The Lost Continent

, perhaps, not so much in relation to known facts as to speculation upon the unknowable of the two centuries that have rolled by since human intercourse between the

plomatic relations between the United States of North America and the belligerent nations of the Old World, news

described by its own slogan: "The East for the East-the West fo

scharged twenty-nine torpedoes at a Brazilian tank steamer off the Bermudas in the fall of 1972. A heavy sea and the excellent seamanship of the master of the Brazilian permitted the Pan-American to escape and report this last of a long series of outrages upon our commerce. God alone knows how many hundreds of our

o pole under a single flag, which joined the navies of the New World into the mightiest fightin

shores of the Hawaiian Islands, nor has any man of either hemisphere dared cross 30dW.

ght of nothing beyond. Speculation was discouraged. For two hundred years the Eastern Hemisphere ha

that it has been fully two hundred years since smoke or sail has been sighted east of 30d or west of 175d. The fate of the relinquished provinces which lay beyond the dead lines we could only speculate upon. That they were tak

ancestor, Admiral Turck, on one hundred seventy-five, two hundred and six years ago, and from the yellowed pages of

, and public opinion, revolting at last against the drastic regulations of our long-dead forbears, demanded that my story be given to

rovidence for the uplifting of benighted Europe, and the amelioration o

ich will require many generations, perhaps ages, so complete has been their reversion to savagery; but I know that

only a naval officer and without claim to the slightest literary ability, I shall most certainly fall far short of the possibilities which are inherent in my subject. That I have passed through the most won

the twentieth century ancients that have been denied us in these dull days of peace and prosaic prosperity-all, al

labors; when they fell upon one another with gun and bomb and dagger, and the streets ran red with blood! Ah, but those were the times when life was worth the living; when a man who went ou

o may not find a school house within walking distan

or the frozen south within a government reserve, where the curious may

and now you may go there, for no longer is it high treaso

in the navy-in the great Pan-American navy, th

of North America, in the year of our Lord

e navy called to me, as did the free, wide, unpeopled spaces of the mighty oceans. And so I joined the navy, coming up from the ranks, as we all must, learning our craft as we a

was one of the first of the air and underwater craft which have been so greatly improved since its launching, and wa

y of government retained her in active service, and sent two hundred men to sea in her,

s of old, which burdened the peoples with taxes for their support, into the present day fleets of self-supporting ships that find ample ti

it coveted responsibilities of sole command, and I was prone to overlook th

f assignment to this service-and a month had already passed, its monotony entirel

ng through an occasional rift in the vaporous wall proclaimed the continued fury of the tempest upon the surface of the sea; but we, far above it all, rode in comparative ease upon the upper gale. With the

ered and saluted. His face was grave, and I t

?" I

y across his brow in a gesture that was hab

o the bad about an hour and a half ago. We have been working upon it

," I answered. "In the meantime w

these generators three years ago. I advised then that they both be scrapped. Their principle is entirely wrong. The

o permit us to make land, or, at lea

lied gravely; "we

ing further to

ir," h

vessels in service on thirty and one hundred seventy-five report direct. I explained our predicament, and stated that with what screening force remained I should c

ed suicidal, for the Coldwater was not designed for surface navigation except under fair weather conditions. Submerged, or in the air, she was tractable enough in any s

help us any that day aboard the slowly settling Coldwater, with an angry sea roa

a naval commander. Court-martial and degradation follow swiftly, unless as is often the case, the unfor

excuse, no circumstance, tha

d not possibly have been justly charged to my account that the gravitation-screen generators were worthless; but well I knew that should chance have it that we were

we had to skirt them pretty close, nothing but an act of God ever drew one of us across. You all are familiar with the naval tradition that a good officer could sense proxi

he first ship in which I sailed claimed that Coburn, the navigating officer, knew by

s fast as we could. I was on the bridge, and as we dropped from the brilliant sunlight into the dense vapor of clouds and on down through them

ned to meet such waves head on. Her elements were the blue ether, far above t

computing the hours which must elapse before aid could reach us, the wireless operator clambered up the ladder to the bridge,

now?"

he cried. "My God,

rgency outfi

hausted every resource. We cannot send,"

his that the mechanism was antiquated and worthless, in common with the balance

iverse must necessarily be put out of gear. I knew that if this storm were destined to blow us across thirty, or send us to the bottom of the ocean, no help could reach us in t

the waves without breaking my ship's back. With our buoyancy generators in commission it would have been a simple thing to enter the water, since then it would have been but a trifling matter of a forty-five degree dive into the base of a huge wave. We should have cut into the water

od at my side on the bridge as the ship glided closer and closer to those stupendous waves. He watched my ev

rest, and then I gave the order that suddenly reversed the screening force, and let us into the ocean. Down into the trough we went, wallowing like the carcass of a dead whale,

stem to stern by the terrific buffetings she received, and though she were ha

also often on the bridge. He was a good officer, but a man for whom I had conceived a rather unreasoning aversion almost at the first moment of meeting him, an aversion which was not lessened by the knowledge which I subseque

sworn that I perceived a shade of annoyance and disappointment growing upon his dark countenance. He left the bridge finally and went below. I do not know that he

an absence of some thirty minutes. He seemed nervous and ill at ease-a fact which made

I seized the telephone at my elbow, pressing upon the button which would call the chief engineer to th

have broken down, sir," he called. "

else," I bellowed i

nd the gaff, si

est a better

r," he

lieutenant," I shouted bac

engines. I doubt if she advanced a foot; but it was enough to keep h

thout warning, the bow swung swiftly around

at Johnson as I spoke. Was it the shadow of a satisfied smile that

ve your curiosity satisfied." And then I could not mistake the slight sneer that curved his upper lip. There must

id, "we shall all cross with him, and God hel

and if the Coldwater crosses thirty it devolves upon you to place Lieutenant Turck under a

rd know it," and, with his words, he drew a revolver from his pocket, and before either I or Johnson

now that Lieutenant Jefferson Turck had taken his ship across thirty, every man aboard would know that the first o

him under arr

I replied. "Nor s

ty to his crime!"

