An Aerial Adventure, or The Secret of a Scientist

Victor D. A. Courtney

An Aerial Adventure, or The Secret of a Scientist

Item

Title of Story: An Aerial Adventure, or The Secret of a Scientist
Attributed Author: Victor D. A. Courtney
Year For Sorting: 1910
Future Year Set: Contemporary
Story Summary: The story features an abduction into a new spaceship invention that will travel to a newly discovered planet. During the 5 year journey mature themes are discussed before they land on an alien planet with extraterrestrials. Biology and economy are discussed in detail yet it soon descends into a simple fight against the kingdom albeit with science-based weapons. Eventually losing one of their crew, the crazed inventor destroys the city in revenge and escapes with the narrator and others.
Critical Introduction: [This is an excerpt from my presentation to a group of attendees of an after event at the ASAL conference in July 2024. ]

According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Victor D. A. Courtney, more commonly known as Victor Desmond Courtney, was an autobiographer/memoirist, journalist, newspaper editor and owner, and poet. He left school at the age of 14 in 1909, did a stint in the public service, then took a cadetship in 1911 with the Sunday Times in Perth.

He was a staunch Labor supporter, had the ear of John Curtin, a serious professional, very down to earth person, fought for the rights of people, and released two books on his reminiscences.

However, none of these references, works or even his friends and family, as far as I’ve been able to so far determine, ever mentioned that, way back in 1909, a newspaper called Daily News in Perth published his -

*Space Opera*!

Titled: An Aerial adventure, or The Secret of a Scientist, it was sporadically serialized Saturdays during his ages 13 to 15. Various letters to the editor of the children's section during that time point to Courtney being quite advanced in language and writing skills for his age. While there are ups and downs, the fact that even chapters were divided up into installments and sometimes not continued for weeks at a time possibly meant a frustrating situation for readers. Also, there are some decidedly different kinds of content during the winter months, with reminisces of the men in the 5 year journey to the planet that describe personal events with a nuance that could only have been written by someone who had experienced something similar which would be unusual for a 13 year old. The first week of spring brings back the space opera style and a writing style that is more in tune with a young boys abilities, suggesting that another writer helped flesh the story out. In fact, it may be the reason that it has two titles as the first title represents the adventure on the planet and the second title represents the long chat chapters over winter.

Unfortunately it is missing the 1909-10-30 installment. As the only copy scanned is the 3rd edition for that day, it is possible that instalment was in the first edition, or perhaps not printed. While initial enquires into possible copies hit a dead end, a more extensive search might be more fruitful. More research is needed in this area.
Science: astrobiology; exobiology; astronomy; aeronautics
Inventions: An aeroplane or airship containing three living apartments and other spaces and can hold 6 people.; A system that creates oxygen; Advanced telescope; Unique chemical combination to spot an invisible planet on a plate; Space oxygen tube for the nose for external repairs!; Battery propelled aeroplane; Explosive powder stronger than what exists on Earth. (Not actually an invention)
Science Extrapolations: A suitably built airship should be able to get into space then travel further
Science Fiction Subgenres: Space Opera
Space Fiction
Invasion
Related Newspaper Fiction: The World's Last Wonder; Venus Calling; The Dark Planet
Historical Context: In Australia, at least, apart from some natural disasters, it was a relaxed period with the only drama being in politics, and military visits from the USA. The first trams were installed in Adelaide which was big news. Apart from a vague fear of a far off invasion, this was the calm before the storm.
Mentioned Elsewhere: Neil Hogan's Monthly Blog - Retrieving Vintage Science Fiction from Early Australian Newspapers.; The Secret of a Journalist; An Aerial Adventure, or The Secrets of a Scientist; An Aerial Adventure, or The Secrets of a Scientist by Victor D A Courtney a Review Continued; A 1909 Space Opera; An Aerial Adventure, or The Secrets of a Scientist Final Part of the Review; The Earlier Life of Victor Desmond Antony Courtney
Additional Information: aged 13, 22 Adelaide-terrace, Perth
"From one of our nephews"
How this Story was Identified: Using the previous To Be Continued Australian Newspaper Fiction Database export system I downloaded everything in decades of texts and searched them for genre specific keywords
KeyClouds: scientist invention earth world telescope mechanism planet instrument
Date Details Added to IA: February 2023
Author Gender: Male
https://www.austlit.edu.au./austlit/page/A26159
Nationality: Australian
Biographical and Other Sources: Biography of Victor Desmond Courtney at ADB; Biography of Victor Desmond Courtney at AustLit
Single or Serialised: Serialised
First Published Date of Last Installment: 1910-05-28
Date Range: 1909-02-27-1910-05-28
Number of Installments: 48+
Complete or Supplemented: Incomplete. Missing 1909-10-30 installment. After much searching, with thanks to the members of the Perth Library, Local Council, and the National Library of Australia, which only hold the third edition of that newspaper, I believe the installment may have only been released in the first edition, or missed altogether.
Estimated Word Count: 56,000
Length: Novel
Links in To Be Continued: https://readallaboutit.com.au/#/title/71566
Newspaper Publisher Citation: The Daily News
Newspaper Name Location Years: The Daily News Perth Western Australia 1882-1955
Location Town City: Perth
Location State Territory: Western Australia
Provincial or Metro: Metropolitan
First Republished on InfiniteAnthologies.com: Not public domain until 2040. Poor OCR version available below.
OCR from TBC and Trove: “An Aerial Adventure, or The Secret of a Scientist.”
By Victor D. A. Courtney, aged 13, 22 Adelaide-terrace, Perth.

PREFACE. (1909/02/27 Summer)
Dear Reader,— I do not intend to presume to state that the literary. merits of this narrative are above those of an ordinary boy of my age, but my only desire is to attempt to interest you by an account of my extraordinary adventures. To some these incidents I am about to relate may appear astounding, to others more or less so, but I would implore of the patient reader to” think only that in obtaining from the perusal of this account a short period of amusement, he is repaying, the author a hundred fold for the efforts this narration of these events may have cost him. I reiterate my opening statement, and to it I desire to add the assertion that I write this account solely that some may be afforded some pleasure by it, and also that if it is possible others may derive from it some profit. Therefore, reader, I will now leave you, if it is your wish to do so, to.peruse this narrative, ardently hoping that at its conclusion you may be at liberty to state that at least you have found something which necessitates your saying that one atom even of the time you allotted to the perusal of my story, was not uselessly squandered.

Chapter I. (1909/02/27 Summer)

A peculiar individual was Merilo Ratassini. He was a person of Italian or Venetian origin, a scientist by profession, and one of my staunchest friends. His was not certainly a prepossessing appearance. Though he was tall and slimly built, he possessed a stoop, which gave to his appearance a seeming tendency to indolence, which he undoubtedly did not possess; while his hands, though gnarled and browned, were shaped as daintily as a woman’s. His face was a study. Merlio's skin was olive in color, his hair coarse and black, his mouth small and well formed, his nose was of the Roman type, while beneath a pair of dark brows glared fiercely two small black restless eyes.
Ratazzini was neither handsome nor comely, but he possessed a certain air of majesty awe-inspiring in its sternness, which commanded respect from all with whom he came In contact. One morning I was surprised by an early visit from him. Admitting him to my study, I asked the reason of his visit. After carefully closing all doors, etc., he, with an air of profound secrecy, commenced to discuss the matter which was the reasons of his visit.
It appears that an aeroplane, on which he was secretly engaged, was at last completed, and he had even furnished it for a journey which he intended to make, After discoursing volubly on the merits of his invention, he entreated me to accompany him on his proposed journey. I promptly refused. He then besought me at least to accompany him to the scene of his labors to view his invention, which was then lying at his house, which was situated a considerable distance from London, in which city I was then abiding. I attempted to excuse myself, saying that, being a journalist, I knew nothing of scientifical matters. However, as he insisted I at last consented to accompany him to his residence by the earliest possible train. After having promised to return at an appointed time, Ratazzini departed, leaving me to finish the article on which I was engaged.
Merlio was not prosperous, and I felt really glad that he had at last succeeded in completing his aeroplane, which he had assured me was infinitely better than any yet invented.
At the appointed time my friend and myself boarded the train, and, after a few hours journey, reached our destination, Ratazzini hastily strode across the common to the house which he tenanted. He was strangely nervous and irritable during the journey, and spoke but little. This I attributed to the ecstatic state in which he was on account of his success, but whether I was right or not I will leave. the reader to judge anon. After having supplied the wants of the gastronomical portion of our anatomies, we proceeded to the back premises of his residence, where a large workshop had been erected. Though his residence was not what may be termed extremely large, it was possessed of spacious grounds, and was situated in a quiet rural retreat. Ratazzini's only servant, an Italian, met us at the entrance to this large workshop.. Closing and bolting the strong door.after us, Ratazzini entered the shed, after requesting me to swear (which I did) that I would never divulge, without his permission, anything connected with what I was about to see.

CHAPTER II. (1909/03/06 Autumn)

Entering from an outer apartment into the spacious work-room, I perceived a large-cigar-shaped contraption supported by wooden rollers. As I said before, I am bound to reveal nothing more save that this aeroplane for such it was, was capable of holding in a series of two or three sheltered apartments about six persons altogether. In one portion a part of this construction was appointed, as the inventor told me, as a receptacle for the provisions and ballast with which the invention was already stocked. In the centre were numerous varieties of light machinery, while in the extreme forward—if I may call it—was the steering apparatus. After I had thoroughly explored the interior of the aeroplane, Merilo invited myself and his confidential servant, Lerdini, to rest in one of the apartments of his construction.
“Where do you intend journeying, Ratazzini?”“ I asked, when we were seated. “To Italy,” he replied, “the birthplace of my parents. These English vipers will pay no heed to my inventions, while there I may be enabled to sell it to the Italian Government. Ah, human beings are merciless,” he added bitterly. After a few moments he abruptly rose, informing us in what seemed to me a trembling voice, that he would return almost immediately. I saw from one of the glass windows of our apartment that Ratazzini was examining the exterior of the machine. Apparently satisfied, he lifted a bag of tools from a shelf near by, and returning to the aeroplane entered, closing the door fast behind him, and strode to the central apartment, where the mechanism by which he manipulated the machinery was situated. A peculiar suspicion crossed my mind and rushing to the centre of the machine found my companion engaged in turning numerous levers, etc. “What are you doing?” I gasped. “'Surely you—"
“All is well, Barrington,” said he; “the machine has had one trial and proved perfect. We intend to try her again.'“
“Not while I am here,” I vociferated, rushing towards the door and attempting to open it, at the same time crying to Lerdini to assist me.
“All is well, Signor,” was the only reply that worthy vousafedme.
“It is useless to attempt to escape, Barrington,” said Merlio; “the door is locked, and the key in my possession. All will be well.”
I seated myself—baffled. At the same time there was a slight noise. Merlio had reached his hand from one of the small windows of the aeroplane, and having pulled a lever in the wall of the workshop, part of the roof slid aside, leaving sufficient space for the egress of the aeroplane, which, in response to the movement of Lerdini, who, while Merlio was occupied as afore-mentioned, had rapidly turned a lever-like handle, quickly arose through the exit in the roof.
Ratazzini, after having concluded his first occupation, took control of one portion of the machine, while he despatched Lerdini to take charge of the steering gear. I was dumbfounded.
Ratazzini turned towards me.
“Barrington,” said he, “forgive me, for I seek to better you.”
“How?” I demanded furiously. “What of my occupation, my office? How can I return in time to complete my task for to-morrow? Look!” And I pointed in the direction of the window. Far beneath us could be seen Merlio's house and the commons gradually appearing to grow smaller, so great was the speed of the machine. Ratazzini looked, and solemnly replied:—
“It is well, my dear Barrington,” he said, “for us to be as far as possible from miserable mankind. I am not going to Italy, my friend, or to any country on the earth from which we just departed. Barrington, as you see, I am your true friend, for in tearing you from the earth, where, like myself, you have none of your kin, I am benefiting you.”
“Man!” I gasped, “you are mad!”
“No,” said he, “I am journeying to Mars or some nearer planet where I shall find new people, and new hopes. I have a machine for I am manufacturing oxygen, or rather air, so that we will not want for that. I have an enormous stock of provisions, and every other commodity, even clothes, for I expended my last penny before I departed from earth.”
“Will we not return to earth?” I asked.
“If we can find better lands where we are going, there is no necessity.” “And now look at your beloved earth,” he added, with a perceptible touch of sarcasm in his voice. I did so and could only perceive the bare earth objects such as even houses were invisible from this distance.
Uttering a groan, I fainted.

* * * * * * * *

When I regained consciousness I discovered that I was lying in a room in which a couple of lamps were burning.
In it, I recognised one of the apartments of the aeroplane. “Where am I,” I asked faintly.

CHAPTER III. (1909/03/13 Autumn)

Ratazzini entered on hearing me speak. He held a chart of some kind in his hand, which he appeared to have been studying!
“You are in space,” he said quietly, “for when you fainted you injured your head and you have been, insensible now nearly two days.”
I raised myself with difficulty from my bed and gazed from the port hole-like window. Nothing was visible save a few stars. “Do you see that one far east which appears faintest of all,” questioned Merlio.
“Yes,” I answered.
“That,” said he calmly, “is the earth.”
Notwithstanding the astonishing speed of the aeroplane it was according to Ratazzini's calculation over three years before we came to the zone of attraction of any of the planets. We did not lack provisions, for as I have mentioned previously the machine was stocked with necessities for a journey of five years or more.
I cannot, if I wish to, strictly adhere to the truth, state that I took pleasure in our trip, for in my opinion it was impossible to do so. For the first few weeks of our journey I was in a semi-conscious state. All of us experienced a kind of mal-de-mer, so annoying was the whirling and rocking of the aeroplane. Anyone gifted with a vivid imagination can picture the effect of a machine travelling through space at an enormous rate, whirling, tossing and twisting in different manners, would have on its occupants. For a certain period I was of the opinion that I should breathe my last in this machine so violent was the nausea that overcame me.
Ratazzini and I had become completely reconciled, and while he was occupied in controlling the aeroplane, we had many conversations relative to our future fate. I had abandoned the idea of reproaching Ratazzini, for I observed that that individual was still laboring under the delusion that he was benefiting me by taking me from the society of humanity. However, one day about two or three months after our departure from the earth, receiving from him a summons, to the workshop (if I may term it), of the vessel. I entered and found him engaged in making the daily supply of oxygen for condensation into pure air. Ever since we had departed from the zone in which the atmosphere of the earth extended Merlio had by this marvelous and unheard of contrivance managed to supply us all with sufficient air for the requirements of the lungs. I would enter in an explanation concerning this invention only that as I have before related, my oath binding me to secrecy has prevented me from doing so. The reader may ask how the aeroplane was supported withou an atmosphere, but by the constant manipulation of the same machine, Merlio also manufactured sufficient aire for its support.
As I entered Ratazzini bade me sit down, for his tale was somewhat long. I did so. “Now, having great consideration for the reader, I will not try his patience by giving in detail Merlio's conversation, but will content myself with repeating its substance. It appears that the inventor's speech, as regards a desire to depart from humanity, was but a “blind”; his real object was this: Through a specially constructed telescope of his own invention Merlio had discovered a peculiar body moving in the heavens, which he had only made visible by the use of certain chemicals, etc. Being consumed by a desire to investigate this object, and in doing so make fame and wealth for himself, he had constructed the aeroplane, and though this heavenly body was visible to no other human being, he had discovered its exact position in the sky, and was at that moment journeying towards it. I questioned him as to his reason for not informing me of this before, but he replied that his object was to try my friendship for him. Also, he informed me that his object in forcing me to accompany him on this journey was partly a desire for my assistance, and partly a desire for my company. “But,” he added, “my principal reason was that you, being a journalist, could write for me, an account of our expected discoveries, and engrave the name of Merlio Ratazzinl in glowing letters on the scroll of fame, which our earth possesses, and bequeath that name to posterity, with the addition that it was the cognomen of the greatest human being that the world has ever seen.”
“Fame! Fame!” he cried, excitedly. “I thirst for fame. But Barrington,” said he, “fear not, for you, my staunch friend, who has shared my trials shall share to the last cent my riches, and shall share my fame.”

CHAPTER IV. (1909/03/20 Autumn)

Yes, posterity shall lovingly couple the names of T. Windford Barrington and Merlio Ratazzini when alluding to two personages who, like the ocean, will continue to live, while Time, the hoary-headed veteran, shall, in the words of the poet, “Write no wrinkle on their” (not azure, but laurel-bedecked) brow.” And also, I repeat—
Rushing to the lookout of the vessel, we discovered a strange object far above us. Robed by the light from the sun's rays, though at an enormous distance from ourselves, this body shone brightly forth its shaft like rays seeming, to shoot into the ethereal space and subsequently lose themselves. About ten times larger (it appeared to us) than the moon, but of a pale reddish color, and though perhaps it may have been an optical illusion, I could almost have sworn that the mysterious object moved. Grasping his singularly powerful telescope, Ratazzini gazed in the direction of their etheral traveller for fully fifteen minutes without uttering a word. Suddenly he slowly lowered the telescope from the level of his eye and with a half reluctant sigh hung it in its customary place.
“May 1 use the telescope to observe this thing, Ratazzini?” I asked eagerly. Grasping it hurriedly, Merlio threw it in an adjacent drawer, and, locking it, replied: “No, Barrington, you have never had that pleasure, and, for your own sake, I. hope you never, will.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because,” said he, “it will fascinate you, and prove, on account of its not being in your possession, a source of disappointment to you.”
“How's that?” said I, somewhat sulkily.
“Because,” he retorted, “it is a marvel, and I believe that no person could gaze through it without introducing into their heart a craving for its possession, as with it heavenly bodies can be observed with subtly fascinating distinctness, and,” he concluded, “I have been as yet the only person who has had the honor of gazing through, and until I am famous or dead I will remain so.”
“Well, at least tell me what that thing is yonder!” I asked.
“My belief is,” replied the inventor, “that that body has been cast off from some greater one. In the planets, as on the earth, such catastrophes as earthquakes do often occur. Now, perhaps, as you may perceive, such an occurrence or some similar disturbance has caused the separation of the body we have just perceived from the major portion of some planet.”
“Something similar to the account concerning the formation of a comet,” I observed.
“Yes, that is so,” he replied; “that is a species of comet; but from what I can discern from my telescope, this object is stationary, and is not moving in any manner whatsoever.
“Oh!” I replied, only partly satisfied by the scientist's explanation, “I find these matters difficult to comprehend, for, as I said before, I know little of astronomy.”
“Come,” he said abruptly, “I believe I had informed you as to my reasons for my conduct.”
The months were gradually being consumed, during which we still continued upon our perilous flight. I had become quite used to the evolutions of the machine, but notwithstanding this fact my nerves were completely shattered. Strange atmospheric disturbances, which would increase the nausea that still had possession of me, occurred at frequent intervals, so that I lived in constant expectation of my end. This wretched machine was never still; like a ship upon a stormy, sea, it was tossed and tumbled by the force of its own velocity. Throughout almost the whole of the time Ratazzini maintained the silence which he only broke in the direst necessity. Me he rarely addressed. Every few hours he would retire to take his observations, while a considerable portion of his spare time was squandered in gazing at the ever-growing body for which we were directing our course. Twice during that dreadful voyage was hope abandoned completely by me. The first occasion was when within six months of our destination; Ratazzini, having just taken his morning observation, was manipulating the steering gear of the contraption. As the inventor was attempting to control one of the levers, a slight crunch was heard—the aeroplane seemed to suddenly check its career with a slight jar; then, turning several rapid somersaults, it commenced to descend at almost twice its previous rate of speed. Merlio spoke, but even then spoke abruptly. “A screw is smashed below,” he said; “I must descend to the outside of the machine, open the trap-door on the bottom, and fit in another.”
“Can't you fix it from inside the machine?” I asked.
(1909/03/27 Autumn)

“No,” he said, smiling disdainfully; “I have not your knowledge of these affairs, but quick, before I lose complete control, for now one screw has gone, all will soon follow, and then death will be but quick.”
With this Ratazzini fixed over his nostrils a specially prepared rubber tubing for emergencies such as these, to the end of which was attached a small pump, with which the air could thus be pumped into the nostrils. He then put into his pocket a small case of tools, fastened over his shoulders a coil of rope, and having opened one of the porthole like windows directed his servant Lerdini to hold the rope to which he was attached, and prepare to lower him gradually, he slid out through the opening. The trapdoor was on the outside, and on the very bottom of the machine, for as the breakage could not be perfectly mended from the inside without risk to the person attempting to do so becoming dangerously involved in the machinery, Merlio had decided upon the addition of the aforementioned trapdoor. While I continued to pump the necessary air into the inventor's nostril tube I advanced to the near window, where I could observe to advantage Ratazzini's actions.
There was he swaying and swinging in space, a few strands of frail rope, held by hands which were only human, separating him from a horrible end. Rope may snap; it is human to err, so hands cannot be trusted. Still, I could see this ineffably valorous and imperturbable individual, who thus trusted his life to assistants, calmly dangling below me. His face was unchanged, save that his usual expression of coolness was supplanted almost by an expression of inimitable determination. His deft fingers were quickly righting all beneath, and while chancing to raise his head Ratazzini allowed his gaze to meet my own. Something distantly resembling a smile of assurance over-spread Merlio’s countenance, and at the same time he raised his hand as a signal to Lerdini to draw him upwards. Oh! how I adored, how I almost worshipped that man, whose simple and unostentatious display of bravery sank to my very soul, on which it deeply imprinted itself to reimind me to my last day of the duty of a man. Merlio thou art rare! Thy kinsmen in such remarkable intrepidity are but few. Possibly none can equal thy display of astounding courage; certainly none can excel. Brave men are few, but men of thy stamp, Merlio, are indeed fewer.
The inventor was soon again safe within the aeroplane, and after some little delay all was righted, and the machine once more continued its ascent.

When an opportune time arrived, I s^usiht to compliment., Ratias:2in,i upon his daring f-eai . “My frcnJ,” he reT plied, “I. seldom waste woiOs, but I must, after thanking you, reply i,& your com^'lments. There is such a thing as fcrav-ery and such a state as unconsciousnesses there-riot-?1” “.Interro gated Merl'o. „ “Frraisely .=0,” I replied, completely mystified si” this peculiar (if nat ec centric) question k “ “Now,” the inventor commenced, vuien I voluntecre-d for th-at -n yvk I did not appoar to see the danger in Its true llgK-t, therefore I reasoned with myself, 1 hough I could not perceive I great peril, it I “acted, if I refrainsd from d-jng so, nctn ng could ipossibly aveil( a mest lamentable catastrophe The sum of the matter therefore is that I was a'most then, anJ am s 111,- al most unconscious Jof the conger that threatened me. Was I brave? No.7 c&rtalnly not.” , - - “But you were n:«t afrad to act thus; therefore “ysu Jmu-V have been undoubtedly mi,” I argued. fl * * “No,” ti'ie inventor retorted firmly, “.1 was almost foolhardy, for” it is a man who fears to do a thing “yet does it -who can be termed a really gallant or daring indiv.dua1 “ . “ “I doubt u ,” I muttered doggedly, sWll only half convinced, “but I am I certain that you we:e unJoubttdly brave.” A human being is an exceed ingly strange composition. How dn- ferent/a character does one specimen of humanity possess to another. Verily persons, believers m sol'd facts, wauld scarcely credit if here were not every day practical illustrations- exhibited to them that persons constituted in the same manner, and of the same race^ — even of the one blood — could present ?such a com rost to each otiasr. There are cowards, fools, and villains who, together with heroes, each play lihcrr part, whether it be for better or worse, on life's crowded stage. MerHo was no-t exactly a true and exact exempli fication of a hero, but neven heless he was very nearly allied to one He seemed to be endowed with a resolu tion, spirit, and coolness wKch seem ed of a .far ?.higher o!nd - noWer spisci'es than- X have .ever ? encountered Ybefore in a human “being; “ .” : ?;''?';.?? “ V( .-; Without even . thinking of breatSiitag. a word” of farewell, “ or “even- a” “desire .for success, this man coolly “and “de- Fix this textliberately arms (bimself with” all iithe necessities for this “occupation; “''Toil may bqast, ye sages, ! of “ the presence of mind of men of other climes!” but this scion of a passionate and excit able -race exceeded by h'is ?exhibition” of this last-mentioned asseit- any ?yet given by any individual I have been acquainted with who could claim an-” other nation for his fatherfand. Wthere,” I ask, -where is the person asnong the ?multitudes of vain- -boasters of -bravery who wouM calmly allow their (fate to be decided by ,Jlhe strength/ of a piece of rope — plain rope? “

(1909/04/03 Autumn)

Where is the person who would, with such inimitable coolness, collect with this trying deliberation the tools which were to assist him in his hazardous task? Again, where abideth the indi vidual who would dare to undertake such a perilous task after only allow ing himself five minutes” considera tion? .... Yet once more I request you to find that ineffably valorous man who would have the self-confidence, courage, and spirit to smile a smile of reassurance while engaged in space upon such an infinitely dangerous occupation. Last ly, and well may it be lastly if such ;a man can e'er be found, who will un dergo such trials, to save the lives .of others besides his own, and then, when such ridiculously paltry rewards as compliments are given, refuse them with such modesty, and bluntly declare that he was not brave? I beg, nay, I implore, his discoverer lo immediately present him to me, that I may hold him up to posterity as the second pheno menon I have had the fortune to en counter. It is undoubtedly true that Providence . has created wondrous be ings, some even in the form of men, to j exhibit to us a splendid example which 1 it would be a favor to be allowed to follow. Now I will leave for the space of a j few minutes Merlio enjoying and hear ] ing with rapt attention the un-stinted and deserved praises of his conscience while I devote my attention to another individual who forms a peculiarly striking contrast “to his friend Merlio. This person is myself. Now I intend to he frank. Would I have imitated Merlio's action? Would I have follow ed his example, or, indeed, even a, por tion of it? I fear not, I fear not. Then let me with all the vivacity and promp titude at my command haste to laud I the man whom I so feared to imitate. Providence is all seeing. It is impos sible that all can be born alike in man liness. Yet it is possible and very . ! probahle that the weak will be inspired j and enlivened by the example of the I strong, and endeavor wtih all the j alacrity in their power to follow in the “ footsteps of their superiors. Provi- | dence has chosen for one cf her moral j examples of a dutiful p:rson MerMo Ratazzini, and it has been thoroughly proved that Providence in her wisdom i has failed to choose ill. All praise to j Merlio; let his name resound re-echo, and. constantly ring through the cn i lightened ages to come to proclaim that i not until mankind shall approach ! further towards the sphere of immor tality shall it exceed by much the per formance in intrepidity, etc., of our Italian inventor, Merlio “Merzino Rataz zini. To thy very grave, oh, Merlio, should resound the plaudits cf all, not “for bravery alone, for perhaps more daring feats may have possibly been accomplished, but for combined cour age, resolution, and self-sacr'.flce. And now while we were swiftly soaring through the immeasurable dis tance which separated us from our intended destination, long ago, I sup pose,, the sensation which had been occasioned by our mysterious disap pearance, had been forgotten by the people, when some later occurrence commanded their notice. Thus it is'with human beings. While anything” is novel it is the object of the people's notice, but soon,, as its novelty wears off, it fades into cold” oblivion. Where: we were most Pro.. minent, the spots in the city whichSve continually haunted, we were missed there for a time, but only for a time. How, I wonder, were thingsprogressing at the old “Critic” office* Did the staff still remember me; if so,” it was not very distinctly. O.ther triumphs and other falls had torn asunder the thread of remembrance, which paper and owners might possess for the depaf- etl editor, and the editorial chair of the journal, the office -which I loved as my life, what of them? By now they contained no trace of my “ presence. Another editor occupied my honored seat, another individual occupied my, office. On eaTth I was forgotten by almost everyone, I felt sure. In a quiet country mansion, amid the fields Qt emerald grass, amid ithe Invitingly beautiful meadows, adjacent to the gently running brook, so closely allied, I often thought, to that im mortalised by Lord Tennyson, lived . a. simple maiden— ifhe squire's daughter. Eveleen Allingford, for such was her name, was a “? quiet specimen of the usually fussy feminine sex. Her as pect was inviting, her carriage erect, and her speech was simple yet dfgn^ fled. Such was ray dearest friend. Was it possible that a sincere and un assuming girl like her I have describ ed could forget me? If it'hat was pos sible, the little regard I possessed for mankind would forever be banished from my mind. Ah, she could not prove forgetful, Like so many of her fellow creatures. As to whether Merlio cared for any one, I only know that he was very intimate with a Spanish lady, Fix this textwhom I had, in company with him, often visited. However, I thought it was but little good of cherishing thoughts concerning ear/.hly things, as in my opinion our chances of reach ing earth again were but slight ones indeed. There is one thing I reasoned — we have made a name for ourselves by baffling the police in all their at tempts to discover a clue relative to our” whereabouts.

Chapter IV (1909/04/10 Autumn)

Those minions of the law I conjec tured Oiad. long Ibeen striving for the sake of their reputation to unearth something which, may “have led to a solution of the “ mystery concerning our disappearance. But London is a Jarge city, and there may be fre quent cases such as ours,” so that the police would soon be occupied with some -other work that would speedily divert their attentton from our disap pearance.” It would seem to any or dinary” dndivldual very peculiar for an inhabitant of the earth to be so far from his home, from his companions, fronTall| which, possessed any interest for* him. Ab one may easily imagine I felt this peculiarity myself, and re marked so to Merlio. “ Better to be absent'ifirom (people who only dove you for your usefulness,” growled that worthy. .” “Ali,1 Ratazzini,” I replied, “you sure ly ,won't say that; surely you Jiave someone who cares for you.” i “Bah!k you're absurdly sentimental,” replied Merlio ovasively. “ “ “Come, , corno, don't “ be unsociable,” said I,,, Jokingly; “tell me who It hap pens .to be.” “Nonsense, Barnlngto'n, you are not keen of perception; the omiy” lady I “have ever had any regaTd for is” her you have often seen me in company with.” Vis it” “Miss-^ — :” “ “Stop, “stop,” said Merlio,” for your own sake don't mention ^her name, it unnerves me.” ? “Rigfat,” I answered, and the sub ject” was dropped for .the -time. Love seems a sfcratiffe thing, I mused, when a self-willed person like .Merllo can be unnerved by it But still love can soften ihe hardest heart; love, knows no “barriers; its force is irresistible; ?then why wonder, for in splt-Q''of all his manly attributes, Merlio Ratazzini ?was only human. “ - I1, am constrained .to observe that during our perilous excursion I felt a .discouraging sense of “ loneliness. Human beings, when there are several of thpm, become .contrary, but Rataz zini . Lerdini and myself were exces sively, tired of one another; Merlio naturally was as one might expect from” oertain traits -in his- dh&rcter, at times talkative, even volulble, and at others, morbid and sullen. In justice, I must remark that Merlio -was seldom inclined for lengthy conversation, save when he saw sufficient cause to rouse the passionate feelings which lay con cealed in his- bTeast. As for Lerdini, ?he'* was a ^servant whose devotion to his^master,,seemedi remarkable. Lerdini didvnot seem to regret his departure from the earth, , for, on being- ques tioned by one once, he replied that If mis rimstei- thought it iproper to Quit ?.the -earth, he thought right to follow “Ms master. i ,, No, the truth was that none seemed so “homesick as myself. Both took it as a matter of course, and very wise ly refrained from “hankering after the vice of the company of man. Still my thoughts constantly ran on this sub ject. ? J I longed to Teturn to my mother earth, whereon I had for years lived, ?labored, mourned, and rejoiced. My j one, atdent desire was to tread terra ! firina/to view the earthly scenes with, which: I was so familiar. Once more I I earnestly wished for an opportunity to “return arid once again participate .in mundane affairs, to share all their trials and -troubles, to be ence more with my fellow-beings. Base thought. With'.,-; the Individuals , ..wiho had so soon forgotten ,.-,me. “I longed to be. , Thus did I, with the pardon- , able and proverbial weakness of a hu-j man being,-, hanker after my former as sociates, though they themselves had ceased to remember me. Why not shuii faithless humanity and seek for myself a new abode far from wretched mankind? my rebellious spirit, would sometimes -murmur. This was a thought worthy of Merllo, that man, who was so scornfully indifferent to all things, having any. connection with humanity. Tes, : that was a thought for Merllo, but not one for such as me. I would muse as I quelled my spirit an.-l remained heedless to its promptings.

CHAPTER V. (1909/04/17 Autumn)

The reader -roust not labor Bndefjthe; delusion that during our journey” we “indulged in no amusements. Indeed,” we were continually seeklng--some new method of diversion -by which we could be enabled to while away the tedious hours.” - “''..” Ratazzini himself was foremost ?n every such thing, for he was wont to remark “unless- we can discover some thing that will prove a method :of dis traction our brains will not be able to bear the constant solitude. The in ventor was a splendid elocutionist “?'. He used frequently to recite for our bene fit, and I always regarded these” occa sions as- one which might be remem-} bered with pleasure. . The secret of Merlio's success in this department was that he threw his whole passionate heart into his recitation. Many times, have I witnessed and admired him as he stood there wildly gesticulating with flashing eyes and dilated nostrils, as he recited some bold and chivalrous deed In sunny Italy. Often too vhave I witnessed “him as with soft, hushjd voice and imploring eyes he told of a ?plea or a lament of some faithful love sick swain of his (Ratazzini's) native land. As foT my part, I, who am but a poor entertainer, did little. Occa sionally, however, I. would for the di version of my companions; read . ex tracts from the account of our journey. This was perhaps the most pleasing item of all to .Merlio, for verily though ?he displayed modesty in a question- of bravery, Rattazzini always showed openly that he appreciated any praise” of the skill which he hoped wouldrwin him fame. I made a peculiar “discovery with re gard to Lerdini. He was a consum mate humorist. It did indeed seem strange that -he should be associated with such a person as Ratazzini as one” of .that individual's -principal charac teristics “ was gravity. However, though he was facetious, Lerdini was brave and “intelligent/, and (most wor thy of notice) a most faithful servant to his master. ;!t ??was, only his appre ciation of his other services that made Ratazzini : tolegate Lerdini's habitual waggishness. It was some time -before I discovered this trait In the servant's character, T-ut I am sure that “the sole reason for this was that” it was neces-^ sary to exhibit one's sense of humor to draw forth that quality in his servant that Ratazzini so disliked. , At times, however, I have noticed1; that even the scientist himself was obliged to launch, forth into a hearty aa^igh at the sallies of his assistant. , But besides Lerdini's witticisms, we could always have” recourse, to, the violin. Though I must admit music has but little charm for me, I could not but admire Merlio's efforts. Strange to say, that gentleman always ap peared to; choose some weird, solemn melody of his native- land, as if In; keeping with his . own . mysterious thoughts. . Th'ore was one of these weird spngs which sqj attracted me that I ha,ve resolved to take” the'.liberty of quoting Jt here., In confidence, Rat azzini admitted ,.th.at “the “ballad was one entirely of his own composition, and was composed as a” compliment to a -certain female ac quaintance of- his. “ It ran thus —

Verse I. Under thy window, loved, lady “jl sta.y,y V/ith- pure, “joyous thoughts I” s'ing\ thee my --lay; ? “ “? I sing of a face which Is dear to mine eye,( “ But can never be mine. Alas! then I sigh. ?? ? .'.,., I sing of those eyes, which for “beauty are fanned^ If I “wish -for thy hand, oh! can I be blamed? ! For thy glance is so sweet and so burdened with love, That It seems not from earth, tout to , come from above. –

V- \ Verse II. “....” With my best loved of harp's 1 at tempt thee to praise, - “ * For to please thee Til ? try to” the end of my. days. Thy look bringeth sunshine, thy voice (brin'geth - all, “ -? - To wonder and ask then why cometh the call Of an angel of heaven” to reach oor poor earth, “ Where of malice we've much, bnt of goodness a dearth.

