, is kept +in a small creek on the western side of the island, behind a mass of +rocks, and is invisible from the sea. + +"The best place to land is on the west coast formerly occupied by the +colony of Bermudan fishers; but it would first be advisable to effect +a breach in the side of the cavern by means of the most powerful +melinite shells. + +"The fact that Ker Karraje may be in the position to use Roch's +fulgurator for the defence of the island must also be taken into +consideration. Let it be well borne in mind that if its destructive +power surpasses anything ever conceived or dreamed of, it extends over +a zone not exceeding a mile in extent. The distance of this dangerous +zone is variable, but once the engines have been set, the modification +of the distance occupies some time, and a warship that succeeds in +passing the zone has nothing further to fear. + +"This document is written on the twentieth day of September at eight +o'clock in the evening and is signed with my name + +"THOMAS HART, Engineer." + +The above is the text of the statement I have just drawn up. It says +all that is necessary about the island, whose exact situation is +marked on all modern charts and maps, and points out the expediency +of acting without delay, and what to do in case Ker Karraje is in the +position to employ Roch's fulgurator. + +I add a plan of the cavern showing its internal configuration, the +situation of the lagoon, the lay of the Beehive, Ker Karraje's +habitation, my cell, and Thomas Roch's laboratory. + +I wrap the document in a piece of tarpaulin and insert the package in +the little keg, which measures six inches by three and a half. It +is perfectly watertight and will stand any amount of knocking about +against the rocks. + +There is one danger, however, and that is, that it may be swept back +by the returning tide, cast up on the island, and fall into the hands +of the crew of the _Ebba_ when the schooner is hauled into her creek. +If Ker Karraje ever gets hold of it, it will be all up with me. + +It will be readily conceived with what anxiety I have awaited the +moment to make the attempt: I am in a perfect fever of excitement, +for it is a matter of life or death to me. I calculate from previous +observations that the tide will be very low at about a quarter to +nine. The top of the tunnel ought then to be a foot and a half above +water, which is more than enough to permit of the keg passing through +it. It will be another half hour at least before the flow sets in +again, and by that time the keg may be far enough away to escape being +thrown back on the coast. + +I peer out of my cell. There is no one about, and I advance to the +side of the lagoon, where by the light of a nearby lamp, I perceive +the arch of the tunnel, towards which the current seems to be setting +pretty swiftly. + +I go down to the very edge, and cast in the keg which contains the +precious document and all my hopes. + +"God be with it!" I fervently exclaim. "God be with it!" + +For a minute or two the little barrel remains stationary, and then +floats back to the side again. I throw it out once more with all my +strength. + +This time it is in the track of the current, which to my great joy +sweeps it along and in twenty seconds, it has disappeared in the +tunnel. + +Yes, God be with it! May Heaven guide thee, little barrel! May it +protect all those whom Ker Karraje menaces and grant that this band of +pirates may not escape from the justice of man! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BATTLE BETWEEN THE "SWORD" AND THE TUG. + + +Through all this sleepless night I have followed the keg in fancy. How +many times I seem to see it swept against the rocks in the tunnel into +a creek, or some excavation. I am in a cold perspiration from head to +foot. Then I imagine that it has been carried out to sea. Heavens! +if the returning tide should sweep it back to the entrance and then +through the tunnel into the lagoon! I must be on the lookout for it. + +I rise before the sun and saunter down to the lagoon. Not a single +object is floating on its calm surface. + +The work on the tunnel through the side of the cavern goes on, and at +four o'clock in the afternoon on September 23, Engineer Serko blows +away the last rock obstructing the issue, and communication with the +outer world is established. It is only a very narrow hole, and one +has to stoop to go through it. The exterior orifice is lost among the +crannies of the rocky coast, and it would be easy to obstruct it, if +such a measure became necessary. + +It goes without saying that the passage will be strictly guarded. No +one without special authorization will be able either to go out or +come in, therefore there is little hope of escape in that direction. + +_September 25._--This morning the tug rose from the depth of the +lagoon to the surface, and has now run alongside the jetty. The Count +d'Artigas and Captain Spade disembark, and the crew set to work to +land the provisions--boxes of canned meat, preserves, barrels of wine +and spirits, and other things brought by the _Ebba,_ among which are +several packages destined for Thomas Roch. The men also land the +various sections of Roch's engines which are discoid in shape. + +The inventor watches their operations, and his eyes glisten with +eagerness. He seizes one of the sections, examines it, and nods +approval. I notice that his joy no longer finds expression in +incoherent utterances, that he is completely transformed from what he +was while a patient at Healthful House. So much is this the case that +I begin to ask myself whether his madness which was asserted to be +incurable, has not been radically cured. + +At last Thomas Roch embarks in the boat used for crossing the lake and +is rowed over to his laboratory. Engineer Serko accompanies him. In an +hour's time the tug's cargo has all been taken out and transported to +the storehouses. + +Ker Karraje exchanges a word or two with Engineer Serko and then +enters his mansion. Later, in the afternoon, I see them walking up and +down in front of the Beehive and talking earnestly together. + +Then they enter the new tunnel, followed by Captain Spade. If I could +but follow them! If I could but breathe for awhile the bracing air +of the Atlantic, of which the interior of Back Cup only receives +attenuated puffs, so to speak. + +_From September 26 to October 10_.--Fifteen days have elapsed. Under +the directions of Engineer Serko and Thomas Roch the sections of the +engines have been fitted together. Then the construction of their +supports is begun. These supports are simple trestles, fitted with +transverse troughs or grooves of various degrees of inclination, and +which could be easily installed on the deck of the _Ebba_, or even +on the platform of the tug, which can be kept on a level with the +surface. + +Thus Ker Karraje, will be ruler of the seas, with his yacht. No +warship, however big, however powerful, will be able to cross the zone +of danger, whereas the _Ebba_ will be out of range of its guns. If +only my notice were found! If only the existence of this lair of Back +Cup were known! Means would soon be found, if not of destroying the +place, at least of starving the band into submission! + +_October 20_.--To my extreme surprise I find this morning that the tug +has gone away again. I recall that yesterday the elements of the piles +were renewed, but I thought it was only to keep them in order. In +view of the fact that the outside can now be reached through the new +tunnel, and that Thomas Roch has everything he requires, I can only +conclude that the tug has gone off on another marauding expedition. + +Yet this is the season of the equinoctial gales, and the Bermudan +waters are swept by frequent tempests. This is evident from the +violent gusts that drive back the smoke through the crater and the +heavy rain that accompanies it, as well as by the water in the lagoon, +which swells and washes over the brown rocks on its shores. + +But it is by no means sure that the _Ebba_ has quitted her cove. +However staunch she may be, she is, it seems to me, of too light a +build to face such tempests as now rage, even with the help of the +tug. + +On the other hand, although the tug has nothing to fear from the heavy +seas, as it would be in calm water a few yards below the surface, it +is hardly likely that it has gone on a trip unless to accompany the +schooner. + +I do not know to what its departure can be attributed, but its absence +is likely to be prolonged, for it has not yet returned. + +Engineer Serko has remained behind, but Ker Karraje, Captain Spade, +and the crew of the schooner, I find, have left. + +Life in the cavern goes on with its usual dispiriting monotony. I pass +hour after hour in my cell, meditating, hoping, despairing, following +in fancy the voyage of my little barrel, tossed about at the mercy +of the currents and whose chances of being picked up, I fear, are +becoming fainter each day, and killing time by writing my diary, which +will probably not survive me. + +Thomas Roch is constantly occupied in his laboratory manufacturing his +deflagrator. I still entertain the conviction that nothing will ever +induce him to give up the secret of the liquid's composition; but I am +perfectly aware that he will not hesitate to place his invention at +Ker Karraje's service. + +I often meet Engineer Serko when my strolls take me in the direction +of the Beehive. He always shows himself disposed to chat with me, +though, it is true, he does so in a tone of impertinent frivolity. +We converse upon all sorts of subjects, but rarely of my position. +Recrimination thereanent is useless and only subjects me to renewed +bantering. + + +_October 22_.