tend to the work of unpacking the extra instrume

rs, my mind filled with unhappy reflections upon the unjust fate that had overtake

er wife nor child to bear the burden

ich was to prove my doom, and in the natural revolt against its injustice my anger rose, and there mounted within me

ctity of the established order of things-that fetish which has ruled Pan-Americans for two centuries, and which is based upon a blind faith in the infallibility of the prescience of the long-dead framers of the article

spirit which dominated me, I should resist arrest, and insist upon bringing my ship back across the dead line, remaining at my post until we had

was a good officer and sailor, and I didn't propose submitting to degradation and discharge because a l

anchor was rigged, and even now the men had completed their task, and the Coldwater was swinging around rapidly, her nose poi

as swollen and already darkening, and his lip was cut and bleeding. Wit

I found him in the act of destroying the reserve instruments, and when I would have

rificing friendship which has prompted him to his acts. Were I you, sir, I should profit by the example he has set. Further, Mr. Johnson, I intend retaining command of the ship, even

cross thirty without submitting

it necessary to address me, you will please be so good as to bear in mind th

er, Alvarez appeared. He was pale, and seemed to have aged ten years in the few brief minutes since I las

de it plain to him that my gratitude was no less potent a force than his loyalty to me. Then it was that I outlined

ould refuse to submit to arrest, and that I should demand of him and every other

m as ready to acknowledge my command upon the wrong side of thirty as u

ime it had been impossible to work upon the damaged engines or the gravity-screen generators; but we had a full set of instruments upon the bridge, for Alvarez, after discovering my intentions, h

etermine our exact location, and upon the fourth d

ere doomed to cross thirty, and I am inclined to believe that every man jack of them was tickled to death, for the spirits of adventure and romance stil

s thirty with impunity, and doubtless they would return to be heroes a

ingly. The crew, with the exception of those whose duties kept them below, were ranged on deck below

aces, "you are anxiously awaiting information as to the ship's position. It has been determined

me. "Beyond thirty. But there will be no change in commanding officers, i

oard a ship of peace. It recalled to my mind tales that I had read of the good old days when naval vessels were built to fight, wh

to some effect, and I also set men to examining the gravitation-screen generators w

report upon the disaster. But it accomplished nothing other than to convince me that there were several officers upon it who were in full sympath

rogressed to such an extent that within a few hours we might expect to be able

le west wind was blowing. The sea shimmered in the sunlight. A cloudless sky canopied the west for our sport, as I had made it a point never voluntarily

. I had not asked any of my officers to accompany me, as I wished to be alone, and very glad am I now that I had not. My o

that we no longer could see the Coldwater. The day wore on, until a

ment, at the same time pointing eastward. We all looked on in the direction he had indicated, and there

es and the generators both,

d put him in charge of this work, since he always had been accounted one of the best gravitation-screen men in the navy. He had invented several of the improvements that are incorpo

ion of personal misfortune. It was not that I now anticipated an early return to Pan-America and a board of inquiry, for I had rather looked forward to the fight that must follow my ret

y visible from the bridge of the aero-submarine and to the hundreds of men who swarmed her deck, t

well that all who cared to had observed us, but the ship moved steadily away, growi

d desert me. No, there was some other explanation. Something occurred to place my second officer, Porfirio Johnson, in command. I was sure of it but why

about as it became evident that the ship intended passing over

can't cross the Atlantic in this. Our only hope lies in making the nearest land, which, unless I am

ica that used to be known to the ancients as New E

e seat of a very powerful kingdom that flourished over two hundred years ago. A part of the United St

My grandfather used to tell me stories of the world beyond thirty. He

an naval officers are supposed to read, and, as you men know, we are permitted a gr

ossession, which deal with the history and geography of ancient Europe. Usually I bring several of these books with me upon a cruise, and this time, among ot

Europe, sir?" asked Taylor, th

e's our chance. To remain at sea is to perish. None of us ever will see home again. Let us make the best of it, and enjo

spirit of my mood but Snider, I

Could we return to Pan-America, I should be the first to insist that we face it. But we know that's not p

upon the face of another fellow countryman than those who sit here now in th

had to admit

st whatever of adventure or pleasure each new day brings, since any

arful, but Taylor and Delcarte respo

aval officers. They represented the aristocracy

d it at all, by virtue of personal qualifications only, but I did not doubt my ability to remain the director of our destinies in so far as they were amenable to h

to be the isles of Scilly. But such a gale was blowing that I did not dare attempt to land,

en I realized that I was navigating these historic waters. The lifelong dreams that I never

e end of my days I must remain in exile. Yet

ndred years. In vain, I searched for some sign of ancient commerce that, if history is to be believed, must have dotted the bosom of the Channel with white

er dawn I determined to make inshore in an attempt to effect

y and visit Plymouth. From my map it appeared that this city lay back from the coast a short distance

pproached the mouth of the bay I looked for the fishing craft which I expected to see emerging thus early in the day for their labors. But even after we rounded Ram Head a

into the River Tamar we motored through a solitude as unbroken as that which rested upon the waters of the

the first time, there crept ove

Yet I could not find it within myself to believe that I should find no inhabitants in England. Reasoning thus, I discovered that it was improbable that a state of

hing where they wished? Nothing. I could not believe that any enlightened military nation, such as the ancient English are

l. We had landed, and I now stood upon the spot where, according to my map, a large city should rear its spires and

s and unevenness of the ground suggested something of a great mas

know, armed out of courtesy to the traditions and memories of the past, and with

tonelike. Digging about the obstacle, I presently loosened it, and when I had withdrawn

ing sport of prospecting for antiques. Each of us uncovered a great number of these bricks, until we commenced to weary of the monoton

f the forehead was a small round hole. The gentleman had evi

h-a metal spike and some tarnished and corroded met

r scraped the dirt and verdigris fr

he said, and hande

battle had been fought upon the ground where we stood. But I was then, and still am, at loss to account for the presence of Ge

n of so vast proportions was undertaken that German troops were hurled upon the England coast in huge numbers and that

inced that a city had stood upon the spot at some time in the past,

civilization that two centuries must have wrought upon our English cousins as they had upon us. There would be mighty cities, cultivated fields, happy people. There we would be welcomed as lon

ack toward

with fresh water, search for food and fuel, and then tomorrow b

the silence of a dead Devonp

ld carry us. As we came in sight of it we saw Delcarte a hundred yards inland from the launch, leaning over something

am a little ahead and to the right of us. It seemed to come from a clump of rank and tangled bush not far from

ere from him I saw his face go suddenly white, and he quickly threw his rifle to his shoulder. At the same moment

gave little gasps of

sir?" asked

h black, and with white throat and belly. In conformation it was similar to a cat-a huge cat, exaggerated colossal cat, with

ng, straight for Delcarte, who h

history sprang to my mind, and I recognized in the frightful beast the Felis tigris of ancien

his trembling hands, I called to Taylor to follow me, and together we ran forward, shouting, to attract the beast's

all caliber, steel-jacketed bullets should, far from killing the beast, tend merely to e

nt, after which it wheeled again toward Delcarte, issuing the most terrific roars and screams, and launched itself, with incredible

t offered a splendid target, though for all the impression we appeared to ma

I stumbled on through the tall grass toward our unfortunate com

could not help but feel a thrill of pride that he was one of my men, one of my class, a Pan-American gentleman of birth. And that he had demonstrated one of the principal contentions of the army-and-navy adherents-that military training was necessary for the salvation of personal courage in the P

mauling him, but lay quiet and motionless upon its prey, and when we were quite close, and the muzzles of our gu

ed, had penetrated the heart, and the beast had died eve

ed from beneath the carcass of his would-be slayer, with

a broad grin on his handsome face, nor could I perceive that a muscle trembl

large so great a distance from its native habitat. My readings had taught me that it was practically unknown outside of

he slain deer, and we all started down toward the launch, walking slowly. Delcarte wanted to fet

dispose of, and as we were again embarking to continue up the river for fresh water a

is tigris,"

as he spoke, there leaped into sight, one after another

three rifles would be no match for them, and so I gave the word to put out fr

ing back and forth, uttering fiendish cries, a

ing the cries of their fellows at the water's edge, and from the wide distribution and great volume of t

e inhabitants," murmur

the presence of man would suggest either that man is entirely unknown to them, or tha