Verse, III. Thy w,ords seem td bubble “ from sweet coral lips, , ? Like the fountain's, clear water as that; seemingly trips';” . . , Oh, the brink of its basin to lovingly klSS “ ? “ v ?” r The flowers” green leaves or to babble and hiss, ? , : ?- As it glides thro” the grass and o'er meadows -does run, “ - Or with speed is absorbed by the fierce ruthless sun. “ - ?

Verse IV. Thy hair, oh! sweet lady, so lovely a. growth, If my harp could well praise it, my voice would praise both. - In a tone which I'd pray might re sound to afar, To proclaim that eaTth owned such a wondrous star, To adorn and to light it with peerless “beauty, “ Which makes for a minstrel its praise quite a duty.

(1909/04/24 Autumn)

Verse V. But lady, I wish now to end this poor Jay, 1 For thy love matchless beauty I fear to pray. For to one that, possesses a beauty so j rare,” j To aspire to her hand I never would j dare: j For a creature endowed with so much ? by her Lord, . . “ Would -sure expect twice as much ;is J reward. j

Verse VI. ? I Like -a moth, I. a minstrel, am caught I in love's iire, ? “ | The exalted disdains will not even ad mire. Oh, lei. me continue my sorrowful way. But I ever will praise with my poor j worthless lay, The lady who will not pay heed to “love's call, “ j Though this minstrel for h?r would j sacrifice all, j I'll O'-ase not lo praise r.Uee while 1 j ;.:'??'?'-?: ss breath. ,j I .-. iovo, though unloved, till I'rr. i ivi:4i~;»5'- io death. i

Rataxzir.i said on one occasion, after | Mei'lio had l'.nisheil singuig his much- i loved ballad — When ilid you compose ! that, ami what viraniptcd - you to iio | it? “ j “That involves ;ia story of some j length, Barfrington,” Mcrlio replied, j “and i: is also a story I would relate only to my staunchest -friend, -for it is the tale of my life.” “I. leave “you to judge whether I am a. true friend” or not. no I will persuade you no further,” I said curtly. - “No, Barrington, you misconstrued my words. That story I will now tell to yourself and Lerdini, to show how I value your friendship.” “.'Well, fire a-way,” I said, lighting a cigar, while Merlio and Lerdini fol lowed my example. Seating ; myself comfortably in an armchair, and throwing my legs across a neighbor ing stool, I commenced, with sundry puffs at my cigar, to settle myself for Itatazzini's narrative. “Well,” said Merlio, “since you have both intimated that you possess a de sire to hear my story, I will speak.” . “Begging the Signor's pardon, I have not. spoken,” broke in Lerdini. “Do” you want to hear this or not?” growled Ratazzini. “Well Signor,” retorted Lierdini. with mock condescension, “I will try to, for even the greatest persons stoop a,t times to listen to the chatter of ? “ “Stop bragging, Lerdini:'“ 1 inter rupted. “I will treat you to no more of my conversation, my master,” said Lerdini. “I see it Is wasted- as ? “ “U -always it,” Merlio broke in. “Brat silence, Lerdini, I wish to entertain you if possible with an account “of my ad venturous career.” ? “Proceed.” I murm-ured, throwing away the stump of my cigar and light ing a fresh one. “I was born in the year 1S76,” began Merlio. “My parents were Venetians, but toy birthplace is situated a. few miles from the Italian capital. My father was a celebrated musician, and at the time of my birth had earned enough money by his profession to re tire to live in comfort to a large estate. Till I attained the age of eight years I lived at my father's home. After this, however, I was sent to a boarding school, from w-hich I only returned home twice a year. Even at this age I had a plan for the invention of air ships; constantly my tthoughts run on this one subject. Often when spend ing my holidays in this rural retreat I -would lay full length upon the grass thinking of nothing else but the prob lem which was eternally the subject of my thoughts. I would often gaze long arid earnestly at the blue heavens, from which the sim shone with relentless fury, or from . which . the moon bashfully ba-thed the meadows Fix this textin a flood of gentle, light musing always on . the one subject, aerial nav.igation. When ten years old I was despatches to Engtand (the birthplace of my Tincfe) to study the language of that country. However, after a sojourn of almost a year in that land I -was forced to return home, where, for a year or so, owing to my Sndifferpt health, I studied under a private itn tor.”

(1909/05/01 Autumn)

“What was your father's object in having you tuught the English lln guage, Rataisjilnl?” I interrupted, “Well, 1 should have Informed you,” replied. Merllo, “that my grandfather was an Englishman, und soon after the birth of my father, who, as I said be fore, was a. Venetian, ho- departed, from Venice where ho had been rosld-” Ing, nnd Journeyed to. his native land, England. It. was “thorp that my uncle; who Ih younger than my father, was born. My father hlmnelf resided In England .till he was twelve years of” age/when he was despatched to Italy to complete his education, and to com mence the study of tho higher theoretl. oal branch of music. Thus you may see, though so Important, a .period of his life, was spent In” England, my fathe'rhad the heart of a Venetian. At the age of twonty-three he could speak fluently1 flve or six languages; of course, Including Italian and English.” “My father',1” continued Merllo, a slight- resembldrice to a smile lingering around his lips; “had rather a mania on. language*. Consequently his haying spent, so many, years In England, which country— as. he , often told mo he : loved almost as muoh. as lils birthplace, “combined with his aforementioned mania prompted him ;to hav- me .'? taiught Bngllnh tnoroughiy” befcrij .1 H6 ,eyen properly ?magtercd my own torieupV ; But he did not stop /it -h” at ;-Vefore ,1. was tyventy-one-^Ger. many'; Frendh,,- Greek wid ; Latin “were n^^j.i4 iA'fVnS il.i - “.:'.'“ “ “ ? “ J.. . ?'ButMerHo,!',! asked, “what nation ality, was your, grandmother?'“ ??;.'. “; “!A.y«netlan,V replied bhe. Inventor. . ;'Ah,'. I:-mur.m_ure'd, “.'that accounts for your grandfatheVg stay- “--In Venice,'“ ;?_.- “(That's,, so,'- agreed Merllo. ?-, ?'?;??. “ “ /,” “Kell,V: 4'°*^ “'oonjtlnue.” . “''. ., , : “ “HumI” Where did” I leave myself?;1 asked Merllb.'.'-.v . “. “ “. -y-.,- ??'?.'? , “ -: .” “pi Venice at” th-e” age of eleyen,'- Iverdlril- Informed, him. ,?.?']? “ “Hal yes/ “'Well, while I ^yas under this particular :tutor that I .have Hpolden et,” .contlhued. the” Inventor, “I. had” a spU-ridld opportunity of making sundry experiments relative to; I aeroplane* whlcih iW«re” “hardly thought of at “that “time.'..'.” ..:.:?;?;???;-';)?? .” “ \. “v.'''. i/v “I renumber how !th-e very first In spiration” “cttme. to, !.me,” “ ori-td; Merllo, gradually bepomlnK, excited-; at this narrdtl.oh'.of” |he events of his life, “,'..'; “I “was Iviiisr “udoii a. hlllttok «ltiin.t«H “ on my father^ estate.” I Around me were the “peaceful (herds, quietly devouring the;': abundant succulent ; herbage. Thoug'h'ltfU'many years-ago, I have a distinct remembrance of this day/for the” whole time that I lay thinking on that hillock I lived in a paradise which my imagination “had created. ? - , ; VYes.many a “time, friends, as. I have witnessed the flight far above me of tho blrdB have I thought why Is It that men, being with Buch InteHlgenco can not Invent a mode of flying through” space; It was when” I was occupied once, with such thoughts as these that the Inspiration came to me (as I thought), Illumining tho darkness of my Ignorance. . At last I believed” the pall which hid from me the solution of this mystery was. raised, leaving me free to unravai “all. I at once secretly set to work tooonstruct a model ,of the airship which I Intended to build- later. I slaved at It, thus squandering all my spare time .for about three months. Then, much” to. my sorrow, my father Informed, me” that1. 1 was to attend school again, Bo, with a sorrowful heart. I Journeyed to Rome.” . ? “ . “Qh, you” did hot visit England'agaln, then, ,Katazsslhl?” I asked, “ ;. ,. “-?o;'. ac'cpraing to the doctor, It would be” injurious to health in my state. “Well/ to continue,” said Merllo, “I soon discovered at this college “an” acquajntanoe “whose oharacter was Hlmllar to mine. He professed ? to occupy every spare; moment In tho fltuay of : aerial navigation, so as1 you. may Imagln-.o:ur kindred ambitions and desires” gradually drew us together, and eventually sealed a friendship which boded well to be a life-long one. This acquaintance of mine, I might men^ tion,'“ continued the Inventor, “.'was an Italian, by name Alooga Desmondl, Alooga was a rather morose Indivi dual^—1” - ?.-?? “Like ; my; estimable friend, Rataz^ zlnl,” i. Interrupted, ; v .? -wno is at times like a sore with a bear head,', continued Lerdlhl. . “ Rutazzlnl liiughod , “Lerdlhl,” “he re. plied, “I took pains enough to teach you tho English language, but you still will persist In mixing up the proverbs,” “But I am not so wonderful aa the Slgnor,'“ -ratortod Lerfllnl, “for he la what tho English call lrifalilblG.11 “I wonder that you tolerato such banter from him, Ratazglnl,''!” observ- ed.'- ?.':'. ?'..-? .-?'. “ ? ?? , ? . “Ahl” murmured Merllo, »i do so for a; good, reason, which you shalMearn anon'; and he added with a sad att empt at- a smile, “Ami like that animal 111 tho Hl'Ol*fiPh.” vnii rmntAJ T ...ji_imi “Nottto me,', replied Lordlnl, “but even if you wore I would” follow you anywhere, for tho “bear sport” of It.” “By Jove!” I cried admiringly, “Ler- dlni Is- a hi^morlHt of a k nd oeldoin mot,'“ , ?-..'-... f “ “Tes,” answered Ratuzzlnl. “But Lerdlnl aeems to have almost as good a knowledge of the English Innguage ns yourself, Merllo,', I ob Hervod; “why does ho make these pocu-, .._.,., .„,„,„.„, ,mu luo olle nB maue pre viously?” “Out of pure wagglshncss,” said the Inventor, “But with reference to Alooga Des mondl,” Rataszlnl continued, “he was somewhat” similar -to myself,” ?'Did “ho talk English with a slight Italian accent -like yourself, or with a stronger nnc, like that of Lerdlnl?” I queried,” Jokingly. “ “ “He couldn't talk ISngllBh at nil,” tho Inventor ropllpt), adding nt tho samo, tlmo “that was a feeble Joke, Barring ton.” “Xow,” Lerdlnl begai. but Imme diately pcrrelvlntr my hai:5 containing a, book raised1. menacingly,'1 he calmly concluded. “Proceed my nnste*.” “But,” Ratazalnl reaumed, “-jje of the wornt traits In the characte.” of DeHjnondl wast his fierce— I may say ridiculous— jealousy,” , , | “To be continued,)

At this point I realised many of the chapters don’t have ‘chapter’ Though it’s possible that this was assigned per installment as 10 weeks later it suddenly has chapters again from chapter 18. I will work backwards once I have all the details and see whether including the missing chapters is possible.

(1909/05/08 Autumn)

'About what ago was Desmond!?* I asked, “A ilittle older -than myseif,” replied OBatazzinl. “^For roveral years every thing wont well at colloKe,and I hav~ ing pleaiS'ed to my tottoor ior a three months” vacation, Aloot% who had also Bocored a Kke holiday, oakl myself en gaged rooms An Rooio, and wo sottted down In earnest to endeavor -by our Joint efforts to produco an aeroplano wJrloh ntlBht iiunpaso anythlnj? of its kln4 whlcfa inay havo yet been invent ed. AloogU Ja'borcd dixy and night, till I ovent-uftlly began to have my fears as to his health. “I'housh I would continually remonstrate, Desraoivflt would ignore my remarKn as If I ?wan but amusing myaolf by maldna1 vacuous tffieeohes. Meanwhile wo were niaklu-g satisfactory progress indeed, with the construction of the machine, I Issuing all orders, and Desmond! oxecrutlu;,” them with commendiblo promptitude. But before tho expiration of th-e alloted time — threo months — tho thing which 1 had most tfearcd -carao at lewt to pass. Deismondi'fell suddenly ill otf a fever. At seeing my friend In this state I was thrown into paroxysm's of grief. Hor« I thought n-y onty true friend on- earth (excepting, of course, my parents) was about to die, I was resolved to spare no pains to savp Desmondi'is life,” . “ -: “But. Ratazzinl,” I o^ieried, “did Alooga Desmond 1 have any relations— &nmn« that Cared for him.” “No,” replied the inventor, “Ms parents died when he was but very young, and1 a large fortune, which was to be his when ho roached the age of twenty-live, was entrusted to the care of his guardian, Bardll by name. “Soon,” conilnued the inventor, “Desmondl reached the worst el-ago of the fever. For nights I forfeited all my sleep to watoh by tho side of my friend, and truly it was an awful vigil Continually Desmondl raved and tossed” and groaned till, desplto my regard for him, I almost wished ?that his tortured ? spirit would flee from that wasted pain-racked body. All tho tragic scones of Desmondi'slife were again recalled in tola dollrtum, and many & time as I sat .by his bed have I “hoard such veritably fiendish utterances that I began to believe that the moody flileut Desmondl liad dis carded the cloud which concealed his worst feelings, and had token unto himself the naturo of a brute, Slowly the crisis being past did Desmondi recover. The fever eventually de parted, leaving him a pale, emaciated, holiojv-eyod ghost of his former self. As to the many utterances in Ills Ill ness that would tend to aoon blacken Alloga'8 character if they were true, I could regard them as nothing but the ravings of a senseless being. When Desmondl had” partly recovered, the doctor save orders ifhat he^waa to have a complete change of scene. As my ithree months” leavo had been already extendod by several mbnthson account of Desraondl's Illness, I could not apply for a more lengthened va cation, so I decided at once upon the following plan, -It was this* As I have said Dosmondl was ordered a complete change of scene. Therefore I made some hurried arrangements for his reception, and despatched him as eoon, as possible to my parents” ?estate, wmrro ae was accoraea a iioariy welcome, “Ratazzlnl,” I again broke in, “I am exteomely sorry to Interrupt, but what profession did your father intend you to follow?” “A lawyer,” replied the Inventor, “but as I quickly objected, he allowed mo” to occupy my time at aohool with the study of medicine.” “Oh, you Intended to be ft -loct. ? “ I asked. ? . “I did not,” answered Merllo, “but my father practically commanded mo to “be one. Dosmondl remalnod at my father's estate for--t-bout three months, aftor which he returned, looking a complotely changed man. His Joy was. great on our being once moro united, and ho tfas novcr tired of ihanklng mo for my kindness to him during his illness. To mo at any rate, I noticed his manner wan altogether c'.lf Cerent, I found him only kindness personi fied” 1 “And I am sure ho ought to have beon-so, too,” said I, “Porhaps ko,” agreed Morllo, “for I tried to be kind, and It was not my fault If my endeavors were not nt tonded by success,” “And the aeroplane model, Rataz ?Ani,” I asked, “what happened to It during that time?” Fix this text. “Wiol!,” answered the Inventor, “socm after Aloosa Dosmondl returned to college, at Ills request, in our spare time wo again commenced work upon tho aeroplane.” “As far as I can conjecture It must havo been rather a costly experi ment?” “Yes, It wm,” roplled the scientist, “for many of tho” requirements had to bo specially manufactured for our use.” (To bo continued.)

(1909/05/15 Autumn)

'The time quickly passed, and the model was at length approaching com pletion. Desmondl was almost Insane with joy. But of course you must know,” continued Eat'asszlni, “that when I.. speak of the time swiftly passing away, I mean that a couple of years had elapsed. Several of the examina tions connected with the medical pro fession I had already passed, and now unother year at college and I would be Dr.- Ratanzlnl, But, as I before men tioned, my distaste for the profession undoubtedly did not spur” me on to great efforts for advancement In the medical sphere, still I was a doctor in almost all but name.” “Very useful you should bo hero, In case of illness,'1 I observed. “You may be certain that I made allowance for everything during Urn voyage,” returned the Inventor.” “But, returning to my narrative- 1 must ob serve,” said Mor!lo, “that the Ill-luck which has been my guest so often in llfo at thb Important period of It did not omit to pay me a visit. I was about 22 at thlH time when I receive;1, a message from home saying tliat my father was extremely ill. It appeared that while In the hunting field he met with a painful accident, resulting from a fall from a horse. , On receiving tho Information, I at once -hurried home. I was met at the door of the mansion by Lerdlni's father-l should have said that the Lerdlnls have been our ser vants for fjeneratloris— who Informed me that I had arrived too late, for my father had passed away only two hours before. With a heavy heart I entered my home,- which the sovereignty of death appeared to have made sochoer less and forbidding. My mother, whose affection for me In this hour of grief had Increased abnormally, conducted mo to the chamber, where the lifeless clay reposed. ,- 1 entered and gazed on the face of my deceased parent. My father in life was a stem man, but now he appeared to be yet more so, for his lipo were so tightly drawn that they seemed to suggest a determination on the part of the deceased to resist as long as possible the frigid relentless hand of the angel (or demon) of ae« struetion, My father a few days late* was carried to repose in the vault of his ancestors. “ “Heaven grant that when dead I may, be laid by his side!” ejaculated Merlio. “I did not return to school,” tho In ventor continued, “but remained at home to console any mother. She was terribly downcast at her loss, and It soon toecame palpable, even to the most unobservant, that her tlmo oa earth would be “but a. short one, Satfly I watched my mother pine away. But still, In spite of everything, she main tained a forced cheerfulness, which I know it was Impossible for her to feel, , Her gentleness of disposition had won her many frlendB, a number of whom frequently visited her In her affllc.tion. Among them was Slgnora Constance Varleranla. Her country” home was adjacent to bur estate. Constance's father was tho chief of police of Ualy, hut ho rarely visited this, rural retreat, on account of Its distance from the field of his labors, Giovanni Varlo rnnla, for nich wan her-'fritiifr'i jume, was a stern methodical Individual to homo duty was before anything !:- th'.s life.” “There are suoh men, and mar.” of . them too, in rM* world,” ??;!. -remarked. “Quite1 so,” agreed tih'e” scientist. “He .was. one of those ? mnrty.-a to duty. I had known his daughter from my boyhood; and we had” always been the Rtaunchest of friends,” “Why” not s^V at once thnt you were loyerp. RatazJilnl'.''. I. c|uc:-lo;l. “.'You worry mn with that secretive manner of yours.'. “Well, I will” conceal .nothing from you, Bar:-!n&ron,” growled Ratazzlnl abruptly. “Wo wero lovers. Strange to say, nobody paid any attention to us, regarding our friendship as mere ly a commonplace one arising from constant association with each other. But to return. My mother, as , I've said, was gradually striking. Eventu ally she was confined to her bed. “ At last, exactly six months afte-r my father's death,” the end- came. G-c-ntly her soul took Its farewell of bhat frail body.” While describing his mother's decease Merllo's voice could scarcely bo heard. In those hardly audible tones, however, there was an air of reverence which nt the time much 1m presKed mo, and whtoh “ I can never forget. Tho inventor's piercing eyes seemed to wholly lose their llerco ap pearance, to” assume Instead a soft, sad look. Like tho morning's dews upon t.he grass when the sun hna Just risen several tears glistened in his eyes, and then slowly coursed down the cheeks of the scientist. Surely. I - thought, -his mother would have felt amply reward-fed for tho affection she Fix this texthnd lavished upon him If che could have perceived that thn memory “of herself brought tears to tho eyes of her storn son. 1 was fully convinced that only the force of an fixcesslvcly ardent lovo could so move the wlpnt Ist. Merllo's affection wns really a true one. Hut, to return to the Inven tor's narrative. (To -bo continued next. Saturday.)

(1909/05/22 Autumn)
'My mother,' said he, 'was a few da^'.g after her death carried to rest beside. her deceased husband. A few hours before her death, (however,' con tinued the scientist, 'she Rave me.some advice, which I think worthy of repeating to you, my friends. It was tola: 'Merllo, my son,' said she to me, 'I wish to Impress upon you this thing above, all — never struggle ' for glory if you are obliged to cause pain or In convenience to any of your fellow ?creatures in that struggle. A man can Uvb in Ms own sphere,1 eho con tinued, 'as noble a llfo in the eyes of Ills Maker as the most exalted per sonage, in the land lit he obeys God and loves and suocors mankind, In my. life, my son, I havo always at tempted to follow 'thlfl simple doctrine from which I ihave dorived consola tion in all my afflltotlons. I do not ask you, my boy, to follow It In every particular, for I believe it may b'o against your feelings to forsake every idea of gaining prominence, but ono thing I Implore of you Is to ever attempt to do what your consolenoe tells you Is right,' 'That was indeed a splendid piece of advice,' I remarked, 'Y«s,' replied, Merllo, 'and a always remember my mother's words, and consequently I endetwur to do the right, though sometimes my attempts are failures. Still these trials will always be acknowledged and placed to my credit.
'Quite so, Ratazzlnl,' I agreed. ~ 'Thus,' observed -the Inventor, 'at this period of my life my parents hav ing both died, I found myself the master otf almost fifty thousand pounds' worth of property.' 'Was. everything 'bequeathed to you by your parents, Ratazzlnl?' I asked, 'Exclusively,' returned the inventor. 'Did you now continue work upon the eeropJane?' queried I, 'About a year after my mother's death, Desmondl having quitted col lege, acoepted ,my Invitation to visit my estato once more. He had for warded the aeroplane model on soon otter I had left college,' added the scientist, 'for as he afterwards In formed me he could make no further progress without my assistance, tor It was my knowledge that he depended upon entirely, he toeing useful only (as he put it) in executing my orders. And he executed them itoo, with that com mendable skill, only possessed by an accomplished engineer.' 'So Dosmondl was not endowed with io muoh talent as you?' I remarked, , 'Not in the same direction, at any fate,' replied the inventor. \ 'Speaking of Desmondl, however, about a month after he had taken up his residence at my estate, the aeroplane modol upon whloh we had been engaged was com pleted.' ? ; 'At a great cost, I presume'/' said I, 'Welli on the whole, it cost about £260,' Replied the inventor. 'Wo iubmitted the machine,' tho scientist continued, 'to 'several persons living in our district; who professed to know something of science,' 'And their opinion was favorable, of course?' I queried. 'Indeed, on the contrary, it was far from being so.' . 'How was the construction propelled?' I asked. 'We had arranged within an electric battery,' returned the inventor. 'But now,' he continued, 'l will glvo you ttie opinions of a fow of the critics, Ono was a retired army officer, an Englishman, who had lately devoted his energies to tho study of science. He had a great opinion of his ability in that dlrootion, too. By Jove I he was an irritable, self-opinionated, and a foolish individual, tool' continued the inventor! 'ever ready to flght at the slightest Insult to his much-talked-of dignity. Like all you 'Englishmen, or a groat number at any rate, he was as brave as a Hon.' 'Do you remember the time?' 'I was about '18 then, when I play ed that joke upon him,' Interrupted Lerdtnl.
'Yes, clearly,' returned the Inventor, a^sllght smllo lingering about his lips; 'it Berved him right, too.' 'Ha, ha, ha!' laughed Lordlnl, 'What did you do?' I asked curious ly. i 'Well,' said that worthy, 'the Slg nor' (meaning Rataaszlnl), 'owing to the Illness of our gardener, hired an other for a faw days.' 'He was an Irishman, who was the Janitor at the English college that I attended when In that country,' broke In the Inventor. 'The colonel (for this English critic of ours was a colonel) was wont to visit tho Slgnor about 7 o'clock In the evening, soon after tea. He used always to lot hlmaelf In by the Hide gate. From this gato was a path leading through tho shrub bei'les to tho house, which, stood at a distance of about two hundred yards from this entrance, Tho day In ques tion was the ono upon which the new gardener had commenced his duties. On the previous day I hart hoard the Colonel Informing tho Blgnor that he would arrive to vlow tho aeroplane model the following night. The new ffarclenor had .never seen tho Colonel before, Soon I had hatched a pretty little plot. CaBually I mentioned to tlin Irishman that nn attempt had been matlo at dusk one night to steal some valuable plants of his master's, no It would behbvd him to bo wary ami make certain that the gatn lead ing ta the Hhi'ubb.ery was locked. I knew what would transpire when tho colonel found the irate fastened: he would sealoi the wall.' 'Why not go to tho other entrance?' I asked, (To ba continued.)

(1909/05/29 Autumn)

'Tljut. was nearly “':h'ulf a mllo dls lant (for the Erountiw were very law), and thu Colonel, although vatliur corpulent, prided himself on his agility,” returned Lerdlnl. “Twice before,” ho continued, “ivhon the gate was accidentally locked, hi) scaled the wall. The gardener's lodge wis ad jacent to tho gato. At t!U'“ appointed hour tho visitor arrived. 1 concealed In u neighboring summer-house, and could obucrvc tho gardener oonttnt cclly smoking at IiIh lodge-door. Tho Colonel, tadlnir lit; could not obtain an entrance, immediately climbed upon tha wall (It wtis only a few feet high), and easily jumped to tho ground. Tho gardener had noticed him. 1 could l!?rc6lvo that he, returning to his” hut, emerged with u particularly thick stick, Meanwhile the Colonel was walking slowly ahead. Rushing forward, the gardenor cried— “Och, you vllllan; It's stheal a man's flowers*, You would take that, that, and that,” and he dealt the nory Colonel two sharp blows on the moat prominent portion of hl» anatomy lth his nick. With a” snarl,” tho visitor, turned round. “You dog,” ? ho cried, “I'll fight, If that's It, he dashed forward and dealt the gardener a blow In the chest. At this moment the Irishman's stick be came ontanglcd In the coat of the colonel, and -endeavoring to release It he tore his opponent's coat half way up his back.. The colonel positively frothed at the mouth, “My dignity,', he yelled, but as he ruflied to the attack he received for his pains a prod from tho stlok In his protuberance, which sent him writhing to the ground, “Fight, ye thief,” yelled the Celt, and finding the colonel declined to rise, he seized him by the nape of the nook and belabored htm on every portion almost elf his body. “Scoundrel I Fiend I” yelled the help less colonol. “My dignity.” At length nearly exploding with laughter, I rushed forth and Informed the gardener of his mistake, The colonel, with a portion ot his attire In shreds, was .released) grasping his stomach and vowing that blood would only satisfy him. At length as I with difficulty refraining from laugh Ing, led him forward, we were m«t by the Signer, and so the matter ended. “He was never so conceited again, though,” concluded Lardlnl. ?'Served him right, the Idiot,” said Ratazzlnl, “for he Irritably remarked when he saw the aeroplane that If I ever got that chld's top to fly fao'd kick himself.” “All, and tho other fools fiald similar things,” said” the Uivcntor. “Yet I have triumphed,” he added excitedly, “and they are unknown.” ., “I suppose yourself and tho Colonel Were no longer Mends after his candid criticism ?'I asked. “Well,” returned the Inventor, “I felt greatly annoyed for a short time, but then my temper cooled, and I gradually could perceive that the gentleman meant no offence by thus oxprosstng his opinions, for after all I invited them. He was “ a staunch friend, too,- and. I had a sroat regard for” him, for he always sincerely wished me well in splto of his singular candor, so thus the matter dropped, and wo became, 1f possible, greater friends.” ?'You had known him for a consider able time, I presume?” said I, “Oh, yes; he was acquainted with my father, having once encountered him when visiting Italy,” “Was ho very wrath at being thus treated by the gardener, Lerdlnl?” I asked. . “He was; for before proceeding to improve his appearance when he reached the “house he abruptly left us, telling my master to wait a minute.” “Why, where did lio go?” queried 1. “I followed htm,” returned Lerdlnl, “and discovered “him In the coach house searching for a coll of rope, vo ciferating at the. same time that he intended to proceed with it to tho lodge and hang the gardener from the nearest tree. I attempted to re monstrate, but ho immediately swore that I was an accomplice, and said that If I breathod another word he'd do the same by me, and compel the gardener to swallow my boots before he ihanged him.” “An appetising dish for him,” I re marked amusedly. “Quite so,” - replied Lerdlnl, “and only oxceodod by. his assertion that, as ho couldn't find the Tope, h-e'd lock the lodge door, tiro the lodge roast the gardenor and then generously bestow his remains upon a couple of deserving canines. “A succulent re past for the poor brutes,” I observed, “But finally, however,” continued Ler. dlnl, “my master arrived just as tho colonel, having dealt similarly with an axe, was grinding a rusty, but ferocious looking meat chopper that happened to be lying handy.” “Did he Intend opening a butchering establishment?” Inquired Merllo jo cosely. “That I could never discover,” replied Lerdlnl, “but from what I understood from the colonel's remarks, 1 Imd rea son to bollevo that ho had fully deter mined to hang the gardener with his own braces, making, sure beforehand that he had appnasod his hunger by jmrtaklngr of my dust-covered boots, then to proceed with tho aid of tho Fix this textnxo and meat-chopper to dismember his victim; aftenvnrds to use the lawn mower to (tome advantage — (you can guess what)— then to throw tho remains Into the lodsro, fire It, and after It hid boon vofluced to ashes tn allow tho dogs to partake of any stray pnrticles that the fire had not wholly consumed.” (To be continued next Saturday.)

(1909/06/05 Winter)
.
'Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” I laughed. “You are splendid, Lerdini.” “ ?_ _ The staid Ratazzl even was not proof against the excruciatingly face tious remarks of Lerclini.fprhe hlmseU indulged in a fit of hearty -laughter. “At last,” concluded Lerdini,. “the ? colonel allowed himself tp.be conducted I ?to the house; He consoled himself with I the thought that he would defer his In- I tended vengeance to some, more “favor- I able time,'. , I “What was the end of this interesting I little matter?” queried I again. I “Well, to prevent further disputes,” I said the Inventor, “that game night I I summoned the gardener and Informed I him that if he ddd not at” once beg the I pardon of Colonol Nelson” Wellington I (for that wa3- the Colonel's “ name, by I the way) I would Instantly dismiss I him- Thereupon the gardener sallied I fcrth on to the verandah and pros- I trated himself.” - . I “Before, the chair of . the irascible I Colonel,” said. Lerdini, taking up the I hread of- the ?narrative” from, “the In- I ventor. r “? - I “What did the gallant “soldier do?” I I asked. ? ? ? I “Kicked the unfortunate gardener I ?down four or flve steps ta'the ground; I threw a chair down on iop of him, .1 and then loudly declared that if he I dared to breathe he would call in, the I police and have the audacious villain I removed for creating a disturbance in I a gentleman's mansion, and daring to I maliciously kneel on the eorna of nn I officer of the Queen's Regiment.” I -'As the hapless man limped “.^voy I the Colonel threw -him “a piece of I money, and Informing him that his I apology was accepted, sat on the ve- I randah step and laughed long and I heartily at having satisfied his craving I for -revenge.” ?” I “And how,” Lerdlnl informed us, “'I I have arrived at the endj of ;the incident I I desired to relate.” - “! “',-- - I “Have you anything further to say I regarding the Colonel.'Ratazzlnl?” said I If “ , . I “Nothing,” answered- Rata?zini, “ex- I cept ? that he proved himself a brave and I true man, and that he was one of the I few to whom I could, assign the name I of friend.” “ „ I “What of the other critics? “ Surely I they ai'e worthy of mention, Ratazzlnl?” I queried. “Suoh fools are beneath the considera tion of any ea'no ihuman being,” almost snarled the inventor. “Stm, “the persona that criticised my Invention were Indi viduals of high degree.” “You would not Include the Colonel in the list of fools in gpite of his cri ticism?” I asked. “No,” answered the ecjentlst,- “*be«i cause he offered his criticisms wfth the firm conviction that they would bette»f me — -his friend. The reason I termed him a fool before was th&t.ln.tha heat” of the moment of remembering his* words I could not really help being In-,” censed. After all, though,” RatAuinl continued, “It -was rather presmnptu ous . of him to pass such scathing re marks without having considered th« question. As for thbso others whosa derlsivB utterances arose out of a -ie«! alre to humble me and partly to ehow their superiority, I almost deteat But still,” he added, growing excited again,” “it Is «asy to orlMclse, Education” may entitle some men to scorn their fellows. Education, in their opinion, entitles them to oritlcise. Agalri,: edu cation may give them the title of doc tor, or lawyer, but it will not, or can not make a” man a genius.” r “And you are such?” I queried, rather amused at the inventor's apparent ar rogance. “There Is little use playing the base Fix this texthypocrite,” he retorted. “I believe I am, in a degree, but of course,” if you differ from my opinion I must be” at fault,” he added sarcastically. _ It seemed incredible to me that a man such as Jlerllo should scorn praise for bravery, yet covet “it for genjusl I fear at tiniest am too outspoken, for I had no sooner thought of this last mentioned peculiarity of Merlio's than I remarked it to him. “For this rea son,” answered the Inventor — “Firstly, I did nnt believe I was brave, “But tii* second reason is the chief one,” ha continued. “It Is this: An. Ignorant, unintellectual plebeian can be .brave, But a man must have vast Intellectual power to be a genius.”

(1909/06/12 Winter)

'Merlio,” said I, “why condemn: the plebeian? Can he help his station in life'?— has he the power to uplift, him self? That speech is unworthy of a genius — of a man of your_.calibre.;: - It would be infinitely better to endeavor to raise him — to train him to higher ideals.” ? “Granted, Barrington,” answered the inventor, coldly; “but still,” he added, “I wish you would not speak so bitterly and heatedly to me when you have -no idea of what I have experienced. Sev eral years of my life were spent in at tempting to better the plebeian. When I was in need of assistance, what re quital did I receive from that class^ ridicule. They laughed.at me. They were among the first to assist to causa my ultimate downfall. Henceforth I will adopt different methods. ?Their class will undermine a “ nation.. I speak not idly, for they have done so. Ingratitude — base ingratitude: ? and treachery has further degraded the pie. beian till he is slowly sinking in. the quicksand of his own iniquity, and .will be eventually engulfed and become part of the. slime which, ever remaining, shall present to the world an- unstoried monument of his own baseness and un worthiness.” “Merlio,” I cried “ excitedly, “as a friend, you are everything to be “ de sired: but as an enemy you are a. de men — yes, there is” no other appropriate name. Please continue your narrative, and exhibit not to me by such disser tations as these, your “merciless na ture.” ? - . “Barrington, I will, I do not blame you for your condemnation in your pas sion. You know not what- you do or say.” With force and coolness the in ventor/continued — “We gave- the model her first trial; it proved successful, or fairly so, I will say, and we commenced work on an aeroplane capable of hold ing, two. There was no reliable steer ing apparatus -for the. machine as yet, and while- we. were engaged upon the construction I decided to attempt to manufacture one.” . . .. “I will not dwell any more upon this portion of my” .tale; but will- content myself by saying that when several months from the time that we ,had commenced our -work had elapsed, we. were prepared to give the ? machine ;her- first trial.” ? ? : . ? . “Was the rudder an efficient one?” I asked. . ? j “It wasn't as gojd as I expected,” ?returned Ratazzini; “but the impa tience of Desmbndi would not allow, me time to experiment.” : * “Had you any critics- visiting you during the time the aeroplane was “be-” ing constructed?” I inquired,, laughing ly. ?;?? -? “ ; ?- ?;. ??» . ? “No,” responded the scientist,” irrita bly. He seemed, to dislike .my (feeble?) attempts at a joke. ? ? “ ? “But speaking in reference to ,the aeroplane,” he went on— — ? “; . “You had a fair one,” interposed Lerdini. . -.', “A fair what? An aeroplane, do you. mean?” I asked. “No, no!” returned Lerdini, “a fair critic.” : , “Ha!” Ratazzini said, “if; you were attempting to spoil your story com pletely, please continue.” “Very well,” answered the Inventor, sadly. “I had intended to pass over a certain portion of my story. I was foolish, however,” because the tale would not have been worth relating without. Now you shall hear all. As Lerdini remarks, we had a fair critic in the person of Constance Varlerania. She frequently visited us— almost every Jay — and her criticism of the aeroplane was always one which would delight me.” “Didn't the Colonel ever favor you with his estimable presence?” ??? “Occasionally,” returned Lerdini, bp fore Ratazzini had time to reply, “but most of his time was occupied in de vising “a scheme whereby he might punish a small boy, who, ho alleged, had stolen one of his chickens, and next Say had deliberately held a picnic on his (the Colonel's) estate and dined off thes said stolen bird. The Colonel Fix this texthad such a mania on poultry,” con tinued Lerdini, “that he always mas queraded as a chicken at fancy-dress balls. A corpulent bird ? -” “Nonsense,” interrupted Ratazzini; “don't listen to this ridiculous talk of Lerdini's.” “ “No wise men do.” “Well, go on, Ratazzini,” said I. But, hold, you have not told me anything concerning Constance's personal ap pearance.” “ (To Ije Continiie-d r.c::t -Saturday.)