--To-day I asked Engineer Serko whether the _Ebba_ had +put to sea again with the tug. + +"Yes, Mr. Simon Hart," he replied, "and though the clouds gather and +loud the tempest roars, be in no uneasiness in regard to our dear +_Ebba_." + +"Will she be gone long?" + +"We expect her back within forty-eight hours. It is the last voyage +Count d'Artigas proposes to make before the winter gales render +navigation in these parts impracticable." + +"Is her voyage one of business or pleasure?" + +"Of business, Mr. Hart, of business," answered Engineer Serko with +a smile. "Our engines are now completed, and when the fine weather +returns we shall resume offensive operations." + +"Against unfortunate merchantmen." + +"As unfortunate as they are richly laden." + +"Acts of piracy, whose impunity will, I trust, not always be assured," +I cried.. + +"Calm yourself, dear colleague, be calm! Be calm! No one, you know, +can ever discover our retreat, and none can ever disclose the secret! +Besides, with these engines, which are so easily handled and are of +such terrible power, it would be easy for us to blow to pieces any +ship that attempted to get within a certain radius of the island." + +"Providing," I said, "that Thomas Roch has sold you the composition of +his deflagrator as he has sold you that of his fulgurator." + +"That he has done, Mr. Hart, and it behooves me to set your mind at +rest upon that point." + +From this categorical response I ought to have concluded that the +misfortune had been consummated, but a certain hesitation in the +intonation of his voice warned me that implicit reliance was not to be +placed upon Engineer Serko's assertions. + +_October 25_.--What a frightful adventure I have just been mixed up +in, and what a wonder I did not lose my life! It is only by a miracle +that I am able to resume these notes, which have been interrupted for +forty-eight hours. With a little luck, I should have been delivered! +I should now be in one of the Bermudan ports--St. George or Hamilton. +The mysteries of Back Cup would have been cleared up. The description +of the schooner would have been wired all over the world, and she +would not dare to put into any port. The provisioning of Back Cup +would be impossible, and Ker Karraje's bandits would be condemned to +starve to death! + +This is what occurred: + +At eight o'clock in the evening on October 23, I quitted my cell in +an indefinable state of nervousness, and with a presentiment that a +serious event was imminent. In vain I had tried to seek calmness in +sleep. It was impossible to do so, and I rose and went out. + +Outside Back Cup the weather must have been very rough. Violent gusts +of wind swept in through the crater and agitated the water of the +lagoon. + +I walked along the shore on the Beehive side. No one was about. It +was rather cold, and the air was damp. The pirates were all snugly +ensconced in their cells, with the exception of one man, who stood +guard over the new passage, notwithstanding that the outer entrance +had been blocked. From where he was this man could not see the lagoon, +moreover there were only two lamps alight, one on each side of +the lake, and the forest of pillars was wrapt in the profoundest +obscurity. + +I was walking about in the shadow, when some one passed me. + +I saw that he was Thomas Roch. + +He was walking slowly, absorbed by his thoughts, his brain at work, as +usual. + +Was this not a favorable opportunity to talk to him, to enlighten him +about what he was probably ignorant, namely, the character of the +people into whose hands he had fallen? + +"He cannot," I argued, "know that the Count d'Artigas is none other +than Ker Karraje, the pirate. He cannot be aware that he has given up +a part of his invention to such a bandit. I must open his eyes to the +fact that he will never be able to enjoy his millions, that he is a +prisoner in Back Cup, and will never be allowed to leave it, any +more than I shall. Yes, I will make an appeal to his sentiments of +humanity, and point out to him what frightful misfortunes he will be +responsible for if he does not keep the secret of his deflagrator." + +All this I had said to myself, and was preparing to carry out my +resolution, when I suddenly felt myself seized from behind. + +Two men held me by the arms, and another appeared in front of me. + +Before I had time to cry out the man exclaimed in English: + +"Hush! not a word! Are you not Simon Hart?" + +"Yes, how did you know?" + +"I saw you come out of your cell." + +"Who are you, then?" + +"Lieutenant Davon, of the British Navy, of H.M.S. _Standard_, which is +stationed at the Bermudas." + +Emotion choked me so that it was impossible for me to utter a word. + +"We have come to rescue you from Ker Karraje, and also propose to +carry off Thomas Roch," he added. + +"Thomas Roch?" I stammered. + +"Yes, the document signed by you was found on the beach at St. +George----" + +"In a keg, Lieutenant Davon, which I committed to the waters of the +lagoon." + +"And which contained," went on the officer, "the notice by which we +were apprised that the island of Back Cup served as a refuge for Ker +Karraje and his band--Ker Karraje, this false Count d'Artigas, the +author of the double abduction from Healthful House." + +"Ah! Lieutenant Davon----" + +"Now we have not a moment to spare, we must profit by the obscurity." + +"One word, Lieutenant Davon, how did you penetrate to the interior of +Back Cup?" + +"By means of the submarine boat _Sword_, with which we have been +making experiments at St. George for six months past." + +"A submarine boat!" + +"Yes, it awaits us at the foot of the rocks. And now, Mr. Hart, where +is Ker Karraje's tug?" + +"It has been away for three weeks." + +"Ker Karraje is not here, then?" + +"No, but we expect him back every day--every hour, I might say." + +"It matters little," replied Lieutenant Davon. "It is not after Ker +Karraje, but Thomas Roch, we have come--and you also, Mr. Hart. The +_Sword_ will not leave the lagoon till you are both on board. If she +does not turn up at St. George again, they will know that I have +failed--and they will try again." + +"Where is the _Sword_, Lieutenant?" + +"On this side, in the shadow of the bank, where it cannot be seen. +Thanks to your directions, I and my crew were able to locate the +tunnel. We came through all right, and ten minutes ago rose to the +surface of the lake. Two men landed with me. I saw you issue from the +cell marked on your plan. Do you know where Thomas Roch is?" + +"A few paces off. He has just passed me, on his way to his +laboratory." + +"God be praised, Mr. Hart!" + +"Amen, Lieutenant Davon." + +The lieutenant, the two men and I took the path around the lagoon. +We had not gone far when we perceived Thomas Roch in front of us. To +throw ourselves upon him, gag him before he could utter a cry, bind +him before he could offer any resistance, and bear him off to the +place where the _Sword_ was moored was the work of a minute. + +The _Sword_ was a submersible boat of only twelve tons, and +consequently much inferior to the tug, both in respect of dimensions +and power. Her screw was worked by a couple of dynamos fitted with +accumulators that had been charged twelve hours previously in the port +of St. George. However, the _Sword_ would suffice to take us out of +this prison, to restore us to liberty--that liberty of which I had +given up all hope. Thomas Roch was at last to be rescued from the +clutches of Ker Karraje and Engineer Serko. The rascals would not be +able to utilize his invention, and nothing could prevent the warships +from landing a storming party on the island, who would force the +tunnel in the wall and secure the pirates! + +We saw no one while the two men were conveying Thomas Roch to the +_Sword_, and all got on board without incident. The lid was shut and +secured, the water compartments filled, and the _Sword_ sank out of +sight. We were saved! + +The _Sword_ was divided into three water-tight compartments. The after +one contained the accumulators and machinery. The middle one, occupied +by the pilot, was surmounted by a periscope fitted with lenticular +portholes, through which an electric search-lamp lighted the way +through the water. Forward, in the other compartment, Thomas Roch and +I were shut in. + +My companion, though the gag which was choking him had been removed, +was still bound, and, I thought, knew what was going on. + +But we were in a hurry to be off, and hoped to reach St. George that +very night if no obstacle was encountered. + +I pushed open the door of the compartment and rejoined Lieutenant +Davon, who was standing by the man at the wheel. In the after +compartment three other men, including the engineer, awaited the +lieutenant's orders to set the machinery in motion. + +"Lieutenant Davon," I said, "I do not think there is any particular +reason why I should stay in there with Roch. If I can help you to get +through the tunnel, pray command me." + +"Yes, I shall be glad to have you by me, Mr. Hart." + +It was then exactly thirty-seven minutes past eight. + +The search-lamp threw a vague light through the water ahead of the +_Sword_. From where we were, we had to cross the lagoon through its +entire length to get to the tunnel. It would be pretty difficult to +fetch it, we knew, but, if necessary, we could hug the sides of the +lake until we located it. Once outside the tunnel the _Sword_ would +rise to the surface and make for St. George at full speed. + +"At what depth are we now?" I asked the lieutenant. + +"About a fathom." + +"It is not necessary to go any lower," I said. "From what I was able +to observe during the equinoctial tides, I should think that we are in +the axis of the tunnel." + +"All right," he replied. + +Yes, it was all right, and I felt that Providence was speaking by the +mouth of the officer. Certainly Providence could not have chosen a +better agent to work its will. + +In the light of the lamp I examined him. He was about thirty years of +age, cool, phlegmatic, with resolute physiognomy--the English officer +in all his native impassibility--no more disturbed than if he had been +on board the _Standard_, operating with extraordinary _sang-froid,_ I +might even say, with the precision