" asked Delcarte. "Could they

ossed the mountain ranges and rivers and all the great continent of Europe to travel this far from their native lairs, an

ur lot since the Coldwater deserted us. But scarce had we built our fire and prepared the meat for cooking than Snider, whose eyes had been constantly roving

, as I looked, the beast stalked majestically toward us. A moment later, he was followed by

three other attempts to land and cook our food we were forced to abando

cal fuel, and, as we had very little left aboard, we determined to step our fold

he ancient Devon, and, beating out into the Channel, turned the launch's nose southeast,

sh clothing, meet with cultured people, and learn from the lips of Englishmen

ible, though one was plainly indicated upon my map. Upon neither shore was sign of human habitation. We skirted the northern shore of the island in fruitless search for man, and then at l

h their belts and magazines were filled. Thus equipped, we felt upon more even terms with the tige

t Snider alone. I knew that he looked with disapproval upon my plan to visit England, and I did not know but wha

l enough to venture

ough a park-like wood, when we came suddenly upon the first

in the shade of a great tree. At the first sight of us they sprang to their fee

turned and surveyed us for a moment. Evidently emboldened by the scarcity of our numb

tangled and matted with filth. Their heads, however, were shape

ange and under circumstances less fraught with danger and excitement. At the moment I saw, and with unmixed wonder, only a

ld men I was loath to give the command to fire upon them, inflicting death or suffering upon strangers wit

entions which occurred to me. At the same time I called aloud to them that we were friends, though, from their appearance, there

dvance of the others and whom I took to be the chief or leader of the party replied in a tongue which while intelligible to us,

e asked, "and fr

ead and asked where that was. He had never heard of it, or of the

rs," I told him, "since a Pa

asked. "What

part of England

. "I know nothing about England, a

it is a corruption of Great Britain, a name formerly given to the large island comprising

ad, and said that he never had heard of such countries. And when I asked him if there were

stating that by city I referred to a place

, there are two great camps here, East Ca

ions naturally suggested war to me, and my next question was

it soon will be, and it will end, as it always does, with the Wes

al wars of his little island, "I mean the Great War, th

is head im

of any of these strange cou

it, though but two centuries had passed since, to our knowledge, it had been running in the height of its titan

who never had heard of either Germany or England!

land?" I asked, and pointed in

es there,"

ured them in such numbers that finally they were driven here, paddling across upon logs and driftwood,

ver come to your count

until we came he had thought that there were no other peoples in the world other than the

t, camp. There we found a thousand people, perhaps, dwelling in rude shelters, and living upon the fruits of the

than the law of might. They produced fire by striking a bit of flint and steel together, but for the most part they ate their food raw. Marriage is unknown among them, and while th

es in one hut and sometimes in another. Owing to their bloody duels, they ar

The inhabitants examined our clothing and all our belongings, and asked innumerable ques

he narrow limits of their island and the savage, primitive life they led there. London they

hem, and the three of us made our way back to the launch, ac

e Grubittens lined the shore in silent wonder at the strange sight of our dainty craf

th of the Thames-to the best of my knowledge the first Western kee

lightships and the buoys, and all those countless attribute

esolation reigned where once the c

paraiso. They had become what they are today during the two centuries of the profound peace which we of the navy have b

could find but a single

y and depressing sight, and in a silence which none of us

a small band of antelope a short distance inland. As we were now entirely out of meat once more, and as I had given up

to stalk them alone, telling the men to wait at the boat until I

t last almost within easy range of my quarry, when the antlered head of the buck went suddenly into the air,

w them until I came again within range, as I was s

riant grasses. All the time that I had followed them I had kept both eyes and ears alert for sign or sound that wo

good shot at a large buck, I suddenly saw something t

et above the ground. Never in my life had I seen such a beast, nor did I at first recognize it, so differ

hty creature as Elephas africanus, or, as the a

o it, and I was so wrapped up in watching the mighty pachyderm that I quite forgot to shoo

e antelope, scarce twenty paces from him, continued their feeding, when suddenly, from close beside the latter, there came a most ter

ttered cries of agony. His fellows broke and leaped off in all directions. The elephant raised his trunk, and, tr

y eyes rested upon this lordly specimen of "the king of beasts." But what a different creature was this fierce-eyed demon, palpitating with life and vig

ents, since they seem to me less unwieldy than those now in general use among us-and so it was with sentiments not unmixed w

elf, and the better to view him, the great lion, I had risen

the retreating elephant, and I had ample time to feast my eyes upo

instead I found a wild-beast monarch of the realm where English kings had ruled. A lion reigned, undisturbed, within a few miles of the seat of one of

this depressing subject were doomed to sud

gies at home, but only for an instant. Then, with a most ferocious roa

remorselessness with which the great Carnivora of modern England hunted man, I am constrained to beli

weapon with soft-nosed projectiles, for though this was my first experience with Felis leo, I knew the moment that I faced that charge

rently the animal is not built for speed, nor can he maintain it for long. But for a mat

stantly. I doubted that I could pierce his skull. There was hope, though, in finding his heart through his exposed chest, or,

howl of pain and rage, the brute rolled over and over upon the ground almost to my feet. As he came I pumped

ree close behind me, and, stepping within its shade, I leaned against it, wiping the perspi

ething whizzed through space straight toward me. There was a dull thud of impact as it struck the tree, and as I dodged to on

to investigate at the instant, I leaped behind the tree, and, circling

that all too plainly-but so long as they didn't take

btain a view of the spot from which the spear must have come, and

Isle of Wight. He was hairy and unkempt, and as he finally stepped

aling verdure of nearby bushes and followed in his wake. Keeping the trees between them and me, I ran back a short distance until I found a clump of

my mind. I should have liked to have spoken with them, but I did not care to ris

e. There were about thirty men in the party and one woman-a girl whose hands s

At the body of the lion, they paused, and I could see from their gesticulation

h the girl's guards were treating her. She stumbled once, not far from my place of concealment, and after the balance of the party

deration of caution, I leaped from my concealment, an

but instantly the latter drew the knife that protruded from his belt and lu

rried his first blow with my forearm, at the same time delivering a powerful blow to his jaw that sent him r

me. There was no time to argue now, other than with the weapons we wore, and so, as the fellow

e weapon upon the other guard, who was now about to attack me.

seized her arm and drew her after me behind a nearby tree, for I had seen that

to them that I was no enemy, and that they should halt and listen to me. But for answer

them with my rifle, bringing the others to a temporary halt. Again, I appealed to them to desist. But they only mist

captors. Neither of these things had I the slightest notion of doing, and so I again stepped from behind the tree,

nly a few remaining, these seemed to realize the futility of combating my modern weapo

toward the girl, who had stood, silent and motionless, behind me

her eyes both intelligent and beautiful. Exposure to the sun had browned a smooth and velvety skin to

earned to know her-and astonishment was still apparent in her eyes. She stood quit

speak?" I asked. "Do

s similar to my own. I am

I answered. She shook h

he west. "Far away

light frown contracted her brow. The

lieved. Then she edged to one side and leaned over seemingly to peer behind me. I turned quickly to see

toward the east. It was a half question.