(1909/06/19 Winter)

'I can't tell you much,” began” the inventor. , , ,, v” Why?'. I inquired laconically.', [“ 7 “Because he doesn't wish to!” inter-, posed? Lerdini. ;1 - “J, “Right!” commented “Ratazzini, and, he continued. “She was a tall, slimly-,; built young lady, apoui 21 years “of; age, dark complexloned, possessing n\ mass of jet black hair, which she al-^ lowed to fall loosely over her graceful^ shoulders. / She of all women had no, regard for -the curling- tongs. As. for” character, it is difficult to sum up her; many noble traits. Constance pos-', sessea a resolution with which few, men even are endowed. Yet I think I; can appropriately acquaint you with'- her- character by describing to you her1 eyes, as they seemed to me, at least.” Out of those rather large but sad and sparkling orbs she seemed to throw a* wealth of, the sympathy and .sincerity * which, her excessively passionate nature boasted of. , “ , “A peculiar, but” an “attractive, de-* scriptioni'! I, remarked. “ * “But “surely, Ratazzini,” I remarked,” “yon will supply me with further i'n foTmation concerning1 Constance?'. ? “What more is needed?” he queried. “A fuller description,” “said I. - “She was tall'and well formed; her dark face was typical. of the Italian; her aquiline nose and the well-formed mouth, that enclosed a set of teeth pearly in their whiteness, .and the as set “in my opinion, uncommon with women, a strong, firmly-moulded chin (expressive of resolution) “ completed her appearance. In dress she gene rally was extravagant. For myself, I believe that” a woman attired simply presents. a mpre i fascinating , appear ance than a gorgeously pressed, dame. The one” fault -with Constance was, however, that she loved brilliancy as regards attire. I thave seen* her at times literally ablaze with, diamonds, “and I have remonstrated, “ but she proudly proclaimed her right to act as she pleased.” ? ?” | “Oh,” I “murmured, and thought of the contrast this lady''presented to my Eveleen. . , “Her attainments were . numerous,” continued the x scientist, “though, strange to say, she In one respect “dif fered immensely from the natives of our own sunny land.” “What was that, Ratazzini?'. “Patience! I am about to tell you: She, regally .cared little for music. She :ould perform on several musical In struments, no doubt, but she never de sired to do so unless strongly “urged, and then only mechanically did she play. But, despite this fact, she loved,” lay, adored, art and literature. Her paintings v/ere sublime. They were,” In fact, human (if by using such “a peculiar term I can convey to you 3ome idea of their merit). Countless” hours were, spent upon this pursuit,” and the results were, in my opinion,” ample recompense for the efforts put forth.” “And literature?',” I asked. “She. herself,” answered the inventor, “was a poetess. By this I mean she was the authoress of numerous ooenfe. Passionate, soul-stirring compositions they were. indeed.” , _ “What else could they be?” I an-_ swered, “if the authoress were, such a being as you represent her to be. But, Ratazzini,” I entreated,, .'tell me something further of her father, for you must t remember that you passed yery lightly -over. him before, and I am sure he is deserving of some mention as. the father of your affianced bride. “Well,” replied the inventor, “I have not much to say.” “ As'yo'u already are aware, he was chief; of “the Italian Police; he hadtheld this position now for about twenty years. His was, III— deed an important office, as I” after- wards found out to my sorrow. Al most everything to the endorsing of the pass-ports rested with him. Let it, however, suffice to say of Giovanni Varlerania that he was: a conscien tious, Just, .gentleman,; and,- on the whole, a worthy father of such a young lady as Constance.” “5Proceed,',rT murmured. “X-lw,'; enthused the inventor, “allow me to inform you as “to the condition of my love affairs.- “You have ..'been told that for ii considerable time Con stance and myself were constantly in each -other's society. ? Somehow- ^we both appeared to understand that, thou-jh no formal proposal in regard, to our union-had been made, that our -marriage” was- only “a question; Of time.” Fix this text'Oh; T sen.” said I; “but was her father really- aware of your attachment; to his daughter.- Ratazzini?” “Well,'- replied the inventor, “if he had noticed it-be made absolutely no comment whatever.”

(1909/06/26 Winter)

'Had Desmond! any” sweetheart, Mertio?” I asked, desiring to urge the inventor to further allude to'Alooya, for I had noticed that he toad refrained from doing so of late'. “1 am coins to speak of -Ms : affairs directly,” the inventor informed me; “but allow me first to conclude what I had intended to observe concerning Constance and myself. “ Of late .visits ?were ?diurnally exchanged between -us,” commenced Eatazzini. “.Oftentimes Constarae would invrte Desmondl and myself to pass the evening- at her home. There we would while away fhe happy few hours which, in her pre sence seemed to fleet ajway Jlke mo ments. At other times we would jour ney .to the house of friends, iparticu -larly to the colonel's residence. lately I noticed that I was an horrorej. snest in the homes of aH my acquaintances, ?for in some -manner known only to news-seekers, scandalmongers, and gossiips, a few persons ted discovered that I was ? occupied with some -un- ?heard of contrivance, which 5n their opinion would: assuredly make me famous. I was now completely satis fled “With my iot on earth. The inven tion -.promised to he successful, and bid fair, I .believed, to revolutionise the world. Again my love affairs gave in dications of terminating happily, and .to the mutual benefit of Constance and mysolf. I “had also true friends— as I imagined— and you should know, BaT riwstcm, that they are invaluable as sets indeed. In short, I was. “inde- scribably happy. My life was now a period of ineffable felicity, wholly un marred toy the appearance on the hori zon of my destiny of any -resemblance to “trouble. I appreciated my happdness, and I heartily thanked for it my Creator, by whom; the gift was “.be- stowed. In. my ?estimation, Barrington, my friend, there is in everyyman's life a period at b-liss and a time of sorrow. \V*en one season of the year has_ex pired another is ushered -in. It is similar with the earthly . .probation of a human” toeing. As_we gaze longingly after our prosperity, the visitor de parting from our life, we experience an Indefinable sense, of melancholy.-which is encouraged by the knowledge that ere the erstwhile tenant of our exist ence has well departed from our door, his place must be filled ,by grim, re pulsive, awe-inspiring adversity. “We sigh at the latter's coming, for too well are we” aware of ^the fact that when ever; he has “g-ataed a firm hold upon our fate he will yield the right of possessing us to no one. Prosperity awaits. Des tiny will- allow him to uplift 1 our droop ing spirits if we will It Buit this is ?well-nigh impossible, for the presence of the stern, . harsh, defiant Adversity cowes us into submission. Then, un conscious of our every action, out spirit ?broken, crushed, by the heavy oppres sion of the “possessor of our being, -we pay no heed to the overtures of Pros perity, -who attempts iby “ his smile to break the armor of brutish indiffer ence to which Adversity has ? enclosed the most sensitive of our -feelings, but, careless of all things, additionally weakened iby ? the aid of. Adversity's twin brother, Despair, we remain for the Test of our Jives awaiting to min gled hope and fear the arrival of him whose power It Is to quell our pas sions, hatreds, our Jove, and all th« ? ?feelings that it is the -lott of human “beings to possess; of him at whose approach the grim, relentless Adver sity relvmpi'iahes his hold over- our Irves, of “him. at -whose appearance fJ» miserable spirit queller Despair de parts, of him at whose coming” th« punny-hearted, smfMng Prosperity va- . cates his throne; for tls fcrua ? (Prosperity, our greater beae-i', ifactor, flies, “vanishes at ther sight of the SnexoraWe, trtm-wffleil, flinty-hearted old intruder— ?DearEb.r* : “Merllo, Merldo!” I cried .passionate ly, “are you human ? Are you flesh- and Wood? Oh, tell me I tell me! Such, a speech, such a description of the exist* ence of a human toeing! Can fit ^ja given by one of themselves? It'5slm- ? possible. I knew you werean extraor dinary creature. I believed you In my secret heart the greatest member of your race alive; but I have now oon- ? eluded that you” are .worthy of a greater Fix this textworld than ours Tell me, is it so;i could anyone with such passionate tit- “ terances describe so graphically as. yon have done the .life of a mortal? Ithinlc not— nay,- I am sure they could not! aierlio! Merlio!” I continued, “my. ad- miration of you has turned to -lov«; ,nay, to adoration. Oh! I am thrice ?proud to claim you as a friend.” , (To be continned next Saturday).

(1909/07/03 Winter)

Before I was aware of what I was really doing in tho exuberance of my! admiration, I had rushed forward and thrown my “arms around the inventor's neck. In such a manner did I express I my singular appreciation o£ genius. As for Ratazzlnl at this display on my part of my feelings, that steel-nerved man almost broke down. “My firlend,” he cried, “you over whelm me. I can stand this no longer.” Gently releasing: my arms, ho hurried from ithc apartment, and en tenlng the maclrtoe-room locked- the door behind him. Even Mierilo Ra tazaln-l was ovenpowered by such a display. A few days later I again prevailed upon tho inventor ito continue ihls nar raSvc, “Well,” said ho, “I at leasttti saw that it was “necessary for me to con sult the father of Com^to-TOO concerning our mawlage.. HLs reply was In keep ing with -his character. “If my daujjh. tor,” he “remarked, bluntly, .'sees fit to unite herself to you, T wMl no,t oppose her wish, providing you.coaa.uot your self honomb'ly between this time ana that of the approaching ceremony. Though you are not the type of indi vidual that I would oh'cme as my daughter's -partner in, life, I have decid ed to utudy her happllmeas “before wimt you may town my own “prejudices, and allow her to wed you, but,” h& con cluded, “in tho -mean-tone, young man, seo that jy-u .preserve a good name, for before uniting my daughter to a per son who has disgraced himself I would rather soa-her lying to ivssv oofiln. The marriage waa appointed to take ?place a year honce. If possibto I was happier than ever. However, I noticed that of late Desmond! had grown moody, surly, and restless. I comid assign no reason for his being In such a state. Having questioned him and recDl'Vln-s no satisfactory reply, I con cluded that -this was but a repetition of one at similar but not so lengthy fits imto which ,ho used occasionally re lapse at college. SUM, I cannot say that Dosmondl was less obliging than before. Everything in hla power he did. He was Constance's principal attendant. Ho seemed to guess that ?by being kind to Constance he could servo one .batter than by even studying my own wants. My affianced bride seemed also to appreciate his services. Desmond! continued dn this peculiar state for some time, at the.end -yf which his spirits became depressed In such a degree that he almost disliked holding any communication with -me. Now, tho only toeing for whom he deslrod to exist was Constance. Ho scorned1 “loth to quit her society. Still, however, I noticed that my sweetheart did not ?appear totreat him in the same mannor as hereofore. Once I was accustomed to observe, I must own, with a certain degree of jealousy, that when taking her departure my bride-to-be would never omit to -iuit tho society of Des mondl without a warm handshake. Now all weis changed, Desmond! was more atentlve-than.-over, “but Constance with a coldness that was .truly strange would abruptly depart whenever he evinced a desire to converse -with hesr. Desrnmdi'jj conduct toecamo so peculiar that I was determined to ?keep hkn under my notice. However, my resolve -was eoon forgotten In the excitement of preparing for a grand— what you Englishmen call fancy dress — ball, “which was shortly to oventuate. Constance was In an- ecstacy of expec tation and exeitoment in anticipation of tills event. The appointed night eventually arrived. Constance, Das tmondi, .'uvd -my.aelf, acconvpan-led by the co land ? “ “^Vho, us on every other action, re presented a ?chicken,” broke In iLor ?d-lnl. “Well,” comracarccd RatazSni, ignor ing tho lntunrnption, “we soon arrived at tho ballroom, which was situated a short distance away In tho vtJllago. However, towards tho end of the night I made a discovery that has, I bolieve, materially changed- tho whole course- of -my lite. OhVTndns1 to stroll past one of tho anto-room.s during an Interval, I thought I heard ComstanceV? voice, Out of mero curlosJty 1 paused a minute, and Immediately the voice ot Desrmondl smote my ears. His first sentence, though scarcely “ audible, struck mo as peculiar. The room waa a fairly -large one. Cautiously I crept in through the partly-closed door and ensconced myself behind a temporary screen that stood by the wall, and which was only a few feet on tho left of tho entrance. Tho room was poorly lighted, and I stood a small chance of foo'lng detected, for tho couple (Des mondl and Constance) sat In the corner of the room, opposite to where Fix this text1 was effectually screened from ob servatlon.” “Did you ascertain their position and make sure of the (Identity of tho ipalr before you entered?” I queried, “Certainly,” answored the Inventor, and continued: “Now, Desmondl be-'j gan to speak a'gain. ?Constance,1” sa'ld ho, for I will cafll you Constance, I love you, I adore you.” Well do I know that when I supply you with certain ?information you w;lll gladly reject (Ratazzlnl.1 “ “ “Begone, sir,” sho said. “I -will hoar noth'lnig said against my .MerHo,” “Here she made a movement as if to depart, “ “Hear me, Constance, for a tntautfl, and you will too convinced.” .” ; ?'? (To “be OoottnucfL)

(1909/07/10 Winter)

'©lith-er curiosity got tho better of my sweetheart, or something In Dea momdl's manner overcame her, for she reluctantly resumed her seat. . “'Listen,1 said Desmondl, ? and he proceed'ed: If it were for nothing else, idear Constance, I could love you for your innocence. You have tapTlclt felth in Ratazzini now; in a moment you will ecor-n him. Of late he has made several exeurstans to Home. Do you know why hedld.BO?” “ “Js'o, nor I never asked,” sho re plied. “'Poor Cons'tance,” pursued Das. mondl'; °but I will be brief. Ra'tazzinl,” said he, “Speaking deliberately, he .pos sesses no regard for you whatever. He journeys to Jtoma for tho purpose of vteWftvg his reM sweetheart. He. doesn't caTe for you; : ho merely wishes to make you his unconscious tool. , The despicable, faithless .wretch. Con stance, my dear, S. am about to explain all to you, but” tle^t me ask you now to accept me,” and reject, “spurn, that faithless, lying, wi etched sooun-: drel Ratazzini.” ; ? ?? ?? “I'll not believe it,” she protested vehemently. “ ? -?''? “JfWWt,” said he, continuing, ;'-the ?wretch; were “ he here now “ I would force him to confess his perfidy In your presence,” “ r I could stand this no longer. “Do so,” I cried, emerging f*om my con cealment, ??''?.'. “ ! “^Oih,” .cried Constance, “Merllo, my love,” and collapsed. -Desmond! was amazed. Incensed still further, I rushed towards him. “Villain,” I cried, and struck at him with my flst. “-Oh,'I- — -” he (began. But I would hear no more. “Begone,” I crted,''or I will injure you. AtoeaJdy have I disgraced myself toy striking at such a cur as you. Oh, go, go, ever iCrom my sight. I renounce you, I hate you. Another minute dn your jpffe seaice, and I would kill” you.” Here the door was thrown open, and several of the sueate emerged (from the; pas eage and entered the -'room'. .They ?had heard ?tlhe disturbance. I looked at the floor. There was my darllncr lying senseless at my feet, Losing all self-respect and presence of mind I rushed at Desraondl and clutched” at ?his throat.” “You flend dncarnate,” cried I in a frenzy of rage, tightening my grip. “Your vile life shall soon bo at an end. Your death alone will ap pease my anger. Die! brute! die!” But several persons” rushing in aoon separated ois. ? Desmondl was soon hurried away ?from the. room, ma'd with anger. I ?attempted to follow, but the Colonel had restored Constance, hustled us to a conveyance, and drove home. Nothing could, satisfy me but re venge. That miserable being Des mondl wouidi henceforth, I vowed, know no peace on this earth. “Ah, well, Barrlngton, my friend, it Is a peculiar world, for one knows not who” he can trust. That night was tho most miserable I to-rare ever spent.” Constance having1 been driven to her own residence, the Colonel consented to remain with me for the night. Hot headed as he generally is, at this stage he managed to preserve his equili brium. He” advised me. to allow my self time, for cor-^deratlon before I at tempted to revenge myself upon Des mondl, for, as he observed,- since no harm “had been done me the best course to pursue was to allow . the ?matter “to pass Into obilvlon. “Tho wretch,” I thought,'“ I'll have revenge.” “I suppose that, everything consider ed, you regretted, losing your , former frJend, Desraondl?” said I. “Thct's so/\agreed the “inventor, “but I was determined to renounce him for over* But, Bairlagton, fb& wonS grl«^ the greatest trouble, that I had to bear was this Giovanni Varterania, the father of Constance, retossd to admit mo to his bouse again. His daughter was forbidden to Ctalfi any communica- ? tton with ms, and as you will readily j ?conclude, tito engasemmiv inmt-etllffltely cancelled.” “ “Well, now, 1 sec eo rzzssm for entfSi, tactics on the .part of Vsrl-eranJa; diS he offer any?” “Well, yes, its TnairttaJiiefl ©iat I feal dissrraced myself ta a certain nJcsKCi&B “'How?” I demanded abruptly,” “Firstly,” answered £ha inventor, ta- playing the degTa&tos yart that tie, contentled I did in tho itraH-room; ee-«i coitdly, to atteoktag1 Desmcmdl in. &xt, presence of femaJes.” ?! “Well, I wni admit there maycti^Q'i been eomeKi'lns1 tteb mtTlted cen'ijaitj( In s'our action, but for tao fact thsSi Desmond!, -in. acting dn- £ho natunner !ho did, deserved no cont'Mara.tion “ wtettrt ev&r,” , “ “Prec!s6?y-so,” assented1 -the Itroen-toit? “that Is what I remarked ito ho- fathom but he would hear no more, Ofh, I cioll no* forgot that Interview,” ho coa», -ttnued, growing excited as %vas -Ms wont', ; when relating incidents like these; “no, never. Constance's father received ms In *he reception iroom, bade mo elt down', and dn'five minutes, having In iformed m© of tho cooiraa ho intended ito pursue. In regard ,to our f ortlhcomlng marriage, ordered- *ho servant “to show me out,” “What did you an'swer, Ratazzini?” I queried. “For the moment,” said the inventor, “I was stunned, but, realising aH, 1 proudly bowed to Varierania, and walk ed towards the -toor. When half- way I turned, and crl«d, “Were you not the father of my afflanced vriid, I would ask, nay demand, satisfaction of you/ “ Varierania bowed, at the same time murmuring in a low voice, “Slgnor Ratazzini, my belnff the father ol Constance, there is greater reason that I should give you aatlsfactlon, and should you desire It, do not hestltate, but a©k it, and you will hate no need to complain of my answer.” I was yoning then, and hot-headed, and I (gazed on the stern face of that brave old man, whose brow waa clouded with an awe-inspiring frown, and whose lips were set in a sarcastic yet determined smile. I could not but admire his pride, courage and resolu tion, He was really angry, I could” well Fix this textperceive, but his own coolness would1 ?not permit of his showing it. However, my passion overpowered me, “.Signer,” I cried, In a voice rendered strange and hoarse by. anger. “S'lgitor, if you aro willing, as you say, to grant It, 1 immediately ,demand satis faction.” “ “All is well/” replied1” the old man, and now he added: “Will you Jravo the goodness to favor me toy tatelng you* departure.” ? (To be continued.)

(1909/07/17 Winter)

I rushed frota the house, jpaasion. bringing tears to my eyes. Soon, after my arrival home I received a note con taining particulars re the duel. Hav ing both secured seconds, wo deolded that the contest should eventuate on the morrow. After I had; ? somewhat cooled down I began to ponder upon what had transpired during the past f ow hoirrs. Had Constance .. who, as you should know, was ill as the result of her recent experience at the ball, been present, I could never have “ad- dressed hor father as I did. “ Now, in my sane moments, I deeply regretted my folly. As I mused upon the events that had lately transpired, a peculiar senae of loneliness seemed to come -, over me, My parents, miy loving parents, if they wove” alive thought I, what would be their opinion of my action. My gentio motherl I could almost imagine now that I saw her entreating me to forglvo my enemy, and not seek to shed his blood. Then I thought of my. father. What would ho have said— “Merllo, my son, In “this world, place duty and “honor bclfore everything.” Then I thought of my late friend Desmond!. His advice would haveV|been, “Revenge “.by all means.” Now I remembered I could appeal to no one. The Colonel I had already questioned concerning .the matt&r, for he I had chosen ns ono of -my seconds. What was his advice. It was counsel ?something similar to that my father would ihave given me, “My. friend,” he said,, “I leave you. to do what your con. science may prompt, but above all I advise you to preserve your: honor un tarnished.” Fiery as that old gentle man was, In his quiet moods ho offered sound advice Indeed. “Quietness was little known to him, I fear,” remarked L&rdlnl.:” ? . “Now,” said Ratazzlnl, “now It was that I deeply, felt the want of. trlonda. and advisers. But still the thing that most disturbed mo w«* a dream I ihnA that nisiht. I I thought that I was roaming In what really seemed to be a space enclosed by clouds, I appeared .myself to be standing upon a similar surface, In which my feet sunk and rose at every step. “Walking seemed to me; at that moment” to be delightful; In/'tfront of me for .what I estimated a hundred yards” dlstflrice all looked -to ?bo the same, merely space enclosed by cloud. Suddenly a mist descended. I found myself being: propelled through the air by an unseen power, and then I was gently forced into a kneeling postume. Now, in the en closniro were e series of seats, com posed -ot some dull, yellow, metal. Thoy wore arranged in tiers; ?. J: The distance between each of these .tiers was a couple of feet, nnd the space between each separate seat (for each was only “capable of holding one) -the same. Suddenly lights gleamed brightly from numerous parts of the cloud, and the dull metal of which the seats were composed began to glitter so brightly as to almost blind one. Then nume rous voices could be heard staging in the distance — their equal in sweetness I had never heard before. The sing ing grew louder, and Instantly a great ball of liirht leant from the mass of clouds, and fell Intact at the foot of the dais that was situated at the far thest end of the- enclosure. Tho sur face, upon which I. stood, now gradu ally commenced to change its form. I closed my ©yes, for some unseen power seemed to compel me to do so, and when I opened them beheld no cloud whatever tout an unbroken wall of what appeared solid gold. At in tervals gems of dazzling brightness shone forth. The colors of them were such as I had never before beheld. Truly the scene was a beautiful one. I waited, awe struck, for a few se conds, and then found myself in inky darkness. The music was hushed for a moment, so that it could be scarcely heard. Then a gentle tore,eze fllted.'so it seemed, with fragrance, which, was no less heavenly in my opinion, fanned my face.” “It had begun to gull me,_to repose, when the cessation of the music caused me to raise my head. In stantly, out of the intense dark ness, there floated a cloud whiter than the purest snow. Strange to say It only IMumtaed tho space in wMch ?It floated. The face” of the clowd was gently wafted away. Again all be come darkness, and, then in the same position in- which it had” been there op ipeared a torn ©nvetopad In mist. All around now. was impenetrable gloom. The form slowly became more distinct, and turned towards me. It was dotihed In a robe of light— Mght so ibrllldant that I. was forced to turn my eyes for a time. . Opening them, I perceived my riads of forked .tonpues of flame of varioiuis colors “shtfot forth in the dark ness, A rumbling sound as of thunder was (heard; for a second the figure was rendered ilnvlslble by the descant of what appeared to be a ball of sparkling ?©liver. “This bal fen near the niais, and began to suddenly dteso'lve. The whole surface in this “parttouiar portion of the en-closure seemed a- mass of llq.uid metal. The .ball of light that I before ?described oia failing at the foot of the throne seemed to also take a Hqu'i'i form, and “Menwng its color with that of ithe silver, transformed the sur face near 4he dais Into a soft sheet of colored llgplrt, Tho former “brOMaajcy had been imelKnved -by the eecomi in fluence brought forth, and formed a surface far more entraraelns1 tfhwn be fore. Then al was onci© more Ulumln ated, and the iorm slowly descended, and gracefully seated itself upon the dais prepared, It was only now ?tihat I obtained a perfect view of dts coun tenance. The body was similar to that of a man, But, ohl as the mouth relaxed somewhat I obtained a view of a set of teeifch pearly to their whiteness. Out of tho eyes he sent forth a sympa thetic, blissful, and. tender expression, ?the like of which I have never beheld. Suddenly toe raised his hanA A host of forms enveloped In light entered, and tool?, their seafcs, at the sign from the Master, after “they (had .prostrated th'amisdves. Then In a voice whose ?eoftoess I fatted to describe tho en throned anonaroto (for I allude to him as mo ono else), articulated the ?word “No.'. Then a woman rose from her seat and .knet-t before the throno. I was surprised beyond description” to re cognise any mother. Long awd ear nestly I heard her plead, for me with toer master. The whole time she was speaking the only “expression” on his ooumtenance was one of divine imlldness and itondernesB. Eventually the .mon arch made a sign, and the apartment was once more plunged “Into darkness. Still .tlbe forms of all could Ibe distinctly perceived. .My mother produced a itaper, and murmured to her master tfhat if it were extingudshed within a minute her son/e ttfe wouJd toe at an end. “Oh, spare .'t, my master,” she mur mured; “spare his life.” The monarch tenderly smiled an assent. On gazing more “ Intently at the candle, I was struck with wonder at what I per ceived. There in the midst of the flame I could clearly discern my own self. -My attire, my appearance, every thing, appeared earthly, it seemed as if I was gazing into a mirror, eo exact in every detail was this dmage of my self. The countenance j of this, my image, wore a troubled look, As I v;as contemplating my portrait my mother suddenly pointed to a spot above the candle, and in accents of anguish cried, “Master, master, spare him. Danger threatens him! Oh, save him!” .. ? I The Monarch nodded, as If he were “ aware of everything.. Raising my eyes, | I gazed In the direction In which my j mother .had pointed, ,^Iy horror was! unspeakable. There directly above the candlo flame was a shadowy form, After a moment's scrutiny I recognised in It to my Inexpressible amazo my cnomy, Giovanni “Varleranla. Soon the figure became more plainly outlined; then I perceived that If* carried a sword. The figure's eyes evidently dis covered me, for, with a glance burden ed with malfgnance, the figure raised tho sword above its head, It''paused a moment, during which Its whole coun tenance changed. “Now its facial ex pression was no less than diabolical. The eyes from a sober grey had turned red as blood. Tho lids were wrapped In a blue sulphurdus smoke. Thecrea ture rolled Its eyes In a horrible man ner, the lids seeming only to mjcloso orbs whoso appearance I can only des cribe by terming thorn small balls of seml-solldtfled blood. Tho mouth of th« creature was horribly distorted, and was ofreaod dn such a manner as to eatttfMt » wt ot testS'that. almost Wind ed me by their unnatural brilliancy. The expression of the countenance was one of grinning mallgnanco. After having gazed at me for a short time the form lowered its sword, then sum moning as it appeared. all the strength at its command, it raised the weapon, which was now wholly enveloped in a flame of unearthly hue, thrice waved It above its head, lunged twice as if at an imaginary foe and faded away. Meanwhile the flame of the candle, when the form had commenced to flourish the sword, suddenly flickered, and would Immediately have been ex tinguished by the breeze, wlilch the passage of the weapon through the air had created, had not the monarch im mediately placed his band before It to shield it from the draught. . When the form had disappeared the Monarch raised his hand, and the flame instantly strove to burn as brightly as before. But'all its former” brilliance had, de parted, and several times but for the ?Intervention of the Monarch It would have gone out. But directly the master had withdrawn his hand my image was again visible. But now, how I shrank at its appearance. . The Image had assumed a reclining position, and the head was supported by two men, whose countenances were so enveloped in shadow that It was impossible to recognise them. 3 appeared very weak, and a third person soon arrived* with something that “looked like a roll of bandage. This caused me to examine my image more closely. “Then to my horror I perceived that one of its hands was placed across its chest. There, sure enough, too, I could perceive the blood streaming down its waistcoast, which was already almost” saturated. Also (from the right shoulder a stream of the same red liquid trickled. By its aide lay a rapier, the Wit of which possessed the same crimson stain that was visible upon the waist coat. An expression which bore worlds of anguish was perceptible on the countenance of my wounded self. With a smile of tender pity, the Monarch gazed Intently Into the flame. “Oh! Ohl Will he survive, my mas ter, my. all?” .cried my mother. I was afraid to listen to the Monarch's answer. But, he spoke not a word; he Inclined his head sightly, an expression of pity overspread his coun tenance. But whether he intended to convey to my “mother a reply in the negative or affirmative I do not know. My mother murmured something in re ply, but her voice was drowned by a fiendish chuckle, and in its former posi tion appeared the shadowy ??, form of Varlerania, flourishing a -sword that dripped with blood. He broke Into a second burst of horrible earplerclng laughter. , Another form, came Into view by the side of Varleranla. The countenance was distorted by an expression of in definable hatred. To my horror I re cognised Desmondl. . He beckoned to me, and some unseen power compelled me to approach him. Suddenly I felt myself forcibly detained from proceed ing farther, and not a second too soon, for there Immediately in front of me yawned an awful abyss. I gazed be low with horror. There, far beneath me, I beheld numerous serpents, who lifted their eyes towards mine. So awful a fascination did their fearful glance possess that I felt myself slowly slipping forward “into the abyss. A host of the most loathesome animate that I have ever beheld crouched open anouthed below, as If waiting to receive me. The bodies of these creatures were enveloped in flame. From their cavern ous mouths they ejected volumes of fire. ... But even when I felt all was lost, for I felt myself gradually descending lcto the pit, even when the monsters j below, fully realising that their prey was certain, were wrangling with ono another for Its possession, I was gently raised, and in an instant found myself upon firm ground. I looked round to behold my de liverer. There, smiling tenderly upon me, with his hands upraised as if to bless me, I beheld— the Monarch. Fix this text'Oh, how I am indebted to you,” I murmured. “Thanks, master, thanks.” “All I do through my love for thee and thy fellow beings,” he murmured softly; but then added, “Beware! Be hold!” I gazed in the direction in which he pointed, and beheld Varlerania, his ?face still bearing the same awful ex pression,, eagerly kissing the bloody sword and greedily drinking the crim son drops that fell from it. jOesm-hdi stood with his foot upon the hef.-” of a girl I rec.gnlsed as my Con»mnec, he held a scnll in his Una, on Which were words written in letters of ttr -. (To be continued.)