of a machine. + +"On coming through the tunnel I estimated its length at about fifty +yards," he remarked. + +"Yes, Lieutenant, about fifty yards from one extremity to the other." + +This calculation must have been pretty exact, since the new tunnel cut +on a level with the coast is thirty-five feet in length. + +The order was given to go ahead, and the _Sword_ moved forward very +slowly for fear of colliding against the rocky side. + +Sometimes we came near enough to it to distinguish a black mass ahead +of it, but a turn of the wheel put us in the right direction again. +Navigating a submarine boat in the open sea is difficult enough. How +much more so in the confines of a lagoon! + +After five minutes' manoeuvring, the _Sword_, which was kept at about +a fathom below the surface, had not succeeded in sighting the orifice. + +"Perhaps it would be better to return to the surface, Lieutenant," I +said. "We should then be able to see where we are." + +"I think you are right, Mr. Hart, if you can point out just about +where the tunnel is located." + +"I think I can." + +"Very well, then." + +As a precaution the light was turned off. The engineer set the pumps +in motion, and, lightened of its water ballast, the boat slowly rose +in the darkness to the surface. + +I remained at my post so that I could peer through the lookouts. + +At last the ascensional movement of the _Sword_ stopped, and the +periscope emerged about a foot. + +On one side of me, lighted by the lamp by the shore, I could see the +Beehive. + +"What is your opinion?" demanded the lieutenant. + +"We are too far north. The orifice is in the west side of the cavern." + +"Is anybody about?" + +"Not a soul." + +"Capital, Mr. Hart. Then we will keep on a level with the surface, and +when we are in front of the tunnel, and you give the signal, we will +sink." + +It was the best thing to be done. We moved off again and the pilot +kept her head towards the tunnel. + +When we were about twelve yards off I gave the signal to stop. As soon +as the current was turned off the _Sword_ stopped, opened her water +tanks and slowly sank again. + +Then the light in the lookout was turned on again, and there in front +of us was a black circle that did not reflect the lamp's rays. + +"There it is, there is the tunnel!" I cried. + +Was it not the door by which I was going to escape from my prison? Was +not liberty awaiting me on the other side? + +Gently the _Sword_ moved towards the orifice. + +Oh! the horrible mischance! How have I survived it? How is it that my +heart is not broken? + +A dim light appeared in the depth of the tunnel, about twenty-five +yards in front of us. The advancing light could be none other than +that, projected through the lookout of Ker Karraje's submarine boat. + +"The tug! The tug!" I exclaimed. "Lieutenant, here is the tug +returning to Back Cup!" + +"Full speed astern," ordered the officer, and the _Sword_ drew back +just as she was about to enter the tunnel. + +One chance remained. The lieutenant had swiftly turned off the light, +and it was just possible that we had not been seen by the people in +the tug. Perhaps, in the dark waters of the lagoon, we should escape +notice, and when the oncoming boat had risen and moored to the jetty, +we should be able to slip out unperceived. + +We had backed close in to the south side and the _Sword_ was about to +stop, but alas, for our hopes! Captain Spade had seen that another +submarine boat was about to issue through the tunnel, and he was +making preparations to chase us. How could a frail craft like the +_Sword_ defend itself against the attacks of Ker Karraje's powerful +machine? + +Lieutenant Davon turned to me and said: "Go back to the compartment +where Thomas Roch is and shut yourself in. I will close the +after-door. There is just a chance that if the tug rams us the +water-tight compartments will keep us up." + +After shaking hands with the lieutenant, who was as cool as though we +were in no danger, I went forward and rejoined Thomas Roch. I closed +the door and awaited the issue in profound darkness. + +Then I could feel the desperate efforts made by the _Sword_ to +escape from or ram her enemy. I could feel her rushing, gyrating and +plunging. Now she would twist to avoid a collision. Now she would rise +to the surface, then sink to the bottom of the lagoon. Can any one +conceive such a struggle as that in which, like two marine monsters, +these machines were engaged in beneath the troubled waters of this +inland lake? + +A few minutes elapsed, and I began to think that the _Sword_ had +eluded the tug and was rushing through the tunnel. + +Suddenly there was a collision. The shock was not, it seemed to me, +very violent, but I could be under no illusion: the _Sword_ had been +struck on her starboard quarter. Perhaps her plates had resisted, +and if not, the water would only invade one of her compartments, I +thought. + +Almost immediately after, however, there was another shock that pushed +the _Sword_ with extreme violence. She was raised by the ram of the +tug which sawed and ripped its way into her side. Then I could feel +her heel over and sink straight down, stern foremost. + +Thomas Roch and I were tumbled over violently by. this movement. There +was another bump, another ripping sound, and the _Sword_ lay still. + +Just what happened after that I am unable to say, for I lost +consciousness. + +I have since learned that all this occurred many hours ago. + +I however distinctly remember that my last thought was: + +"If I am to die, at any rate Thomas Roch and his secret perish with +me--and the pirates of Back Cup will not escape punishment for their +crimes." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +EXPECTATION. + + +As soon as I recover my senses I find myself lying on my bed in my +cell, where it appears I have been lying for thirty-six hours. + +I am not alone. Engineer Serko is near me. He has attended to me +himself, not because he regards me as a friend, I surmise, but as +a man from whom indispensable explanations are awaited, and who +afterwards can be done away with if necessary. + +I am still so weak that I could not walk a step. A little more and I +should have been asphyxiated in that narrow compartment of the _Sword_ +at the bottom of the lagoon. + +Am I in condition to reply to the questions that Engineer Serko is +dying to put to me? Yes--but I shall maintain the utmost reserve. + +In the first place I wonder what has become of Lieutenant Davon and +the crew of the _Sword_. Did those brave Englishmen perish in the +collision? Are they safe and sound like us--for I suppose that Thomas +Roch has also survived? + +The first question that Engineer Serko puts to me is this: + +"Will you explain to me what happened, Mr. Hart?" + +Instead of replying it occurs to me to question him myself. + +"And Thomas Roch?" I inquire. + +"In good health, Mr. Hart." Then he adds in an imperious tone: "Tell +me what occurred!" + +"In the first place, tell me what became of the others." + +"What others?" replies Serko, glancing at me savagely. + +"Why, those men who threw themselves upon Thomas Roch and me, who +gagged, bound, and carried us off and shut us up, I know not where?" + +On reflection I had come to the conclusion that the best thing to do +was to pretend that I had been surprised before I knew where I was or +who my aggressors were. + +"You will know what became of them later. But first, tell me how, the +thing was done." + +By the threatening tone of his voice, as he for the third time puts +this question, I understand the nature of the suspicions entertained +of me. Yet to be in the position to accuse me of having had relations +with the outside he would have had to get possession of my keg. This +he could not have done, seeing that it is in the hands of the Bermudan +authorities. The pirates cannot, I am convinced, have a single proof +to back up their suspicions. + +I therefore recount how about eight o'clock on the previous evening I +was walking along the edge of the lagoon, after Thomas Roch had passed +me, going towards his laboratory, when I felt myself seized from +behind; how having been gagged, bound, and blindfolded, I felt myself +carried off and lowered into a hole with another person whom I thought +I recognized from his groans as Thomas Roch; how I soon felt that I +was on board a boat of some description and naturally concluded that +it was the tug; how I felt it sink; how I felt a shock that threw me +violently against the side, and how I felt myself suffocating and lost +consciousness, since I remember nothing further. + +Engineer Serko listens with profound attention, a stern look in his +eyes and a frown on his brow; and yet he can have no reason that +authorizes him to doubt my word. + +"You claim that three men threw themselves upon you?" he asks. + +"Yes. I thought they were some of your people, for I did not see them +coming. Who were they?" + +"Strangers, as you must have known from their language." + +"They did not utter a word!" + +"Have you no idea as to their nationality?" + +"Not the remotest." + +Do you know what were their intentions in entering the cavern?" + +"I do not." + +"What is your opinion about it?" + +"My opinion, Mr. Serko? I repeat I thought they were two or three of +your pirates who had come to throw me into the lagoon by the Count +d'Artigas' orders, and that they were going to do the same thing to +Thomas Roch. I supposed that having obtained his secrets--as you +informed me was the case--you had no further use for him and were +about to get rid of us both." + +"Is it possible, Mr. Hart, that you could have thought such a thing!" +continued Serko in his sarcastic way. + +"I did, until having been able to remove the bandage from my eyes, I +perceived that I was in the tug." + +"It was not the tug, but a boat of the same kind that had got through +the tunnel." + +"A submarine boat?" I ejaculate. + +"Yes, and manned by persons whose mission was to kidnap you and Thomas +Roch." + +"Kidnap us?" I echo, continuing to feign surprise. + +"And," adds Engineer Serko, "I want to know what you think about the +matter." + +"What I think about it? Well, it appears to me that there is only one +plausible explanation possible. If the secret of your retreat has not +been betrayed--and I cannot conceive how you could have been betrayed +or what imprudence you or yours could have committed--my opinion is +that this submarine boat was exploring the bottom of the sea in this +neighborhood, that she must have found her way into the tunnel, +that she rose to the surface of the lagoon, that her crew, greatly +surprised to find themselves inside an inhabited cavern, seized hold +of the first persons they came across, Thomas Roch and myself, and +others as well perhaps, for of course I do not know----" + +Engineer Serko has become serious again. Does he realize the inanity +of the hypothesis I try to pass off on him? Does he think I know more +than I will say? However this may be, he accepts my professed view, +and says: + +"In effect, Mr. Hart, it must have happened as you suggest, and when +the stranger tried to make her way out through the tunnel just as the +tug was entering, there was a collision--a collision of which she was +the victim. But we are not the kind of people to allow our fellow-men +to perish before our eyes. Moreover, the disappearance of Thomas Roch +and yourself was almost immediately discovered. Two such valuable +lives had to be saved at all hazards. We set to work. There are many +expert divers among our men. They hastily donned their suits and +descended to the bottom of the lagoon. They passed lines around the +hull of the _Sword_----" + +"The _Sword_?" I exclaim. + +"That is the name we saw painted on the bow of the vessel when we +raised her to the surface. What satisfaction we experienced when we +recovered you--unconscious, it is true, but still breathing--and were +able to bring you back to life! Unfortunately all our attentions to +the officer who commanded the _Sword_, and to his crew were useless. +The shock had torn open the after and middle compartments, and +they paid with their lives the misfortune--due to chance, as you +observe--of having discovered our mysterious retreat." + +On learning that Lieutenant Davon and his companions are dead, my +heart is filled with anguish; but to keep up my role--as they were +persons with whom, presumably, I was not acquainted, and had never +seen--I am careful not to display any emotion. I must, on no account, +afford ground for the suspicion that there was any connivance between +the commander of the _Sword_ and me. For aught I know, Engineer Serko +may have reason to be very skeptical about the discovery of the tunnel +being accidental. + +What, however, I am most concerned about is that the unlooked-for +occasion to recover my liberty was lost. Shall I ever be afforded +another chance? However this may be, my notice reached the English +authorities of the archipelago, and they now know where Ker Karraje +is to be found. When it is seen that the _Sword_ does not return to +Bermuda, there can be no doubt that another attempt will be made to +get inside Back Cup, in which, had it not been for the inopportune +return of the tug, I should no longer be a prisoner. + +I have resumed my usual existence, and having allayed all mistrust, am +permitted to wander freely about the cavern, as usual. + +It is patent that the adventure has had no ill effect upon Thomas +Roch. Intelligent nursing brought him around, as it did me. In full +possession of his mental faculties he has returned to work, and spends +the entire day in his laboratory. + +The _Ebba_ brought back from her last trip bales, boxes, and a +quantity of objects of varied origin, and I conclude that a number of +ships must have been pillaged during this marauding expedition. + +The work on the trestles for Roch's engine goes steadily forward, and +there are now no fewer than fifty engines. If Ker Karraje and Engineer +Serko are under the necessity of defending Back Cup, three or four +will be sufficient to render the island unapproachable, as they will +cover a zone which no vessel could enter without being blown to +pieces. And it occurs to me that they intend to put Back Cup in a +state of defence after having argued as follows: + +"If the appearance of the _Sword_ in the lagoon was due to chance the +situation remains unchanged, and no power, not even England, will +think of seeking for the _Sword_ inside the cavern. If, on the other +hand, as the result of an incomprehensible revelation, it has been +learned that Back Cup is become the retreat of Ker Karraje, if the +expedition of the _Sword_ was a first effort against the island, +another of a different kind--either a bombardment from a distance, or +an attack by a landing party--is to be expected. Therefore, ere we +can quit Back Cup and carry away our plunder, we shall have to defend +ourselves by means of Roch's fulgurator." + +In my opinion the rascals must have gone on to reason still further in +this wise: + +"Is there any connection between the disclosure of our secret--if it +was, and however it may have been made--and the double abduction from +Healthful House? Is it known that Thomas Roch and his keeper are +confined in Back Cup? Is it known that the abduction was effected in +the interest of Ker Karraje? Have Americans, English, French, Germans, +and Russians reason to fear that an attack in force against the island +would be doomed to failure?" + +Ker Karraje must know very well that these powers would not hesitate +to attack him, however great the danger might be. The destruction of +his lair is an urgent duty in the interest of public security and +of humanity. After sweeping the West Pacific the pirate and his +companions are infesting the West Atlantic, and must be wiped out at +all costs. + +In any case, it is imperative that the inhabitants of Back Cup should +be on their guard. This fact is realized, and, from the day on which +the _Sword_ was destroyed, strict watch has been kept. Thanks to the +new passage, they are able to hide among the rocks without having +recourse to the submarine tunnel to get there, and day and night a +dozen sentries are posted about the island. The moment a ship appears +in sight the fact is at once made known inside the cavern. + +Nothing occurs for some days, and the latter succeed each other with +dreadful monotony. The pirates, however, feel that Back Cup no longer +enjoys its former security. Every moment an alarm from the sentries +posted outside is expected. The situation is no longer the same since +the advent of the _Sword_. Gallant Lieutenant Davon, gallant crew, +may England, may the civilized nations, never forget that you have +sacrificed your lives in the cause of humanity! + +It is evident that now, however powerful may be their means of +defence, even more powerful than a network of torpedoes, Engineer +Serko and Captain Spade are filled with an anxiety that they vainly +essay to dissemble. They hold frequent conferences together. Maybe +they discuss the advisability of quitting Back Cup with their wealth, +for they are aware that if the existence of the cavern is known means +will be found to reduce it, even if the inmates have to be starved +out. + +This is, of course, mere conjecture on my part. What is essential to +me is that they do not suspect me of having launched the keg that +was so providentially picked up at Bermuda. Never, I must say, has +Engineer Serko ever made any allusion to any such probability. No, I +am not even suspected. If the contrary were the case I am sufficiently +acquainted with Ker Karraje to know that he would long ago have sent +me to rejoin Lieutenant Davon and the _Sword_ at the bottom of the +lagoon. + +The winter tempests have set in with a vengeance. The wind howls +though the hole in the roof, and rude gusts sweep through the forest +of pillars producing sonorous sounds, so sonorous, so deep, that one +might sometimes almost fancy they were produced by the firing of the +guns of a squadron. Flocks of seabirds take refuge in the cavern from +the gale, and at intervals, when it lulls, almost deafen us with their +screaming. + +It is to be presumed that in such weather the schooner will make no +attempt to put to sea, for the stock of provisions is ample enough to +last all the season. Moreover, I imagine the Count d'Artigas will not +be so eager in future to show his _Ebba_ along the American +coast, where he risks being received, not, as hitherto, with the +consideration due to a wealthy yachtsman, but in the manner Ker +Karraje so richly merits. + +It occurs to me that if the apparition of the _Sword_ was the +commencement of a campaign against the island, a question of great +moment relative to the future of Back Cup arises. + +Therefore, one day, prudently, so as not to excite any suspicion, I +ventured to pump Engineer Serko about it. + +We were in the neighborhood of Thomas Roch's laboratory, and had +been conversing for some time, when Engineer Serko touched upon the +extraordinary apparition of an English submarine boat in the lagoon. +On this occasion he seemed to incline to the view that it might have +been a premeditated expedition against Ker Karraje. + +"That is not my opinion," I replied, in order to bring him to the +question that I wanted to put to him. + +"Why?" he demanded. + +"Because if your retreat were known a fresh attempt, if not to +penetrate to the cavern, at least to destroy Back Cup, would ere this +have been made." + +"Destroy it!" cried Serko. "It would be a dangerous undertaking, in +view of the means of defence of which we now dispose." + +"They can know nothing about this matter, Mr. Serko. It is not +imagined, either in the new world or the old, that the abduction from +Healthful House was effected for your especial benefit, or that you +have succeeded in coming to terms with Thomas Roch for his invention." + +Engineer Serko made no response