n-America, far away to the west. H

from," she explained, "if you are not from there, and I am su

iculty that I re

men from th

They brought with them thunder and lightning and smoke that killed, and they fell upon us and slew our people by the thousands and the hundreds of thousands. But at last we drove them back to the water's edge, back into the sea, where many were drowned. Some escaped, and these our people followed-men, women, and even children, we followed them back.

ere these men c

he replied, pointing toward the east. "I ha

s "the men from over there." But what utter and appalling devastation the Great War must have wrought to have erased not only every

en, who, in some marvelous manner, had been preserved by Providence to re-populate the land. These children had, doubtless, been too young t

en as my theory suggests the ancient English must have done. He is more inclined to believe that the expulsion of the foe from England was synchronous with widespread victories by the allies upon the continent, and that the people

, and raised to the first magnitude the law of the survival of the fittest, with the result that when the exodus took place the strong, the intelligent, and the cunning, together wit

that insanity is not necessarily hereditary; and that even though it was, in many cases a return to natural conditions from the state of high civilization, which is thought to have induced me

mit that I am prejudiced. Naturally one does not care to believe that the object

h I fear that I shall often be led astray, so numerous and varied are the bypaths of speculation

e still was bound, and with a word of apology, I drew my knife a

mile that I should have been amply repa

u to your home and see you safely again

rm in her voice; "you must not com

trious names, is one of the strongest arguments in refutal of Professor Cortoran's theory; yet

" I asked, "and why sho

, he will kill any other whom he thinks desires me. He killed Wettin a few days ago. M

le far from identical with ours, was much closer than the tortured dialect of the Eastenders of the Isle of Wight. The longer I talked with her the more hopeful I became of finding here, among her people, some records, or traditions, which might assist in clearing up the histor

ns has places of stone where the beasts lair, but there are no people

," I repeated. "And wh

from a great distance, but I have never been there. We are much afraid of the li

an this, the land of the lions, for the tigers are more numerous than the lions and hungrier for human

savage beasts com

y have been here always

l and eat your p

hunt us, for they find what food they need among the deer and wild cattle, and, too, we make them gifts, for are we not intruders in

visit this Camp of

ently she turned upon me with: "You must go now, for any minute Buckingham may come in search of me. Long since should they have learned that

ions and other wild beasts. If you won't let me go as far as your c

Buckingham gets his hands on you. He is a bad man. He wishes to have me for his woman so that

Buckingham is alrea

illed Wettin. But my mother will die soon-she is very

omen. A man is merely head of his wife's family-that is all. If she chances to be the oldest female member of the "roy

her, though she told me that she did not wish to become his woman, for he was a bad man and woul

uggested, "if you do not wi

you take me

leave my people. I must stay and do my best, even if Buckingham gets me, but you must go at once. Do not wait until it is to

great arms encircled my neck. I struggled to free myself and turn upon my antagonist, but in another instant I was overw

but the weight of numbers was too great, though I had

d, my hands bound behind me, at the girl

bid you," she said, "for now it has happ

Buckingham

brute, swaggering truculently before me. "And

stolen her; but on the contrary I had saved her from the

or a matter of an hour or so, coming at last to a collection of rude huts, fashioned from branches of trees covered with skins and gr

ousand persons, the shelters being built very close together, and sometimes partially undergroun

which was slowly giving way to the drier and airier surface domiciles. In these trench habitations I saw a survival of

e beast of prey. The hair of both men and women was confined by a rawhide thong passing about the forehead and tied behind. In this leathern band were stuck feathe

sen to the heights of agriculture or even the possession of domestic animals. They were hun

believe that I was not among my own. It was only when I took into consideration their mode of living, their scant appar

idea of their purpose or uses, and when we reached the camp he exhibited

ery of button, buckle, pocket, and flap. It seemed incredible that such a thing could be, almost within a

ut the girl they released as soon as we had entered the enclosure. The people greeted he

oved to be her mother. The older woman carried herself with a regal di

e way for her and her daughter. When they had come ne

en of the elephant country. If Wettin lived you would be well treated, but Buckingham h

f us and was an interested listener appeared n

rom behind and ran his spear through him. He will not be king for long. Some

hands. Buckingham became red in the face.

t a coward. If I could help you I should gladly do so. But I am only queen-the vehicle that has

y discovered that the old queen was friendly to me and that I had rescued her daughter they commenced to accord m

g and storming, he ordered the people back to their huts, at the same time directing two

to my wrists behind. There they left me, lying upon my stomach-a most uncomfortable

should find among the cultured Englishmen of London. Today I should be sitting in the plac

pon the very site of a part of ancient London, yet all about me wa

they search for me? They could never find me, I feared, yet if they

It seemed incredible that she should not make some slight attempt to befriend me; yet, as I recalled, she had made no effort to speak with me after we had reached the villag

s except for the old queen. For some unaccountable reason my rage

seemed to have been forgotten. The strained position in which I lay became unbearable. I wriggled and twist

ment later the figure of a child appeared, creeping upon all fours, as, wide-eyed, and prompted by chi

away. But when I was satisfied that her eyes had become suffic

ar faded from her eyes to be r

, little gir

she replied. "I a

o is Vi

Victory is?" she as

y head in

country people, and yet you say y

r name before. That is why I did not know whom you meant," I explai

mething for me,

I

and ask her to come to me," I

uld, and with a part

me near me. My captors brought me neither food nor water. I was suffering considerable pain where the rawhide thongs cut into my

ting-women were screaming and moaning. After a time this

the hut. It resembled muffled sobs. Presently a figure appeared, silhouett

" whispered a

me. The pangs of hunger and thirst disappeared. I realize

after all. I had commenced to think that you would not. Did y

lung herself upon the dirt floor of t

I asked. "Wh

ictory is queen. He kept us fastened up in our shelter, for fear that Victory would escape him, but I dug a hole beneath the back wall and got

eplied. "Otherwise I would do what I

eping up to my side. "I will set you free,

!" I as

whide, "for Buckingham will be after you soon. He must make an offering to the lions

be the offeri

been wanting a sacrifice ever since he killed Wett

e sad decadence of a once enlightened race. To these depths of ignorance, brutality, and superstition had the vaunted civilization of twe

ctory-defying her tender, childish fingers. She assured me, howe

hide in a corner, lest she be discovered and punished. There was naught else

overing my whereabouts in the darkness. He advanced slowly, kicking out vici

ankles. I could scarcely stand alone. The two pulled and hauled me through the low doorway and along the trench.