(1909/07/24 Winter)
MSoon I shall triumph, for I w-lll not again fall. Prepare to meet thy death In company with thy love. It will not be long delayed.' Amid shrieks of demoniacal laughter ithe tiwo forms vanished, anil I awoke. In the morning1 I related mydreiam to the Colonel, for I was much dlstorfced toy what I had witnessed. \He was a matter-of-ifact man, the Colonel, and kimgihed away my fears. - 'Quito rlgfot, too,' I commented; 'it Is unaccountable that a man of your stamp should be so inordinately super* stltlous. iB'Ut, cutter all, it 1b tho naturo of your countrymen, I (believe.' MA majority of thorn,' _ replied the Inventor. 'But to continue. At the appolntoi hour we drovo to the spot wlrere the ?duel waa appointed to take place. It was a sheltered thicket on the estate of Varleranla. On our arrival wo dis covered that Varleranla and his seconds had already reached the rendezvous, Bonding stiffly, the tether of Constance inquired whether It was my pleasure that we should begin Im mediately. I assented, and the seconds I began to make the necessary.- arrange- ments, Presently everything was complete^ the word -was ,-giyon; »w»e crossed swords, and tne -duel commenced. For a little time' the light was a vory uncertain one, forjn'elther seemed to gain tUe'.'^ad^antase. fSjy ''nerves'' -were #' jar '?'£ from steady., for niy dream £f the i bieyldUs; ivfght-had, Indeed, considerably lijiset m«.; However, .what advan^se'I 'Jiad lo'sf on this account was In a measure les soned by the fierce hate that I. bore Varleranla. ? ?-,? ? '';'
''-:''r't 'Soon wo warmed to the contest, and now' the fighting beoJtme'Vfa'ry'flercer than before. ' Every trick T'had ever learnt I tried upon Varloranla without avail. The thicket rung with the echoes of clashing steel. . ' *:' .,-? ' . ,. ;['?' 'At last the; climax 'came. Pressing Varleranla fiercely, I lunged .suddenly, and, contriving to break through his guard, Inflicted a slight wound In his chest. ' '? , .;? ? . . 'j 'As hje' felt the 'point ofvmy sworl, Varlarania winced slightly, but Instant ly recovered his composure. I again made several efforts to* beat down his guard, but that seemed well-nigh im possible. So exasperated had I now become I would have slain my oppo nent without compunction.' Blinded' by futiy, I rushed quickly forward;' 'ancl made a furious thrust at'-thc old man's heart. It was parried, however, and before T could recover myself. I re ceived a nasty wound ', In, iny. .sword arm. Lowering, .his ..'sword- Varleranja asked If, since. I was disabled, my honor was vindicated. His politely sar castic toneB aroused my. anger. -;- ? 'No! I cried; I have yet another hand,' which shall guide my sword, to your vile heart, you viper.' - ?' ' . 'Very well, young man, we;will cori tlnue. If you wish,' returned. Varler anla^ coolly, although I could percetye that he was wild :,wlth anger. j ''It seems peculiar that you are suo'h a ? paragon of self-possession, Rataz zini,' I remarked... ' ' i ..'I' learnt by bitter experience the value of coolness, and cultivated that quality,' answered the inventor, and continued, 'Well, immediately the ftght recommenced, and again I pressed Varleranla closely. My .own wound was bleeding profusely, and already the bandage was becoming saturated with my iblood.' , ? ' 'How, did you rcome to -be 'bandaged, Rat&zztnl;,?' I asked. ' : 'You see,' answered the inventor, 'after I had been wounded in the sword arm, ol'd Varleranla lowered his weapon and asked it I was satisfied. When I repiled In tfiio negattve, the op. portunlty was tak&n; to attend to our wounds.'. 'It ciften etrfkes me, 'Ra-tazzini,' I re. marked, 'that you have a raost wonder, ful raemory, for even the slightest de tails dp not seem to escape your memory.' ' ' ? ' '. ! ? ? ; ? : 'You', are not the first 'thalt' .has re marked itoat,' replied ' .the Inventor proudly, 'for in my iblrthplace and at' college I was noted for my exception ally retentive memory. The principal himself when ? I attended- school in formed' me '.'that he had come, in contact witK many lads, but he' had never en countered one that possessed, receptive powers so remarkable as mine. And Barrlhgtori,' added , the inVehtor, 'there are Jncitien'ts In on«'a life that 'he can not ibut'rememb'er. ' But I will say that my imemory is a sourco. of pride.' 'Let me continue, however. Valer aln'la's wounds bled but .slightly, and did hot a.ppea'r to hinder his movements in any degree whatsoever. Anger, how ever, soon completely overmastered me, and as before I rushed forward, deter mined to bury my sword in the heart of my antagonist. . As I lunged I saw a self-satisfied smile overspread the countenance of Varleranla. Thinking that he was contemplating some ruse,. I hurriedly drew .my blade back. Nor was It too soon. More by afecldent than design .my sword met w ' opponent's, and forced it partly aside,' ' But'lt wa3 impossible to wholly avert catastrophe, and in an Instant I found myself stretched upon tho ground with a couple of Inches of steel in my shoulder,. Ttoe-blow, i ie^t sure, had, been aimed lor my. heart, by the merest accident it was, that it failed, to reacH' its destina tion.
'How true that dream seemed to me mow? Lsaning over me Varleranla asked quietly: ? ?-???? 'Are you satisfied?' , 'Death alone will silence me,' I cried, and grasping, my weapon I staggerei tp my feet. 'Guard yourself, Slgnor, guard.' 'Varleranla acting on my suggestion, Immediately (placed himself on guard. I must have presented a fearful spec tado then, for tho uubandagod wound in my shoulder bled fiercely, and my face and hands wero stained with blood. I staggered to the attack. 'No, you shall not,' cried tho Colonel, stepping between us. 'Morllo, you will be killed immediately! It Is useless for you to act in that manner. You 'can- not throw your llfo away thus. ' it you etlll desire satisfaction,! will act aa your representative, but flght you shall not.' I pustted tb© Colonel asfcte, and pushed again towards VaTleraniru Hta ©yes flashed tire; his coolness oven seomed to toavo vanished. 'You younfiTTsptile,' ho hissed; 'You shall not escape mo again.' 1 plainly 'pcrcetTrd him praporlnirto thrust, nnd mttxlo r-;ady for clefonw, Tho Colonel appeared to bo consult ing with ono of VarJ&i;'aala a sooondg as to the advisability of e impelling us to desist, for I causkt a couple of words of their discourse, when Varler anla had finished speaking. To my shante, I now confess that I was forced to (partly yield ground to Var leranla. I knew that a couple of minutes would end t&e; struggle — cer- tainly not in. my favor. As these thoughts passed through ray mind, and as I was being preMod still further backwards, I heard an agonising scream, and Immediately a female flgiure emerged from tho shelter of the trees, and before elth«r of us couldspeak had rushed between us. In stantly I recognised my affianced bride, Constance, ' ? ; Wo both k-wer,ed ottT swords. 1 sup p;iKfi that stoce -I had been' wounded tho second time, '.I had not been flgntlrig more than a minute. Yet 1t seemed ^a1 ycir of agony. At the sight of Con stnn'ce I sank t© JShe.Brouud. ,:. ' 'Girl, what brtaiHB you here.; Who Informed you as.'to.my whereabouts?' 'Oh, father, d» iati Mame him. .Will ? ... ??*.!*. ??? ,0 ^ ?'
'.. . : '?'- ? : ' j ; . ?you promise mo that, for I almost fore, cd.hlm to tell?' . ? , ' ('Weli,';whb was it? I niay forglVB him?' answered Varleranla. , 'It was Pangona, y.our confidential secretary//.,' gald she,..- Jl- saw you.;.take yoiir'sword and depart.; Soon after I ?sought Pang'ona, and?implored him? to 'tell me where, you were^golnff, and':why, He, 'after ''some time/; told me the whole story of y.our quarrel with my love, ilerllo.' * : . ? ; 'She didn't know of that, then?'1 I asked. ? ? , , '?i, 'No, I told you s'o before,' answer ed the inventor. ?' -' ' . ?? ? ??' Constance then, continuing', told her father how she ran to tho spot. 'For,' said she, 'I was dgtermined .t.o save my, Merllo.'
...'..-?'??'?'? Varleranla heard her out' In silence.' When she had finished, he Bald: 'Now, seeing that your father has quarrelled with y.our lover,. And now that he. for- bids you to even address'hlm, will you renounce him for-eyer— will you dis own him, or will you disobey your father?' ,,? :\ ?
'Father! Father!' cried Constance, 'you are cruel, top cruel; why do you act thus? Forgive him, forgive him.1' '.'Constance, well . do you . know ' that I never forgive— for I regard that as cowardly, so why do ???. you' waste words by asking me to do so? Speak, girl, speak; who will you renounce— your father or your lover?' . / , ' . At these words Constance raised her .head (she was not weeping now), ;and regarded her father steadfastly for; a few moments. The 'old man hlmseif .steadily returned 'her glance;.' . .'Speak,' he cried again;
'who will you renounce, your father or ? your lover?', . ? The face of . 'the girl, wore a. defiant expression, as she commenced to speak.
'Dearest.'father,' said she slowly and with emotion, 'I have. Just been think ing whether poor mother, if she were alive, would advise me to speak In this way, I feel as If my -heart were being torn to pieces by my affections,' 'Your answer,' interrupted Varler aina, 'be quick, girl:' 'Yes, father,' &he; continued, 'my heart seems to have been lacerated and bruised by my own affections; but still my conscience compels me to speak. You ask me who I will renounce— ^my father or my lover, aiy answer is this: As my affection, and justice itself.'for. bids mo to do so, I will NEVER re ject my lover. And were my very father to advise me to do so, as he has done, I would remain unchanged. By i your own cruelty to your daughter, my father, by your treatment of herlovor, you force me to say this— hoed well, I .will not repeat it twice— consclenco and heaven prompt m.o to remain faith. ful to you; and consclenco and heaven compel me, on account of his own cruelty, to defy my father.' 'Girl, go 'home, or toy heaven I wM slay you,' cried Varleranla, and made as if to strike .the girl. The Colonel Eprang forward, 'Giovanni Varler anla,' he cried, 'though nothing haa occurred to mar our friendship, unless you release your hold of your daughter I will draw my sword ou you.' ' I raised myself on tny elbow. 'Colonel Wellington,' .said 1, 'leave this to me.'' 'Constance,' I continued, 'for your sake.and for mine go home in peace, and became reconciled to your ifather. Promise me,. will you?' 'Merlio. If you command it, though' It -be very trying for me, 1 will do' it.' 'And before her fathor could detain her she rushed towards me and'— and here tho inventor became a little em barrassed. 'And kissed you,' I concluded. He smiled an assent. ?'Barringtoa,' said he, 'I ielt as. If I could 'have gone through a hundred duels such as tills one for suoh- a re ward.' 'DoubWess,' I smiled, 'Then,' continued the inventor, 'at a slsn from mo Constanco slowly de parted lontgtagly casting her eyes to where I lay. My wounds were j-rc- iperly attended to by th-e Colonel, and it was decided that that gentleman should accompany me to ray home in his carriage. ' Varlerlana de-paj-ted (from th'e field soon after his daughter, in forming the Colonel that ho should lie pleased to give me satisfaction Jf ever I should again require it and win his daughter.' (To be continued next Saturday.)

(1909/07/31 Winter)

'After I was conveyed home,” con tinued tho scientist, “I had to imme diately take to my bed. For one month I was not able to rise from it, It was during this time that I com menced to contemplate a trip to -.tho world” for which we are now “bound. During all this trouble the Colcnel rarely left me. There was one thing, however, that served to cheer me more than anvthlnff else did- during; ?my, illness, and that was a visit fro a Constance. One night, about a .wook or more after the duel, she arrived at my home. . Our Interview . .was but , a very short one, for she informed. me that it was only with .great1- difficulty that she: had manage4 to elude the vigilance of her father, and” Bteal froth the house on this— positively her Ia3t visit- she told me sorrowfully. Con stance had In some degree again rein stated herself In “ the good graces ? o! her father. But there . was Indeed unwelcome: information that she hud to impart to me..” Desmondl ? had of late” been seen in the locality, and once she had overheard her father “n iormihg Fangona that if possible Des mnhdl would, yet triumph over tho lover of Constance.” 4'A revengeful man,” I remarked. “This was all” the news that Con stance had to tell, and sho dopartpd, after many protestations of her eter nal regard for the ono whom, as she said, Heaven had singled out to link his life with hers, I was much digusted by tho intelligence that Constance had brought” concern Ing Desmondl. Whero he had gone on the night of the ball, I “know not, .but I was now convinced that he had tawied In the vicinity with the object of yet wreaking a delayed vengeance, But for a few- days after Constance's visit, nothing having troinsplred to arouse alarm, I began to bellevo that after all Desmondl had abandoned the idea of attempting to exact revenge. You should know,” continued the inven tor proudly, “that I did not in the least fear either Desmondl or Varleranla when well, but In tho condition I then was, I was absolutely helpless. A couple d£ weeks wetb soon consumed and I was now on a fair way towards recovery, when an event transpired that caused me a considerable amount of uneasiness. At this tlmo the Colonel was in Rome on business. One morning I was aroused from my sleep “by the entrance of tho father of Lardini. He was wild with excite ment; and it was some tlmo before he could speak, When he did, it was only to relate a very unwelcome oc currence. During tho night the room in which the aeroplane model was kept had been broken into, Tho perpetra tors of the deed, “however, had been unable to break open the safe in which it was stored, but the full-sized construction on which as you know, I had been engaged, was considerably damaged. The ruffians had evidently been disturbed.” “How large was the model, Rata? zlni?” I asked. “About a foot each way,” answered the floientist. “But the machine that “they” damaged when completed would (have been capable of holding a cou “Extremely fortunate for you that you thought of housing the model in the Iron safe.” “The safe was Us accustomed place, for I recognised Its value,” an swered the Inventor. “Proceed,” said I. “Well, knowing that I could not house It dn a safer place, I allowed the model to remain where It was, and appointed on© of the servants to act as guard. The Colonel returned a few days after this event, and was in deed surprised when I related to him what had transpired. But even mow I was not allowed to enjoy peace, for any length of time, for soon after the Colonel's return there arrived an anonymous letter. The wrltor of the missive, I fully believed to bo Des mondl. It was extremely brief, and to the point, tho writer openly accus ing me of being engaged dn construct ing an infernal machine!” “Heavens! man,” I gasped; “your ?troubles appear to havo iio end!” “Also tho anonymoua communicant stated 13iat lio would In a short time ttako step? to Inform tho police unless I “(positively sworo upon my honor aa a gentlonmn that I would sever tho engagement between Con stance and myself. My answer muyt be forwarded at once to tho post oflice. Below was appended In ilnu of the signature tho word “Lonlency.” “What mockery,” I commented. “Of a certainty the writer was Desmond!.” “Undoubtedly,” assented tho in ventor, “and In “this opinion the Colonel concurred. But when I consulted him- as to the advisability of taking1 the opportunity of convincing1 tho au thorities beforehand that 1 was merely constructing an aeroplane, ho la-ughed the Idea to acorn, for ho was suro lie said that tho threat was merely a blind to force me to surrender Con stance. Rather reluctantly, I con sented to accede to the wish of the Colonel and take no heed of tho anony mous communication/ By this time I was almost recovered from my wounds, “but I was “ still extremely weak, how ever, and unable to leave the houso. I had heard nothing from either Var leranla- or ? the anonymoufi writer of the letter I had, received, and had begun to .believe, that -the Colonel was right ln'';hls... conjectures.; However, one afternoon that gentloman, return ing from -a short walk (he had been my guest since the day on which the duel took place) was accosted by seve ral FUBpiclous-looking men, and ques tioned regarding my affairs, Th-- Colonel declined to supply them with any information, for, “ as he said, In one of them he recognised a noted Eipy of ttve Italian police; “ At 1Mb I was greatly alarmed, for I reasoned that the polio© must have certainly received some Informa tion that would dead them to set spies to “watch my house. At;dus:k the neit day iGoraimlo ?►??(Lerdtal'a ; iBa'ther) also noticed same men lurking near the premises. Bottti exasperated aftd alarmM at this, I ordered the servants to seize any person found on the pre mises “Who could not- give a satllstfac tory account of “himself. The night after I toued this order one of the gardeners had discovered a man hiding in the summer-house. He imme diately accosted the intruder, and asked the reason of tads trespassing upon my igroun'dis. The -man returning no answer, the gardener attempted to seize- him, but the trespasser was too quick, and eludilng hfs grasip ran across the grounds and scrambled over the fence. The next day passed off with out any Incident It” seemed ae ifcf the spd-es were somewhat disheartened” at one of their number being discovered We prev/lous evening, for ttero'ughout the whole of llhe following day, though the Co'lonel exerclsacl the utmost vigilance, no traces cif their presence were anywneire discovered. (To bo Continued Noxt Saturday.) ?

(1909/08/07 Winter)

“ But, the spies did not long allow themselves . to remain nou est. One .night, soon after I had retired to rest, 1 1 was awakened by loud shouts, and r Instantly -one of tho servants dashed Into tho room and Implored me to (hasten* to the aeroplane- -shed, as it was ?being attacked by several fiercelook ing men. Being still weak from my ,” wounds, it took me some llttlo time to dress, so that when I reaohed the shed I lound to iny sorrow ? that I had” arrived too tote to overt a most, la mentable catastrophe. The Colonel “ 3iad already reached the scene,, and iiad -succeeded in dispersing tho ruf fians (who were four in number), toe fore they had gained access to tho ?'aeroplane. But tho sortie had not ^foeew ^without” ? its fruits I soon dls* cove/red, for there, stretched aoros8-the “ doorway of tho aeroplane shed, was ..Coranio, a stiletto burled to the hilt jin hte- faithful heart!” Ho was -a faith- i 1 1 ul servitor, and- — “ ? “(My; master, ,my master, ? for hea ven's t'-alcodo not mention my father's yname, If you do not wish -to tear my very Jieari asunder,” broko in Ler i&itd. ; “Never fear, Lerdlnl; -d but-speftk-to . Hicmox'-your-bravo elro, for to remain ^sHont ?'.'would,1. -bo ^unfair to hls-.” mo j'anpry;1” !. *Bo-!tMtnsjIt-mayr-slgnor,” anewer i«ear.Lerdinl,^'l cannot -hear, mention of “Wollj” answered Ratagzlni, ? “ you, Ehail not, Lordlnt,” and as he spoke the JnYentor rose from his seat and lod Ills servant to another portion of the aeroplane. ? “?. “Barringtcn,” said lie, whon he had returnod, “.'whein the time comes (God grant .that it may never arrive)— -but if it, should, Lerdlnl will, like his faith ful .old “father,” willingly sacrifice his life'aiid” his -all for his master. But, to continue my narrative,'“ said the/ inventor, “enraged end sorrowful at the : death qf my d-evoted depemderit, I coi)»Tuited with the Colonel as to “ the best coursa to pursue. He could offer no a'dvice whatever/ eo as, a last re sort I “decided to despatch a message to the police. I did so, and a couple of , days later, ono of their -number” ar- rived',.'- arid after a short conversation with me,; in which he convinced me by the little. lntei'est -he took In the mat^ ter that Coi;ainilo had . been done to” death by the spies of tho polioe, ? “he departed with a half -hearted assurance that the matter . shouJd be Investigated and the ottenderB, It possible, brought to, justlco. That was all the assist ance ? T received from the police, and it is small wonder when one considers that my mortal enemy, Varleranta, was at their head. However, Barring ton, trie murder of Coranlo was but the forerunner of the greatest of aH my .troubles.'“ “What, was this?” I asked Im patiently, . “for I must own that the inventor had a . round-about way of telling, his story. “I am labojut to let you know,'“ an swered Ratazzlnl. “Soon after this I received, a visit from one of my ten ants. Ho was a man who but lato'.y arrived “In'. the district.. I received “him Wndly enough, and- asked him what ho desired. Picture my surprise when he “ demanded” “ a totally absurd reduction in Ms rent. I re-plied in too negative, but, thinking the follow might -foo hard .pushed, decided to grant a half of the reduction he r» qulrodi He immediately began vo abuse me, and crying1, that I, tho lr. ventor of an Infernal machine, would soon” have cause to regret my decision, he departed. “My fellow-tenants will take dt into their own hands to forco you to grant my request,1 -were his last words.” “I was dumbfounded at this. How I reasoned did this man, a new arrival In tho district, know that I was the man who was supposed to be con structing “ an infernal machine, what prompted him to say that his fellow tenants would take up his cause. The Colonel's reply, though indeed a pecu liar, one, alone seemed to suggest a, probability.” “Believe me,” he said, “Desmondlla concerned in -this; he Is at present re siding with Varleranla,” so I learnt this morning, and you may bo sure that he is still plotting against you.” “Heavens, man,” I cried, “who told you of this?” “Pangona, Varleranla's secretary,” replied the Colonel. “I met him this morning. You must know Harrington, the Inventor, Informed mo that tho Colonel was absent whon my tenant arrived, and I was just talcing the earliest opportunity of informing him of what had transpired.” “Proceed,” I answered, “I understand “Well, that same evening,” continued the inventor, “six of my tenants ar rived, and, crying that if the inventor of the infernal machino, (meaning me) would not give justice to their fellow peasant, that they would sack his ?house,- and thereupon attempted to force an entry. They were immediate ly expelled by the servants, tho colonel, and myself, but” not before they had broken several windows. Next day proved a day of terrors for me, for about noon I descried a considerable number of yokels collected on my grounds, I despatched a servant to Inquire w*hat they desired, but after Immersing him in a pond close by they sent my messenger back to mo to say that I should soon discover what they intended doing, An hour had elapsed, and their numbers having increased to upwards of two hundred, the mob ad vanced to my houes. The colonel stepped outside and inquired what they wanted^ but ho was mot by showers of stones, and forced to re-enter the house. The colonel was mad with anger, for there, urging tho mob on to sack the “house, he had recognised the arch-reprobate, Desmondl. I look ed from one of tho-wlndows, and found that the colonel only spoke too true, Now, however, tho mob woro more fleroo than ever, stones and all man ners of missiles woro hurled at every aperture, and In a^ short tlmo nearly every window In the house was bro ?ken. Still, though Desmondl was do In? all in his power to incite them to enter the house, the mob refused to do so, satisfying themselves with hurling missiles and yelling various opprobrious opithetc, such a3 those:; .'?'Down with the tyrant!” . ; “'Death to the anarchlstl” “Once during this period I stepped out upon tho balcony, and endeavored to harangue the mob, but in vain. I could not gain a hearing, for directly Donmon'di perceived mo ho pointed me out to his followers, at the same time exhorting them to -flro on the anarchist and tyrant. Fortunately, ho wevor, tho yokels possessed no other weapons savo their scythes and spades, and I was enabled to escape indoors with Jtttle more injury than that effected by a few of the stones which the'yell ing mob had hurled at .me. So, seeing thtit nothing could toe done, I remained In the drawing-room In company with the colonel,: whero we could obtain a full view of the doings of the attack ing yokels, I could observe, now that they were becoming more bold arid I Incensed, Urged on “by the “'fierce speeches of Desmondl, they were “be- ginning gradually to draw nearer to the house, / “ : - “'Death to the anarchist! Down with the traltorl On— on— on; spare no onel” I could hear Desmondl's voice shouting above all the rest. But at this juncture an Interruption was caused by the arrival of a couplei of policemen, who endeavored to disperse the mob, assuring them that ! they would see that the anarchist (meaning me) should pay tho penalty of his misdeeds, but the howling masB would pay no heed, to “ tho. shouts and commands of the police. “Leave all *to us,” yelled Demondi; “Revenge to the people!” “Death -to the Anarchlstl” Finding -persuasion use less, the police determined to force the yokels ,to disperse. But two or three men can avail but llttlo ,agalrist as many hundred. Besides the crowd was incensed at the delay they (had ex perienced, and now” that the prey -was all but in their possession, they would not be baulked of their vengeance without a struggle. I could see the .police consulting with one another as to what course they should ipunsue. Evidently deciding to make one effort to disperse the crowd before departing, to strengthcm their numbers they drew their swords and taking a firm, hold of their horses prepared to charge Into the yelling rciass of angry men, Des mondl appeared to observe this move ment, and mounting a stump addressed the crowd. We could not hear him for his utterances -were drowned hytfhe frantic applauBe of hla admiring hear ers, His last words, however, were distinctly audible, “Men,” he bawled, “Down with the police. There arethe accomplices of “the anarchist, Do-wn with anarchy!” and waving his sword h« ruslhed ttfwaTds the spot where the police were. Tho yokels, you must ilmow Barrlngton, were arrant cow&rds, yet wthlte-llverod curs as they were,, the reoklesa bravery of their leader (ifor after all Desmondl, I will allow was undoubtedly brave) Inspired in them a false oourage, and they rushed fiercely at the polioe. One of the guardians of the peace “rushed at Desmondl, and a fierce contest ensued, The others at. tempted to break through the mob. For a itlmo they refralneid1 from using their swords, thinking that they might be able to quiet the yokels, .but finding that this was undoubtedly impossible they hacked fiercely In all direc Fix this texttions at the moving mass. Several times the -mob faltered,” arid would have retreated, but the harsh voice of Desmondl, who had now grown hoarse with anger, still urged them on. Neither side Balned1 the advantage, for even Desmondl and his opponent were so well matched that neither could break through the other's guard, (To be continued next Saturday).

(1909/08/14 Winter)

But soo-n the police found that it was useless to attemipt to stay the fury” of the men without helpers. Accord ingly owe of them shouted to Des. mondl's opponent! that it” was absurd to fight loriser without securing the aid of more police. So Instantly the man retreated towa/rd's his chief, and with out more ado the guardians of the peace departed, presumably to Beek succour. The mob without com menced to pursue them, heedless to the” “shouts -of Desmondll. However, finding that the police were still able to inflic^ considerable loss, the rabble returned. ! ? ?Night was now rapidly coming on, The, sky “was “inky “black, and a cutting wind, moaned “among the. trees. It was obvious that a fierce thunder storm was threatening. Even as the mob returned” after a fruitless attempt to corner the police, a forked flash of lightning Illumined the surround ing, counttry, over which twilight had already cast her sombre grey mantle. Incited by Desmond), the mob made a fierce dash. This time they suc ceeded In approaching within a few yards of., the inner courtyard of the houste. .'..'.?'?', ... * .” But it Was here that Desmondl re ceived” a “deep gash In the thilgh from, a small reaping-hook that one of tn« servants, had hurled flnom the- upper window, Ho was forcedi , to retire to have it attended to by one of the rahtele, as it M8di fiercely. On flndina their leader temporarily, disabled, the mob withdrew to a clump of i trees about BO yards flrom, the house. Des mondlls wound after all did not seem to have been one that would tend to lessen; his. activity. In any degree. Fiercely upbraiding his followers for their cowardice, he . once moro led them forwards Darkness had now al mOjSt'flallien. “. In “a short time it, would be Impossible few the mob to. continue the struggle Desmondl observed this, and formed his plans accordingly. Yelling- “IDeath tb the anairchist,” the rabble renewed their tactics. Deter mined to delay them till darknessvhad otecured the ?surroundings, the Colonel stepped fortli to harangue the mob. He had jusf appeared upon the balcony when a viyld; flash “ of lightning ex hibited him. to the “advancing crowd. One thing I noticed1, now was that the demeanor of the attackers had changed from wild enthusiasm to a sullen, “half disinterested, aggressiveness. But for Desmondl's exhortations I felt sure they would have abandoned) their In tended i vengeance, .,” ? The ; appearance of the Cotonel signalled a fierce cry of “'Death, to the “British accomplice.” “Men,” said the Colonel .in the language of the country, “listen ,to me for one moment.” \ tThe rioters involuntarily halted. “Death to the cursed British anar chist,” yelled “Desmondl, Interrupting him! , “The Colonel was furious, yet he waB determined that “ the mob ^ should not be allowed to witness any manllfesta ?tlon of his passion. Heedless of all the Britisher continued: “I advise you ?my men to return peacefully to your homes, for It is better to have a gentle, in.an for a friend than a Judas.” As he finished speaking a blinding flash of lightning showed Desmondl ?fleroely yelling to the mob to attack. Amidst the howling of the wind and the roaring of Heaven's artillery, the Colonel attempted to continue,” but It was now almost impossible to make oneself h6ard, for as Colonel Welling-, ton endeavored to once more address the multitude, the thunder almost oom. pletely drowned his voice. . At this time also the. flood gates of heaven were opened and torrents olf rain com menced to descend. Hall also began to fall heavily. Heaven's supply of ammunition seemed to be Inexhaustible, for. the thunder roared louder than ever, The rain brought darkness pre. maturely upon the earth, but still the .constant forked flashes of lightning .brilliantly Illumined th^...surroundlngs. The Colonel discovering that It would be useless to attempt to ?pacify the mob, hazarded upon a .final shot. Ac cordingly, making a speaking trumpst 1 his hands: “Friends,” foe yelled, ex hibiting a wealth of the sarcasm that he was wont to occasionally display, “'I will not speak further upon this subject, but* allow me to observe1 that the night Is wet and that perhaps some rain drops may have fallen upon you. This may give you cold, and besides It Is” rather dangerous to stand In the shelter of . trees when, lightning Is about, aa one may be struck,” The mob found no reply to this speech, but as the Colonel retired he told me that he had heard the voice of Desmond! bidding his followers seek the shelter elf the summerhouses, a scanty shelter Indeed. Several of the mob had mur mured, but none seemed Inclined to renew, the attack, while the storm lasted. Fervently in my heart did I bless the controller of the ele ments. Assuring ourselves that we were safe from attack until the cessa tion of the storm, we proceeded down stairs to supper, For myself I had not partaken of anything since break fast time. I now also gave orders that most of the servants who were acting as guards should be allowed to rest and refresh themselves, and that only tho two entrances to the Inner courtyard should be guarded. You may not have known, ? Barrlngton, that the Inner courtyard was enclosed by a wall a few feet in height. So without any distinction in this hour of trouble ser vants and master supped together In the kitchen. All were assembled for the meal, save the two servants guard ing tho two entrances aforementioned. We had Just finished our meal, when one of my dependents whom” I had plac ed on guard rushed Into the room, His news was soon told, Several men from the mob had silently scaled the wall, and he was not aware of their presence until he heard a low cry, A flash of lightning - showed him his fellow ser vant, who was guarding the other gate, being borne to the ground by several men. He had then crept from the gate to the house in order to Inform us of what had transpired. My plans were speedily formed. Not (finding anyone guarding the other en trance, which, by-the-bye, was little used, the marauders would , conclude that a guard had not been placed there, They would then proceed, I felt sure, to the aeroplane-shed and attempt to quietly gain admittance. The posses sion of the model was; what Desmondl desired, and I felt sure that he would” make the shed his first visiting place. The rash villain had not brought the mob with him, for he knew that before he could gain an entrance the yokels would betray their presence. Probably I reasoned he had either stolen away secretly from the crowd, with a few of his chosen followers, or had departed on the pretence of reconnoitring. Either course was easy for him, for his sulky followers” were not anxious to leave their shelter until the storm had abated. I could not refrain from admiring Desmondl's shrewdness, but 3: was de termined to outwit him. I despatched a couple of men to try, If possible, to reach the gates without alarming the attackers, so that if Desmondl and his followers were beaten, we would have undoubtedly a better cnance of heading them off before they could scale the wall,, and summon help from their companions, The servants departed on their mission, and after watting for a short time to ascertain df all was well, the Colonel and I, together with a couple of the retainers, silently crept ; to wards the tool-house. Conceding ourselves” In a clump of bushes we ob tained a full vleW of the entrance to the shod, My conjectures were not wrong. A little group of men was clustered around . the door, and a coupie” of: them were occupied - In boring through the door. ? They seem ed to have obtained efficient instru ments for their purpose, for we had not been watching five minutes when the. door yielded to a gentle push from the shoulders of one of the men. They quietly entered the shod, and noiselessly closed the door behind them. I felt sure that they wero “provided with instruments to enable ?them to pick the lock of, the safe. Now I whispered to tho rest, “We have them like rats in a trap. Come!” We quietly proceeded towards the door of.tlhe shed. As soon as ? we reached., the door we pushed it open. Crying to a servant to guard the open ing, I rushed, together with my fol lowers to the furthest end of the shed where the men were gathered round the safe, Each man turned his eyes in our direction, undecided as to what to do. One of them, however, sprang forward and, flashing the light of my dark lantern on his face, i” ro cognised the prince of traitors. Des mondl. Thoroughly aroused, I drew my sword and rushed towards him. “Men,” I shouted, “let no one escape. Revenge!” I had brought with mo my sword so , that I should “ have the op portunity of meeting Desmondl. “As for him, he still retained the weapon which he had brought when he came to collect tho mob early In the 4 day. But before we could cross blades a man Inadvertently rushed between us. In him I recognised my visitor of the previous day— my tenant, who had so Insolently demanded a reduction in his rent and who had sworn to incite his fellow-tenants to attack me. “Revenge!'. I yelled and as the wretch endeavored to strike me with” a hoavy bludgeon I stepped aside, and ?before he could aim a second blow I made a vicious thrust and burled a couples of Inches of steel In his neck. With a gurgling sound in his thrsat he fell to the floor. At a glance. I could, see that his career was ended, “Ugh!” I murmured, “Horrible! Would that was you, Desmondl!” 1 cried releasing my sword, and throw Ing myself on guard. “Ha!” he cried, “your dream of fame shall be dissipated.” , “It's no use RataRzlnl,” cried the Colonel, “you're too weftk to boar this contest. I will take your place. k \ ????'- “No, let mo continue,” I cried. “I will not” said the Colonel, and pushing mo aside he engaged Des mondl. I woiM have once more at tempted to force the Colonel to allow me to combat against Desmondl had not” a man dashing fiercely at me with a reaping hook engaged my attention. After a couple of minutes, having disabled my opponent, I turned to look for Desmondl. But I immediately felt a hand upon my shoulder, and, looking round, I beheld the Colonefl, “Come man,” he cried hoarsely, “for, by Heaven, I have killed Desmondl!” “Heaven be thanked!” I murmured, “but why did you deprive me of the Fix this textvengeance which had been , assigned to me?” “You are avenged,” he answered. “Come!” ? , “Let me once look at the corpse that I may gloat over it,” I cried. “Let me make sure that the vile wretch Is dead, for the foul fiend has strange powers which he can use In favor of his beloved.'! “Come,” cried the Colonel, “for Heaven's sake, or your doom is seailed.” (To bo continued;) .

(1909/08/21 Winter)

I looked around the room and per ceived that “the fighting had almost, ceasod. Tho servants were engaged” in binding a couple of men, while Ler -3Inl was attending to another who had been “ apparently stunned. “Come,” cried: the Colonel, to my dependents, Cleave them there, one of DesmcndlW followers lias escaped, and In a few moments {he whole mob will be upon us, for he will certainly Inform .them of Desmondl's death and defeat.” The servants needed no second bidding, but rushed from the shed. “'Get clear of the house and tell the others to do.'fhe same,” I shouted. I heard a ory In the affirmative, and they were swallowed up In the darkness of the night. During this time Lerdlnl had approached me and calmly asked if or orders. “You go too,'“ I answered, “I will summon you later,” With a sigh that faithful servitor followed In “the wake of his feltow servants. “Let me see Desmondi, just one glance,” I begged. . “He lies there,” said the Colonel, pointing towards the furthest end of the shed In which the salfe was kept. In the dim light shed by my dark lantern, I could perceive a figure lying at full length near the wall. Affixed to his shoulder was a bull's eye lantern which, strange to say, still burnt brightly. I smiled when I thought of Desmondl's forethought lm carrying the lantern In such a manner. “But,” added the Colonel, “you shall not see him. Hark,” he “proceeded, “the mob: aro upon us. Hear them “shouting. Quick, for If they gain en trance to the courtyard before we aro clear of the house, we are lost.” “My model!” 1 cried. “My model!” I rushed to the jsa'fej unlocked It with a, key which I had hung round my, neck. Near the safe was the carcase to which the Colonel had alluded. I looked at the countenance. Sure enough It wqs Desmondi. He was lying In a small pool of blood, and his face was ghastly “pale. “Come,” the Colonel roared. Securely fastening the small box which contained the model, I ran to join the Colonel. However, before I had taken a couple of stepB “a sudden thought struck me. I quickly turned round and approaching tho prostrate form, gave Desmondl's body a sound” ?kick, as a mark dt profound contempt. Bui, Barrlngtori, the body remained perfectly still. “That was hardly the right thing to do, Ratazzlnl,” I replied.. “'Desmondi was dead and helpless.” . “If I had had time,” answered the Inventor, “I would have hacked his body to pieces and thrown them to my dogs. My disgust was unutterable.” “I don't, believe In that vengeance, Ratazziinl,” I elowly answered. “Suoli a vile foe as he was, should be treated like a dog when he la run to earth,” said the scientist, “You know I would not have treated Valor ania, or any .honorable foe, In such a way.” , . “But, after all,” I- argued, “he was your fellow creature, Ratazzlnl.” 1 “I; do not own him as such,” retorted Ratazslnl, In disgust. . “ . I felt too shocked to answer. It seoms peculiar that, such a person as Ratassislnl, .” who possessed so many noble qualities, should bo inhuman. Ratazzlnl was a curious mixture of peculiar attributes. Yet the scientist seemed” to1 have some command over me, and I could not shake off his au thority; My thoughts were Interrupted by, the Inventor again continuing his story^ ??? „ ?” .: . r “ “;Well,” he said, “the Colonel and I without further ado crept quietly from the shed. It was sill^ raining hard, and the thunder's. roarings were moro frequent than ever. It was pitch dark, but the constant lightning flashes serv ed, to somewhat Illumine “the gloomy earth. The shouts of the mob told us that they were almost arrived at the gate. On (hands and knees we crept to the side of the courtyard furthest away from the” spot where the mob were attacking. Several times we thought that all was lost, On one oc oaBlon my favorite little terrier, with a joyful bark, ran towards us. There was no remedy, his ecstatic yelps would probably betray our presence to the attackers should they gain an .entrance to tho courtyard before wo could scale the wall. I grasped the little animal by the neck. He yelped sorrowfully. “Leave him to mo,” said the Colonel. Reluctantly I handed the animal to my friend, I saw him feeling the breast of the pet. The next moment he took out his pen-knife from hlB poc ket, opened and plunged it Into the^un. fortunate creature's body. The Colonel relinquished his hold of the animal, and it sank lifeless to the ground. “It was all, I could do,” said he. “I: located his heart by Its throbblngs, and then pierced It with my pen-knife. Death was instantaneous, for ho did not even groan.'J ? We continued to creep in the direc tion of the wall. Even as. we scaled, we. could.hear several of the attaokers rush Into the courtyard yelling fiercely,1 “We are saved now,” cried -the” Colonel. “Quick!” Hastily we speeded across the ground,” and were about to scale the wall when, we hoard the thud of a horse's hoofs/ The next instant a policeman rode reck lessly past. , “ “TWre,” eald the .Colonel; “he has been to B- — for assistance^ I sup pose they could spare no police there on account of the strike.” My friend had hardly ceased speaking when an other horseman dashed up. “Come here,” he yelled at the top of ?his voice to the man that had just rode. by. After a minute or so the other man returned to where the one, who had summoned him was attempt Ing to quieten his horse. Thev were not more than ten yards from us. . “It's all right,” said tho latterpollce man, “the chief, Signer Varlerania, wfli arrive In half an hour with a posse of police. The mob must be left alone ?until then.” , , ; “Very well,” replied the other, and the two rode down the road towardH Varleranla's; house.” “ , “ How lucky that a wall separated; us, for we should have, bwn .completely exposed. , Then a lightning flaBh would have spoilt all. “That's bo,'. I agreed. “Now come \\Iy housp,” completed the Colonel, “you will .bo safe there.” “Be It sp. then,” I replied, and we .scaled the wall and walked quickly in the direction Vof the Colonel's house. As we walked on (mine was about two miles distant from the Colonel's houso) tho rain suddenly stopped; the thun Fix this textder, like” v a discontented” “child, roared, “then mumbled, and then i alto- gether .ceased. Before we had traversed half the .distance to the Colonel's house the rain “had entirely ceased. , Heaven gradually “ put aside the cloudy veil that had hid the stormy earth from her view,” and the stars once more came forth to -keep their nocturnal vigil. Now tne tempest had ceased, all was peaceful in the extreme.

ATER THE 8TORM COMEB A , . ,. CALM.”