to this observation, which, for that +matter, was unanswerable. + +I continued: + +"Therefore a squadron sent by the maritime powers who have an interest +in breaking up this island would not hesitate to approach and shell +it. Now, I argue from this that as this squadron has not yet appeared, +it is not likely to come at all, and that nothing is known as to Ker +Karraje's whereabouts, and you must admit that this hypothesis is the +most cheerful one, as far as you are concerned." + +"That may be," Engineer Serko replied, "but what is, is. Whether they +are aware of the fact or no, if warships approach within five or six +miles of this island they will be sunk before they have had time to +fire a single shot!" + +"Well, and what then?" + +"What then? Why the probability is that no others would care to repeat +the experiment." + +"That, again, may be. But these warships would invest you beyond the +dangerous zone, and the _Ebba_ would not be able to put in to the +ports she previously visited with the Count d'Artigas. In this event, +how would you be able to provision the island?" + +Engineer Serko remained silent. + +This argument, which he must already have brooded over, was too +logical to be refuted or dismissed, and I have an idea that the +pirates contemplate abandoning Back Cup. + +Nevertheless, not relishing being cornered, he continued: + +"We should still have the tug, and what the _Ebba_ could not do, this +would." + +"The tug?" I cried. "But if Ker Karraje's secrets are known, do you +suppose the powers are not also aware of the existence of the Count +d'Artigas' submarine boat?" + +Engineer Serko looked at me suspiciously. + +"Mr. Hart," he said, "you appear to me to carry your deductions rather +far." + +"I, Mr. Serko?" + +"Yes, and I think you talk about all this like a man who knows more +than he ought to." + +This remark brought me up abruptly. It was evident that my arguments +might give rise to the suspicion that I was not altogether +irresponsible for the recent incident. Engineer Serko scrutinized me +sharply as though he would read my innermost thoughts. + +"Mr. Serko," I observed, "by profession, as well as by inclination, I +am accustomed to reason upon everything. This is why I communicated to +you the result of my reasoning, which you can take into consideration +or not, as you like." + +Thereupon we separate. But I fancy my lack of reserve may have excited +suspicions which may not be easy to allay. + +From this interview, however, I gleaned a precious bit of information, +namely, that the dangerous zone of Roch's fulgurator is between five +and six miles off. Perhaps, during the next equinoctial tides, +another notice to this effect in another keg may also reach a safe +destination. + +But how many weary months to wait before the orifice of the tunnel +will again be uncovered! + +The rough weather continues, and the squalls are more violent than +ever. Is it the state of the sea that delays another campaign against +Back Cup? Lieutenant Davon certainly assured me that if his expedition +failed, if the _Sword_ did not return to St. George, another attempt +under different conditions would be made with a view to breaking up +this bandits' lair. Sooner or later the work of justice must be +done, and Back Cup be destroyed, even though I may not survive its +destruction. + +Ah! why can I not go and breathe, if only for a single instant, the +vivifying air outside? Why am I not permitted to cast one glance over +the ocean towards the distant horizon of the Bermudas? My whole life +is concentrated in one desire: to get through the tunnel in the wall +and hide myself among the rocks. Perchance I might be the first to +catch sight of the smoke of a squadron heading for the island. + +This project, alas! is unrealizable, as sentries are posted day and +night at each extremity of the passage. No one can enter it without +Engineer Serko's authorization. Were I to attempt it, I should risk +being deprived of my liberty to walk about the cavern, and even worse +might happen to me. + +Since our last conversation, Engineer Serko's attitude towards me has +undergone a change. His gaze has lost its old-time sarcasm and is +distrustful, suspicious, searching and as stern as Ker Karraje's. + +_November 17_.--This afternoon there was a great commotion in the +Beehive, and the men rushed out of their cells with loud cries. + +I was reclining on my bed, but immediately rose and hurried out. + +All the pirates were making for the passage, in front of which were +Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko, Captain Spade, Boatswain Effrondat, +Engine-driver Gibson and the Count d'Artigas' big Malay attendant. + +I soon learn the reason for the tumult, for the sentries rush in with +shouts of alarm. + +Several vessels have been sighted to the northwest--warships steaming +at full speed in the direction of Back Cup. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +ONLY A FEW MORE HOURS. + + +What effect this news has upon me, and what emotion it awakens within +my soul! The end, I feel, is at hand. May it be such as civilization +and humanity are entitled to. + +Up to the present I have indited my notes day by day. Henceforward +it is imperative that I should inscribe them hour by hour, minute by +minute. Who knows but what Thomas Roch's last secret may be revealed +to me and that I shall have time to commit it to paper! Should I die +during the attack God grant that the account of the five months I have +passed in Back Cup may be found upon my body! + +At first Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko, Captain Spade, and several of +their companions took up position on the exterior base of the island. +What would I not give to be able follow to them, and in the friendly +shelter of a rook watch the on-coming warships! + +An hour later they return after having left a score of men to keep +watch. As the days at this season of the year are very short there is +nothing to fear before the morrow. It is not likely that the ships +will attempt a night attack and land a storming party, for they must +imagine that the place is in a thorough condition of defence. + +All night long the pirates work, installing the trestles at different +points of the coast. Six have been taken through the passage to places +selected in advance. + +This done, Engineer Serko joins Thomas Roch in his laboratory. Is he +going to tell him what is passing, that a squadron is in view of Back +Cup, and that his fulgurator will be employed to defend the island? + +What is certain is that half a hundred engines, each charged with +several pounds of the explosive and of the substance that ensures a +trajectory superior to that of any other projectile, are ready for +their work of destruction. + +As to the deflagrator liquid, Thomas Roch has a certain number of +phials of it, and--I know only too well--will not refuse to help Ker +Karraje's pirates with it. + +During these preparations night has come on. Only the lamps of the +Beehive are lighted and a semi-obscurity reigns in the cavern. + +I return to my cell. It is to my interest to keep out of the way as +much as possible, for Engineer Serko's suspicions might be revived now +that the squadron is approaching Back Cup. + +But will the vessels sighted continue on their course in this +direction? May they not be merely passing on their way to Bermuda? For +an instant this doubt enters my mind. No, no, it cannot be! Besides, I +have just heard Captain Spade declare that they are lying to in view +of the island. + +To what nation do they belong? Have the English, desirous of avenging +the destruction of the _Sword_, alone undertaken the expedition? May +not cruisers of other nations be with them? I know not, and it is +impossible to ascertain. And what does it matter, after all, so long +as this haunt is destroyed, even though I should perish in the ruins +like the heroic Lieutenant Davon and his brave crew? + +Preparations for defence continue with coolness and method under +Engineer Serko's superintendence. These pirates are obviously certain +that they will be able to annihilate their assailants as soon as the +latter enter the dangerous zone. Their confidence in Roch's fulgurator +is absolute. Absorbed by the idea that these warship are powerless +against them, they think neither of the difficulties nor menaces held +out by the future. + +I surmise that the trestles have been set up on the northwest coast +with the grooves turned to send the engines to the north, west, and +south. On the east, as already stated, the island is defended by the +chain of reefs that stretches away to the Bermudas. + +About nine o'clock I venture out of my cell. They will pay little +attention to me, and perhaps I may escape notice in the obscurity. Ah! +if I could get through that passage and hide behind some rock, so that +I could witness what goes on at daybreak! And why should I not succeed +now that Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko, Captain Spade, and the pirates +have taken their posts outside? + +The shores of the lake are deserted, but the entrance to the passage +is kept by Count d'Artigas' Malay. I saunter, without any fixed idea, +towards Thomas Roch's laboratory. This reminds me of my compatriot. I +am, on reflection, disposed to think that he knows nothing about the +presence of a squadron off Back Cup. Probably not until the last +moment will Engineer Serko apprise him of its proximity, not till he +brusquely points out to him the vengeance he can accomplish. + +Then I conceive the idea of enlightening Thomas Roch, myself, of the +responsibility he is incurring and of revealing to him in this supreme +hour the character of the men who want him to co-operate in their +criminal projects. + +Yes, I will, attempt it, and may I succeed in fanning into a flame any +spark of patriotism that may still linger in his rebellious soul! + +Roch is shut up in his laboratory. He must be alone, for never does he +allow any one