brush wet with dew, our way lighted by a score of torchbearers who surrounded us. But the torches were not to light the

carried long, heavy spears. These they kept ever pointed toward the beast of prey, and I learned from snatches of the conversation I overheard that occ

ached our goal-an open place in the midst of a tangled wildwood. Here rose in crumbling grandeur the first eviden

e Lions!" murmured one of the p

r-like chant. It was rather long, and I recall only a portion

Grabri

our knee

ift to

of kings

we hum

our cam

ve the

rch, made me fast to a huge, corroded, copper ring whic

e. They were naturally rough and brutal, as primitive men are supposed to have be

nto the woods, leaving me alone to my terrible fate, I could hear the grumblings and growlings of the beasts diminishing with the sound of the chant, which the pa

though I had no wish to die, I must confess that I rather

ntil finally quiet reigned about me, broken only by the sweet

the frightful thing was to occur which must come with the passing of

ghtening them about my arms. Then I remained passive for a long time,

ch my family and friends would be overwhelmed if, for an instant, spa

trade after a night of pleasure or rest? Where was the clang of tramca

led jungle upon the far side of the clearing. Majestically and noiselessly upon his

ht that fear was coming to me, and so I straightened up and square

st bound, beneath the fangs and talons of a beast of p

The great cat stopped in his tracks. He lashed his tail against his sides now,

e me, it sprang through the arched gateway and was at my side-with parted lips and heaving bosom

upported the doeskin skirt tightly about her lithe limbs. She dropped my weapons at my feet, and, snatching the

eized my rifle. But she only stood there at

as a lucky shot, for I had no time to aim carefully, and when the beast crumpled and rolled

the girl's hand in mine, I kissed it. She smile

customs in your

ould seem to my countrymen could they but see me kneeling the

your camp. I will go with you until you are near enough to conti

urn to the camp

hall you do

hey had taken you from the camp, and told me. I found your strange weapons and followed with them. It took me a little longer, for o

you here?"

f course, but what in the world I was to do, cumbered with the care of a young woman, and a queen at that, I was at a lo

e felt entirely compet

s. They were coming from the forest through w

r me," said the girl.

small amount of ammunition that I had with me, I hesitated to provoke a battle with Buckingham and his warrior

asked, pointing through the ar

hey would know that we would not dare go there, a

refuge in the Camp o

d and drew c

re?" sh

less before my weapons. Then, too, I can find my friends easiest in this direction, for the River Thames runs through this place

rever you lead," s

ed beneath the great arc

requent. For a mile from the arch there was only a riot of weeds and undergrowth and trees covering small

ce above the grass-grown sepulchers of their fallen fellows. Softened and mellowed by ancient ivy stood th

ondon. Well-worn pathways, molded by padded paws, led through the cavernous windows or doorways of a few of the ruins we

ook with my own eyes upon the famous bridge, and I guessed, too, that the river w

located part of the old town, I felt sure that farther down the river I should find the ruins larger. The bridge would be there in part, at least, and so would

ged to have contained the relics I sought I found havoc

e water a single, disintegrating mound of masonry. Opposite it, upon eith

f London Bridge, for nowhere else along the river is

ered. The entire lower story and part of the second story of what must once have been a splendid public building rose from

d face pitted with the scars of battle. The massive portal yawned, so

of civilization now dead beyond recall. Through this same portal, within these very marble halls, had G

tory's han

poses it fulfilled. It may have been the palace of your sires, Victory. From some great

till stood where man had placed them centuries ago. They were littered with dust and broken stone and plaster, but, otherwise, s

ry asked many questions and for the first time I began to realize something

cting great historic events of the past. For the first time Victory saw the likeness of a horse, and she

rains-all small and antiquated in appearance to me, but wonderful to Victory. She told me that

its high and narrow windows were choked and clogged by ivy. Along one paneled wall we groped, our

ss one end of the great apartment when a low gro

dais at the extreme opposite end of the hall. Upon the da

But what were those s

and a quick, exci

s!" she w

a dozen huge forms, while upon the seat of one o

ome creatures occupying the very thrones of the sovereigns of England,

scovered the interloper. What right had man within this palace of the beasts? A

great fellow who had spied us was advancing slowly in our direction. I held

now, and the din of their great voices reverberating through the halls and corridors of the

thrice. Three lions rolled, struggling and biting, to the floor. Victory seized my arm, with a quick, "This

s leaped from the throne room and sprang for the stairs. Again I fired, but o

cked slowly upward, but a single lion could attack me at a time, a

any doorways. One, directly behind us, was tight closed. If we could open

horribly. I saw one sneaking ve

alled to Victory. "S

p to it a

e did not know how to open a door, but n

efforts to swing it inward. Rusted hinges and swollen wood held it tightly closed. But at last it gave, and j

. One lion fell in his tracks, another stumbled to my very

h we had found sanctuary, and, with a sigh of relief, I leaned for a moment against

igate. The white was the bleached human bones-the skull, collar bones, arms, and a few of the upper ribs of a man. The brown was the dust of a decayed military cap and blouse. In a chair b

leg bones of a man. Among the tiny bones of the hands was an ancient fountain pen, as good, apparently

pitiful sight-this lone in

ck together. Only here and there was a sentence or a part of a sentence leg

... jesty was stricken ... terday. God give she

arthe

d deaths today ... wors

I picked out

. e will find me here

e passage was o

r Phillip to urge the people to remain. But they are mad with fear of the Death, and rage at our enemies. He tells me that the co

e last

they did the Death. But they are gone, all gone, and to what? How much better conditions will they find on the continent? All gone-only I r

er died nobly at his post-true to his country and h

etters and figures which remained I judge the end came som

not a little, and now I am surprised that I had not guessed its so

ch nature had intended them, and once free, had evidently bred prolifically, in marked contrast to the captive exotics of twen

Thames. The room in which we were imprisoned overlooked the

rd past the window of the room were as large around as my arm. I knew that they would support our weight, and as we could gain nothing b

hat I should do with her after rejoining my companions. That she would prove a burden and an embarrassment I was

my honor to necessitate my suffering every inconvenience in her service. Too, she was queen of England. But,

er camp, I never let her guess it, but did all that lay within

the room to one of the windows. I had outlined my plan to her, and she had assured me that

t opposite a narrow window, when I was startled by a savage growl almost in my ear, and then a great tal

ng distance to the ground, saved from laceration only

floor at the broad window ledge, tearing at the masonry with his claws in vain

the lion reappeared, growling and snarling, I put a .33 bullet in his face, and at the same

the report of my rifle, had set the balance of the fierce inmate

s and set them upon our trail, the river. Nor had we much more than reached it when a lion bounded a

e to the bank of the river. The beasts sniffed about the ground for a while, but they did no

ich we lay. I could have sworn that he had discovered us, and when he took a few short and stately steps in our direction

ody quiver as she lay pressed close to me, our cheeks almost touchi

o, turned her face toward mine, for the same purpose, doubtless. Anyway, as our heads turned simultaneously, o

d claimed me for an instant. A peculiar, tingling thrill ran t

n. With others, I have laughed at the assertions of the savants that modern man is a cold and passionless creatio

. I have kissed many women-young and beautiful and middle aged and old, and many that I had no business kissing-but never before had I e

I would have essayed it another new and entirely unaccountable force restrained

evil of a lioness, with keener eyes than her lord and master, discovered us. She c

f in some other direction. But no-she increased her trot to a gallop, and then I fir

ase looked hopeless. We were upon the brink of the river. There seemed no avenue of escape, and I kn

re both standing now, Victory keeping her place bravely

ed into the opposite side of the bushes, and, dragging Victo

ow if Victory could swim, but death, immediate and terrible,

tely in deep water, and, to my intense satisfaction, Victory struck out w

, was a veritable devil. She stood for a moment glaring at us, the

a length a

other shore!"

with the other. The girl had seen the lioness take to the water, and she had also seen that I w

down until you find my friends. Tell them that I sent you,

side by side, and I saw that she had drawn her

said to her sharply, b

ly, her chin just touching the water, but blood was streaming f

seize me in those great jaws. I felt that my time had come, but I meant to die fightin

oscopic action which ensued. I knew that I rose high out of the water, and, with clubbed rifle, dealt the animal a terrific blow upon the skull, that I saw Victory, her long blade flashi

r death throes but an arm's length from me. Scarcely had I risen than the bea

fered more mental anguish than I have crowded into all the balance of my life before or since. A few hours before, I ha

nd I would be given the opportunity to save her, and, as I turned, the water boiled before my face and her hea

bottom for you. I was sure that the blow she gave you must

gone?"

" I re

rifle stunned her," she explained, "and then I sw

have done under like circumstances. But then, of course, they have not been trained

we struck out for the opposite shore. I am a strong swimmer, and had no doubt as to my ability to cross the river, bu

wonder. Each day that we were together brought new proofs of it. Nor was it her courage or vitality only which am

ere many wolves, running in great packs later in the year. Now they were north some

ult in the face of the fact that every rag about me was drenched. But finally, than

, keeping an eye open for game on one side and the launch on the other, for I thought that Delc

s. We were entirely unprotected from attack from wild beasts, and for this reason I remained awake most of the night, on guard. But nothing approach

hat if we were forced to sleep out again that I should provide some

n was well up when Victory aroused

indicated, to see a buck standing upon a little knoll some two hundred yards from us. There was good cover between the animal and me, a

ould make even surer of a hit by going ahead another fifty yards, when the animal suddenly raised his head and loo

tirely, I raised my rifle to my shoulder. But even as I did so the animal leaped

tly thought that one of my own men had fired. But coming from up-river it puzzled me consid

d been upon the point of firing at the antelope. We could see that the buck was quite dead, and from our hidi

ers of a man appear above the crest of the knoll, I sprang

a moment later he recognized me, and was coming rapidly to meet us. Behind him was Snider. They both w

gland. They thought, at first, that I was joking. But when I had recounte

elephant country, and had had a short and one-sided battle with the fellows. And that afterward they had returned to

r dark a half mile above the spot where Victory and I had spent the night. They must have passed us in the dark, and why I did not hear the sou

ound Taylor as delighted to see me alive again as Delcarte had been. I

and the distilling of them had, with the motor troub

from the elephant country. Notwithstanding the fact that they had all assure

t meaning of the word, and that it may have been handed down to him either from the military number of an ancestor who had served i

ediate future. Snider was still for setting out to sea and returning to Pan-America, but the bett

t discover a more enlightened and civilized people upon the continent. I was sure that some trace of the ancient culture and greatness of Europe must remain. Germany, p

outcome of it was that I finally lost my patience, and told him that from then on he would do what I thought best-that I proposed to assume command of th

instant assumed anything different, and that they were as ready to f

did to a much greater extent later, that fate had not decreed that he should have chanced to

or going to the continent, or anywhere else, in fact, whe

is not dead and we can catch him away from his men and kill him, then

But human life is of small account beyond thirty-a legacy from the bloody days when thousands of men perished in the trenches between the rising and the setting of a sun, when they laid them lengthwise in these same

did not intend slaying him, was as

ever, by the childish delight of Victory and Thirty-six in the novel experienc

and joking, or interestedly discussing the possibilities which the future held for us: what we s

n the two, and when I had tried to do so as clear

ed, "then I a

, taking the matter as a huge joke. But some time thereafter she sat in silence, apparently deep

you would be the barbarian and Thirty-six the civilized man. There is no other difference between you, except your weapons. Clothe you i

r than the occasion warranted. As a matter of fact, Snider, it seemed to me, was taking advantage of every opportunity, however slight, to show insubordination, an

ot like it, for I knew the type of man he was. But as it would not be necessa

from me, and when Snider took his turn at the wheel, sat beside him, upon the pretext that she wished to learn how to steer the l

ty. Often he leaned toward the girl to whisper in her e

there so close to one another and seeming to be enjoying each other's society to such a degree irritated me treme

ns whatever, let alone a city. After we had landed, we found the same howling wilderness about us that we had discovered on the B

ng of marked disappointment, and to the gravest fears of the future, which induced a mental de

ngry with this uncultured little savage, that it made the slightest difference to me what she did or what she did not do, o

ivilized man. It was my intention to explore the Rhine as far up as the launch would take us. If we found no civilization there we would return to the North Sea, continue up the coa

t everywhere along the Rhine we met with the same disappointm

-I was unhappy. Victory seemed changed, too. I had enjoyed her company a

contrary, emboldened by her former friendliness, sought every opportunity to be near her. I should have liked nothing better than a reasonably good excuse to punch his

nt, the devastation was infinitely greater than time alone could have wrought. Great guns, bombs, and mines must have leveled every building that man had raised, and then nature, unhindered, had covered the ghastly evidence of human depra

er may have reviewed his troops. An antelope rested peacefully in a bed of daisies where, perhaps, two hundred years a

e crack of a rifle and the death of one of those beautiful creatures before us. But it had to be done-we must

val wilderness. In the afternoon of the second day we landed upon the west bank of the river, and, lea

ght down with a neat shot of two hundred yards. It was getting too late to proceed farther, so we rigged a sling, and the two men ca

ve and uncouth in appearance as the Grabritins-a shaggy, unkempt savage, clothed in a shirt of skin cured with the h

e latter dangling down his back from a leathern thong

dove into the forest, and, though I called reassuringly to

en in a higher state of civilization-it was the society of civilized man that I cr

ght of the Rhine again. But I came to the water's edge before I noticed t

e body of a man lying upon the bank. Running toward it, I saw that it was Thirty-six, and as I stopped and raised the Grabritin'

ought was prompted by the sight I had recently had of the savage native. The little party had evidently been surprised, and in the attack Thirty-six had been wounded and the others taken prisoners

and. He drew aside the lion's skin that covered half of the Grabritin's breast, revealing a neat,

eyelids of the wounded man fluttered, and raised. He looked up at u

d, Thirty-six

emorrhage of the lungs and again he fell back exhausted. For several long

d a hand, and pointed down-river. "They-went-bac

k they were all alike: Victory and Snide

rupt curve to the west, a quarter of a mile below us, and was lost to sight, as though we expected to see the truant

profile, and, as mine swung to meet them, the expression upon h

ounterpart of what I myself felt, but in that brief instant I determined t

I? I tried to think that I was. But a greater grief than the loss of the launch could have engendered in me, filled my heart-a sullen, gnawing misery which I tried to deny-which I

w countrymen in so frightful a position. I tried to feel an equal rage against the woman, but som

porary helplessness. I smiled, an

will be forced to halt for fuel and for food, and the launch must follow the windings of the river; we can take short cuts while they are trav

along, we discussed a question that was uppermost in the mind of each-what we should do with Snider when we had captured him, for with the action of pursuit had come the optim

s for shooting him, Delcarte insisting that he should be hanged, while I, although fully

er indefensible act. She was nothing to me. Aside from the natural gratitude I felt for her since she had saved my life, I owed her nothing. She

sisted in returning to the vision of an oval face, sun-tanned; of smiling lips, revealing white and even teeth; of brave eyes that h

and hate against Snider. I could forgive the launch, but if he had wronged

he most part to the game trails that paralleled the stream. One afternoon, we cut across a n

, if the truth were known, I think that we had all given up h

water to fill our canteens. I had just finished, and was straightening up, when something floating around a

e and Taylor, who ca

down-river from above us. Where had it been? How had we passed it? An

said Taylor. "I s

n on shore with the clothing and rifles. He might also serve us better there, since it would

reaching the center of the channel just as the launch bore down upon me. It was drifting broadside on. I seized the gunwale and raised mys

ran forward to the control board and pressed the starting button. To my relief, the mechanism responded-the launch was uninjured. Coming about, I picked up Delcarte. He

for above Snider's heart was a wound, a slit about an inch in length-such a slit as a sharp knife would m

end as clearly as though the dead lips had parted and poured forth the

d no stone marks his last resting pla

tream. When I had told Delcarte and Taylor that I i

Delcarte, "and the least that we can do

ormer camping place, we did not find her. I then decided to retrace our journey, letting Taylor handle the launch,

the spot where I had first seen the launch drifting down towar

nd that it was she who built the fire I was positiv

herself nearer her own Grabritin, or would she have soug

er to take in Delcarte, that the two might join

te was just stepping into the launch upon the opposite side of the stream, when, without the least warning, I was violently seized by

my assailants. At the same time several others of them walked around in front of me, and, to my astonishment, I foun

s of my captors were friendly or otherwise. My good men wanted to come on and annihilate the blacks. But there were upward of a hun

, and so he gave orders that resulted in my hands being secured at my

o me. But when, late in the afternoon, we arrived at thei

alry horses grazing under guard outside the walls of the post. They were small, stocky horses, but the telltale saddle galls pr

privates, who escorted me in the wake of the young officer. The latter led us across a small parade ground, wh

n, with a dignified and military bearing. He was a colonel, I was to learn later, and t

he summoned an orderly, and gave some instructions. The soldier saluted, and left the room, returning in about five minutes with a hairy ol

addressed me it was in a language as foreign to me as was that of the blacks. At last

hites, clad in the skins of wild beasts. I tried to converse with them, but not one

the headquarters building of the commanding officer. The other prisoners worked harder than I d

that I should ever learn. I was most depressed. But I whiled away my time in performing the

t they were the outpost of some powerful black nation seemed l

omnivorous readers. Every two weeks a dust-covered trooper would trot his jaded mount into the post and deliver a bulging sack of mail at headquarters. The next day

sand men were detailed here to maintain the authority of a distant government in a conquered country. Later, I learned that my surmise was c

and make myself understood. I had seen from the first that I was being treated as

m the south to relieve one of the troops stationed there. There was great jubilation in the encampment after the arrival of the

rched from our quarters and lined up before them. A couple of long chains were brought, with rings in t

powerful white slave, and one by one the rest of us were herded t

and he spoke to a young officer at his side. The latter stepped toward me

nified my willingness as emphatically as possible, for I had seen enough of the brutality of the common soldiers toward their white slaves to have no desire to start o

ld not guess. Neither had the poor devils themselves more than the most vague conception of what lay in store for them, except that they were going elsewh

sferred to the colonel's living quarters. I had greater freedom, and no longer slept in one

hat had been a mystery to me before. His name was Abu Belik. He was a colonel in the cavalry of Abyssinia, a country of

the emperor's palace guard. Jealousy and the ambition and intrigue of another officer had lost him the fa

reat world lay across the waters far to the north of his capital. Once he had crossed th

h his people were not a maritime race. His army crossed into Europe. It met with little resistance,

w," said the colonel, "but we shall win-we shall conquer the world, carry

hristian peo

urprise, nodding his

aid. "My people are the

as a father to a child who sets up his ch

f our great navy. He came right back at me asking for figures, and when he

ent Europe except the British Isles, Scandinavia, and eastern Russia, and has larg

and his people possess slaves-white slave

nd that I was a naval officer, he was inclined to accord me even greater consideration than formerly. It was difficult for him to

that even the few white freemen of Abyssinia were never accorded anything approximating a position of social equality with the black

of Europe. Their rifles are of a type similar to the magazine rifles of twentieth century Pan-America, but carrying only five cartridges in

the soldiery a lower type of negro predominates, with thicker lips and broader, flatter noses. These men are recruited, so the colonel told me, from among the conquered tribes of Africa. They are good soldiers-brave and loyal. They can read and write, and they are endowed with a self-confidence and pride which

to hasten to the eastern frontier with the major portion of his command, leaving only one troop to g

we passed small posts similar to that at which the colonel's regiment had been quartered, finding in each instance that only a single com

the fact that all available troops were being hastened toward the northeast assured me that a matter of vi

presently met with converging from the south into our trail. There were large bodies of cavalry and infantry, endless streams

ephants doing similar service. It was a scene of wondrous and barbaric splendor, for the men and beasts from the south were ga

nt raised the troops was little short of miraculous-at least, to one of my race and nationality whose rule

battle. All else being equal in war between the troops of a republic and an empire, could not this exhilarated mental state,

nced to be absent? Wha

me old canals before entering the gates. Within, beside the frame buildings, were many built of ancient brick and well-cut stone. Th

ced, upon the ruins of ancient Berlin, the one time capital of the old German empire, but e

d with flags, streamers, gorgeous rugs, and banners,

fter my few duties had been performed. As a result of his kindness, I spent much time wand

me with a species of respect, though I could see by their manner that I was really as the dirt beneath their feet. They answered my que

t. I asked an old slave who was sweeping the dirt into little piles in the gut

e," he said. "They have crossed the bor

l win?"

I hope it will be the yellow men, but Menelek is p

took my place among them, although I hate crowds, and I am glad that I did, for I witne

ed-coated hussars-enormous men, black as night. There were troops of riflemen mounted on camels. The emperor rode in a golden howdah upon the back o

but he carried himself with an air of dignity befitting one

ity and cruelness. In his youth he may have been a rather fine looking

t from the various branches of the service, among

ar outlying districts by the commanding officers of the frontier posts. The majority of them were women, destined, I was told, for the harems of the emperor and his favorites. It made m

the east. Each new contingent brought its gifts to the emperor. From the south they brought rugs and ornaments an

ught, I judged that they knew the

west-no, these others came in covered wagons, blood-soaked and suffering. They came at first in little parties of eight o

had led them in person, lately his presence within a hundred miles of the battle line had been sufficient for large engageme

had received that the enemy was forcing the imperial troops back upon the city. Dust covered couriers galloped

ne was scarce two leagues from New Gondar. The city was filled with wounded. Just outside, soldiers were enga

nemy. Shells commenced to fall within the city. Menelek returned and took up his headquarters in the stone

midst of death and defeat the emperor was about to give a great banquet to his officers. I was t

as they were by the natural kindliness of my master, but the thought of appearing in public as

that night as I stood behind my black master in silent servility, now pouring his wine,

he long banquet was concluded. The tables were removed. The emperor ascended a dais at one end of the room and seated himself upon a throne, a

emperor since his arrival in New Gondar would be exhibited, that the royal host would select such as

n occasional profile as now and then a bolder spirit among them turned to survey the apartment and the gorgeous assemblage of officers in their brilliant dress uniform

ror, and the sounds as they went upon their knees before him, touching their forehead

ied. "Make obeisance

ne of prostrate girls, her arms folded across her breast and little chin in the air. Her back was toward me-I could not see her face

of ceremonies, taking a step towa

ely I took a forward step to place myself in the man's path. But at the same instant Menelek raised his hand in

"why this young woman refuses to do homage to her sover

d with an accent that betrayed how recently she

said. "I have no sovereign. I myse

lowing his example, which seemed always the correct procedure, the assembled g

r contempt for her captors. Finally Menelek restored quiet by the simple expedient of

"are you, and by what na

plied the girl so quickly and so unexp

judgment held me back-I could do nothing to help her other than by stealth. Could I even accomplish

tinued Menelek, after she had spoken. Victo

eaking of it will add to my pleasure in you, and never fear but that it shall be broken

unity to speak with her or assist in her escape. But, after I had followed them from the throne room, through several other apartments, and dow

ving taken refuge there while his back was turned, and, as the officer approached me, I withdrew into the room beyond, which was in darkness. There I remained for a

ld never have imagined that the sight of any human being could affect me as had this unexpected discovery of Victory in the same room in which I was, while

of elation since I had again seen her. With a fate worse than death staring her in the face, and with the knowledge that I should probably die defending her within the hour, I was still happier than I had been for weeks-and all because I had seen

lace of Menelek XIV. A sickly gas jet cast a sad pallor upon the black face of the sentry. T

been resumed. Very shortly thereafter the earth shook to the explosion of a shell within the city, and from time to ti

was followed by a few personal attendants, whom he dismissed at the doorway to his apartments-the same doorway through which Victory had been taken. I chaf

o flatten myself to one side in the darkness until they had passed. Then

nts of which had not seen me. I walked straight toward the soldier, my mind made up in an instant. I tried to simulate an expression of cringing servility, and I must ha

im a terrific blow between the eyes with my clenched fist. He staggered back in surprise, too du

burst into the room

an to the nearer and listened. Yes, voices were coming from beyond and one was a woman

the far end of the apartment. At the same instant there was a deafening roar just outside the palace-a shell

so that he saw me. She was striking him in the face

he gave voice to

cried. "Out of here! Out of h

ropping Victory to the floor, and then he cried aloud for the guard, and came at me. Again and

om his grasp, tossed it aside and made for his throat with my bare hands. I had not dared fire the wea

nd he was fighting for his life. Continually he kept calling for the guard, until I succeeded in getting a grip upon his throat; but

me and them. I had the black emperor upon his back, and b

t in time to see Victory stagger to her feet and turn toward me. Slowly the smoke cleared to reveal the shattered remnants of the guard. A shell had fallen through the palace roof and exploded just in the rear of the detachment of gua

jured she stopped, and stood there in the center of the demolished apartment looking at me

ched her, a greater gladness in my heart than I had felt since

s in her eyes. Instead, she st

you who saved me!" she

very close to her as a great light broke over me. Why had I never realized it before? The truth accounted for

d me-he told me that you had promised me to him, but he di

e, though she struggled and fought like a young lioness. "I love you, Victory. You must know th

e, but still tried to push me from her

That still rankled.

arian," she went on, but s

Victory!" I cried, "the dear

n her smooth, brown arms encircled m

d her face upon my shoulder and sobbed. "I have been so unhappy,"

nd happiness, the ferocity of the bombardment increased until scarce

entered the apartment, for not only was the corridor now choked with debris, but beyond t

nto a third apartment with windows overlooking an inner court. From one of these windows I surv

n the opposite side a number of wide, wooden doors set in the wall of the palace, with small

out us we could hear the din of great commotion, and quite close the sounds of battle-the crack of th

ed. I judged that the enemy was storming the city, for t

he street, were open, and we could see great multitudes of men, women, and children fleeing toward the west. Soldiers, afoot and mounted, were joining the mad exodus. Now and then a camel or an ele

o the animal's back, fled down the packed street toward the west. A woman seized a gun and brained a court dignitary, whose horse had trampled he

by the royal household in its flight, and, standing a little back in the shad

an hour we stood there while the sounds of battle raged upon the eastern side of the city and the population flew toward the west. More and more numerous became the

h we were looking. And then came a handful of brave men-a little rear guard backing slowly toward the west,

posite our shelter. They were men of medium height, with olive complexions and

rapt was I in the exciting events transpiring in the street that I did not hear the approach of a body

d happened. That night we were held under a strong guard just outside the eastern w

e marched for many days-so many that I lost count of them-and at last we came to a

pt. Here a large military force is maintained, and here also, is a

ith the humane treatment that had been accorded all prisoners upon the long and tiresome march, encouraged

were many of these, and shortly after we reached the city I persuaded one of them to carry a verbal message to the officer w

eal. A sergeant came for me along with the interpreter, and I managed to obtain his permission to

I was a Pan-American. Unlike all others whom I had spoken with since my arrival in Europe, he was well acquainted with ancient history-was f

urprise, telling me that in their recent explorations in ancient Rus

, furnished us with servants and with money, and in

and the result was that we were presently commanded to

rough a country which, as we traveled farther toward the

at while he personally deplored the existence of the strict regulations which had raised a barrier between the east and the west, he had felt, as h

pan no longer exists, having been conquered and absorbed by China over a hundred years ago. The Philip

ified and savage peoples had required all the best efforts of nearly two hundred years. Upon his accession to

d then to attempt the work of elevating its fallen peoples t

us in that war, and he shook

o reap any of the rewards that are supposed to belong to victory. The combatants reaped naught but annihilation. You ha

it end?" I

left to make peace, and the rude tribes which sprang from the survivors continued to fight among themselves because they knew no bette

oquent appeal-not for himself, but for me-is historic, as are its results. You know how a fleet was sent across the Atlantic to search for me, how the restrictions against crossing t

to my country, I was acclaimed a hero. It was good to get back again, good to witness the kindly treatment that was accorded my dear Victory,

the munitions and power to reclaim England for her queen. A

God has preserved to regenerate chastened and forgiven Europe. I have been through much-I have suffered much, but I have won two great laurel wr