! “I wonder how the mob are faring,, Colonel?” “i asked, VDon't know,” exclaimed the Colonel Irritably. .It seemed (peculiar, but yet” It was a fact, that while there were real cause for excitement, t!he Colonel was as cool” as the proverbial cucumber. But now, when all was -quiet, a re action “ appeared to have set In, and Ho was how both Irritable and excited, For some time ,wo walkod on In silence. We had -reached a slight omlnenco, which commanded a splendid vlow of the depression in which my residence was situated. Tho Colonel at this time chanced to glance behlna1, “Good Heavens, Ratazr.lnl. Look!” He” almost screamed. I turnod. About a mllo behind us I beheld a curious sight, and one which seemed ?literally to pierce my very heart. For a moment I thought my eyes had played me false, but, alas! it was too “true. “ My resldenco was wrapped In fla.mes. The rear portion of the pre mises peemed from where I stood to be almost entirely consumod, and now, the front of tho building had little hope of being saved. .Muttering bitter Imprecations, I took the Colonel's arm, and we continued our journey. ? That last I thought was the crowning calamity. At length we came to the Colonel's house, and that gentleman, at my own request, con ducted mo to a cellar. This he fur nished with eatables, rugs, and other necessarkB, and at my bidding de “pe&red Incog, to my residence. He was absent about an hour. He had ascertained that the mo-b had first sacked tho house, and failing In find ing either me or himself had fired the building. Desmondi had been dragged from the aeroplane shed, and a doctor had been cent for, who on his arrival announced that though life \ras not extinct his condlt'Jon was very criti cal Indeed. “You muot know, /Ratazzlnl,” said the ColonsL “that when the alarm was given that the aeroplane shed was about ,to bo attacked I had only time to grasp one of those 16th-century swords which were placed on the shelf as curiosities. I was of the opinion that I had pierced Desmondl's heart, but It appoars that my sword, having come Into contact with one of his ribs, had been ..turned aside. It was ru mored, however, that” he had los^t a great amount of blood, and that one of his lungs had been pierced. “ - Varlerania and his men had ;ar rlvod too late to” extlngulsQi the fire. It was discovered that In the flght with tho police six- of the mob ha.d” been killed, while , 12, others, were wounded, Finding Varlerania and his men ? too strong for them, the “ rebols ? had fled In wild disorder. The” police had discovered Blnonl, one of my ser vants, concealed in the “ undergrowth, had cut him down without quarter. All “having been quieted, Varlerania returned, home, having ordered that Desmondi should .be immediately con veyed to his (Varlerania's) residence. “My belief is,” remarked the Colonel to me, “ “that Verlorania prompted Desmondi i'o attack your house.” “Ridiculous,” I retorted. “He is an1, honorable man, and would not de scend to auch villainies.” “Bo that aa It may,” retorted the Colonel hotly, “but If I encounter” him he will feel the welghit of my fist.” “Ah,” said Ratazzlnl, turning to me, “you Englishmen are not like us. You are fond, of fighting with your fists, but we love the swords, CBarrlngton. But to continue. For that night 3 was left unmolested by the police, but on the following day we received a visitor in the person of Giovanni Varlerania himself, He was unaccompanied by any of the police, It seemed .peculiar that ho should have come alone. I was still down In the collar, but I heard of the visit from the Colonel directly Varlerania had departed. When he arrived the Colonel despatched a ser vant to Inquire his business'. After the man had admitted him, Varlerania marched towards the Colonel and ordered him to deliver Ratazzlnl (meaning me) up to him, Now the Colonel had been very calm lately (It was his way— he had flts of :calmness and irritability), and now'-flls^patlehce? was exhausted; -? .? ;; ? “-;.” ???*?': Fix this textMHIs flts of irritability -were, by far the most frequent,” . Interrupted “fLer? dim. .. /:.?,,-” ?.'??/.? } ;/ Ignoring the. interruption, Ratanazzl, continued: “Thel Colonel “asked” tilrji, how he dared to” lnsu'lt “an “English” geatleman. Varlerania, hadn't brought hlo sword with hlmi but he threatened to strike my friend with his cane. The Colonel said nothing, but hit out straight from his shoulder, his fist coming in violent contact with Var-” leranla's nose. ? , “ (To bs Continued Next 8nturday.)

(1909/08/28 Winter)

Then administering a hard kick to the most prominent portion of that official's anatomy, my friend grasped him by! the na-pe of the neck and in this manner forcing him outside the gate, deposited Varlerania in a slushy puddle close by. - The chief of police muttered incoher. entlyi and walked quickly away. t i “ For some hours nothing further h'ap ?penecl, and .during this period the Colonel and I discussed the urosDects of my -escaping over the -border into France. Which escape we concluded was well nigh impossible, for to cross out of Venice “we'anust have a pass port. 1^ was a certainty that Varler-” aina would not sign one. “ We were thus completely trapped. t The Colonel, however, ./quickly de cided as to i what course he should pursue. „ “ v “ * i } , “I wilLhold'my, villa here till the police storm” it Then theV( shall “not” take you .till “I have -strangled Varler ania,. and been1 killed” “myself. In the melee you may “have some chance lof escaping.” \, ?',.*. -, “ ! *? “But Desmondi w[lll live,” I argued, “and I will not.be revenged.',” “ “? k i “He's *-too severely wounded “to sur vive,” said the “ Colonel, “so , rest in ?Deace.” The Britisher wthen; .securely fastened the; door oif my cellar* but dropped the key down the ventilator so that if he did not see me again I would* toe able to free myself. 1 “For sometime I sat In my hiding place listening for” the arrival of the police, for I felt sure they would come that night It must have been then 11 o'clock when I heard footsteps de scending the stairs. The next mo ment the voice, of the Colonel ^shouted excitedly through the aperture': “Open; Ratazzini; a visitor; imme diately “ I opened the door and. the “next mo ment two arms “had “encircled” my neck. “Merlio, “ you are saved,” cried the voice xpf Constance, -as she tightened her hold. “ ? t i Yes, % it was Constance who had so suddenly appeared j to embrace me. “'Quick,” said she, after a couple of minutes” silence., “Listen, I . have brought a passport for you. ? 1 will re turn home and will arrange to go later,1 for ifrl attempted to leave , now , it, would lead to the discovery, of -us a.l\.” “ “Oh, it's hard to leave - you,'-” Con stance,” I sighed.” * “ :” U1 “Do so, for heaven's sake,” she an swered—and seeing--me hesitate-^'and “? for mine,” love.*” v “You must go,” said the Colonel. “ “I- will,” I murmured,” “I will. But ?Constance, “where did you -get the passport?” “ ? “ i l “'?'“ , “Your father surely did not give it to, you*;” * - “ “ “No,” she said slowly. “Listen.^ and I will tell you all. Sho-tl.7. before 10 u c'; ioU my father lefc the Troupe. -, I heard him informing Tangona that he must immediately go to B ? to give instructions concerning the strike. “He would return at midnight,” he added, “and, would then take a posse of police and make a thorough, search ^of Colonel Wellington's house. When “ I heard this I resolved in my mind to save you. Ordering Pangona to take a certain message to tbe, village -for me, directly he had” gone I. made my way to my ? father's study; I entered it, and forcing the lock of my father's desk secured one of the “passports From the same drawer I took the Go vernment seal, and sealed it in the orthodox manner. Now all was com pleted. The only thing wanting was his signature. Well, I placed one', of the papers containing his signature, before me, and with this copy as; ^a-', guide I forged it.” Constance told the history of r her crtme with an unusual and a terrible coolness. “Oh,” I said, and I could say no more.” “You are shocked.” said Constance^ noticing my silence, “and perhaps rightly so.” “Well, go,” she added proudly. “You love you,” and. she added— “Remember, ungrateful one, when you are in safety, and when I — I perhaps am in a felon's cell that the crime “of your intended wife was tbe means “of your salvation. Adieu,” she said, moving off, “though you do not love me. I shall still continue to adore you.” With a yild exclamation, I sprang forward ; and embraced” Constance.. “''Hare,” said I, “take the passport. 1 love you still as ardently as ever, and I will not see you err to save me.” Constance shed tears of joy. “Save yourself, Merlio,” she said, “for if you do not tak^e -advantage of this pass I will go and immediately i confess the” forgery.” “You have done it for love of me, Constance; and it is no crime,” I -re- plied. “Adieu, love,” said she, and, “ con ducted by the Colonel, she; left” the house as silently and as secretly as she had entered. Colonel Wellington lost no. time to disguise me in case I should encounter Varlerania. He shaved onV a mou stache that I then wore.” Then, wrap ping me up in a large overcoat, he brought forth his toest steed and bade me ride to a quiet station a few miles away, to avoid meeting the police, and there board the train, which would carry me “to the border. Thus, hav ing a passport, I could then,. without question, cross .into France. I will not weary you by a detailed account of my flight. Let it suffice to say that even during my train journey I lived in constant fear of being overtaken by Italian vengeance, for the insatiable Varlerania nossessed far-reaching in fluence. However, I reached my des tination, and presenting my; passport, which to avoid suspicion was made out in Desmondi's name, crossed over into Spain.” “Ha! “;Ha! “ I laughed, “that was a joke.” “Well,” continued- Ratazzini, “I was now beyond ? the power of the authorities for being a political fugi tive I was out of the reach of the Italian Government. A week later the Colonel joined me. He brought with him the startling news that the night I departed .his house had been search ed and himself arrested by the irate Varlerania. “However, he had been re leased the next day, there being no evindence(to support he charge of being my,, accomplice. , “Well,” Wellington said” to me, “the day after I was re leased I called around ,to Varlerania's house, intending to make him feel the weight, of my fist. He was not at home then, but” Pangona informed me that Constance was in disgrace. There had been “a terrible scene when Varlerania had, missed one of his passports, and found his desk broken open. He had accused Pangona of the deed, but Con stance stepped forward and confessed, everything, even to the use she had made” of the document. , Varlerania or dered Pangona to arrest her, but Des mondi had summoned Varlerania to the room, where he was lying in bed. Despite his wounds, the villain carried on- , an animated conver sation r with Varlerania. Pangona, suspecting . that. Desmondi wished to( prejudice Varlerania against him, played v the part i of eavesdropper. But ?he\'was mistaken. Desmondi or dered “Valerania to forgive his daugh ter; for1 as he1 t (Desmondi was deter “mined to have her as his wife, he would noi'see her dishonored, dis graced,- “ and perhaps imprisoned. Valerania swore to Desmondi that he would” bring his daughter to justice, Desmondi then replied that he would inform the “ authorities of what he (Valerania) had done with his son. According to Pangona, Valeranda -had turned pale as death, and promised not to expose Constance'. . He then an nounced that he would not allow “his daughter to marry Desmondi until. he (Desmondi)” .ihad run Ratazzini to earth. Desmondi had agreed to this, -nd. there the matter lapsed.” “ “What did Valerania do to, his son, ?He was his only son, and a great scapegrace. He was concerned in many misdeeds, and was several times imprisoned. Once, after a strong scene” with his father, he was found a few hundred- yards from his parent's housg^with a stiletto in fliis” heart The murderer could never be discovered, and some dared to breathe an accusa tiont-against Valerania. Still I do -not think uthat Desmondi knows of any thing-” that would lead to ValeranJa's beihg^charged with Ihis son's murder. “I would not be surprised if Valerania ?committed the deed, for his son (had if ? wholly ^disgraced him.” ^ t'Go /on'wlth your story please, Rat azzjn!,” -said I. ) , “Wfell,” said1 the” inventor, . “we re mained for” several days in France, and -then at the,. Colonel's suggestion we both took ship for “England. t A few days'?after” my arrival I was visited by the j Spanish lady whom you have at ^times” seen in my company. She -bore a latter, from Constance, who wrote that- it would be .useless for me to at tempt to wed her then,- as her father “had] ordered that df she dared to marry “me he would make certain that Italian justice should overtake both her and myself. She intended to cor res'pond,;wlth me through this Spanish lady to prevent my own whereabouts “being discovered. Our only hope, -she said, “was “'when her father died. She warned me, and also wrote, that sine would “ correspond often tlrrough the same source. ^She did so until she was eventually, suspected, and was forced to'* discontinue all communication. At times,” JBarrington,” said the inventor bitterly, “I felt almost inclined to em ploy an assassin to murder ValeTania.” “'You, brute!” I murmured to my seir. - ^ ^.# -'Itlj wa's” “. at this : time,” : “ continued Ratazzini, “fthat I decided to travel to thio planet.” Then I asked the Colonel (who'.hadv returned to Venice to sell my estate). He did so quietly, so as not to. arouse suspicion, and I expend ed everything to perfect my aeroplane for “this” jo'urney. Besides,” added the inventor, “the earth was almost too hot to hold- me. You remember, Bar rington,. that /you first made my ac quaintance by assisting me when three men were attacking me In the village of A ? ?” “That's so,” I agreed. “And what of Desmondi?” I asked. “Oh, he still continued to reside with Varlerania.” . ? “ “And now,” concluded the Inventor, “I have arrived at the end of my life's history. Often I have been inclined to end my own life. At times the re collections and the results of my in juries prompted me to leave- a^ world where I had been cruelly wronged. However, the thought of my love and the fact “that God himself will surely grant revenge, comforts me.” “Ratazzini, your misfortunes have made you a - beast!” I cried, i “God commands us to forgive, not to avenge.” ( “Ha! That is a- doctrine for those who have never been wronged, but for me— the'beast as you call me — revenge is sacred.” “There may. be something in that,” I sighed. . : i “'Now,” paid the inventor, crossing over. _tp -a drawer and taking out a sealed packet, “hers Is a copy of the plsn of the aeroplane. The possessor of this has the key to thex invention; take it, and if I should never return, I bequeath it to Constance to do -with as she pleases. To the Colonel I give this to wear _ in remembrance of me,'“ continued the scientist, as he released a gold chain from his neck. On the chain was a gold locket sparkling with precious stones. The locket contained th? miniature1 of a” beautiful lady with hail of snowy whiteness. , “That is my mother's photo; let him wear that as a remembrance of me; she gave it to me on, her death bed. And to you, Barrington, my trusty -friend, to you 1 bequeath my “Revenge. Swear to seek out. and either kill Desmondi, or bring him to justice.” il hesitated. “Swear!” said the inventor. . I did ^'That,” concluded the scientist, with emotion, “is my life's “story. Tell me yours.” t V “Simply this,” 1/ answered. ? “I am an Australian'1 r*by birth, but J. ,was driven from “my native land at the age of 21 by misfortune. My talents were not at fault, but the host of conserva tives who were in power “.would not al low a novice to” gain recognition. ?v In a (few years, when death finds them, another generation ?” will take their places, and not ,until the conservative” hearts of those I have, mentioned have ceased to beat will “ Australia be'come'a nation. * Our young men are truly in-^ tellectual and enterprising, and I have1 no “doubt that they will make fame for my land. When I return *'(if “ I .ever do so) from this voyage, I intend” to once more embark for my native1 coun-” try, and spending the remainder of my days in working for the advance-* ment - of an intellectual, capable, ( and independent spirited “people.” “ “ “ “ “And I wdsh you -good “fortune,” an-” swered. the inventor;, “for even I,” whom force of circumstances “ has turned into “ a veritable “misanthrope, who possesses only two passions- sin-” oe'rely, love my fatherland and its un grateful people.” “ - “ iNow, having already .delayed “ too long, I will quickly, pass over t, : i The Voyage to the Planet. . There was only one incident worthy of note which -I have not” mentioned. On one occasion our air machine fail ed suddenly to work, and had not the inventor possessed a duplicate, “'we should have undoubtedly, been” suffo cated. A .severe “storm heralded. “ our arrival into the atmosphere of the planet. But the inventor succeeded.by clever manipulation injsaving the aero plane, from injury. j,Sopn after this ,we- arrived to, within a day's journey ,of the planet. Owing to the , attraction, of .this- body the macshine continued to Fix this textdescend with -great rapidity. .The” in ventor had” great trouble in preparing the machine for the descent. Fortune favored us. Soon after darkness had fallen the inventor ? informed me to prepare for a slight shock. A couple of minutes after this the aeroplane alighted upon some hard surface; and caused li-s tn hr- thrown in tho nnnnaUa wall^iof the compartment. “Where in Heaven's “ name are we, Ratazzini?” I asked (for it iwas. pitch dark). “I can see nothing.” “ “It was sooner than I expected,” an swered Ratazzini coolly, j, ; “In Heaven's name, what do you mean, man?” I gasped. “Are we lost?'“ “I mean,” said the inventor quietly, “that at last , , - K - We Have Arrived at Our New World!” (To be continued next Saturday.)

(1909/09/04 Spring)

'Thank God we have reached the planet,'y,I murmured softly. . “Well,” to sleep now, Barrington,” said ,Ratazzlni. But sleep was not indulged in by any* of u$, and we anxiously awaited daylight., Ratazzini was in an ecstacy of” delight After some hours Qf weary waiting the day began to dawn. ? Then our old. “riend the^ Sun majestically ascended from behind an eminence, and we beheld this hitherto undiscovered iland. We now” bathed in the fiery rays -of” the mighty, orb that had just arisen. I gasped for ? breath. The ? landscape was a- wonderful “and novel sight-to me. ?There io the right, far away in the distance, a, long range “ of mountains lifted their mist-enshrouded peaks to Heaven. At the foot of these giants of the planet was a wide stretching uneven plain, covered with a species hi. copperrcolored vegetation. Scat tered here and there were tall, grace ful,; trees, covered with a grayish species of leaf. But to the left the ground was uneven and _ ? plentifully sown ?with boulders of a .'reddish color. Directly in front of. us were some cul tivated fields. While again still fur ther ahead would” be discerned a lake glittering with the gems that old Sol had bestowed upon it. “Come,” said the inventor, break ing in upon my reflections, -'let” us dis embark and make for “those “ stone houses — they may he -inhabited:” Ratazzini spoke coolly, ?''but “I “.'could observe that he was greatly excited. “Slight,” I “ responded, and, closing the door just'a's X-erdini emerged from the -interior, I set my foot on terra firma for the first time in five ;years. We now began to walk briskly in the direction of “ the buildings we be held. “: On a whole the “ ground ap peared rugged and rocky, , yet the *rops flourished. On , approaching nearer we observed that “ the- fields were” sown mostly with &” species of grain similar in color to wheat. t We continued” to . pass through “the culti vated plots, meeting! with few signs of animal life. During our walk we en countered two peculiar species of animal. One was a( -creature sinylar in every detail to a mouse, save that in place of fur its body was covered with a hard brown skin. Ratazzini attempted to secure one of these creatures, but it -bit him viciously, and he was forced to release his hold. Wig, also met with a creature somewhat similar to “a dog, . but instead of hair it possessed a hard skin ? like that of the creature I have previously describ ed. Suddenly while Ratazzi arid I were engaged In inspecting the sur roundings Lerdini, who was a little in advance, rushed ! towards us shouting —'Quick, Signors! Look!” We followed Lerdini at a run, and on “reaching a” slight eminence discov-. ere'd;a peculiar creature, who, though now” about 50 yards distant, was ad vancing Tapidly towards us. I will not .term him a man, for by doing so I would not strictly adhere to Uhe truth. ?? This being was about 9%ft in height, and of gigantic'proportions. As ?he approached nearer, I noticed that his head .was shaped peculiarly. His slanting forehead” did not protrude in the smallest degree, but ; instead form ed a sharp; angle,” with” the upper por tion, of his head. His neck was very long, and tn comparison with the other p'ortipn bf his body extremely slender. His head! was bent backwards to. such an extent that the nape of his neckj formed a cavity in which he rested his burden^'— a long, narrow block of stone/” While carrying it in this man ner he, supported the whole bf.the weight upon- his neck, .which must have been enormously strong to be capable of supporting .such a weight The eyes of this. creature were large, and he rolled.; them in a horrible manner. These orbs were formed in such a sin gular” manner that though they were directed upwards, he appeared to be able to discern objects placed upon the earth as well as we could ourselves. His chest : was formed after the man ner to that “of a human being, and his arms also, save that1 they were bf ex traordinary length. The hand, as “I afterwards discovered, possessed four fingers, but no thumb.” The. giant possessed a mighty protuberance. The legs of this creature were very long and slender, but his feet very heavy and unwieldy. He was clothed in a tight-fitting garment of thick skin, similar to that of the animals we had encountered. Though he had observed us, this stoical creature did not appear in the least perturbed, but would have passed us had not Ratazzi barred his way. Tihe gia-nt gazed at ftini steadily for a moment, and then by way of divert ing himself, lowered his head and releasing his hold of his burden, allowed it to drop heavily and in close proxi mity ?tQ_.my.feet. The giant stood, still, his swarthy countenance exhibiting (I thought) a pleased expression. “Parlez vbus francais, “Monsieur?” said Merlio4 addressing him in French. The creature shook his head. “Gar,” he said in a deep bass voice. In German, Italian, English and Spanish, “Merlio interrogated this being, but each time without success. As for ?myself, 1 Questioned h:m In bad Latin, but again without effect. The creature smiled by turning upwards the corners 61C his large mouth, and without more ado -seated- himself upon the sto'ne that he had been carrying, and calmly sur veyed us. But he appeared to be of a humorous turn of mind, and a desire, for. sport apparently suddenly seized him. Grasping a stout stick from. the wayside “he smiled a beatific smile, and” seizing Ratazzini by the collar rained” a shower of blows on the most pro minent portion of his anatomy., Rataz zini swore volubly, but -the giant smiling complacently, still continued to use the stick with remarkably good effect. Finding, that the giant did not heed his ?remonstrances, “ Ratazzini kicked viciously, but without avail. As forme disregarding Ratazzml's cries” -for Oielp I lay on the ground and laughed help lessly. When Lerdini -saw “ that his master was unable to release himself from the clutches of his assailant- that faithful servitor, grasping a piece of thorny wood (from beneath a. neighbor- ing tree, administered several vicious prods to -the creature's body, causing ?me to laugh louder than ever. But when Merlio's assailant, suddenly coming to.the conclusion that unless he wished'1 to” emerge from the encounter with a punctUTea1 protuberance, sud denly, with- a cry of pain released the inventor, and fell heavily upon .me, almost knocking the breath out of my body. - I didn't laugh. The reason was that I had a better use foa ths “little breath that remained than wasting it by laughing. Oh, no; I ex tricated :myself and became grave1 again'; grasping Lerdinrs stick I prod ded the anatomy of the giant till, he regained his breath, and; being of the opinion that I had .presented him with my share of the prods, he promptly damaged Lerdini's features.. He didn't damage mine, because I possessed a rather long,, stick. But he soon de cided “that it. Was better to retreat, and accordingly releasing Lerdini he ran \^ith great speed down a narrow path way towards thfe town.” , “WelJ, Ratazzini,” I said, turning to .the inventor^ “what ought we do?” “'Keep our revolvers handy and make for that small building over there; it is only about half a mile; dis tantj” i “But, Ratazzini, the natives of thisi planet might prove .hostile! ?” ? “I don't think so,” returned the. in- ventor, but I am sure that nothing will prevent me from pushing on.” ? “ “ ? “Why?” I asked. “ “, “ , “Because,” answered the scientist, “I desire to gain an insight into the habits of- these .people .and .into their character. Lam determined to enter yonder city and, if necessary, make my home there, for some time. All this I am doing in the interests of science.” Did I take a perilous journey like, that we have just completed to merely “ar- j lve at this planet ? and : then depart? No'; I intend to learn the language of : these people, and- everything . about them. Then when we reach earth again I will have numerous proofs that I visited a new world.” “ “T-e-s,” 1 answeredl slowlyl ? , “Of -course, if you- are frightened, Barrington “ ? “ . commenced .?Rataz- zini “ cuttingly. . ? “I am with you,” I interrupted la conically, and we proceeded on ? our way. , . “ It was extremely hot, and before we bad walked long f. was perspiring pro fusely. Being an Australian, I was accustomed to severe1 heat, but our worst summer's day was not equal to the intense heat that characterised i this, place. Not a (breath of air stirred the leaves. As we walked on we kept ex amining the : surroundings. . A'Sfew birds “possessing some resemblance to crows, and others to cockatoos, flitted among the trees. The former species of “bird emitted a harsh , gutteral sound, while the latter piped shrilly at- rare intervals. “'Come over and see the lake,” said Ratazzini, making in that direction.” We followed, and in a. short time reached the spot. The water was of a greyish color, and appeared inviting enough to us. Accordingly I leaned down (the heat had made me -thirsty) “to lap up the cool-lookdng liquid. But after my first .mouthfal. I spat and spluttered terribly, and arose from , the pool dis gusted. “What's up?” queried ?'.'?Merlio. “Taste,” I repliedV laconically. Merlio did so. \ “Oh!” he gasped; “it's a salt lake, I believe.” “Salt's not grey,” I replied. “I. don't know, irritably answered the inventor; .'but. that's salt.” “Salt is grey in these regions,” broke in Lerdini. \ “You taste,” said I to him. “No,” he responded cunningly; “I would not doubt the word of my mas ,ter.” So, leaving the lake, we -traversed the path till we reached a wall, which surrounded the house for which we had directed our steps. After search ing for some time, we failed to find the gate, so decided to scale the wall. We all three soon climbed the ob stacle, arid dropped gently down on the other side. This placev was evi dently a” farmhouse. Small fowls were leisurely picking some grain from the ground, and a couple of animals simi lar in almost every detail to our cows roamed about the yard. As we made our way towards the house, a being resembling the creature we had en countered near the lake entered the grounds through a circular aperture in one of the walls. He was attired fa the same kind of tight-fitting skin suit. Resting in the cavity of “ this being's neck and fastened to his shoul ders by a rough* thick rope was a kind of wooden box. The creature, who, liy. the way, was” of about the same height” as. the other being we had met with, carried in his hand a small, furry ani mal, tha: struggled desperately. His neck was 0f about the “same length as the other; that is, about 2% feet; When, the creature observed us, he discarded “ his burdens, and sat “down upon the “box. He'showed no sigiis of astonishment, though I verily believe that he was both frightened and sur prised. For a couple of minutes he sat thus, and then, from a pocket ??? in his skin attire, drew forth an ugly looking weapon, something! similar to a dagger, only that it was sharpened at both ends and had several- little blades branching “off from7 the larger one. This weapon was made of a hard white metal. -The creature rubbed its hand or claw along each blade, as if testing its keenness. ? “This doesn't look too well, Rataz zini,^ I whispered. “Let's frighten him,” replied , the In ventor, producing his revolver. -, I clutched'my weapon tightly in “my. hand, and awaited Ratazzini's com mands. Almost immediately after he had spoken he pointed his revolver at a passing fowl and fired. I chose for my target the furry animal that the creature had just released. But my shot went wide of its mark, arid ,. the bullet embedded itself in the box .on which the giant was “ siking. The creature arose, and, letting- forth an awful howl, rushed towards me. Mean while Ratazzini »had .bowled over. “the fowl. However* the death of the bird seemed rather to r exasperate , “than frighten the giant, and he rushed mad ly towards me. ^Lerdini, who was standing, a few yards from (me, with greafc ^presence of mind stretched out his foot,” and” the creature sprawled over it; , , / “^'Quick? quick,” yell-ed the inventor, .taking advantage of the giant's “mis- hap,, “to the house, to the house!” We followed at our top speedy Be ing! a fair runner, I'kepfi “'slightly in the, lead of my companions, while the (giant, who was gaining rapidly, was about fiften yards” in the rear. . . The” house was !built entirely -of stone, save that it possessed a large wooden door. At- length we reached the entrance. I leant my shoulder against the door. It yielded suddenly, and I was pre cipitated-inWards. As the others dash ed\in my wake, another creature rush, ed from an inner room. Merlio pushed the being outside, and closed the door/ Instantly we heard a loud .knocking, and a voice cried out to us in “an unknown tongue. Two of us then leant our weight against the door, while Lerdini .effectually closed it by slipping the great iron bar into ?its place. The door was “fastened by a kind of hinge to the roof, and open ed ( upwards like a trap-door. Now, ,-knowing that we were safe for sat least a few minutes, we critically ex amined the ho-use. It possessed very little furniture, and was exceedingly dirty; all'- kinds^ of filthy matter was allowed to .collect, and the odor which proceeded . from the various rooms was something horrible. | “Ugh! “I muttered ; “Td rather ? re ceive that dagger of his through my Vitals than” stay here long.” Light and air were allowed to enter through several narrow unglazed win dows. However, it didd'nt seem by the, smell of the place that any : air at all: reached- the Interior. “Come here1.', cried Merlio, and ..we .followed him “ to those narrow aper tures, which I “ will henceforth honor by terming; windows.- Without the creature we had .first encountered was chattering volubly to his companion, at the same time gesticulating fiercely and” b'rlndishing- his dagger. ?? $ His companion was attired slightly differ ent from1, himself, and the face was ; softer and. wore a more pleasant ex pression. The body was extremely short and stumpy, like . the other crea ture, but -the frgme- was not so mas sive. : The legs were much longer than those of ? the creature who brandished the dagger, but the neck was straight er and shorter. “Well,” aried (Lerdini, “1 have it now. That first chap with .the dagger is a giant) isn't he?” “Why,” yes,” I answered; “a minia ture one.” “Well,” -replied the inventor, “the one that dashed out of the” house is a giantess.” I laughed. “I ibelieve Lerdini is right,” answer ed Ratazzini calmly, .'for ? “ “Look! Quick!” interrupted Ler dini. “The giant! Look at. him.” We glanced through the window, and des cried this short-bodied1 toeing making for the'door with a large, formidable looking plank. “Heavens!” I gasped. “We're lost! He'll have that door down in a'-” mo- ment.” ? - ? ??;.?.- . Without a word, Ratazzini quickly thrust his revolver-hand through the bpenjrigand fired. The creature, though the bullet failed to strike him,, paused foi-a moment- to ascertain fromVwhence the sound proceeded.-” Then, marking a wild rush, he attempted-. to force the plank, through the aperture/ at. -which Fix this textMerlio was standing. But .as, he., en deavored to :carry out his-'deslgn, Rat azini fired, twice in succession, and the creature,, with an awful groan, iell to the ground. I fired at the female, but D)ls3C-d. This creature lingered no longer, but, straightening its short body and lifting its long legs, dashed swiftly over the ground outside the wall, and was lost to view. (To be. continued next Saturday.)

(1909/09/11 Spring)

Directly the creature disappeared, we retired to the Inner room in order, to search for somethingto appease our hunger. I soon came upon -a large earthenware jar containing a” bluish- colored fluid. / Driven almost maa wun thirst, I raised the vessel to my lips, and did not set it down till f had half consumed its contents. , “What's it like?” asked -Lejdini. “Delicious,” said I, smacking my lips; “try some.” Lerdini drank about half of the re mainder of the liquid,” and then handed it to Ratazzini. “Well,” said the -inventor, when he had emptied the vessel, “that is lovely — something like wine.” “You should have made provision for our not finding any water, Ratazzini,” said I. “I did,” replied the scientist, “but my water-bottle was broken in the struggle with the chap we encountered on our way.” “Nothing to. eat except this,” -broke in Lerdini, holding up the remains of an uncooked bird. From Its appearance it was evident that the: inhabitants or the cottage had recently dined off It. “But we can't eat it like that- I- ? “ “Silence!” interrupted : Ratazzini. “What's .that I hear?” We “listened. I “could hear the shrill whistling voices of what appeared to be a number of the inhabitants” of this planet. “They're approaching,” cried Ler ?dini. : “- : “Quick to the* windows,'- yelled the scientist. ( “We loaded our weapons and rapidly proceeded thither. About three hundred of these creatures, led by the giantess, were fast advancing towards the house. “Quick! We must divide the cart ridges,” cried Ratazzini. “How many have you, Bar rington?” “Seven,': said I. ? “You, Lerdini?” “Nine, Signor.'“ “My forethought again,” said thy scientist. “I took care to fill my belt before we left the aeroplane, and ex pected you to do the same. Let's “divide them.” We did so, ,and I now” found myself possessed of twenty-two rounds of ammunition. “Now to” the windows,” commanded the .scientist.” 1 We -each took our station before -one of the apertures, and awaited Rataz ?zini's further o'rders. The” giants, armed with formidable spikes and their ? peculiarly-shaped daggers, were now a. little distance from the house. “Thrust your loaded revolvers through the windows,” the inventor .cried, “and when I give the word empty every chamber of your weapons into the crowd, re-load again and re peat, the dose.” \ We stood ready. The creatures, led by the “giantess and yelling” fiercely, had now come to within ten yards of our improvised fortress. ^ “Fire!” cried the deep bass voice of Ratazzini. I aimed at the” leader and pulled the trigger. With a shrill cry the creature fell. Two more also dropped, but- the besiegers “ still con tinued to press madly forward. Bang! Bang! Bang!” Bang! Bang! and my revolver was emptied. They were now attempting to batter the door,down. I soon reloaded, and-I toad- thev satis- faction, of seeing five more “added to the four I had previously hit I had again reloaded, and was -about to fire, when crash! “the door was burst open! “To the inner room at once,” yelled Ratazzini, firing at the attackers as he turned. . r We reached the inner; room, but ere we could close the door the mob hurled it open and dashed” into the apart ment. I had now only four cartridges left, and they were in my revolver. Looking round I saw Lerdini hurling his evidently empty weapon at one of the attackers. “ Ratazzini stood in a corner, cool and t collected, with his back to the wall and his finger on the trigger of his” weapon. I was” suddenly forced . to “ turn my attention to myself. A huge giant, armed with a deadly-lookuig club, fiercely rushed upon me. I tripped, and as I fell VI could almost r feel his hot breath upon my cheek. ? His weapon was raised to strike. Suddenly a loud voice yelled angrily in a foreign tongue. My assailant dropped ?his olub and attempted to seize my ?hands. As he bent down I fired” my weapon full at his face. With a cry of anguish he- fell heavily across my body. x -” “ I winced as I felt (his heavy weight and for a momen-t believed that my ribs were crushed. I was almost help less, for I could not rise, anfl” I now had only three shots with wfcich to “defend TiyseW with. Half a dozen of the “attackers then made a savage attack upon me. 1 at once emptied my remaining three chambers into their midst, and- tihree of their number fell. The others(\ however, quickly over powered -me. I looked around when I had/the op portunity to see how it. fared with my ?friend's, pnly to ?discover that they were both .bound and hetoless. - Soon amove ?was imade. We .-were not allowed to wa'lk, but were carriea by the giants in their orthodox way, that is, strapped to their meoks.toy the legs, and- the re maining .part of our body was allowed to “hang limply over .the'-” shoulders of our bearers. ?After a few minutes” waik our cap tors arrived with us at the -wall of the city” {which -we .had observed during the morning. 6penlng a “gate, the party made their way through the wailled” city. “As we afterwards learned this place -was” only the residence of the king,, and- influential .persons. The houses were scattered everywhere around- the country. Our tparty “hurried through -the -city, followed *y a num ber o!f -curious inhabitants.” We at ?length arrived at a great stone building — by -far the largest in the “city, and our captors relieving us of our-'bonds, ?made signs that we should, enter with them into” the. buMding. I. .looked at Merlio for orders. “Do not resist,” said he in a low tone. ?” On entering the place we found our selves in a spacious room thoroughly lighted toy a huge bowl filled with a kind of dust Which blazed “fiercely. Our captors tarried only “ for a tew moments, and-, then marched us out through the door into a. long winding passage. After a couple . of .minutes” walking tve found that the passage suddenly ended, and we were con fronted by a solid stone wall. One of the giants stepped forward, and “leant his full” weight against the obstruction, .part of which gave way, and disclosed ah opening large enough to permit o'C. the passage of one of the giants. Our captors unceremoniously pushed iis through one by one. I was first, and found that after I landed, the stone on- which I stood suddsnly rose and precipated- me downwards. After a drop of about 10ft. I landed unhurt on a soft cushion-lflke surface. My companions immed-iate'ly followed and we were soon all together again. We -were now in darkness. Then I fel-. myself seized and a soft furry cloth was pressed over my eyes an 3 fastened at the back of my head. I guessed my friends were being treated in the same manner, for I heard Rataz zini loudly “ protesting. Suddenly, though blind-folded as I was, I could feel that some one had brought a light ar.tc the place. The next moment I was roughly grasped by the hand and dragged forward. I heard a noise as of a stone being pushed back, and I found myself being forced through (an I. believed) the opening which the stone had made. Immediately I heard th« shrill voice of one of my captors, anc then, as before, the surface oa which I stood (or, rather, knelt) mov ed, but instead of being precipitated downwards, I felt the surface very slowly sinking. For about five minutes I found I still continued .to gently, de scend. , At the end of that time the stone on which I knelt came to e standstill. , I immediately felt a hand on my shoulder, and was roughly pushed forward into a lighted apart ment. At the same time the bandage -was snatched from my eyes; and the door was quickly, closed. I now dis covered myself in a fairly spacious en closure, and I concluded that my prison - must be at least 20 feet below the surface. During the period of my solitary corir finement nothing worthy of mention, transpired. I was forceij to partake of, the raw flesh of . various animals ?(and was not allowed a fire), the same bluish liquid that we had partaken of in the place of our capture was rrf/ drink, and I was “also supplied with a kind of bread “made from crushed grain. ^This grain was converted into dough, and then allowed to. dry in. the sun. On the whole, I was forced to partake of most unpalatable fare. The constant burden of my thoughts con cerned my friends. But let me pass over “the three months of my imprisonment with the final observation, that during my con finement,” owing to tiie kindness of my gaolers, I was enabled to gain a fair knowledge of the “language of the country. . After three months, or, to be precise, thirteen “weeks, -had elapsed I left my filthy, slimy dungeon one morning, and was conducted blindfolded to the pas sage above. Here I met Merlio “and Lerdini looking emaciated and wretched. We were at once conducted with great ceremony into a great roomy hall., This hall iboasted of a splendor rarely found among the iirha-bitants of this planet At the extreme end was a large, exquisitdy-carved” metal dais. The waHs were decked” with rich._. tapestry of various .gaaidy Hues. Stately, pillars supported the richly embeHiab- i ed inart-le-4fke roof. Upon the -various pillars “were carded “life-like figures of giants engaged i» fierce combat Other engravings re presented1 totally opposite spectacles—* scenes-of peace. The floor iwas composed- of a Wood red1 species of stone which glittered ?like a ruby. This floor was- almost as transparent as crystal. iRed flights shaded toy varionB:cqlor«I ?metals, shone ifrom att portions of the founding. At the foot of the dais was an Im« mense sword curiously shaped, and beautifully engraved, while there hung from the roof a -Hue stone figure pos sessing a hundred beads. ?After a Cew seconds a giant, attired in- a Tich robe of the finest crhnsoa cloth, entered and ascended the throne, On his head he wore a curious helmet composed of a snow-white metaL Tb« giants forced us to lie flat on wir backs “but the king (for -he it was) ordered us -to rise. The monarch was a power CuHy-built man, 10ft in height. “-Gur La!” said he — (Good” day, “sirs). Ratazzini returned the salutation. The king; in the languaige'of his country, “ then asked us how we came to his dominions, and- why we had slain hjg. ? subject's. I Ratazzini, ^wixaN^urjngi-'his three montiis'^Eprisbnment, “had .gained a better knowledge of the “lairg-uage of these people than either myself or Lerdini, made a passionate appeal — describing how “he arrived on- this planet, and enlarging on his previous misfortunes, eventually concluding by saying that it was only in self-defence that the 20 giants -had been Killed. The king .listened attentively, and at the conclusion of Ratazzini's narrative, he arose from his throne. “Sa iLic-a-loo-ka” (welcome to Llc a-loo-ka), said he. Here I may -mention tJjat'tho name given toy the giants to their planet wsa Liea-loo-fca. In.- this narrative : we will frequently ?allude to these giants — the inhabitants of Lic-a-loo-ka, as the Lies. The monarch then informed us that we” were (free. In a sudden outburst of joy.Ttatazzm't invited the sovereign to take a trip In his aeroplane if it was. still there.. The airship was in good keeping, one of the j Lies informed us, for. It had been found the day following our capture, «ndthe L:cs, divining that it belonged Fix this textto the Ler-ibur-de (the short-necked ones as *hey called us), they safely housed it till we should be in a posi tion to expjain its use. The king gladly assented, and after having made us acquainted with his favorite cour tiers, followed us to the shed where the aeroplane was kept. Merlio en tered the machine, and, inviting us also to accompany him, the king fol lowed RaiazRini. The scientist nego tiated a successful flight, and after having been an hour in the air, de scended a few yards from the spot from ?vri?ence he started. (To “be continued.)

(1909/09/18 Spring)

The aeroplane was once more.re mcved to its house, and that place. was_ then securely “locked and barred. The king was gracious enough to ex press his approval of the machine, and hs then returned to his palace. - , As” the king disappeared, attended by his numerous retinue, Guzz, ah in fluential Xiic.1 \\hn hafl lalron r, o-~nn + fancy to Ratazzini, approached us. t “Beware1” he whispered in his own tongue “The king is envious of your machine — give it to him, or risk your fThough nearly allied in appearance to human beings in many of their cus toms, the Lies were practically a nation of semL-barbanans First we may d-eal with their religion. Their be lief was this: In the Heavens was once a mighty giant. According to tht “traditions of the Lies, this god w as .possessed of a hundred heads. He was a, inuusana mers in height, and his ne.dk. was'a hundred mers long. (A mer corresponds to two English feet) jLong.jong ago, so the legend ran, this ?gofl'sliyed^ in the land of Lip-a-loo-pa. ;Hc had for his wife a beautiful woman — she was as soft and tender as he was fi.erce,«-and warlike For ten mil lion years these two lived alone with their two children, Gaz and Gul. Gaz was a mild, loving” youth, f much like bis mother. He obeyed his father, as sisted him, and lived for his parents alone But the other child, Gul, was a “ flerce,\warhke lad, much addicted to quarre'ling with his father Gul lefuscd to obej his paternal parent, .and leagued against him with the evil spirit. Gu, who caused the thunder and lightning;.-. At length Gul's father, the *grp.'t god Maz, with his wife Nar, de ci'lcrd to qait the earth and li\e fir ever., in . space. They therefore con vfrted their dutiful son, Gaz, into tho air or -ether, so. that he . might \ spend hi- immortal life in benefiting the iace which “was soon to be created But Gul lie transformed into a fiery ccir.et, which wa-s destined to wander for ever through space in seaEch of .'.the- rest .which It was neve*- to otoiabu The evil spirit, in revenge for taW punishment of Gul, caused a violent^ storm to blow. It caught the god and the goddess unawares, and blew them far, far apart, “ and tliey were nnaW«- to approach one another again; Tho goddess “Nar transformed herself intq the gentle moon, and the god Ma^ changed himself into the fierce, -sun^ He then created the race of giants thai! inhabited .the planet at the present time. He commanded the Lies to sac-« nflce each y'ear-the tallest man in the land. “ i One year, so the legend ran. a ha.% king, Duf, happened to be the ta'Wtwt Lti existing. He stubbornly refused ta allow himself to be sacrificed (this was quite natural). The god at once be came wrathful, and swore that-the king should die, and that as a” penance for: the wickedness of their ruler, each” Li a must every^year cruelly torture” his youngest^ son. They were not to kill him outright, however, till he reached the age of 25. At this age he was to” be sacrificed to the god Maz. If a Lie had no child, he was obliged” to submit himself to be sacrificed when, “ he reached the agcof 40; The women were exempt from, this . custom, as the god had said- that man committed the crime, and therefore man alone must pay the penalty. iAIso as a further punishment, for the disobedience of the king, the*, god or dained that the planet “ whi^.'l^ad hitherto /been a stationary body, should never be allowed to remain 1 at . rest. Instead, it was to be rolled l*fcp.ugh space at the will of the Moz (ttve'imps of the evil spirit Gu). The will of - the gcd had been obeyed eyer since, .that time.” It” was estimated that ,{tj was three million years since1 the! wicked king who was the cause of the^ punish ment reigned, and since that time the planet had never ceased to f revolve. The sacrilegious sovereign w.ho “Aad dared to oppose the will of. his maker -iiiBL-'. wikn a- .viiueiu uett'in, ana.: was 1 buried m a cave. . r . ^ .'.” I Every year the reigning king; in I company .writh a number, of the most I humble people of the land,” journeyed I to the buriaL place and cursed the: re- I mains of the villainous monarch.; The I name of this universally “abhorred ? . ,. I king was Dag. , - ? I The ^mighty god Maz, however, pro- I mised that the Lies who _obeyed*- his laws should,, on their death, ? Decome stars m the heavens, and remain peace fully set, like jewels in ethereal space for all time. Tot the wicked fell -the “ lit of the wandering, restless comet. The race of the Lies .(so, their belief ran) was to remain extant for ever, anfi to their world there was to be no end. The god promised that on the arrival of a redeemer the curse should be lifted from the race of the Lies. On this -romantic legend the whole re'igion of the inhabitants of Lica 4oo-ka- was- based To their cTedit, it .may be stated that this barbarous ?people (unlike:human beings) remained for numerous centuries, and will'prd bafcly,,rcmain for all time*, loyal, to the faith of their nation and of their an cestors. All praise to the Lies, for their sincerity! So ,much for the religious opinions “ sf these people. , ?, . ? “ By giving a short character ? sketch Df these creatures, I will endeavor to prove to the Teader that the actions of the Lies were consistent With the prin cipal traits in that character. Possibly the science that the people of Lic-a-loo-ka were most skilled in was astronomy. They had long dis covered that their planet revolved, and that their, “earth” was almost round. In a people so ignorant of the rudi mentary-laws of civilisation and hu manity, .this knowledge was astound ing. But instead of enumerating their various qualities, good or bad, I be lieve that by sketching the average Lie I can make clear — far clearer than in an-T other way — the wickedness and goodness of this race of gigantic bar barians. . “ Oh the, whole, the giants were & hypocritical, .-, morose, cowardly, and cruel race of people. All I am able to say in praise of them isrthat t-hey were resolute and, -strange to say, extremely religious. . ; The Lies-had no schools or universities, for every chiid was taught ? the duties of its sex” by its parents. Most of the inhabitants of Licaloo ka were farmers (each owning th« ground he tilled), but almost all of the king's retainers, were slaves.. . The female inhabitants were treated with great respect. „ The planet itself contained one huge church,: or, rather, temple, to which the people from all parts of the lanA were forced to journey at least three “times a year. A giant year,, or Dar, consist ed of 500 days. However, the days on this planet, owing to the swiftness wit'h .which it ^revolved . on its own axis, were, only /half, the length of the days on our earth. . \ The planet itself .was supposed by the giants to have been inhabited by the race of Lies for 150 million years. “ However, .this theory. is only based on tho legends. The l»ics possessed no love of literature, and, indeed, rarely ever committed anything; “however im portant, to. paper.*. Several old manu scripts written on stone were still re tained among the people, and trea sured as the commandments of their god. Merho, who managed to/dSbipher (\\ith tho help of Guz) a portion of ?the strange caligraphy of the Lies, however, asserts that the manuscripts mestly contained legends of t'hetancient kings of Lic-'a-loo-ka “ “ .
Political:
The w;hole planet (only a minute pcrtion of w-hich was inhabitable) was governed directly by the king; its population'* was about 400 thousand. The kin? possessed no adviser. “what- ever,, and! like the despotic “monarch he ? was, made “full use of,” his. unlimited power. The few; laws t'hat existed had boon handed down by preceding genc nticn* and were supposed . to have Fix this textbeen drawn up by the -god- himself. Murder was punished by perpetual im prisonment, and fiequent torture if the \ ictim had no relations. But[ if he po=sessod relations they c-uild demand that he be destroyed in the same manner ns he killed his victim. Thieves and such-likc criminals were given as slaves to the person whom they had injured. The chief Fix this textjudges in the land were the king and tfce Gal, or chief priest The average length of the life of a giant was estimated at 95 years.

CHAPTER XVIII.

When Merlio received “the ?warning 6* our gigantic friend he -was extreme ly astonished. It seemed foolish. I Sadmitted to suspect the king of any ivil intention, -for during the aeroplane Toyage he had proved himself affable, gracious, and generous. He bestowed on us a large farm house and 20 slaves ?from his own- “household, and also pro mised that every day we should % be provided with all the .luxuries which Jiia own regal pantry could afford. . The reader “may wonder that the monarch did not “bestow upon us some pecuniary present, so it will perhaps interest him to hear that there was no money whatever in circulation at Lic a-loo-ka. Payment was made by goods Instead of coin. We disregarded to a great extent the advice of our friend} and trusted the ting1 almost implicit ly. Once he was so kind (?) as to order a servant to-conduct us through his prisons. : This was a sight I shall- never for get We -were led down the dark pas sage as before, and in due course ar rived at .the cells in which -we our “ selves had “been imprisoned. Passing dp, we heard groans issuing from all parts of the vaults. When the band age was drawn from our eyes {except the prison officials, no one, however favored by “Che king, was allowed to become acquainted with “the secret of the dungeons), we found ourselves in . a dimly-lig-hted passage. There were only, four sentinels, so our guide told us, who were relieved “every “morning by another party; bringing the day's food arid” drink for themselves and those prisoners who were allowed to -. . partake” of any food whatever. ??'Why'not more than four sentinels?” I asked. “Because, answered one or tlhe conductors, “the guards are armed to the'teeth, and “the prisoners well bound and.” placed under lock and key. Even if one aid escape (which is im .?*'?? possible), he” could not depart “from “''these vaults without overpowering one . . ,'? of the guards, and forcing him to con-. “duct him from the” vaults.'- Laughing “ coarsely, one of our guides unbolted a heavy cell door, and, entering, we be fiield the captive. He was an- old man, i sentenced” to 15 years” imprisonment and torture for having1 “neglected a . strict “ reiigiqp law. The captive groaned piteously. Above him swung an iron spike plate, which at frequent ?Interfals descended and inflicted deep wounds in his head. The prisoner had only to endure this torture for another ;. hour (he had already been subjected to it for two (hours), and he then would be allowed a few days” rest before he was again subjected to a different tor ture. Poor brute! He had already passed nine years of his sentence. I was greatly incensed, and ground my teeth in the impotence of my fury. “Raiazzini,” I whispered, involun tarily grasping my revolver; “whatcan ?we do?” “Nothing,” said Merlio, Quietly, as : we passed into the adjoining celL The ? next prisoner” was lying upon the floor securely bound. One hand was forced “ ; In such, a position that it could not be moved. From above huge drops of .” water descended in quick succession. This torture had commenced three flays ago, and since then both food and tank had been denied to the prisoner. -?: Both of these captives had teen con demned to 15 years” imprisonment and torture for neglecting to attend at the Temple at the required times. The lies :wexe extremely strict in matters of religion. : . ? : .” The next cell presented a horrible b!§J»- It contained, as “we were in-” formed on entering, a political pri ? Toner, -who bad rebelled and attempt “ id to dethrone the iking. .'? This man nad been in prison but four - months. He had had a severe illness ? soon after lie was captured, and this ?was the- first day that he lhad been sub ? Jected to a torture. And what a tor ture it was; (his hands were encased in . ? a receptacle in which was a light red / fluid.- This liq-uid possessed the power of irritating the skin to such an alarm : ing degree as to nearly drive the :- wearer mad. The man's face was horribly distorted, and it appeared as if he had been suffering this torture for a year instead of six hours. Over fhjs face he wore a wood mask covered with fine needle-like spikes. Every now and then a. huge stone which swung like a pendulum from above struck the mask soundly, and cause? the spikes to penetrate deeply into the poor wretch's -face, from which mingled perspiration and blood flowed prtfiuse ly. ? ? “ ??; ?-.'- The man moaned dismally.'- ? : “How long has this poor being/, to bear -this?” I asked. “ ^ -??'.'/. “A week,” replied the guide; “his sentence is perpetual imprisonment and torture. This is the first arid greatest torture, however, “to which” he was. sentenced.” ? ir I bit my lip in anger. “ “Goo^ Lord in Heaven,'^ murmured, “these people are veritable fiends — ?fiends from the nethermost pit of Hell.” My Australian Jove .of justice and ?humanity Tendered me almost insane with fury. Without a thought of what I was doing I sprang forward and fell upon the nearest guide. He was com pletely surprised,” and for the instant omitted to cry out- The next moment, however, he cried to his companion to assist him. However, I quickly clapped my hands over his mouth” and pre vented further utterance on his part. The companion of my victim made to wards the door, but Merlio, seeing that if he did not check his career the others would be alarmed, seized him by the throat whispering in the lan guage of the country that if “he at tempted to cry out he would be imme diately killed. The man answered nothing. Taking his ammunition ;h«»1f\ “Vpriin- fastened the. Lite to one of the many staples in^the wall. “? “ . “What will we do to prevent them crying out?” said 1, stilf retaining my hold of my cajrtive. “'. For answer, the inventor snatched the short dagger from his prisoner's waist girdle, and brutally struck him ?upon the head. The giant, without a word, let his head fall forward upoh his . breast. He was stunned. Fearing that .my man might cry\ out, I placed .my hand over his mouth. “Can't , be helped,” said MerliOi in response to an appealing ? look; “ f ronh “ me, and he despatched my captive in a similar manner. : \ * “ .''.'?? “Horrible,” “said I. “ “ “ _ : “/,, . ?? “Tour fault,” answered the scientist; “you should not have attacked these men. You allowed your feelings to overcome you. And pemeirib'er ttie.tpr tured prisoner!” Ratazzinl added, /asran” afterthought I shuddered, and my desire .for re venge upon the giants again seized me. Crossing over to the farthest end of the cell, Merlio released the prisoner. The creature was indeed astonished at the sight of we human beings, and when Ttatazzini addressed him bro kenly (for we “could speak the; Lie's language , but . poorly) . An his own tongue, “he started as if he had beheld Fix this textan apparition. ; As well as he could, the scientist briefly explained himself ?to the ex-prisoner. Then, leaving the poor Lie in the cell, in the company of ?Lerdini, Katazzini summoned me to him, and we sallied forth to secure the other four guards, and thus “make qur escape certain. (To be Continued Next Saturday.)*

(1909/09/25 Spring)

Two -of j'these ieniiaels were, asJ have pre\ iously- remarked, stationed at each entrance -to fhe passage. As we emerg *ed from “the cell we beheld the lig-ht of the -torch at a distance of about 20 yards” -acting under the advice of Eatazzini. I dropped to the rear to prevent- the escape of the guards m itfiis^dir-ection. After I had crawled “to TOtbm J:en yards of -where the guards ?were stationed, Batazzmi signed me to remain stationary. He th«a crept quickly forward. After, a couple of minutes” suspense I saw ibhe gfan'Ia” torch suddenly extinguish ed t I fancied I heard sounds -of a struggle, and the next instant heard a low -whistle — the appointed signal, and sped forward to the inventor's as sistance But there was irttle need of my help, save to gag the men, for Merlio, -with tne butt of his revolver, 3iad stunned them both. Hastily securing our pri soners, we quickly returned to the ceil. Lerdmi had already forced the guard to exchange- dress with the re leased prisoner. The map. had now recovered his full faculties, and made In eh signs that he desired to speak “We removed _the gag, and the giant, with, many pleas for. mercy, “confessed that tie king had ordered that as soon as ~v\e had inspected the prison, all “ihiee *bf us were to be edst .into the mest -secure vault that ithe prison pos sessed t “, We were ast6unded alt this brutal monarch'1! -ir,cachery * We, however, lost'no'time in useless deliberation, but ha-.irg tecure,dfih'e guard jn the chains that had bouifd the pqIj! cal offender, W departed ft am the celL to secure the ^''nels at the further end of the p^rrage The men were completely taken by surprise, and this task was accomplished in an undoubtedly effi cient manner. Then aifiter -having dragged .our cap tives to the front entrance, the vaults where they would be seen^by the re Fix this textlie\ing guards on fhe morrow, we de parted with a sentinel, whpm we forced to guide us from the -\aurs to .the sur face “above. “ I should ha\e mentioned that all the dependants of the king were dressed in the sa'me patterned -uniforms, i.e., . a close-fitting skin .jerkin, on the breast of which was- embroidered in black the desigri of “the god witti the “hundred heads.” ? / (To be Continued.)

(1909/10/02 Spring)

When we had got clear of the vaults night had fallen, and we W€Te enabled to, proceed quietly to our farm-house, .residence. Hei'e we incarcerated our captive guide, and temporarily shel tered in safety the Lie we had res cued. After a few “days; the released | prisoner of the State departed to the wild mountains of Lic-a-loo-ka -with ( a view to raising the savage inhabi tants -of-that district to espouse his cause against the king. * , The man's name was Tarn. , But to return to the sentinels. They wero discovered next, morning, and ftaviv-g been immediately released were brought before the king1* to answr to “a1 charge “ of^negligence in allowing Tam to escape. They iswore, rhowever. that it -was not so, and th'at the sen tinel we bad incarcerated in Tarn's cell was; the ““ escapee himself. “As the man^- was dressed in Tarn's clothes, aiia-a's-all the sentinels conspired ?against him, the King accepted the^ sto'ry of the guards, and ordered that as a punishment .for having attempt ed “to “ escape, the prisoner “ should , be sacrificed 4to tlhe god ;6n ,th'e o'ecasion of his “festival, “which ?was'i'*bw ap jPro^ach'irig. “ Strange to say^Tn'o word “pf .our “dbings was /allowed tp ^become ^ublicl “partly “because the . sentinels, tearing i^our* vengeance, did iiot.^dare rtp allbw** anything to. leak out, and partly” because the,*King, discovering ,that.nis attempts to imprison.. xis by “strategy.'“ had been unsuccessful, did npt-wisji/to “investigate this delicate . iriatter /any” furtoier^ “ - : “, jffe tlras^ got ciea'£ -of this encoun'ter Vlth; a” f better _ knowledge “of /'the ^on^rch's” intentions towards vus than ^'efore, with a valuable Helper ^against i)xe j King (i.e., “Tam), and, “ most , im “?Bortanrof all/ with whole skins.-, “^f. “J~ .'?'-v^ v*i” i” ? “ ? * * ,?vK” k : ;. Spoji^ after the termination of tttie “event? related in the/previous chapter we ^received a visit from our faithful friend G-uVii, leader of th'e , monarch's b'odyguard. ^ .'??We', questioned ^biir^'fElend as to “the motives” of, -the*-Klrfg. “ “Why “couldn't l\e” kill .us at anyi time, he^wi'shes?” said'L , ,” “ , - “ “-/ “^?.'Because.'“ answered -Guzz, .* “the Kirii( fear?i .that'.theo people .may re sent this, -for “ it is almost* .Tiniversally believed', that you,- the shorts eclted ones,” had been_sent on, a special ints- , sioii^by the^'god. Maz.v .«-/'/'“ “ “ /;-N; “-?Why is that?'ri'furtiier -inquired. , “? “.'Because -you can= fly through “the ahy-V was the* answer^ /'and^that privi “lege? belongs only, to “the; gods.” “ “l l'And-;. does not . the wking believe tjiat?.^ “said. I: f t ,;,'- -; V-.v;/- ““ - “- “'No;', replied Ouza;i “hVb^lieves that, th'e''evilj/spiyt'has(,sent you . to^kill his .people /and,1 deprive him of hFs klng-^ domV” ^But if the king,” continued our) friend, o'could decoy you secretly *inio the .prison “'vaults, , he .could persuade ?the “p'eople that yau'.suddenly .had been retnov.od frbm\ Lic-a-loo-ka by- the evil” spirit.” ?-*? t,v .$*L,_ y ?;-''?*-/; ?] r Guzz then informed usi that the king, who^.wAs an arrajit coward, constantly liv&d-in feat^of losing his throne. Tarn, it was alleged, -was a^directvHlescend apt pf^the kjng.Dag.^w'ho Refused to allow himself to be sacrificed. iNpw, a certain I small sectijbri of the Lies be lieved that that monarch wa& idescend ed “frorn the god, and ..therefore was Jiot.j'reahy intended -.to be^ sacrificed; Therefore the, ^present sovereign wa£ kn usurper, jpf the throne, which should r'ighitly^hay^ been occupied by - the descendants pt Dag. As aiconsequenee of5 “tnis','*re1volutlons vwere ; constantly “.threatening, and plots ,to place ? Tam on the lhronet were exceedingly numer ous'.” -The ( Qunnin^ Gu?;z informed us Fix this text:that,” though leader “'of. the bodyguard of. the. “reigning monarch, he was “'the spy “off the pretender (?)---Tam.'1 This feeling of-antagonism-against!the exist ing .ruler ? thus served -to, bind closer the” tie^ of friendship between ourselyes and, the wily Lie, Guzz. - “ “ “ \

CHAPTER XIX

San-gu, the festival day” of the great( god Maz.had arrived. Giants” from \he most remote portions of --the land, men, Tromen, and children, flocked joyfully to Buerar. the monarch's city, to cele brate with becoming -magnificence “the festival of the god who they adored ind feared so much. The stone-walled city \vas gaily decorated^with reddish grasses and “black flowers-^the chosen colors oftthe great almighty. Thick, various colored -cloths were hung from every window of the king's palace, and thevwh«le city” was carpeted with, the skins of the boo— an animal similar to, a Hbn. -'As for the Holy Hill itself, which was situated adjacent to the palace, it was completely covered,” save for one piece of exposed ground about 30 fecit in area, which was allowed to remain absolutely devoid of any dress ing whatsoever. The remainder of , the hill was clothed with the “bright yellow skin of. the ^barl, a beast Fix this textof burden similar to, - but of a far fiercer nature than our zebra. „ v (To be Continued.) “ s\

(1909/10/09 Spring)

An enormous square board was placed on the hill, and another was placed on the, highest point of the king's palace, so that it might be seen iy all. On each of these “sign frcards,” if I. may term them as such, was carved oh a black background the coat-of-anns of the Lic-a-loo-kas— the image Of J the god” with the hundred heads. (This was the god Maz.) The engraved image was brilliantly colored, and could be perceived plainly at a dis tance of many milesv ? “? “ On the flat roof of the palace was a large crane- like” structure stretch'ing out over the Holy Hill. , The king had commanded “ { that at noon, when the sun should toe in the middle of the heavens, ; the .. prisoners we^e to be “sacrificed. Before the Appointed hour for the ceremony a crowd of “ about 350 thou sand f had, collected on a huge platform arranged for their accommodation. .As for Holy” Hill: itself, it could only be reached by a secret path, ^ known only to the, king, v the priest; and a few of the influential Lies of ! the /'city. It” wanted five minutes” for noon, when a trap door, in “ the roof of the palace opened,. and the king stepped upon the ?roof ^'f ollpwed ;-by the “chief priest, the prisoner, and a” few of the king's bars, or noblemen. The king was -dressed in a:Tobe of richly-dyed purple skin, on wliich was embroidered, the coat of arms of the.. Lies, -.” the) inevitable “god” with the hundred heads.” The priest was .attired in a long flowing garment ornamented also with the” abovemen tioned” design. Upon ., this crane-like structure was a flat metal plate, from which a long wooden board projected over the Holy Hill. , V . ?'?? The prisoner was marched to the ex treme end of the plank, and a, low chant was commenced by the priest, who had mounted upon the metal plate. The Holy Hill was a peculiar freak of nature, shaped directly like\ cone. It was situated^ strange, to state, in valley, over the level of which it rose slightly. However, the rocky sides of the valley were so uneven and steep that they were absolutely unscalable. Only; by the afore-mentioned secret -ath could the summit be reached. 3uddenly the priest; stopped in* his ibant abruptly, and stooped down.” The nan then quickly, released) a chain, [ramediately the board, on the furthest md of which the “bound prisoner stood, -scillated violently. The plank Imme liately began to bend slowly. During this time the people awaited the result in silent suspense. , ,; 4 „ Fix this textBut the plank .took yet another turn. For a moment it stood still'; the next It swung itself violently upward. The rope, which bound the prisoner was severed on the instant The miserable captive .pitched ihead foremost upon the.cbne-llke top of the Holy Hill, a irap of three hundred feet. As the wretch's, body struck the hill a thick cloud of white dust arose, obscuring the vision for a second. ..All was aw fully silent as the dust cleared away, and we once more, gained a glimpse of the Holy Hill- The onlookers raiaeda joyful roar Not one vestige of the un fortunate captive remained. “Le Das Maz. ser mot,” cried the priest ('The God lias been appeased'), and,” followed by the king, he descend ed the trap door. The crowd began to immediately disperse.!

CHAPTER XX.

“Ail” be ready for a short but most likely perilous journey to-night,” or dered Ratazzini, the day after the exe cution. According, we prepared ourselves, and awaited ? anxiously till darkness fell.; : ???'“ ? ;?''.” “'Where are we; going to, Ratazzini?” said I, as. we sallied forth from our abode';. ; ?.-.;., ;.” “? ?'?'; “?? .;;';.” ?,” . V “;4I intend to find a path leading to the Gad-Bud, or Holy Hiil, as .'I wish to discover how that giant was killed.” And so we continued onr way in sil ence till we arrived at the natural rocky wall which environed Holy Hill. The rock scaling was a horrible task. At last, with. bruised hands and faces, we managed to” scramTjle to “ “ a ledge i half-way up'the wall. Here we came upon numerous paths all leading, in dif ferent directions. This thus made the. way .smoother. “Choosing the largest and smoothest road, Rataazinl again led us. on. A .peculiar thiog I noMcc-d was : that the echo of our footsteps seenie'd to betray the fact that the sur face on which were were, walking was hollow. ?? However, the rocky path .be neath, our. feet felt firm enough, and we continued our way. Suddenly Fix this textKataszini, who was leading, rapped out a volley, of oaths, ,and disappeared A loud splash heralded his disappearance. (To be Continued.)

(1909/10/16 Spring)

All three of us rushed forward. We soon located Ratazzini by his fierce im precations, and “discovered by sliding on our dark lantern (for “a; light” would br tray our presence on sacred ground, and mean certain death to us) that the inventor had been unfortunate enough to tumble down a. small well” about- 5% foot deep, so that his chiri alone only ?showed above the water. Hastily we dragged the slush-covered, “scientist from his place of immersion, and, fear ing further mishaps, retraced qur.steps to the spot .from whence we had slart eo.; .But the inventor was determined that” a “cold slime bath should not deter him from making another attempt to reach the cone-like top of the : Holy Hiii, so we accordingly decided to fol low another oE the many paths. The inventor again took the lead.” All went well, ana after an hour's walk we be gan to think that we should be near reaching our goal. Picture our amaze ment: when the next minute brought us to our starting point once more. Still, the inventor was determined to mak^e a final effort/and this time we decided to .follow the smallest path of all. Once we reached the top of the natural environ ,pf the cone-like Holy “ Hill, we knew that” we would be easily enabled to de scend into the valley, and “subsequently ascend the. smooth sides of the Holy ?Hill. “ , . . So we continued. once more to tra verse this path. Suddenly something white loomed up in bur way, and I al most could have, swbrn that I” beheld the grinning, malignant countenance of the chief priest. Ratazzini. bounded forward, but ere he reached, the” spot the apparition had disappeared, and the inventor discovered directly before him a yawning chasm. ? , . “As T rushed to join the scientist, I heard, as I believed, a'low. chuckle, such as the Iiics were wont to “ indulge in when pleased. I sprang to the very edge of the chasm, and gazed1 down wards. There far, below -I beheld a (.white” form clinging, as I believed, to the side of the precipice. Ttiough I could not have sworn that I- was right, I verily ibelieve that the upturned coun tenance of the white-clothed figure was that of the chief priest of- the great god Maz. - Exasperated at the'.sight'pf “rthe^Cas I thought) ^evilly grinning countenance, I pointed my revolver at the form.” My fingers,, quivering with, ra^e, were al ready pressing the trigger. “Fool!” cried Ratazzini, and w.itbout warning he snatched the wjeapori from .my hand. i *A shot would mean -our; .certain death toy the hands of these incarnate “devils,” he added hoarsely,- with an effort to over-rule his passion. / Still holding the ? weapon in his hand, ne ;glanced below. The evilly grinniriir ? face was still upturned towards us. , /'Fiend! my, turn will -will come!” cried the. inventor half to himself; .'jand” when it does I will slay, every inhabi tant of this landr-f rom .the ,kirig t (the cause .of all my misfortunes here) to” the lowest brute on.^the planet. And you,” the scientist added, half raising ?his voice and gazing down in the direc tion of the grinning priest, “I will con Fix this textjure1” the very “fiend from Hell to assist -me to torture your king andTyou.” With an inarticulate cry, the inven tor, almost crushed by the .violence of some powerful missile',^fell unconscious at- our feet. ? As I .bent down to tend my. unfortunate .friend, I could observe the Lie below shake his “,fist , in our direction, and gradually fade from my vision. ^ “ ? “After some little- difficulty we. at -last succeeded in restoring Ratazztni, finally returning to our* residence without seeking further for the .passage to the Holy Hill. .___ ““ “, - - After many Ifalse .paths we at length arrived at our destination: Ratazzini was still weak from his wounld on the head, and it was necessary to ? assist him ^upon the way. “ , .. .

CHAPTER XX.” The next “day after our fruitless at tempt to reach the Holy Hill, “the festi val of the Lies was continued with great magnificence. ?- “ .i s . So enthusiastic was --L that I en deavered to persuade Ratazzini to lallow me to produce the gramophone that we “had brought, and surprise the giants -by our speaking machine.. The wily scientist, however, demurred, and ultimately refused my request on the grounds that the Lies might put down the phenomenon to the, influence of the evil spirit and attack us. “ “ (To be Continued.)

1909/10/23

On this the second day of the festival It was also tho custom of the females to make some sacrifice to Bo-bor-Maa (the great god Maz). Here I may mention that the males were quite bald, and tho females were the same, save for a small pig-tall growing Jf'rom the crown of the 'head.
The hair was or.ine, ono coioi — imuwoh grey. The women now. took part for the llrsf time In the annual festival. One .by. one. .they , marched to the dais on..wtych..the chief priest Bam, eat. They then bowed their h«ads toe. tore the. dais. . The priest produced the Ban-gVor goddess's knife, and having snipped off the. hair close to tho skin threw, 't Into a toraqler (llled with blue
lire where It wa-s Instantly consumed. The priest then dipped a short metal start' fUbout lft. long) Into a flask containing a bluo liquid; He then romov«d the staff and placed the wetted end upon the prominent part of the neOk, thus producing a clrcular-hhaped but lneraslble blue 'mark. Each of these mapks showed the visit to a festival, and If a Gat-toon (or -woman with a head-gear) did not possess at least 10 marks such as these she waa Imprisoned. It should toe hore mentioned that women wore unl lillnninrl tn naunnin nnv snpP.lpR of
bead-gear whatever until they had attained the age of 40 years. A bare-headed female was expected to show at least three marks after she had attained tho age of 25 years. The nunVber of locks of hair that each woman sacrificed was checked by ,,thp chief priest of the great god, Maz, After all the women had conformed .itho custom, tho men were once more brought before the chief priest, Each
one, as ne pasaea in turn oeigro. ioib august religious luminary, was pierced upon the throat with some sharp peculiarly-fashioned metal Instrument. ??' .''.. i The number of wounds thus appearing, on the throat of the man signified the same as tho marks or stains' made upon tho neck of tho woinon. Out of mere curiosity, I allowed ..'myself to be pierced In this ?way, and , !?o lasting Is the lmpreBSlon of this instrument, that the mtitfkmade ithon can be -plainly perceived even at the present 'time; , '
After, the, day's ceremony, the Kins Invited.' the. chief prlost, a few of the nobles^ and ourselves to assemble at ?the palace, there to partake of. a magnittcent supper -(banquet) that had been ?prepared. It may have been magnificent to. the Lies, but to us tho msal was (like air the. others we had par. taken of on ' this planet); extremely frugal. A long plunk, about 5ft. wide by 15ft. long, suspended -by chains fastened, to the corners, from the celling, Berve'd as a table. The object was about 6ft. from' the ground; and owing to our shortness qf statue, raised seats had to toe provided, for us. In honor of the festival, the tablo was lighted by one -beautiful crystal lamp,' filled with a certain powder which gave of the Bur
Mar-Maz, or sacred flame of May. The dish that served tho giants for meat was the uncooked flesh of the baa, an animal similar to bur buffalo. Knowing our penchane for cooked food,. tho King had kindly given orders that' all ? the victuals provided for as should be cooked. This ban flesh, grilled as we had It (the giants couid learn no other way of dressing It), though shamefully burnt, was palatable. ?We We had made arrangements to make our own bread from the crushed grain, and so were not wanting In that. There were no fish at Llc-a-loo-ka, and consequently the second course, I.e.,
a kind of sweetbread made of man-gar, a substance something similar to pollard, concluded the meal, which, strange to. say, lasted two hours, ' » Having watched the King during the whole of the meal, 1 can aafely assert that ho must have swallowed about i fifteen pounds of meat and twenty pounds of man-gar! Truly, these Lies manifestedan apparently Insatiable appetite. The last half-hour of the meal was occupied In drinking copious draughts of -the blue liquid, bln-gat, and eating pounds of a certain luscious fruit, something similar to our apricots,
but larger and more juicy. This fruit was called by the giants al-bl. The 'Lies possessed nothing similar to or used In the* same' manner 'as butter. As soon as the meal was finished Ratazzlnl. .called mo aside. 'Remember bur appointment with' Tarn,' aald he. 'Come along at once.' Accordingly,' beckoning to Lerdlnl, we 'made 'some excuse for our hurried departure, and quitted the place. As I turned from the door I noticed tho' eyos'of'tho 'Chief Priest, Bam, were fixed steadily; on us. He had made n-- allusion to the affair on the Holy Hill, but I was surd that the hypocrite was playing so'irtodeep game. Ratazzlnl had himself to mako some plausible excuse to the King for. his bandaged head,' but still Bam spoke no word. ? '; ??'??' ????'?'?? ?'..'.
It was a game of wits ? between ' a1 sllontj ' revengeful, intellectual 'and crafty Italian and a cruel, hypocritical, yet cowardly Lie. ?'..?' : Who was. to win? . ; . ?. The forfeit- -.was death,- the reward was life.' '?? ;'

CHAPTER XXI..
At the appointed rendezvous we eh-' countered ^hp^. rescued , prisoner Tain, and; a.3/ we had planned, struck 'out for th.e-'Holy Hill, Ratazzlnl taking the precaution -to -supply himself with a thick' SDCCles of 'rnnh .fhnt Mm T.l^,.
possessed.. We could easily' have flbwir to our destination in 'tho aeroplane,but not without seeking tho permlssldri ofthfl Kins;,,and to remove lt.'ahd thus' arouse suspicion, So wo commenced' ?to loll up- tho Hin, taking. a\ different' route tifari bef pro.' '.''?'.'.?' . Oh!, It was an awful task.' ' As'ouf' party advanced, the side of the Hill'
grew so steep that it seemed almoHt peipendlcular. The alr,: already closo and hot, seemed to literally, boil the perspiration that streamed, down our faces. -.The surface Itself was covered with a white powdery dust, which rose In our' faces, filling our ncses and mouths till we were almost choked and our eyes till we
utmost punaea. The sharp rockB themselves offered no resting-place, and our hands were cruelly lacerated from our frantic endeavors to reach our goal; One could, not remain an Instant In a reclining posture without being cruelly pierced by the sharp thorns that grew out, from this stony surface. Once Indeed, , in an effort to gain a firmer foothold, I lost my balance,. and had not Lerdlnl grasped me by the shoulder I -must Inevitably have rolled head foremost down the steep- hillside. 1 - (To be Continued.)