to enter while he is preparing his deflagrator. + +As I pass the jetty I notice that the tug is moored in its accustomed +place. Here I judge it prudent to walk behind the first row of pillars +and approach the laboratory laterally--which will enable me to see +whether anybody is with him. When I have gone a short distance along +the sombre avenue I see a bright light on the opposite side of the +lagoon. It is the electric light in Roch's laboratory as seen through +a narrow window in the front. + +Except in that particular spot, the southern shore of the lake is in +darkness, whereas, in the opposite direction, the Beehive is lit up to +its extremity at the northern wall. Through the opening in the dome, +over the lake I can see the stars shining. The sky is clear, the +tempest has abated, and the squalls no longer penetrate to the +interior of Back Cup. + +When near the laboratory, I creep along the wall and peep in at the +window. + +Thomas Roch is there alone. The light shines full on his face. If it +is somewhat drawn, and the lines on the forehead are more +pronounced, his physiognomy, at least, denotes perfect calmness and +self-possession. No, he is no longer the inmate of Pavilion No. 17, +the madman of Healthful House, and I ask myself whether he is not +radically cured, whether there is no further danger of his reason +collapsing in a final paroxysm. + +He has just laid two glass phials upon the table, and holds a third in +his hand. He holds it up to the light, and observes the limpidity of +the liquid it contains. + +I have half a mind to rush in, seize the tubes and smash them, but I +reflect that he would have time to make some more of the stuff. Better +stick to my first plan. + +I push the door open and enter. + +"Thomas Roch!" I exclaim. + +He has not heard, nor has he seen me. + +"Thomas Roch!" I repeat. + +He raises his head, turns and gazes at me. + +"Ah! it is you, Simon Hart!" he replies calmly, even indifferently. + +He knows my name. Engineer Serko must have informed him that it +was Simon Hart, and not Keeper Gaydon who was watching over him at +Healthful House. + +"You know who I am?" I say. + +"Yes, as I know what your object was in undertaking such a position. +You lived in hopes of surprising a secret that they would not pay for +at its just value!" + +Thomas Roch knows everything, and perhaps it is just as well, in view +of what I am going to say. + +"Well, you did not succeed, Simon Hart, and as far as this is +concerned," he added, flourishing the phial, "no one else has +succeeded, or ever will succeed." + +As I conjectured, he has not, then, made known the composition of his +deflagrator. + +Looking him straight in the face, I reply: + +"You know who I am, Thomas Roch, but do you know in whose place you +are?" + +"In my own place!" he cries. + +That is what Ker Karraje has permitted him to believe. The inventor +thinks he is at home in Back Cup, that the riches accumulated in this +cavern are his, and that if an attack is made upon the place, it will +be with the object of stealing what belongs to him! And he will defend +it under the impression that he has the right to do so! + +"Thomas Roch," I continue, "listen to me." + +"What do you want to say to me, Simon Hart?" + +"This cavern into which we have been dragged, is occupied by a band of +pirates, and--" + +Roch does not give me time to complete the sentence--I doubt even +whether he has understood me. + +"I repeat," he interrupts vehemently, "that the treasures stored here +are the price of my invention. They have paid me what I asked for +my fulgurator--what I was everywhere else refused--even in my own +country--which is also yours--and I will not allow myself to be +despoiled!" + +What can I reply to such insensate assertions? I, however, go on: + +"Thomas Roch, do you remember Healthful House?" + +"Healthful House, where I was sequestrated after Warder Gaydon had +been entrusted with the mission of spying upon me in order to rob me +of my secret? I do, indeed." + +"I never dreamed of depriving you of the benefit of your secret, +Thomas Roch. I would never have accepted such a mission. But you were +ill, your reason was affected, and your invention was too valuable to +be lost. Yes, had you disclosed the secret during one of your fits you +would have preserved all the benefit and all the honor of it." + +"Really, Simon Hart!" Roch replies disdainfully. "Honor and benefit! +Your assurances come somewhat late in the day. You forget that on +the pretext of insanity, I was thrown into a dungeon. Yes, it was a +pretext; for my reason has never left me, even for an hour, as you can +see from what I have accomplished since I am free." + +"Free! Do you imagine you are free, Thomas Roch? Are you not more +closely confined within the walls of this cavern than you ever were at +Healthful House?" + +"A man who is in his own home," he replies angrily, "goes out as he +likes and when he likes. I have only to say the word and all the doors +will open before me. This place is mine. Count d'Artigas gave it to me +with everything it contains. Woe to those who attempt to attack it. +I have here the wherewithal to annihilate them, Simon Hart!" The +inventor waves the phial feverishly as he speaks." + +"The Count d'Artigas has deceived you," I cry, "as he has deceived so +many others. Under this name is dissembled one of the most formidable +monsters who ever scoured the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. He is a +bandit steeped in crime--he is the odious Ker Karraje!" + +"Ker Karraje!" echoes Thomas Roch. + +And I wonder if this name has not impressed him, if he remembers +who the man is who bears it. If it did impress him, it was only +momentarily. + + +"I do not know this Ker Karraje," he says, pointing towards the door +to order me out. "I only know the Count d'Artigas." + +"Thomas Roch," I persist, in a final effort, "the Count d'Artigas and +Ker Karraje are one and the same person. If this man has purchased +your secret, it is with the intention of ensuring impunity for his +crimes and facilities for committing fresh ones. He is the chief of +these pirates." + +"Pirates!" cries Roch, whose irritation increases the more I press +him. "The real pirates are those who dare to menace me even in this +retreat, who tried it on with the _Sword_--for Serko has told me +everything--who sought to steal in my own home what belongs to me, +what is but the just price of my discovery." + +"No, Thomas Roch, the pirates are those who have imprisoned you in +this cavern of Back Cup, who will utilize your genius to defend it, +and who will get rid of you when they are in entire possession of your +secrets!" + +Thomas Roch here interrupts me. He does not appear to listen to what I +say. He has a fixed idea, that of vengeance, which has been skilfully +worked upon by Engineer Serko, and in which his hatred is concentrated +to the exclusion of everything else. + +"The bandits," he hisses, "are those who spurned me without a hearing, +who heaped injustice and ignominy upon me, who drove me from country +to country, whereas I offered them superiority, invincibleness, +omnipotence!" + +It is the eternal story of the unappreciated inventor, to whom the +indifferent or envious refuse the means of testing his inventions, to +pay him the value he sets upon them. I know it well--and also know all +the exaggeration that has been written upon this subject. + +It is clearly no time for reasoning with Thomas Roch. My arguments +are entirely lost upon the hapless dupe of Ker Karraje and his +accomplices. In revealing to him the real name of the Count d'Artigas, +and denouncing to him this band and their chief I had hoped to wean +him from their influence and make him realize the criminal end they +have in view. My hope was vain. He does not believe me. And then what +does he care whether the brigand's name is Count 'd'Artigas or Ker +Karraje? Is not he, Thomas Roch, master of Back Cup? Is he not the +owner of these riches accumulated by twenty years of murder and +rapine? + +Disarmed before such moral degeneracy, knowing not how I can touch +his ulcerated, irresponsible heart, I turn towards the door. It only +remains for me to withdraw. What is to be, will be, since it is out of +my power to prevent the frightful _dénouement_ that will occur in a +few hours. + +Thomas Roch takes no more notice of me. He seems to have forgotten +that I am here. He has resumed his manipulations without realizing +that he is not alone. + +There is only one means of preventing the imminent catastrophe. Throw +myself upon Roch, place him beyond the power of doing harm--strike +him--kill him--yes, kill him! It is my right--it is my duty! + +I have no arms, but on a near-by shelf I see some tools--a chisel and +a hammer. What is to prevent me from knocking his brains out? Once he +is dead I have but to smash the phials and his invention dies with +him. The warships can approach, land their men upon the island, +demolish Back Cup with their shells. Ker Karraje and his band will be +killed to a man. Can I hesitate at a murder that will bring about the +chastisement of so many crimes? + +I advance to the shelf and stretch forth my hand to seize the chisel. + +As I do so, Thomas Roch turns round. + +It is too late to strike. A struggle would ensue. The noise and his +cries would be heard, for there are still some pirates not far off, I +can even now hear some one approaching, and have only just time to fly +if I would not be seen. + +Nevertheless, I make one last attempt to awaken the sentiment of +patriotism within him. + +"Thomas Roch," I say, "warships are in sight. They have come to +destroy this lair. Maybe one of them flies the French flag!" + +He gazes at me. He was not aware that Back Cup is going to be +attacked, and I have just apprised him of the fact. His brow darkens +and his eyes flash. + +"Thomas Roch, would you dare to fire upon your country's flag--the +tricolor flag?" + +He raises his head, shakes it nervously, and with a disdainful +gesture: + +"What do you mean by 'your country?' I no longer have any country, +Simon Hart. The inventor spurned no longer has a country. Where he +finds an asylum, there is his fatherland! They seek to take what is +mine. I will defend it, and woe, woe to those who dare to attack me!" + +Then rushing to the door of the laboratory and throwing it violently +open he shouts so loudly that he must be heard at the Beehive: + +"Go! Get you gone!" + +I have not a second to lose, and I dash out. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ONE AGAINST FIVE. + + +For a whole hour I wander about among Back Cup's dark vaults, amid the +stone trees, to the extreme limit of the cavern. It is here that I +have so often sought an issue, a crevice, a crack through which I +might squeeze to the shore of the island. + +My search has been futile. In my present condition, a prey to +indefinable hallucinations it seems to me that these walls are thicker +than ever, that they are gradually closing in upon and will crush me. + +How long this mental trouble lasts I cannot say. But I afterwards find +myself on the Beehive side, opposite the cell in which I cannot hope +for either repose or sleep. Sleep, when my brain is in a whirl +of excitement? Sleep, when I am near the end of a situation that +threatened to be prolonged for years and years? + +What will the end be as far as I am personally concerned? What am I to +expect from the attack upon Back Cup, the success of which I have been +unable to assure by placing Thomas Roch beyond the possibility of +doing harm? His engines are ready to be launched, and as soon as the +vessels have reached the dangerous zone they will be blown to atoms. + +However this may be, I am condemned to pass the remaining hours of the +night in my cell. The time has come for me to go in. At daybreak I +shall see what is best for me to do. Meanwhile, for aught I know I +may hear the thunder of Roch's fulgurator as it destroys the ships +approaching to make a night attack. + +I take a last look round. On the opposite side a light, a single +light, is burning. It is the lamp in Roch's laboratory and it casts +its reflection upon the waters of the lake. + +No one is about, and it occurs to me that the pirates must have taken +up their lighting positions outside and that the Beehive is empty. + +Then, impelled by an irresistible instinct, instead of returning to my +cell, I creep along the wall, listening, spying, ready to hide if I +hear voices or footsteps. + +I at length reach the passage. + +God in heaven! No one is on guard there--the passage is free! + +Without giving myself time to reflect I dart into the dark hole, and +grope my way along it. Soon I feel a fresher air--the salt, vivifying +air of the sea, that I have not breathed for five months. I inspire it +with avidity, with all the power of my lungs. + +The outer extremity of the passage appears against the star-studded +sky. There is not even a shadow in the way. Perhaps I shall be able to +get outside. + +I lay down, and crawl along noiselessly to the orifice and peer out. + +Not a soul is in sight! + +By skirting the rocks towards the east, to the side which cannot be +approached from the sea on account of the reefs and which is not +likely to be watched, I reach a narrow excavation about two hundred +and twenty-five yards from where the point of the coast extends +towards the northwest. + +At last I am out of the cavern. I am not free, but it is the beginning +of freedom. + +On the point the forms of a few sentries stand out against the clear +sky, so motionless that they might be mistaken for pieces of the rock. + +On the horizon to the west the position lights of the warship show in +a luminous line. + +From a few gray patches discernable in the east, I calculate that it +must be about five o'clock in the morning. + +_November 18_.--It is now light enough for me to be able to +complete my notes relating the details of my visit to Thomas Roch's +laboratory--the last lines my hand will trace, perhaps. + +I have begun to write, and shall dot down the incidents of the attack +as they occur. + +The light damp mist that hangs over the water soon lifts under the +influence of the breeze, and at last I can distinguish the warships. + +There are five of them, and they are lying in a line about six miles +off, and consequently beyond the range of Roch's engines. + +My fear that after passing in sight of the Bermudas the squadron would +continue on its way to the Antilles or Mexico was therefore unfounded. +No, there it is, awaiting broad daylight in order to attack Back Cup. + +There is a movement on the coast. Three or four pirates emerge from +the rocks, the sentries are recalled and draw in, and the entire band +is soon assembled. They do not seek shelter inside the cavern, knowing +full well that the ships can never get near enough for the shells of +the big guns to reach, the island. + +I run no risk of being discovered, for only my head protrudes above +the hole in the rock and no one is likely to come this way. The only +thing that worries me is that Serko, or somebody else may take it into +his head to see if I am in my cell, and if necessary to lock me in, +though what they have to fear from me I cannot conceive. + +At twenty-five minutes past seven: Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko and +Captain Spade advance to the extremity of the point, where they sweep +the north-western horizon with their telescopes. Behind them the +six trestles are installed, in the grooves of which are Roch's +autopropulsive engines. + +Thirty-five minutes past seven: Smoke arises from the stacks of the +warships, which are getting under way and will soon be within range of +the engines. + +Horrible cries of joy, salvos of hurrahs--howls of wild beasts I might +more appropriately say--arise from the pirate horde. + +At this moment Engineer Serko quits Ker Karraje, whom he leaves with +Captain Spade, and enters the cavern, no doubt to fetch Thomas Roch. + +When Ker Karraje orders the latter to launch his engines against the +ships will he remember what I told him? Will not his crime appear +to him in all its horror? Will he refuse to obey? No, I am only too +convinced of the contrary. It is useless to entertain any illusion on +the subject. The inventor believes he is on his own property. They are +going to attack it. He will defend it. + +The five warships slowly advance, making for the point. Perhaps they +imagine on board that Thomas Roch has not given up his last and +greatest secret to the pirates--and, as a matter of fact, he had +not done so when I threw the keg into the lagoon. If the commanders +propose to land storming parties and the ships advance into the +zone of danger there will soon be nothing left of them but bits of +shapeless floating wreckage. + +Here comes Thomas Roch accompanied by Engineer Serko. On issuing +from the passage both go to the trestle that is pointing towards the +leading warship. + +Ker Karraje and Captain Spade are awaiting them. + +As far as I am able to judge, Roch is calm. He knows what he is going +to do. No hesitation troubles the soul of the hapless man whom hatred +has led astray. + +Between his fingers shines the glass phial containing the deflagrator +liquid. + +He then gazes towards the nearest ship, which is about five miles' +distant. + +She is a cruiser of about two thousand five hundred tons--not more. + +She flies no flag, but from her build I take her to belong to a nation +for which no Frenchman can entertain any particular regard. + +The four other warships remain behind. + +It is this cruiser which is to begin the attack. + +Let her use her guns, then, since the pirates allow her to approach, +and may the first of her projectiles strike Thomas Roch! + +While Engineer Serko is estimating the distance, Roch places himself +behind the trestle. Three engines are resting on it, charged with +the explosive, and which are assured a long trajectory by the fusing +matter without it being necessary to impart a gyratory movement to +them--as in the case of Inventor Turpin's gyroscopic projectiles. +Besides, if they drop within a few hundred yards of the vessel, they +will be quite near enough to utterly destroy it. + +The time has come. + +"Thomas Roch!" Engineer Serko cries, and points to the cruiser. + +The latter is steaming slowly towards the northwestern point of the +island and is between four and five miles off. + +Roch nods assent, and waves them back from the trestle. + +Ker Karraje, Captain Spade and the others draw back about fifty paces. + +Thomas Roch then takes the stopper from the phial which he holds in +his right hand, and successively pours into a hole in the rear-end of +each engine a few drops of the liquid, which mixes with the fusing +matter. + +Forty-five seconds elapse--the time necessary for the combination to +be effected--forty-five seconds during which it seems to me that my +heart ceases to beat. + +A frightful whistling is then heard, and the three engines tear +through the air, describing a prolonged curve at a height of three +hundred feet, and pass the cruiser. + +Have they missed it? Is the danger over? + +No! the engines, after the manner of Artillery Captain Chapel's +discoid projectile, return towards the doomed vessel like an +Australian boomerang. + +The next instant the air is shaken with a violence comparable to that +which would be caused by the explosion of a magazine of melinite or +dynamite, Back Cup Island trembles to its very foundations. + +The cruiser has disappeared,--blown to pieces. The effect is that of +the Zalinski shell, but centupled by the infinite power of Roch's +fulgurator. + +What shouts the bandits raise as they rush towards the extremity of +the point! Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko, and Captain Spade remain +rooted to the spot, hardly able to credit the evidence of their own +eyes. + +As to Thomas Roch, he stands with folded arms, and flashing eyes, his +face radiant with pride and triumph. + +I understand, while I abhor his feelings. + +If the other warships approach they will share the same fate as the +cruiser. They will inevitably be destroyed. Oh! if they would but give +up the struggle and withdraw to safety, even though my last hope would +go with them! The nations can consult and arrive at some other plan +for destroying the island. They can surround the place with a belt of +ships that the pirates cannot break through and starve them to death +like so many rats in a hole. + +But I know that the warships will not retire, even though they know +they are going to certain death. One after the other they will all +make the attempt. + +And I am right. Signals are exchanged between them. Almost immediately +clouds of black smoke arise and the vessels again advance. + +One of them, under forced draught, distances the others in her anxiety +to bring her big guns quickly into action. + +At all risks I issue from my hole, and gaze at the on-coming warship +with feverish eyes, awaiting, without being able to prevent it, +another catastrophe. + +This vessel, which visibly grows larger as it comes nearer, is a +cruiser of about the same tonnage as the one that preceded her. No +flag is flying and I cannot guess her nationality. She continues +steaming at full speed in an effort to pass the zone of danger before +other engines can be launched. But how can she escape them since they +will swoop back upon her? + +Thomas Roch places himself behind the second trestle as the cruiser +passes on to the surface of the abysm in which she will in turn soon +be swallowed up. + +No sound disturbs the stillness. + +Suddenly the rolling of drums and the blare of bugles is heard on +board the warship. + +I know those bugle calls: they are French bugles! Great God! She is +one of the ships of my own country's navy and a French inventor is +about to destroy her! + +No! it shall not be. I will rush towards Thomas Roch--shout to him +that she is a French ship. He does not, cannot, know it. + +At a sign from Engineer Serko the inventor has raised the phial. + +The bugles sound louder and more strident. It is the salute to the +flag. A flag unfurls to the breeze--the tricolor, whose blue, white +and red sections stand out luminously against the sky. + +Ah! What is this? I understand! Thomas Roch is fascinated at the sight +of his national emblem. Slowly he lowers his arm as the flag flutters +up to the mast-head. Then he draws back and covers his eyes with his +hand. + +Heavens above! All sentiment of patriotism is not then dead in his +ulcerated heart, seeing that it beats at the sight of his country's +flag! + +My emotion is not less than his. At the risk of being seen--and what +do I now care if I am seen?--I creep over the rocks. I will be there +to sustain Thomas Roch and prevent him from weakening. If I pay for it +with my life I will once more adjure him in the name of his country. I +will cry to him: + +"Frenchman, it is the tricolor that flies on yonder ship! Frenchman, +it is a very part of France that is approaching you! Frenchman, would +you be so criminal as to strike it?" + +But my intervention will not be necessary. Thomas Roch is not a prey +to one of the fits to which he was formerly subject. He is perfectly +sane. + +When he found himself facing the flag he understood--and drew back. + +A few pirates approach to lead him to the trestle again. He struggles +and pushes them from him. + +Ker Karraje and Engineer Serko run up. They point to the rapidly +advancing ship. They order him to launch his engines. + +Thomas Roch refuses. + +Captain Spade and the others, mad with rage, menace him--curse +him--strike him--try to wrest the phial from him. + +Roch throws it on the ground and crushes it under foot. + +Then panic seizes upon the crowd of wretches. The cruiser has passed +the zone and they cannot return her fire. Shells begin to rain all +over the island, bursting the rocks in every direction. + +But where is Thomas Roch? Has he been killed by one of the +projectiles? No, I see him for the last time as he dashes into the +passage. + +Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko and the others follow him to seek shelter +inside of Back Cup. + +I will not return to the cavern at any price, even if I get killed by +staying where I am. + +I will jot down my final notes and when the French sailors land on the +point I will go-- + + +END OF ENGINEER SIMON HART'S NOTES. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +ON BOARD THE "TONNANT." + + +After the failure of Lieutenant Davon's mission with the _Sword_, the +English authorities waited in vain for the expedition to return, and +the conviction at length gained ground that the bold sailors had +perished; but whether the _Sword_ had been lost by striking against +a rock or had been destroyed by Ker Karraje's pirates, could not, of +course, be ascertained. + +The object of the expedition, based upon the indications of the +document found in the keg that was thrown up on the shore at St. +George, was to carry off Thomas Roch ere his engines were completed. +The French inventor having been recovered--without forgetting Engineer +Simon Hart--he was to be handed over to the care of the Bermudan +authorities. That done, there would be nothing to fear from his +fulgurator when the island was attacked. + +When, however, the _Sword_ had been given up for lost, another +expedition of a different kind, was decided upon. + +The time that had elapsed--nearly eight weeks--from the date of the +document found in the keg, had to be taken into consideration. It +was thought that during the interval, Ker Karraje might have gained +possession of Roch's secrets. + +An _entente_ concluded between the maritime powers, resulted in the +sending of five warships to Bermudan waters. As there was a vast +cavern inside Back Cup mountain, it was decided to attempt to bring +the latter down like the walls of a bastion, by bombarding it with +powerful modern artillery. + +The squadron assembled at the entrance to the Chesapeake, in Virginia, +and sailed for the archipelago, which was sighted on the evening of +November 17. + +The next morning the vessel selected for the first attack, steamed +forward. It was about four and a half miles from the island, when +three engines, after passing the vessel, swerved round and exploded +about sixty yards from her. She sank immediately. + +The effect of the explosion, which was superior to any previously +obtained by new explosives, was instantaneous. Even at the distance +they were from the spot where it occurred, the four remaining ships +felt the shock severely. + +Two things were to be deduced from this sudden catastrophe: + +1.--The pirate Ker Karraje was in possession of Roch's fulgurator. + +2.--The new engine possessed the destructive power attributed to it by +its inventor. + +After the disappearance of the unfortunate cruiser, the other vessels +lowered boats to pick up a few survivors who were clinging to the +floating wreckage. + +Then it was that the signals were exchanged and the warships started +towards the island. + +The swiftest of them, the _Tonnant_, a French cruiser, forged ahead +while the others forced their draught in an effort to catch up with +her. + +The _Tonnant_, at the risk of being blown to pieces in turn, +penetrated the danger zone half a mile, and then ran up her flag while +manoeuvring to bring her heavy guns into action. + +From the bridge the officers could see Ker Karraje's band scattered on +the rocks of the island. + +The occasion was an excellent one for getting a shot at them before +the bombardment of their retreat was begun, and fire was opened with +the result that the pirates made a rush to get into the cavern. + +A few minutes later there was a shock terrific enough to shake the sky +down. + +Where the mountain had been, naught but a heap of smoking, crumbling +rocks was to be seen. Back Cup had become a group of jagged reefs +against which the sea, that had been thrown back like a gigantic tidal +wave, was beating and frothing. + +What was the cause of the explosion? + +Had it been voluntarily caused by the pirates when they realized that +escape was impossible? + +The _Tonnant_ had not been seriously damaged by the flying rocks. Her +boats were lowered and made towards all that was left of Back Cup. + +The landing parties explored the ruins, and found a few horribly +mangled corpses. Not a vestige of the cavern was to be seen. + +One body, and one only, was found intact. It was lying on the +northeast side of the reefs. In one hand, tightly clasped, was a +note-book, the last line of which was incomplete. + +A close examination showed that the man was still breathing. He +was conveyed on board the _Tonnant_, where it was learned from the +note-book that he was Simon Hart. + +For some time his life was despaired of, but he was eventually brought +round, and from the answers made to the questions addressed to him the +following conclusion was reached: + +Moved to his very soul at the sight of the tricolor flag, being at +last conscious of the crime of _lèse-patrie_ he was about to commit, +Thomas Roch rushed through the passage to the magazine where a +considerable quantity of his explosive was stored. Then, before +he could be prevented, brought about the terrible explosion which +destroyed the island of Back Cup. + +And now Ker Karraje and his pirates have disappeared--and with them +Thomas Roch and the secret of his invention. + +THE END. + +End of the Voyage Extraordinaire + + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Facing the Flag, by Jules Verne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FACING THE FLAG *** + +***** This file should be named 11556-8.txt or 11556-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/5/5/11556/ + +Produced by Norm Wolcott and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. For example: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + |