The Men Who Wrought

dawn upon Ruxton. Nor did he lose a moment in challen

e cylinders away. May

lighting a cigar. He desisted, and held his case ou

realized that the moment of lightness, of almost schoolboyish delight at the sense of danger had entirely passed. The eyes shone passionatel

Listen, there is only one man knows that I have an installation of that light on my ship besides ourselves, and that man is-Ludovic. I have installed it with my own hands. The installation on th

l be forced

dels to the bottom of the sea, where they may help to light up the world of crabs

ountry which claimed him with his own feelings for his island home. He wondered what his attitude would have been had their positions been reversed; if he, as an Englishman, had been

to his country had flung him. This man had passed the great dividing line where the uplifted spirit renounces the claims of earthly passion in favor of the call of the voice of the soul.

ivate stateroom. A few moments later he returned with

in a moment he was held rigid where he stood. A dull boom roared out

in them. Ruxton started up from the lounge on which he h

ne?" he cri

ce shook

throb of the engines. No, it was a gun. It was a bursting shell from one of the silent guns.

c detonation. But th

e and make us rise to the surface. Von Salzin

op

for this with

ey hit our

ince s

e the light. Already we must be nearly through the mine-field. Once we

id the sealed rolls on the table beside him.

explosion sounded over

n." He smiled, but his eyes had lost their humor. "That was shrapnel," he

brations of the engines continued. The two waited some time for the next explosion, but it was delayed. At last the Prince rose from his seat and passed

ned, and Ruxton's eyes p

also completely submerged," said the Prince. "We n

entirely. The excitement of the escape had passed, and with the passing of it, it had robbed him of all l

t was to be the display of this extraor

en at-Borga?

or, in spite of all you and

me. Tell me

k eyes were on the white-whiskered face of his

ny years we have

haps

ship bound for our shores must be captured or sunk. This must occur simultaneously in all parts of the world. Then the complete ringing round of these islands, and a naval warfare against us with this new type of battle-ship, the submersible dreadnought. From a naval point of view, with our own submarine vessels, doubtless it is calculated that we mi

s of action which indicates a tumultuous st

le world. The procedure will be an attack upon, and annexation of, every small state in turn. And each small state so acquired will pay its own bill. She will consolidate each territory as she possesses it, and so long as her war methods continue they will be bled white. So she will build up in every corner of the earth, and in the process she will prosper exceedingly, as did the great Roman Empire. And throughout this reign of terror, while the outward seeming of civilization will increase a hundredfold, all spiritual life, and the culture of the human soul, will go back some two thousand years. We are this moment at the world'

ght was shining in his eyes, a light which told Ruxton Farlow of the hot soul burning within. He knew, had known before, the trut

d, all he had witnessed, now, as such things always did, drov

e held in our imagination ever since the signing of that disastrous peace. Now I have witnessed fo

g. The artificial lights were still shining. "We are still submerged. Therefore we are not yet in the open sea. A very

eyes was passing. His interest was

or me. With Van Salzi

an naval authorities overlook that? Will there be no question? Will you

ld man's eyes, and Ruxton knew t

occurred to me," he said,

s Ruxton watche

eet-that?" he d

shrugg

of it. There w

f humanity. Why not defy the claims of Germany? Abandon her, and yield your life to the cause so dear to your heart. Will

patience. Vast affairs were hanging in the balance, waiting upon the decision of

d. And the lack of impulse he displayed warne

had betrayed them-and their secrets. All we have gained by the knowledge of their secrets would be lost. Then-though it matters nothing to me, for I do not value it beyond the help I can give to humanity-my life would be

are s

h,

r that escape. You will have to m

lightness. And the two men smiled into e

ak the spell. It was with a gla

ion. "There comes the daylight. We are

anger," corr

Yes, 'im

e picked them up and fondled them tenderly with his long fingers. They

t had returned to his eyes. Again had mounted to that splendi

wn hands. No eyes but mine have seen them, and there are no others in existence. They are the plans of the U-rays light, which, by taking from them the cylinders you brought away, I have robbed Germany of the use of, and the plans of this

held them a moment while his eyes re

" he demanded,

esture of dismay. "The price!" he repeated. "The price when humanity

urriedly across to his stateroom.

d, and his big eyes were al