(1909/10/30) Missing

The Daily News Perth had repeat printings. Trove only has the Third Edition for Saturday 30th October 1909. As there are no apologies or continuation of the story from here in the following issue, it is likely this part of the story exists in the First Edition on that day. While Trove has a full copy of the Third Edition, that issue does not contain this one missing section.

(1909/11/06 Spring)

Notwithstanding Its Immense area, this apartment was only lighted by the ,one huge lamp fed by a kind of powder taken from the crushed pulp of a flower called the Ar-boo. It gave forth a ?bluish or rather purple-colored flame, which It was the priest's duty to never to allow-'lt to go out. Ab.I have said, It. was truly a peculiar “sight, which smote our vision. This subter ranean chamber was about 000 yards In length and 600 yards In breadth. It. pds'sessed a large groined roof, .'sup-” ported by beautifully, carved, massive stone pillar*. The- prlost wished to hurry through, but Ratazalnl threaten ed death if he did not conduct U3 over! the place. As I Bhould have mentioned1 before, the lamp which Illuminated the building In such a peculiar, If -? not efllclent, manner was suspended from the roof by three huge chains. In the centre of the vast hall was a gigantic statue, supported in a reclining posi tion by two huge barls (animals to which,- 1 havo previously made allu sion), carved In solid crimson stone, Strange to say, “ the eyes of the image appeared like those of a giant In life, but for a certain dull, Indifferent ex pression that lurked beneath the ovor .hanglng lids. We approached the spot to take a nearer view, and Ratazalnl touched” the dull” flesh-colored” exterior of the statue It did not yield in the slightest. Ratazzlnl spoke to the priest. “Who are these Images? What is this place?” he managed to ask In mongrel Lie; “They are the deceased rulers of Llc-aloo-ka,” answered that worthy, sullenly, “and this is the nal-ve or burial place of our kings.” “But this man, he Is not like you?” said Ratazzlnl, pointing to the Lie. “.No,” said tho priest, “after a Lie has-been burled 60 years lie changes Into a marble-like substanco like this figure you now see. Twenty million years ago that man lived, and was king bf.Llo-aloo-'ka He” -spoke to the” people of the.; Saylour that jvouid be sent to them from; the great /'God Mais” (here the .jirlest reverently. Inclined his head), who would speak “to. iis of the love of our God, and of ? “ “Curse Maz and youj you Imp of the Satan, can't you tell a story without In trudlng. these side issues?” ?; ?. “The “truth “Is,” said” Rtttazzlril,; turn ing to me, “this body is petrified.” It was so, and on inspection wo found that, like all the deceased Lies, these corpses ivere jn this state.'. ? \* In niches, alongside the wall the bodies reposed, each nlcho gaily doco rated with flowers and rich cloths. The floor of this ghastly burial; apartment was covered with a thick rich pattern of carpet. Along tho centre the most notable of tho kings reposed, each -supported “by two carved barls. It seemed that the barl was the emblem of death among tho giants. Tho one thing peculiar about these petrified” corpseg was the extraordinary stato of preservation In which the eyes “re mained. Similar to when In life, their orbs gazed darkly upon us, a Weird half-angry expression seeming to rest In them. The eyes verily pierced tp the depths of one's soul. “Oh, Ratazzlhl,” I murmured, start ing back from the fierce, restless eye, of the King Gan-bar— the predictor “of the Saviour's coming; “these dead bodies seem to be enlivened by those weird eyes; they fascinate me, and seem “to follow us wherever” wo go.” “Peculiar circumstance,” remarked Ratazzlnl drily, and 1n a volco that plainly betokened” that ho had no care for such fears. ? “ “ I, however, was different. The whole asipect of this vault was weird and awe-lnsplrlng. Tho bright, piercing eyes of tho corpses, the gaudy decora tions of the apartment, combined with the oppressive stillness, all tended to” make me feel awestruck, and to fill me with a presentiment of boding evil, like a black cloud hanging threateningly over us. The vault Itself inspired me with” many nameless and till then un experienced terrors. The walls were hung with purple tapestry, which foil In graceful folds to within about 15 feet from the floor. Upon It was em broidered various spirited views, de pleting battle fiercely contested, and charges stubbornly resisted, besides pictures of kings being conducted to their, thrones, to their “'supper- tables, and, lastly, being; carried to their graves. Thus ?practically every scene in the Hfp of a Lie” was depicted by the skilful needlewomen of the kingdom. The roof of the vault, which stood- at a holg-ht of 600 feet” from the floor, was fantastically carved and ornamented. Animals of various kinds, some made of white marble,; others” of gla, a metal very ? shiny and something similar to gold, were suspended in all Imaginable positions” “from tho roof. The giants” corpses were” placed In different pob tures. Some were equipped In battle attire, with their long pikes in their hands, and huge helmetB upon their heads; ?? others were” attired In .pure white robes with the imago of the omnipotent Mass— the god with the hundred heads worked upon the breasts. But though the giants were dead, and most of - them had been dead for a couple otf centuries, they all re tained in their faces arid In their eyes tho expressions with which thpy died. Somo were ? looks of pain and .'worry; others the veil of placidity and con tentment. , “ : “ : “Take us to the king who has died last,” said Ratazzlnl suddenly, ad dressing the chief priest, whor had; been slinking silently after us during” the period in'Vhlch we were “lnspeot Ing the wonders of, the vault. “Here it Is,” said the priest In Lie, indicating one ot the” niches; ? ? «: ; “How long has this man been dead?'“ asked Ratazzlnl suddenly. ?? i . “About twenty-five years,” responded” the Lie. “ ? ,. , ; The inventor felt the skin of the. man's arm beneath the sleeve of his! ?long white flowing robe. It yielded somewhat to his touch.- “-.” “? “You'see,” said the aviator, turning: to. me, “as the priest says, fifty years” must elapse before the body is thoroughly petrified.” “Oh, leave these carrions,'“ !? an swered testily, “let us examine the1 wonderful statue elf the great god Maz at the end of this bunding.” ? “'“ “Soon,” murmured the ? Inventor. “How. many are burled In this mighty catacomb?” asked he of the priest? “Twelve thousand,” answered the priest, . .. . . “ “Not- an enormous number, for the product of severa'l millions of years,” answered Rataz'zlnl. “ “Still, It Is qulto enough If you will reckon that ono Lie can live to the ago of 125 years; tho alloted. span “for the life of man Is below a .hundred years.” : “You reason cautiously and craftily,” answered Ratazzlnl, as we walked over In tho direction of thu statue of the great god Maz, the mention elf whose vory name Inspired the pecplo of Llc a-loo-ka with an awful yet Indefinable dread. A cry of- wonder escaped me ns I gassed upon the statuo of- that deity so dreaded and revered. Fully two hundred feet to the shoulders alone, the god presented a formidable appearance, His whole body was clothed In a robe of white, over which was thrown a gaudy covering covered with precious stones. Blue,” green, ? white, and, In fact, all colors Imagi nable, these, stones clothed the whole body of the great statue In a blazing” robe of dazsling, glittering light, One hardly dared to look upon tho flame enshrouded figure, so terrible an ap pearance did the whole Idol present. The stones fliemselves, of so many variegated hues, formed tthemselves irito ??-,.! no determinate ““ color, “merely ijheddlng fprth to blind, our eyes by Its brilliance. a wealth of lustre— a world ot scintillating, blazing, flashing, glittering gems— a sea of indescribable, unimaginable brilliancy— a flashing maBs of ,dapzling, fla'mlng color. “Good heavens, RataSzlnll” T cried. “I thought no such gems as these ex isted in our own world* or in Lica loo-ka.” Indeed, there seemed a scarcity of precious stones with the Lies, those the king wore being of what we would consider the poorest possible quality. And these Jewels were, in fact, work ed Jn to tho robe of gaujje till almost nothing save the edge of tho true material could be seen. They fowned a dainsllng robe of brilliancy from the shoulders to the feet of the great eod Maz, “Good heavens! I” I yelled again; “gems of ha-lf the value or brilliancy of those are unknown on earth.” “Whoro did t_ey come from?” asked” Ratazzlnl In Lie of the chief priest. “For five million years they have re mained in thts temple as you see them now, forming the robe of the great god Maz, whom the Lies love and adore,” “Where did they . come from?” I asked. “From Gat Gar, the ethereal resi; denco of the mighty god Maz; they are part of his flocks and herds. The wonderful and merciful god does not drive paltry llttlo Gads” arid Burs like us,” ho concluded. “His omnipotence Maz seems to be In “luck, both to be able to drive” such tihlngs as herds and in being able to befool such people as the great race of Fix this textthj Lies,” said Ratazzlnl, sneerlngly, to the priest. “I wonder where the legs of these, remarkablo herds are?” asked Lerdlnl, silly. “Nover mind, Lerdlnl!” remarked Ratazzlnl. . “Remember, however, that this is. a wonderful discovery, and a useful one for us, for- 1 ask you again to remember that before I leave this place every one of us will be rich, in effably, unspeakably,, far beyond tho dreams of grasping, heartless avarice.” (To bo Contlnuod Noxt 8aturday.)

(1909/11/13 Spring)

'Where's Maz's head?” I suddenly flaked, Nothing could bo perceived, above the shoulders of the image; the roof, abruptly closed over It. ? “Where's the nrleat?” Lerdlnl ex claimed in answer to me. A yell from “Ratazlnl, and I Baw him pointing frantically at the back of tho idol. ?-..- .. ? “ ? ../ I looked, and saw a sniall door : in the “Wall, partly closed-, “ ? ? ?'* ?; The priest ? had, ?wKile we w«lre g'ai 1ng awestruck at . the- jewels; metn-” ! aged to “slip through this concealed opemlng. . .'Follow me!” cried Ratazzlnl, rush ing forward, ^ut ere ho reached the opening the door closed with a bang. Without a word tho inventor placed his revolver near the place where the lopk was set into the wood, and- dis- charged the five remaining charges at It.. A howl of pain was heard from in side, and after the fifth shot tho dtjbr yielded to a violent push from Ler dlni, and we burst Into the apartment. Wo immediately found ourselves In a small room at one and of which was a narrow staircase. The priest reclined upon the floor moaning” and” howling piteously. ? “ “We'll find our way out of this as” best we can, but may the devil take me if I give the brute another chance of escaping and ruining alii” ? ?? “ “ So saying, the ? inventor “'''deliberate-, ly reloaded his revolver,- and after seeing that every chamber was ^charg ed, placed it against the temple: of the unfortunate priest. “Rataazinl,” I cried, .wholly over come by my own feelings; -''I'lr.. no't allow this.” ,. “ .,'.',.-? “Oh!” said the inventor, turning up on me; “I forgot that we “had a moral-” 1st in, our party. Your English com passion again/” he concluded sneer'-, inffly. . . - - . ?? .:,?'.???? “ “Say rather my Australian1 love of justice and humanity,” I replied pr&ud- ^ “ ?';??',:?:'? “ “ “??;.!;. ?;'''V:.-Vv- “Be, It aa it- may,” answered the aviator, his wrath kindling again,- “'but this .man is “. under my power,” a'rid i'. will “not ask. your permission to'*klir him,” he answered. “By what power,” roafed: he; ? “by what ? power: .'.do ^you propose to foil my purpose.'. “ As he said the words, the aviator again .pressed his revolver to the temple, of the “shivering priest. _.?'-/ “ ? “By^what power, do I interrupt? By the power of thls(“ I cried, raising,, the revolver I was carrying in . my handi “By the power of this! Give your. re- volver to me, Ratazzlnl,” I cried, “for before I will Pee you commit such a cowardly and brutal murder as this— by the good God above me, I will shoot you dead.” .,,, ,_, “ ,.-?'. --.: ,;?. . ? ? ;. “.: ?»? “ “Tire Lerdlni,” cried Ratkjralnl, “for before any man— especlallyi'an- ?ls'n1y- lishmanf-Bhall. humble me, he shall “ die, wore .he my -Very” brother.” “:

(1909/11/20 Spring)

Perceiving that Lerdinl would not be How to oboy the command of this touch beloved master, as soon as Ra tazzlnl ?gave It, .and before tho servant could raise hi;* weapon,, I sprang for ward (the Inventor was in a stooping posture “but two yards from me) a*nd hurled my full weight on Ratasjzlnl's banding form. As I felt the Inventor give beneath my weight I heard two reports almost simultaneously, and” ?two “bullets tourled themselves in tho furthest wall” of the room. I had just escaped Lerdini's bullet by springing v en Ratazzlnl, and by springing on Ra tazzlnl I had knocked his weapon aside as he “flred, ? and thus saved the “ priest. As I pressed my lAiee upon the chest of tho struggling scientist, he yelled angrily to Ijerdlnt to flre. I looked up. Lerdinl was pointing his ?weapon full at me. , “Take, that!” I cried aagrlly, firing haphazard. Tho bullet passed through tho fleshy part of tho shoulder, and .with a roar of rage Lerdinl rushed to “ wards me. As ho sprang aiipc'.i me, I ?wrenched his revolver from his hand, end, pointing one - of ? the weapons at his breast, asked him to give in. “Never!” “, \ “Give in, or I'll kill both you and your “ master,” I cried, attempting to point tho other weapon at Ratasszini. “H.ypu consent to release my mas ter, I wlH,” answered Lerdini, sullen . Jy.-.-.. ?:?'.: . . . ? ??your: word; of honor to talk mat ters peacefully over if I release you!” II cried to Ratazzlni. I knew” that It iwas .only “by tack that I had secured tootli, and I felt, that I must very soon to overpowered. “ “Vary well,” answered Ratazzftil, sulkily, “ireturii us our weapons, and (put your own away “ “ raid so., ;;?.:???'? ?'Well, what is tho moaning of this, Barrlngtbri,” said “?Ratazzlnlj “would you -have killed” your .old friend?” “Yes, : before “I .would see him” com mit such a: dastardly “act,” I replied. “We'll, ;had ytfii done so,. Barrlngton,” rop'lled-” the Inventor,” “you would have rid the oarth of a Caesar.” ? . : “You ; are decidedly “ modest,” I an swefedsneerln'giy.-: ?'“ “^evpr “iriin'd;” tho; priest, deserved death. Why did you- hinder me ? “ “Because, brute though he be, he did not -m^rk” butchery .in cold blood,” I responded” warmly. “ . “But,'1 commenced ? the lnvontor, “I ?'Hold— let me- finish,'. I Interrupted. “Would “your1 good -angel— Constance, your Intended :wlfe — have “advised you to slay : him?'“ ? “ “ “Aye?” answered” tho Inventor. “ “Very ?we'llj” I cried, retiring to the furthest” eorrfer” of tho room. “Go! “ rather-” than continue to he a com-” panlon'- : of such “as you. I” “will1 -remain” here, where only the lifeless bar's of “ this heathan “ Deity shall receive “my last sigh. Go, Ratazzrnl, for -In spite of your genius you are little more than a clever brute (—return to earth when you please, and perhaps when there, you are receiving tho homage of a brainless multitude, you will once deign to oast a thought back to tho body of your friend which lies mouldering In tho presence of the ancient dead of a mighty nation, which I am- tempted to say, can boast of a tew more humane spirits than you ? “ “'A human being and a Christian, Barrlngton,” said the Inventor, with an effort to appear calm, “though you have Insulted me— and poured reproach upon me I tenow — I am aware that you do so in” the belief that you are speaking the, truth.” “In the certainty,” I interrupted hotly.. . “Veryi- well,” answered the aviator, and continue*; : “This priest well de served death as I mysellf only know, but still for you— who have “ thrice saved my life, I will consent to his being pardoned.1 I know Barrlngton that when you implied that I was a ?boast, you “spoke the truth, but re member,” he added, “if my shameful treatment had been yours, brutality would be the only determinate trait in your character. Harrington, I know you believe— firmly believe In “Doing unto others as you would have others do unio you.” Experience has taught me the ; difficulty of following that dootrlnb. Man has convinced me of whnt the requittal of my good \ prac- tices shall rightly be. I have en deavored” to, be a morallHt, but man kind Has made me an oppressed beast. Yes, a boast,” trodden under the feet of foolish -feilow-cltlzena, unnoticed by the- groat monarchs of the earth. Psliawl What are the monarchs . of the- earth?” . Has their cleverness brought them there— no, they but exist In their ancestor's prestige. “Never mind, Ratazalnl,” I broke In, “bring tho priest along and we'll got up these. steps and sto wrm'B above.” , “Come,” said I, raisins the priest. . “Ser bur. doe,” whispered that Lie In my ear, “you have saved mo only, that I. may subject you and your com panion's- to: the most fiendish and brutal tortures that my brain and my hate can devise.” ?'-” , And before I could answer, the priest made a da'sh for tho stairs. Fortunately ha “was Intercepted by Ra'asszlnl.” The priest's wound being only. In the hand, RatazBlni consigned him to Lerdinl with .orders to that servitor to shoot him “without.. notice if he, endeavored to . escape'. “ “ , “ [ ?fNow we” wjll push on,” said Rataz-. zl'ni, niptlonlng to Lerdinl to ascend with tho priest.” “Henceforth,” I murmured half to my?e'!f as I saw the form of ,the un grateful “-nr)est ascending the stairs In frpiit of me, “''I will lend no inhabitant cif this, planet my assistance. No, I will “slay them without compunction, anil.” In. dold ilbod as tholr Ingratitude moiii's.” ??,'.'? .” . “ “I asroo with you,” said a deep bass, voice” 111. response to my muttered rer1 flections. .” , ?'Lobltlhg-rp-urid I perceived RatazzinL behind. “me. “He had overheard my Fix this text?words. . “ ?” “ “ “ ? ? “MerljOj” I cried Impulsively— “forgive: me— I should not have troubled to save, tho, life of. that ungrateful “ brute.;1, “ “What “did— “ commenced” the Inven tor, “'but he loft his sentence unfinish ed and'siowly held1 out his hand to riwK-: l- ; ? : ? “I was in the- wrong— forgive,” I be gan. *.??'. il “?” i'hi” Inventor cordially grasped my. hand, “and waved aside my protesta tions; .''-'?” ? “ ? “Do” unto, “others as you would have others fl(o. unto you.” “Ah!” he1 murmured slowly, and all iresentment passed from pur. hearts in a fervent grip pf the hand. ,

CHAPTER XXI. Wo soon hurried up the steps, and found ourselves In a Email room, The Fix this textpriest Immediately prostrated himself, and pointed to* the farthest arid .of the apartment.. I looked, and there I saw a mass” of flame spring from what ap: pearecV to bo a huge crystal dlshl and wrapppd in this flame was” a ilarge head pof marble, out “of whose eyes, mouth, and, nostrils darted blue flame; arcuml ;It were ranged about 100 smaller heads, “ ; “ “The “h'e'nds of the great god Maz,” murmured t!io priest, “All! ii!s heads “at last,” answered Lurdlni; “ “Ltt's examine them closer,” I beT Ban. “.?''? .'...?...

(1909/11/27 Spring)

'In two hours day will have dawned,” Interrupted Ratzzlnl, consulting his watch, “and then ? “ “*Como at once,” said I quickly. “I havo no desire to spend another twelve hours in this palaca of terrors.” “Lead on,” said Ratazalnl to the priest. That worthy moved a tow paces across the apartment, and open ed a trap-door concealed in tho wall. I looked down and beheld a cago-lllto receptaclo attached to a rope. Tho priest entered, and we followed. Without a word the Lie closed the trap-door, leaving us in darkness, At the same time I felt that we were rapidly descending. “Our bull's-eye, Ratazsslnl,” I cried ?hurriedly. “ : “ “Broken in the struggle,” was tho reply; For about three minutes we still contlnuod to descend. “ Suddenly the cage hi which we were in stopped. “ . “Whore” are we?” cried I. . “At the Holy Hill,” was the laconic rejoinder of the priest. “ “Quick!” cried Ratazzlni, hastening up the steep sides of the Holy .Hill, “ Following : tho inventor, we soon reached the apex. A kind of a rail en closed” a circular patch ot\ about 20ft. in dlnrneter. Ktraniro tn j-.a\*. tho soil enclosed by this rail was of a “dazsllng whiteness, while ? tho ; color of the ground outside this area was the uni form black. “ When we reached the summit of the cone-like hill Ratazzlni, to my great surprise, placed his hand through the railing which enclosed tho white soil, and, having grasped, a clod of thb white substanco that composed this portion of the hill, carefully thrust It into his pocket, and, beckoning us to follow him, seized the priest's arm and hur ried “down the hill. ? “Quick!” he said; “we must be out of this place before dawn or we'll never leavo alive.” *

CHAPTER XXII. Now at this period nf my story it Is necessary to supply the reader with additional Information concerning Llc-a-loo-ka and its Inhabitants. The giants themselves were Rlmll.it (excepting as regards tlio construction of their neck” and head) in almost every respect -to a human being. ? Ratazzlni,. w-ho, as I have said before, was. more than half a doctor, dis sected ono of. the Lies and discovered that .most .of the Internal “ organs, though constructed on a large scale, were similar, to the organs of a human being, .,..'? Even the head was as weak physi cally in some parts as our own, ana eyoa .weaker for. a very light blow in deed was capable of stunning a giant. The- language of Llc-a-loo-ka was difficult in tho extreme, for notwith standing :the fact that. we sojourned for two years and more In Llc-a-loo-ka, wo had but an elementary knowledge of” the “ language. A peculiar fact to be. noticed is that the words of the Llo language were mostly, short and oven “sometimes guttural. As a rule, most of the words began with a “g” or ended with a “z.” | The writing, too, was difficult and hard to” discern, being something similar to Chinese, but written in ridiculously small characters. To tho extreme1 difficulty In obtaining & thorough grasp of the language and to the entire lack of any system “of educa tion -whatever, I must attribute the utter ignoranoe:of the Lies of their own language. The most learned, had about aa; thorough a knowledge as the average” coster has of -English., And as for Writing— Why, “as I mentioned*1!)©-, fore with'- the exception , of a few laws carved” on stone and handed down by j preceding generations, thero was little - written matter to bo found at “ all among tho giants. , : ?There were no authors” whatsoever In Llc-a-loo-ka. “ . “ “ “Fict'ioh” would” have” been “regarded es culpable, prevarication. ? -?'^Taleh of travel found no appreciation “among the “giants, for the inhabited ?portion _ of the planet was very small In extent; aiid all the news ifrom afar could bo- gleaned from .the pilgrims ?who'. paid” their yearly visit to the kihg'u city, to- be present at t'ho festival of tha “Great QodvMaz,” AH ideas of morality and phllosoply were -received,” from .the teachings bf Bam, the ??Chief Priest of Maz, AM other subjects, such as are contained In :book!$ were .either disregarded, or some .knowledge of them would be gained .f rc-m the priest. v “ ... Tho Lies had lived without such treasures as .books, and consequently did pit know their value, . . .;The. power that can control a nation, the. force by which kings* are enthroned and exllcd-^tho pen, was unknown and “ consequently unwished for and uncared | for by the barbaric inhabitants of Lic a-loo-ka. ; . ;',” What fhese pooplo'lmight have been had tlie power elf the pen been through- “ ly known and appreciated throughout : their world, I dare not hazard a con- “ jecture, but It is certain that a nation lacking the support of n press, and yet not wanting in so many of the qualities that make an Intellectual and progressive people would if tho afore mentioned power became a factor in the government of ajaml, oxec-l In many — many walks of life, the inhabi tant of the planet that wo stylo our earth. Barbarity was rtrans?-'y Inter mixed, ? Pwplo with the fee-lings of beings such'ns t'.iese, must exert n per nicious Influence over the people to whom civilisation has not made itself a desirable acquisition. (To bo contlnuod next Saturday.)

(1909/12/04 Summer)

'But let us pass on to “'other eub« Jects — Art, for example. Of paintings the Lice had none whatever; but In sculpturing they by far excelled the inhabitants of the earth, The walls of the Lic-a-loo-kan temple, tho ceil ings of the palaces, In fact most of the structures of Lic-a-loo toasted o£ marvellous and Inspiriting sculpturos. Such trades as carpentering and en gineering were not followed at all by the giants, the principal Industry, as I have sail, being agriculture. Aa for the Government service, to be truthful, though laconic — there was none. No post-ofneo could bo found In Llc-a-loo-ka, for the only way of communicating was by messengers em ployed indeipendently by the sender of the message. To conclude, I may In form the reader tha| libraries, rail ways, museums, schools, oprhanages, and parliaments- -were not at all In evidence, ?'? The territory occupied by the Lie, as ^ have said, was not ex tensive. Without a decidedly limited area the planet was uninhabitable. . Ono vast, extensive bog, or Bac-rln, as the Lies called it, stretched far over the planet. The area embraced by this vast uninhabitable, uncultivated waste was roughly esti mated to be almost three thousand . miles! “ ? And Imagine, If you can, dear reader, a tract of treacherous country like thla not only uninhabited,^ but devoid of any vegetation whatsoever. In the centra of this vast desert— If I may term It as. such— was an enormously high volcano. This mountain could be seen from every part of Lic-a-lob, and its noxi ous : gases, wero endowed with the power of destroying life at a distance Fix this textof a few hundred miles from the moun tain Itself. ? “ Needless to say, none of the Lies, so great was their fear of {he volcano and quagmire, ever attempted to explore beyond the area supposed to be cov ered by tho bog-lands. Contrary to Ratazzlni's opinion, th« giants maintained that the area occu pied by the desolate waste was praa» tlcally unlimited.

(1909/12/11 Summer)

“The giants had few trees, flowers, or shrubs, and those they did possess were stunted “and sickly. The earth was mostly,, hard and rocky,, and, sparsely sown w'ith a kind of heather. . Of ani mals and birds the Lies possessed few. Th'e principal beast, of burden was. the Barl, a long-necked, fur-covered quad-* ruped, about one and a half times thei size of a” horse. There , were, no ,cows in Lica-a-loo-ka, but a milk'substituib was derived by squeezing a certain plant called a Rop. A three-leggpd beast called a Ban Gon supplied the Lies with flesh meats. The Ban jGon was a peculiar animal, and how it pro pelled itself along was a - mystery''1 to me. It was” a somewhat larger beast than our bullocks, but it possessed neither .teeth, horns, nor tail. The ani mal's body was covered with a mass of long, disordered hair. It “ had ,but one eye, and was totally deaf. These creatures ran wild in the forest, and often inflicted serious- injuries -on -the hunters, for though, they had no .horns they “ could ( leap to a considerable height, and when pursued would sud-” dehly turn, chargel.the hunter, . and ,pn coming within about 15 yards of .him would leap upon him, and crush him by their^ enormous , weight. ►The Ban Gon covered the ground by taking ^en ormous leaDS, and , so great was the rate thatit could travel it outdistanced every other animal save , the” Barl. Though the” Barl was much more deli1 catelyt formed than the Ban Gon, it was much” fleeter of foot. On this- account the hunters were wont to let “a herd of tamed Barls loose among the Ban Gons. When the creatures came to close quarters the Ban Gon would turn and leap upon its pursuer. The Barl, however, generally contrived to spring aside and avoid the charge of its mad dened foe. Then before the Ban Gon could recover itself the Barl would leap upon its back, bear it to the ground, and with its sharp tongue (which* was about 9in. long) pierced, the Ban” Gon's throat.- So strong1 was the poison in jected by the Barl that the pierced Ban Gon would expire within two minutes. The Ban Gon was the only animal , up^n which the Barl would thus wantonly use violence. Fix this textAmong the other quadrupeds were the Bing-Gat, “something similar tova dog; the Ram-pur, a beast of prey, itwice as large., as an elephant and con structed on” similar lines; the For-bar, Bin-gas,” Bori-bon, and numerous other creatures.

(1909/12/18 Summer)

But, hold! * I am running “/on- “ toov fasti” “Let us here” “return'“ to” “Merlio, whom we'left on the side of the Holy Fix this textHill. ?, “?...? i ???,;'? ..? ?-..?. ?-,..

CHAPTER XXIII.
- . After a little , trouble Merlio,” the . priest, his servant, and I arrived safely at our dwelling. Here, we found Tarn, the . political prisoner, and .Gaz await ing.; our arrival with ill-suppressed eagerness. After we had given a. de- tailed account of our adventure's, Mer iio announced -his intention of visiting the Holy Hill again the nest night. However, he would on no condition allow us or., the priest- to .accompany | him. Gaz knew the secret of the Holy Hill, and he was accordingly chosen t*, accompany Ratazzini as a guide. The next niglitr Gaz and Merlio (who ^ had been working ? in secret all- day); . ?sallied forth; Merlio” carrying a bulky parcel;, in-, one. hand and In. the-- other something .that,! looked like” a” small, tobl-bag. ..v Although I had ehtreited “ him to tell “ me. what he “-required -the. articles for, ; he resolutely “refused “ to tell me. .; ?.?;. . :. ?-??: ?? -'.? ? ? ?? i However, when” but a. few yards on his journey; he “encountered one of the ?? “ King's servants,” .who reported that, it was His Majesty's desire that the Ler ?bur-dee shoulfl at once repair” to the palace to. attend a gi^lnd entertain ment-,that.»wasj being held.. /Seeing that, if he,disobeyed,the..moharch's mandate he might : draw.suspicion upon himself, “ Ratazzini wisely “ decided . to. fall in with His Majesty's demands.” “ Re- “ turning home, the aviatof; left his par cels ;in .the- cottage^ and commendins the priest to take, care of Tam, bade us followj-him to the palace. . ?? 9p bur entering we” were “cordially'“ received by the monarch, who, notic ing ..that, we- came armed, asked us” whether we feared that the chosen one of the, great jgod^Maz, would do us ilL ? ? “Show us that,” he concluded, pointing . ? ?to.iiRatazzini's revolver. Ratazzini drew the -weapon from his belt, and handed ? “ it to the', king. . ,The “-. monarch then ? ? walked, away (till he was wiiiin about “ 15 yards of the aviator.. Thenhe sud denly swung; round and “with a fierce cry -pointed the weapon in the direc tion -of the inyentorj and pulled v-the trigger. , There; wa's a -loud report which was succeeded by a low, plain-, tive, long-drawn. moan. ? V- .?;?? The smoke swiftly cleared, and'tha -? \ “ tall form of Ilatazzini advanced to j wards^the sbyereign. ,'./*” “?'.'? ? “'King,'- he said,- “you have failed to slay , me, but the bullet has- found. ,aa-- other billet; for. it is burled in the'“ Fix this text?breast” of y,6uv son, who ? has just. : ,teeathed his^ last” ? fji -.: .?.'?;? . . “Fiend!” I cried,- springing forward revolver -in hand, “T have resolved to1 showvno mercy to any inhaoitant of i ;this. world— die!” -.'.” “-'?'?\1 “ * - And I fired point blank at the; chosen 4 one of Maz. But ere the trigger was* pulled; the” weapon ; was Tmocked v& \- and the bullet buried itself in the op-a ?positewall: : “? “ : .-????.” “ “ . . (To be continued next Saturday.)”

(1909/12/24 Summer)

'Fool!” cried the inventor;” “do “you wish to see -us “all murdered? “-'Take no notice “of “this incident,,” and. I will slip put. on my mission without sus picion.” - , iy , / _ . “Where are you going?'“ I queried. ? - “I will tell you later,” replied the aviator. ? Y , “? ? , ? The voice of the king bidding all the guests to depart “ could “ be distinctly ?heard. We/quickly” “made, our way to the cottage, and Ratazzini, gathering up his heavy parcels, departed with Guz “on his-perilous journey.” /Tarn in the meantime proceeded” to.'his hiding, place to await Ratazzinl's summons to appear. As” for rriyself, after “I had refreshed myself and seen that . the priest was secured safely for ftte night, I settled down to write my chronicles, which during the past few weeks had been shamefully neglected. As I sat writing, thoughts of home and far-off Australia seemed, to flood my brain.” Would I ever'. leave .this planet, the” abode of such deceitful barbarians?. Such were the thoughts that” rushed to my head.'. For a long time I sat with my head bent, upon our primitive table, overpowered with sad reflections. Then gradually, I felt as if I were once more on m'y native soil, happy among my -numerous friends. I was filled, with joy, and; had began to think that my life at Lica .loo-ka was only the. fantastic fiction of a dream: when I felt a hand -grip” me roughly by the shoulder, and could plainly hear a deep voice in my ear saying in a half- wailing , tone, .'Good God you have lost us all!” .1 awoke with a start, and found Ratazzini and Guz standing. “before me. -The inven tor wore a worried, hunted ;lbok; : his eyes were starting from their sockets, and hi-s breast was heaving with ill suppressed emotion. “ “You,” he cried, wildly pointing . his attenuated “finger in my direction; “you were once my friend, but now — you have betrayed my trust, and ruined us all!” “ . “ “What is it?” I - cried, “springing to my feet; “are you back so soon-?” “Why — soon? interrupted the avia tor with a “bitter laugh, which chilled the very blood in my veins.” “Soon? I have been gone five hours.” “Well, what has happened?” I ask Fix this texted wildly. “Happened!” returned the” scientist. “Look!” And h© pointed to” the fur thest end of the room, where the priest was Incarcerated. I looked. “Heaven above!” I murmured, .and* said no more, for the priest was nowhere to be seen.. The next instant I had calmed myself. “ r “fftatazzini,” I began, speaking de liberately and without hesitation, “I am guilty, and do not excuse myself, so upbraid me as you will.” ,

(1909/12/31 Summer)

'Never mind, Barrington,''- responded Merlio, calming himself with an ef fort, “it cannot be mended now, so it ia little use censuring you, as you deserve “ to ;be. ?- The one thing .for us is to attempt” to recapture tliat fiend of a priest, or all the fat will be in the fire- “Where's Tarn?” he suddenly added, as an after-thought. “Tarn! : Oh, hi has gone to the rendezvous, where you are to meet him later on.” ? -.?'What?” asked the inventor sharply, “I made no appointment with him, for I intended that he should remain here.” “He mentioned that; but saia. he w'aa too fearful, of capture, to bide here.” , “I understand. So “.that will be. all right,” responded the inventor. “Like all “ the rest of these Lies, Tarn is an arrant coward. Come, Lcrdini and Guz, and you Barrington, and we will make haste to. recapture our prey.” So saying, he advanced towards the door, Lerdini, Guz, and I in the rear. But as he reached the threshold there was a loud shout, and by the. light of the bull's eye I could distinguish sev eral ofj the gigantic forms of the Lies.* “Crack! Crack!” went Ratazzini'a revolver, and knowing- instantly that it was war to the death, I drew my” weap on and rushed swiftly to his assistance. In the semi-darkness could tie seen about 25 Lies standing as if ready . to rush at the inventor. “lien,” cried Ratazzini in his deep bass tones as he addressed the men in their native tongue, “I and my friends have IS shots, and each one means death. I am loath to wantonly taka your lives, but I have reason to believe that you have reinforcements likely ta arrive; so I must dispose of you al once, and effect an escape.” With a cry of rage the body of Lies was charged. “Cralnk! Crack! Crack! Crack!” and Ratozzini's revolver was empty. Throwing the now- useless weapon away, he strove to make a passage through the mob. Instantly one huge fellow rushed madly at him- his club raised to strike, the inventor halt ed, and cowered, with upraised arms, in readiness to receive the blow. Kow” was. my time; springing forward , as the man raised his club, I emptied .the two remaining barrels of my weapon at the wretch's head. Either one or'“ two of the bullets reached the mark, for with an agonising groan he fell to the earth. -Ratazzini . never spoke a word, but casting, a look at me which meant worlds, he turned io force his Fix this textway through bis assailants. “Gnr-ra- ra gal” (talie them alive), cried a loud, angry voice as a Crcsh body rush
?a to the scene. .Several of the mon sters sprang right at me. My right, fist shot promptly out, and one of them rolled over. Following up “with my left, I succeeded in flooring another, tut ere I could attempt more I re ceived a heavy blow from behind. A roaring noise sounded in my ears, and high above the din I heard the sharp crack of a revolver, followed by an angry shout from Ratazzini, and I knew no more. When I regained consciousness I found myself in complete darkness. As the remembrance of the fight near our Fix this textcottage flooded to my brain, I shouted loudly for help. My _ voice j seemed lost, and but the faintest, echo i returned. I waited fully a minute, and then heard Ratazzini's voice. By the sound, I estimated that he was within about live yards of me. -Is that you, Barrington?” he ask ed faintly. “Yes, it is me,” I replied. “Are you hurt, Jlcrlio. I received a_ very nasty knock pa the. head from one of those .bfasts, but -it is nothing to trouble *. \bou4.; it, will soon heal,” .

Interestingly, perhaps due to school holidays, no parts of the story were continued until March.

(1910/03/05 Autumn)

I sat up in the dark cell, “Where are we?” . - . “ ?. “In the underground dungeons of the palace,” cried; Jlatazzlni, and his voice sounded quite close to me. “And Tam, where is he?” I asked. “Tam betrayed us, and .allowed the priest to escape; he shall pay the penalty,” hissed the Inventor. “How- ever,” continued he; “If I could man age to get, the king to accompany mo to the tomb I could secure liberty for us all.” “How?” I asked. ? “You'll see,',1 murmured the inventor grimly. “Suddenly we were nearly blinded by a flash of llght1 as the', trapdoor .In the roof swung open* disclosing a Lie carrying a lantern and a dish of food. ? “When is the son of the King to bo burled?” asked the Inventor; o£ him. ? “To-morrow,” answered the Llci ? ? “Then tell the” king, your master, that if he will allow- us to follow, tho corpse1 and . enter” the tomb we will show him” a” miracle which will be worked- by the great god Maz .him self.” Wo will not “attempt violence i If he treats us honorably.'/ ,\ . j Tho Lie acceded to Ratazzlnl'g, .re1 “quest, and, ledVlng “the; light to us, de parted to the king, promising to return Immediately. -A jt ;- r, \ - After a^” brief -'absence, he returned, saying that the king, would allow us,;to do as we1 desired on the morroVon tho condition that if there, were no miracle performed1 ho could, flay us alive. Ra tazssinl agreed to this dread condition, and” the guard left, leaving us once more; In1 gloom. Lordinl and Guz we had seen toy the light of the “guard's lamp were fast asleep. , , “,. * ? “Barrfngton,” cried- the .Inventor, moving closer to me; and I, could see his eyes glowing In the darkness like two live coals, “to-morrow spells” free- dom, and when we are free I shall dethrone this monarch and. proclaim this planet one vast republic, with myself as the first President. .Then I will, . with the help of these creatures and ,a certain powerful destroyer df life -that I discovered, I will build a. fleet of aeroplanes, and, with an army of mon, speed to our earth, and with the help of this wonderful destroyer of ?lifei that I have discovered, will make our own earth a universal republic, with'in,yself as head.” “'Preposterous!” I laughed; “It will )npver come to pass. “You are merely a crack-brained radical.” “We shall soe what we shall see. At present you know not what forces I have tq1 support me, ,an-l . therefore cannot, forb an opinion.” MW'hat I want to know1 Is” this! .Wlif you'sup por* me?'- . “ “ “ “ /'I .will follow you to the death,” I cried, overcome by my admiration fqr this man, who attempted such seeming impossibilities: “But what is tomor row'^ miracle?” I continued, “You'll” see to-morrow,” was the reply1. - \ ,t “The morrow- came, and wo were lof to the -courtyard” of -the palace, whore tho funeral procession awaited us. Every orio of the partyi was mounted and clothed hrred, while their eyes word “ blindfolded, jso.that they would never again “be able to discover the entrance to tho royal tomb. We bad instantly to u'nderso the same ordeal The Journey must have taken about two hours, each horso being led by a minor priest. As we afterwards dls .covered- the procession only numbered about 50, mostly being ecclesiastics or members of the royal family. The bier on which the red-clothed corpse lay, was carried by the king himself and Bam, our enemy, the chief priest of the great god, Maz. pn the bandages being Uben from our eyes, wo found ouraelv » in tho tomb where tho priest had ync:e before con ducted us. The King having laUi the body at the foot of Maz's statue came (forward. No women at all were present. “Now,” said he to Ratazzlnl, “Lor bur dee, before. wo bury my son, you will perform your miracle.” Ratdai&lnl stepped forward to the statue of, their saviour, of which I ihava beforo spoken, and. the whole concourse followed. “King,” ho said in Lie, “You know this corpse is the mouth-pieco of the .god, and that, It has been silent for a million years?” The monarch nodded assent.- “Will you believe all It says? “Oh, yes, yes,” the “ monarch1 answer ed fearfully. “Well, listen,” commanded the In ventor. “ Going to the back of “the petrified co'rpse so as to “be out of sight “of the people, he murmured some mys terious formula to delude his, hearers. When “he came before “the people again I noticed that in his “hand was a cord which he ha,d evidently attached to the corpse. “One million years he has been dead and yet he shall speak agdln,” cried the inventor. The audience was “awe struck, “Now he awaits my command. Will I order him to address you?” ho asked of the Ivlng. “ Trembling, y that ;W,orthy nodded assent. “- ? -, The inventor stepped back, and in an awful volco cried: “In the. name of, the groat god, Maz, I command you to Sipeak.” -At the same time I no'ticed” he gave the string a quick jerk. The effect was “magical. “Oh,1 King,'?” cried a high-pitched voice, which somed “to proceed from the “figure Itself. “Oh,- King, you.- ?have sinned grievously against the great God Maz.'-. (Here the King colla-psed, howling, on the floor.) “You have ill “treated the three short-necked visitors from another land, and the terrible, vengeance of the great God Maz will fall upon you unless you free these visitors.” ? ? ? “ i'The God lis angry, bow down and Fix this textask forgiveness.” y “ , ?? ,” The. audience rushed in all directions to get out from this tomb- and .that awful voice. Strange cries almost “drow,ned the ? freeh admonitions that poured forth from the figure. “'You are free; you are free, “ler.burdee (short necked .ones),” yelled .the, King fran-” llcally. “ , ? x “Our weapons!” cried, Ratazzinl. “I saw them in your girdle ,-to-day.” fl The'*Klrig iiung “three .revolvers for ward and & box of cartridges “followed. With a wild yell he fainted. ?” ., \ \ \ (To.be Continued Next “Saturday.)

(1910/03/12 Autumn)

The king was eventually hustled out of the tomb,” and the. whole assemblage, Including ^ourselves /followed, The King seamed in “mortal dread oil- us after the affair, in the. torn*, for he did not even order our. arrest. Rataz zlni's wrath, however, was not to be cooled. He went all round the^ioa'city telling the people of the. miracle ho “M^.^rousnt” and exhorting them to foilo.w him” and dethrone the brutal King who ha-d dared to, , Imprison ua, the most trusted. and faithful servants of the great god Maz. The Lies floc'k- “ed to pur- standard In” thousands, and In two weeks Ratazzlnl had at his back an army of 20,000 men; “ “But what are you going to do If you manage to defeat the King, him- self, Merllo,'*. I asked one day, ? “ MerHo laughed. :; “If J manage to win- the battle, my dear Barrington, .your hopes of rbach lng your dearly beloved mother earth again are. very small.” - “Why so,” I asked. “Because,” answered the aviator, “if the King Is dethroned the people will want someone at their head, and as I will then be the most powerful man in the. land, the position must fall to me. Well, if it does, I Will rule over theso giants as a President for three years, and! then again stand £or- re election.” “That is,” -I remarked, “you -will teach them the principles of a national re public.” “That's, so,” agreed the inventou, “'And what about me?” *'Oh,, well Barrington, you will “be my Fix this textright hand man, and the next influen tial person in the universe to myself. And afterwards we . may together negotiate an aerial campaign to this earth and there try our fortune, “ But as it is it will be some years before you can ever hope to reach that planet again. Who knows,” he concluded, moodily, “but that we might meet our death in this pending battle with the royal forces — if -so — well, it is destiny.”

CHAPTER XXVI.
The day for the “long-espec-ted battle had at -last arrived. : ? “-'. The king, finding that Ratazzini -was determined to oppose him, and dis covering that a large section of the lower class of Lies was likely to join him, had with ail speed set about or ganising what he considered a tho roughly efficient force. Primarily, the king had attached to his household as a sort of standing army a company of about fifteen or sixteen thousand train ed soldiers. . Next, the priest had three -or four hundred subordinates, also trained cru-novx-Tiaf -In rvavfarn. rwirn. with tho males of their family, . would form an addition of nearly six nurtured men to the king's forces, , .''..;. ? Flngully, the chief -priest himself, by preaching to, exhorting, and threaten ing the multitude, had gained recruits to the number of several thousands. There had been a couple of skir mishes when the soldiers had attempt ed to apprehend ourselves, but, bo far. there had been no decisive battle to test the forces on either side. The inventor during the couple, of weeks that he was preparing his forces had . thoroughly drilled them and divided the entire army Into four distinct companies. ? Of these Ratazzlnl commanded one, Guz the second, I the third, while Ler dlnl had charge of. the fourth. Our entire army, if it can be so termed, numbered between thirty-one and thirty-two thousand men, of which only about three thousand were train ed fighters, while of the king's force between eighteen . and twenty thou sand. “., . 1( For a week or more our armies manoeuvred in the precincts of the city, neither, however, desiring to as sume, the aggressive. Ratazzlnl dreaded the dnatility of his ardent, though untrained, followers, but relied principally on our, over whelming odds to defeat and crush the forces of the king, “ “'; The speaking- corpse which had so startled the monarch and his followers in the ? tomb was brought forth in state: ; A rough carriage was made for this defunct servant of .Maz, and the figure of the supposed saviour was placed upon a. gaily -decorated throne. The “whole was then lifted into the conveyance, which was to be drawn in advance of the army on the day of battle, by twelve) richly caparisoned Barls, i Eatazatai “ appointed twenty five of the noblest of tho Lies to form a bodyguard round the corpse, and or dered” them to defend it to the last. ? /',': “?”

1910/03/19 (Autumn)

Our respective armies were encamped in an open, treeless -plain, On the morning of the third day after the two forces had met, we awo-ke to find the King's detachments briskly {bearing down upon us. ?'?.-.- The first was “certain to be', a hand to hand one, as the (principal, “weapons used by the L/los were long ipikss and a kind of catapult. The call to arms ?was sounded, and- we soon, aranged. our confederates in battle formation. When the two armies reached withiti a -hundred yards, elf each o'Mrer the con. fllct'was opened by a series of dis charges from the catapults. , \ . : t.,; . The ammunition, however, was soon exhausted, and the king “keeping in the rear of hlg column ordered a charge. In a couple of seconds the two armies had met with an, awful shock. For the first few minutes I had -little lellsure tono'tice -how my comra'des were faring, ?being too hard pressed by my gigantic antagonist. .'../.? But for my revolvers I would have had little chance of overcoming my immedil'ate opponents, as their iiri-m«nse strength and stature left me at a con siderable disadvantage. Slowly but surely I could see that our forces were gradually galning'ground, an'd the king had now retreated to tne extreme -rear of -his column, and the men were left practically leaderless to fight the battle as they could. . Ratazzlni raised, his voice to order the charge, but ere he could “rap out the words a thunderous voice rose above the dm of the battle, and looking forward I discerned the ptfleat mounted on a miulti -color ed bar!, dashing to the van of the royal forces. , “Bar— ree ad Maz,” he yelled, waving his sword in the air (-owwaTid- for Mlaa). It was a splendid spectacle— that tall attenuated, long-necked individual more like a being of. the other world than a Lie, bearing an enormous sword which— with a streng'th borne of 10 suidi ^men— -he waved triumphantly In the” air. -A's this” apparition, struck life into the hearts of the Toyalis-ts, so did it inspire terror in our men. The waver “lng legions of the (king drew close toigether, the priest roared a word of command, and our lately-fleeing op ponents were transformed into, an or ganised mays of charging fanaticism. On hearing the priest's last worcls, thousands threw down their arms,, whjle the remainder , of our forces stood half-heartedly to meet the shock. “Lerdlnil Biarrlnsfton!” vcdferattxl” Ratazzinl, “rad-ly. rounkl the statue.” W-lth difficulty'. I reached the con veyance, and a second later hundreds of men were “bearing down u-pon us. It “was useless to attempt to stay this tide cf ferocity. The statue was “tramped idown, and .from the back of it the ipriest, with a scornful laugh, ex hibited: the secret; of ttie, speaking corpse— a gramaphoneT-whlch he” a second later crushed1 under his feet, volubly ;'; exposing ? our trickery ? to “the multitude, / ? ,;; “ ? \ :? . “ \Remonstratipns were of no use. “The aeroplane shed,” cried Rataz .zinl. ? mounting one of .the Barls lately attached-, to the conveyance, while I ?managed to do the same, and cutting our way throusfli the awe- stricken and now hostile multitude with idisteharges of revolvers and pike thrusts, we managed to reach an open space. 0-nly Fix this textthe iking, , the priest, and a few nobles were mounted,', and, having a good start, escape developed into a possi bility. “? . 1 It was a igood two miles to the court yard of the king's palace, an'd a. “half - hour had ela'psed ere we reached the outer gate, -. ;. : “?? ? Without stating our business .to the solitary attendant in -waiting outside the entrance, we leaped ifrom the Barls and rushed towards the shetl. ? “Are we all “here,” asked Ratazzini, as we were speeding towards our goal “Yes, all bu'tiGuy.” ,7 “Here iie is, Sferior,” ? cried L&rdlnl to” his mas'ter, exo!'ted;Iy pointing in the direction of tfoo” courtyard gate. ?; , (To be Continued.)

1910/03/26 Break

(1910/04/02 Autumn)

True, enough, .there was Guy” just dto. mounting from bis barl, and in.a'.'few mkiutes he was aimong us. ? ?_? “Our pursuers?” crled'Hatazzinlio Guy in tlhe language of t)ho Lies. “Twenty of the nobles, lnchMlng . the pniesit and the king are/rlddng” swlfUy In our direction,” “responded Ouy .hur riedly, “and must now be wlth'ln a quarter o£ a mite of us.” “There's no time to foe lost then,” coimmen'cetd Mrs aviate sharply. “Let us batlten the door down.” Securing several “billets- of wood t'hat laiy handy we .commenced a vlcdous assault on the tough wooden panefe. It was no easy matter to effedt an entrance, and by t'ho time the auroplane ?vvas bcrtng wheeled out Into t/hie opentog tho first of our foes was ait the gate of the courtyard, but a couple of hundred pacaa d'lstant ifrom “njhero, we stood. “Load your ?revolvers at once,” yelled the Inventor, “so that while I am get ting the aeroplane ready to qscend the attackers can to kept” at bay,'. ? It was ithe work of a few imomehts to .slip a half -dozen cartrKtgos Into eadh of- our “two revolvers. (By the “time aill was reedy, “tlhe'fore m'oBt of our foes had ““ advanced, .pike in hand, to within twonity yards of wDrero we stood. ? “?Ta/m, tlie traitor,” I orled ftereely as I flred1. An. .'Instant later, Tarn, uttering a Wild cry, i fell with a foulleit in his brain. “Ah!” .murmured Ratazzlnl, lookiug uip from his task. “I am shot. Thank hoayon, that traitor's settled.” .'Hpre they are,” I cried, suddenly, as about 20 of the L'lcs ruBhed fran tically towards us. ? ? . /Tire for the priest,” thunderod the Inventor, “ “ ? I at once ^mptled my revolver in the” midst of the oncoming massi my com panions doing” the same.” The next Instant I “'had drawn the sword I always carried, and found myself slashing ln cllspriminatoly at the ferocious radb of excited and murderous Llcsi ?Several leapt at me with appalling yells, and as many times I thought I was lost. “Pet ready to. board the aeroplane,” shouted the aviator. “There will be hundreds, of them at us directly.” As far as it was possible, I ondoavo ed/to obey tho inventor's command. Amidst the attacking forces I at length distinguished tho Mr presumptive to the iUcs” throne, Gar-roo, who, wJth his pother, Gar-jee, wan in the van of the cattle, Dashing forward, ? I ran Gar-reo hrough the throat. The next instant the elder brother, Gar-Too, dashed fiercely upon mo. Jj;'fefd1.offh^viclouSpikothmst, Jjrt almost instantaneously tripped over the body of one of the Ltas. ?Smiling my thank*, to LerimT I en maa;Xt0TteeibUtf^'^^ ,nmy that my foot refused to support ry^iitafni'musthave oXS f aoh lth0 n««*lne. He w» jUst abou^ IZ T'1 nOWh€ra ?PParmtly. and with a fleniMft chuckle, flung r^'“ -M'b&MMU sCTVltor ,to the ^xfund As the form turned its face to us j woognteed the diabolkal grinnL countenance of th* oHlof .prKst theSPlnvetg t0 “t SW'6 °f th* m**U»* the inventor mado a vJctous ihrust at “liils old enemy and a moment later their swords had cros^d ln a deter mln-Kl oomba't. Tho priest grinned as lie lunged, an diabolically, that I recoiled at the stelu of him, while Ratazzini's eyes gleamed with a hate, so deep that he appeared like a field Incarnate. Meanwhile Lerdlni— I not being able to como to his assistance, on account of my ankle, — was being bound with furious hasto by his captors. Yet all the time, tiio ono object of Interest to hdm was his master, ? ? ? “Fly, master, fly,” he murmured, “leave tho priest you cannot save me.” “Never!” shrieked Ratazzlnl, lean dag far over the side and- making a vicious lunge at tho priest. Lerdlnl looked appealmgly at me, and then pointed frtantlcal'ly upwards, Under standing the servitor's signal, I bent towards Rtutazainl— “Menllo, Merllo,” I^crled. .Imploringly, “Can't you even see that it is of no use to combat longer.” Ratazzlnl made no answer, and Ler dlnl, as he was being dragged away, pointed excitedly in, the air. I resolved to obey him, cost what It might. ? Leaning over, I pressed the elevating button and, lo! the huge machine rose slowly upwards. “--o, you shall not esea-po me thus,” yelled the maddened priest, as he saw us rising. “I will drink your blood ere you do.” Ratazzlnl. turned purple with sup presesd passion. “ ?'“ ““ ““ ? . Suddenly the priest, ere it rose out of his reach, grasped the” side of the aeroplane, Intending to ascend with us. Ratazzlnl uttered a devllsh chuckle, grasped his sword with both hands, and ? with a murderous slash severed the priest's head from his body. _? “ The head dropped to the earth and rolled a few yards. As I gave a last glance, I saw the priest's fiendish grin, surpassing ln mallgnance any ex pression that I have over seen Death seal on. a countenance. Recoiling from this awful and never-to-be-forgotten Fix this textapparition from the utermost depths of hade's, I uttered a wild shriek of un speakable anguish, as I beheld Lerdlnl being roughly and mercilessly dragged away by his relentless and ? brutal captors. (To be Continued.)

09/04/1910 A Break. Story continues next week.
(1910/04/16 Autumn)

'For. a second it seemed as if “Grez, “Who had. always been a flrm friend and “companion of Lerdlni, would have leap ed over- the. side of the machine to rush to his assistance. However, Batazzini ?notwithstanding “his internal regard for the servant, saw that it would be a ?practical suicide. to leap into that savage horde, gently pushed him bock. S.3 rapidly did the machine ascend that after a short time had elapsed the 0J3 Jecta on the planet could hardly be iper «5elved. ; ^Suddenly Ratazzini, with a sharp cry, pressed the descending button, and a few .moments later »e had a splendid view” ,0^ the planet, and the gruesome tragedy* which was being enacted upon i* ^/ About forty-five thousand Lies — m'en, women and children — nine-tenths jof-the entire population, were clustered around a peculiar machine that had JusC been” erected, .inside an immense tube of a transparent metal like glass, 3. feef. In, diameter by 30 feet in length, were a couple of enormous knives, .similar to those in a mincing machine, which were so “keen-edged .that when set in motion by s, handle from below it w-ould crush a human being to mince^ meat. . ? . It -was the ?Irtrr- Gut, a machinable* executing the -worst of criminals !W«( had seen it during our sojourn on tha| placet, but never while performtng it*-, loathsome office. ; So you may picture our expressible horror -when we saw a Lie, with seem-'“ ing ease, place a ladder against the top of the tube, and instantly mount, with Xierdinl bound hand and foot, in “his arms. “. There* were a few seconds of awful suspense then the “executioner cr&mnlea the unfortunate Lerdinl into the mouth of the lube. i .-. y - “_ ?An instant later the devilish machi nery was set m motion, and thesldej” of the glass tube were dyed with “Ler« . dini's blood. , .'.-.” j” ?'. _, Ratazzi pressed the button and w« descended to within. 20ft. off the “earth. I heard the crunching noise “ as the” bones of Batazzini's faithful servitor were being crushed to powder— but nevpr a scream, for probably after five seconds of unimaginable anguish hli soul had been crushed from its” tene ment of clay. Grez fflanced sorrowfully at the awfit ? ^ spectacle, and Ratazzini working hij hands convulsively, seemed” fascinated . by thei dreadful scene; “? ,\ “ “ ,. The machine “still continued to*, mines” the, now shapeless remains. . . Of a sudden Ratazzini,” with a iwlld, unearthly cry, rose quickly to” his feet, and rushed “tof the rear of t,he aero plane. “ “ “ ?* “?* ? A” few seconds later he appeared with a couple of cases containing . small ^^ lumps jat some, white powdery sub- ^k ?stance. “'Look Barrih^toh';” he cried, |*do you see the^king — the mob-^and the re mains of my servant (which are even now” being ^mangled.?') “'I'do! I'do!” I answered brokenly. “Well, watch,” returned the inventor wildly;” “and “ you will see the, ven seance^bf God1— or rather the foul fieni himself..: If I bum in hell for eternity; f l,will” “have my revenge. Ah, it shall be terrible and complete Behold!” “ tThe aeroplane was steered so as ta be directly over the heads cJf the'mah, who.utteredi a loud cry on once, more ?behilding” its enemy “ “Watch, I comamnd you,” vociferated; Ratazzini^ % . / \~ With a Herculanean effort ? he iMted the two cases, leant them on* the rail of” the machine, and simultaneously hurled their Vontents on the -multitude below. “ As” the- substance struck terra- firma the heavens were bathed in. flre— the aeroplane, oscillated violently. A sound “Of falling stone was heard, and a cry of anguish from thousands ot , throats ? .ascended to the . fire-en-” shrouded heavens. ? v “ ? The dust “Which bad risen cleared away in a moment or so, and Rataz-. zini — his eyes, starting from their “sock* ets-^pointed below. . -.- I “lent( over the side, and for a- mo ment b'elieved I was suffering, from some hallucination. The lorty-fivo thousand of people;” the “dreadful blood stained machine, in which Lerdinj had died, the King,” his jewelled throne,. and gorgeously-attired followers, had “disap- peared — faded into nothingness. In their place was the bare earth rooted up,, as if a legion of horses had tram pled it under foot. ? . I covered, my eyes with my hands; looked again, and the only additional spectacle, was about twenty dead bodies. Of the rest of the Lies no thing could be -seen. ? “ ? : Fix this text“ (To foe Continued.) ?

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(1910/05/07 Autumn)

'Ratazzlni,” 1 yelled excitedly, » what have you done?” “ “Merely this,” returned” the inven tor, with his wonted .calmness,, “the Holy Hill'was. composed of. a powerful noiseless combustible substance, more deadly than any explosive- we have on earth, .'i discovered this, when we visited there, and when I made the second journey I conveyed, on the. back of a Barl, 25 cases .01 tne stuu . wu«.». I afterwards- lodged in the aeroplane. There are still over. 20, left, and. with them -I will dictate my terms to our earth below.” . ??? : I .” . “Something the same as” bombs, aren't they?” I ^ asked, “as they appear to explode on coming “into” contact with anything solid.” -. “ ;;.. “: “Aye?” replied the. inventor,- “but the substance” is light “as cork; .and; “one pound .of it. or less ? tliroyrn .up /the Tower of London” would reduce it to ruins.” .- -... .?'??? .:.,.... ??/..?'? “ “. “'.'??'“ “ “,1 “was “ struck “speechless ; “with wonder..-...; ?, ? “ ???_?,.'? . “''? ?.';?: * v ;” . “*Come,'(- cried Ratazzinl, “we have not yet totally “revenged LerdlnUTht priest is dead;, the. King and” his;army blown to atoms,” but” the city niust be destroyed “ with as many of” the re maining people “ Jthat vconie within range.” ..” ,_: . . “ ,, “?; \ “.” ? ?'“ “?': “There; must .be only about , .10-000 lives left,” -I questionVd;'*'so why not j descend again to “, this planet ,; arid I assume the^soyereignship.” “Yes4.and,be yerjr probably poisoned next ..day.. No, Barrington, I may lie a'hie to destroy the whole populationV “but; if. I attempted to rule them by .their cunning we would soon meet our. .death.'.. “ ““ “ “ “ “:,'''; r ? “?? . “? ;. “ ?As he ceased speaking” the aviator moved the . lever, and wo “circled “over the palace. , . / ? i “?? “? ?,? Ratazzlni Van to “the side and threw a shandful of this awful explosive on the^ roof, and the palace, almost “?'. van- ished from; view. . “. . j: ; r -^And so we sped along, leaving deso-; lation behind us^ till after making a five minutes” circuit- of, the “city we were gazng below -upon a mass- of ruins. ?': ..; .; .?-., : ?” “ “ “-. “If there are five thousand lives left in this planet, Jit^is; a wonder,” replied the Inventor, pressing the. elevating button. .,-'?” : I” rushed to the side and gazed down Fix this textupon the ruins we had wrought, but a minute later we had risan far into the ether, leaving Lic-a-loo-ka below us a mere indistinct mass. “ ; ? “Lerdini,” cried the inventor, as we dashed through space. “Lerdini, my faithful servitor, my loving “-'-friend, .'I have terrioly avenged you.” And gazing over the side at the mere spec which was “ called Llc-a-loo-ka, Merllo Ratazzinl cried- like” a child.

CHAPTER XIII. ... V* v The- months flew by, ? forming them selves into years, and the star we call ed the earth grew larger .and .larger, but lost its, luminous appearance on our approach. Strange to say, ?Ra- tazzlni, .. after .having ^successfully com pleted- his researches,” instead of being elated, was silent and moody. ? He had come back laden with relics that .would, prove beypnd a shadow \of doubt where hev had been, what he. had done, and that he was the greatest hu man being that God had createdl “Why are you so dispirited, Ratas zini?” I. asked. “Is it because .-that traitor, ;Tam, stole the plans of ? this machine?” “ “ “. “No,” replied the inventor, “for they were destroyed with him, I dare say, or even if they weren't, he would be. un able _to.. understand, them, “and there is no cause far. trouble in: that direction, as it; will re-copy them when we reach earth.” “Well, what ails you?” “Nothing,” he evasively returned. “Why should there be anything to. trouble me, for in .24 hours we will have reached th'at enormous mass “be- low us called the earth.” “And- 1 will be heartily glad,” I an swered. “I'm” sick of this thing after a couple of years” travelling.” The hours flew. by, and the inventor slowed^ down in readiness to descend. “Loo'k^at Guz,” I suddenly exclaimed. Ratazzini turned. There was Guz stretched-'at full length; on the ground gasping” for breath. “Poor fellow,” murmured the” inven tor, bending over him. “The density of the atmosphere here is too- much for him, and, alas! I'm afraid he won't live to be shown on earth as a speci men, of the Lie.” -.;? - * Suddenly Guz emitted an agonising scream, and, leaping tp his feet, he entwined his Ions sinewy arms around the inventor's waist. “Help, iBanrinston!” cried- the avia tor: “he's sone mad; he'ill kill me!” 1 made towards Guz, but the mad dened Lie, who was now frothing at the mouth, “fetched” me a hard .kick in “ the stomach that sent me to- tire floor dou-bl€5 up in “agony. ? At the. san;?. time, . before I could rise, he “grasped the “invenfor by the throat and iboth roiled” on the floor, coming with a” terrible crash against the side of the -aeroplane; which, weakened “by the cudgel “blows of “the iLic3, gave way,” and, to my inexpres sible horror, the two struggling forms disappeared tlwough the aperture1. Despite my agony, I rose to my feet and. grasped Rata^'ini's t-elescope. Yes, there sure enouglvil -could see. the two forms .below being turned over and -;over in their mad descent to wards llie earth, ,. their bodies stKll locked together in tlie:'s'sp of death. Horror stricken, I placed .the min-jto. 3-et marvellously powerful, instrument in- my pocket and “ gazed at( the aneroid— we were twenty thousand feet above the earth.” Turning to the ?Ierer.I jammed on all speed. But, to my horror, the .?machine began to spin around and round, as it madly idashed, , downwards towards terra flrma., A “few'mCn'Utes and I would “be driven .road by this awful motion. ?So. \wif.i a coolness borh of des Fix this textptra'tlon, I .grasped one of the para chutes that “ Hay in “readiness, .and, uttering a brief prayer for safety, I ?sprang through the aperture through which the inventor had. fan-en far “out Into space. For. the -first few ? hundred feet I descended with astonishing- ^rapidity, tout my “body was -gradually steady. I ;felt;myseK gliding gently, -ever gently, downwards. . , , “', (To be Continued.) ?

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(1910/05/28 Autumn)

CONCLUSION. \\ Downt down I glided, ever gently, till at last to my indescribable, joy I had” touched my mother ? earth. * - At the same- instant I heard a rush-, ing souud overhead, and looking up ? L espied the aeroplane careering madly, westward. Fascinated by the. sight of the huge monster, I saw It gradually grow” smaller and smaller as It dashed i towards the setting sun. Of a sudden It plunged madly towards earth, the. next minute it seemed to have touched terra, firvna, and at that moment a cloud of. ?dust arose on the spot on; which Jt appeared to have, landed, the, earth” shook as if an earthquake were upon it, and then came silence. ? , :I. gazed astounded for a time at the, place where the machine had descend ed,- and” the” explanation : of ? its disappearance and “the earth tremor flashed -across my mind. When ? th« aeroplane came into collision with the earth, its load of.the Lie” explosive- had done its work. The wonderful machine was now indistinguishable atoms, and the priceless secret was lost to eternity for ever*! i , i . India, the place where I had landed, I soon” quitted, and within a: month I was ones more m England, after an absence of 15 year.'. I will pass over the wonderment of my friends at my return, and relate the last few parti cu- ? lars connected with this “narrative, for my tale is well-nigh finished. My fiancee, Evelyn, Alllngham, tired of. waiting. for her. absent lover, had married. ,A few days, after my return I, sought “the Colonel. From him I learnt that Constance, after fretting Over her lover for a few months, bcr came; insane,'. and died, a year later a raving lunatic. Her father soon fol lowed “her to the grave, and Desmond), the author, of all .these misfortunes was hang-ed for assassinating an Ita? lian peer. ? .; And so all were gone, “but the. old soldier, the only remaining, being on earth besides ?” myself, r whom Merllo ?Ratazzini really loved. Mr. Barrington, the hearty old man, murmured tearfully as I took my leave of him, that Merlio Ratazzini was greater than Caesar— in fact, the greatest man that .''was ever born. To him the niighty ones” «f the faith wore pigmies, while . kings - were vermin whom, had he lived to return to this earth, h« would have crushed beneath his Iwel. I have but. a final word ere we part. A party of geologists” while examining en .island off the coast of- W.A.. dis covered two skeletons locked in one another's embrace. One was that of a man, While the other was” that of a long-necked giant. I saw them when they wero “brought to England, and scon, proved beyond the shadow of a daubt that these were the remains of Batazzlni and Gaz. ? They were pre spnted to me on, the condition that at ?my death they should become fhe” pro- “ perty of the. -British Museum. I hav/s both in Tnyj study, and often as I look upon the smaller skeleton, I muso on the incalculable genius of Morlio Ilafeiz. zini, the greatest human being tbaJ thf\ God above ever created. , “Often, as I.gaze with tiro” inventor's powerful, little telescope, and realise what misery that leaden-colored planet we called L'.c-a-Loo-ka caused ui And it is. then I realise the truth. oC the fol lowing: — “What Is the use of sighing for w faith or rank or fame? What is the use of trying to achieve * hero's name? The grave will closo above 70U. lh« vale of death the same. Better one heart to love you, “Jlsan t myriad tongues” to blamn.” Katazzini! Eternal honor “is- thy on rivalled “genius. - ? You, my. great and- noble fripnA, way Fix this textrest peacefully for fhe puny iut-eltecti of .your, fellow creatures «-ro still «o df-avoring to triumph in ihe reain-.e of aviation.” Our “great Crnalor has onry moulded one brain such as yours. !!? .alone In capable, of fcr!-y apprccixxicg f the perfection o'. his own muffxt work, and lie alone Is In a position to P&7 an adequately 2*0 rioDstrtirote lo yoot immortal^ name. ?Sleep on, monarch at manlchvd, ?Wlt on! For thongh'thy ashes arc encaoarl in no glided casket, and Cbon^b uo emblazoned symbols of royalty -Jpc1i thy bier In the sbroiHl of :hy s'-orj, thy genius, cteUlenKcrt ;?-? iwuim. tn4 thy name Immortalised Uvrocitfi -.i; nice, and while this m'.ind-'nc ci-Nu« of tir.rs shall remain extant.

THE END

Item sets: Vintage Science Fiction from Australian Newspapers 1901-1939 (Australian)

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