mon Hart, th

e the sudden aggression of which I

ked me down. Who are they? My eyes having been bandaged I was unable to recognize them. I could not cry for help, having been gagged. I could make no resistan

e? W

but Gaydon, the warder. None suspected that I was Simon Hart, the engineer, nor could they have sus

s been carried off; and if he was snatched from Healthful Hous

ve not fallen into the hands of malefactors whose only intention is robbery. They would not have acted in this way. After rendering it impossible for me to cry

I have been asking myself for hour

to memory, minute by minute, the least circumstance, and then, if it be possible, to jot down my daily impressions. Who knows what the future has in store for me? And who knows but what, in my new position, I may finally discover

uestion, hoping that some inci

re

in from th

House, I felt that I was laid, without any brutality, I must

im. He must still have been in a state of prostration which precluded the possibility of his making any resistance, or even of being conscious of what was being done. The proof that I am not deceiving myself is that I could smell the unmistakable odor of ether. Now, yesterday, before taking leave of us, the doctor administered a few dr

ink that had I not returned to the pavilion when I did, had

ind would have happened. Talking to Thomas Roch about his inventions brought on a fit of exceptional violence. The director is primarily to blame for not heeding my warning. Had

n be perfectly easy about the result. No one can possibly succeed in learning what for fifteen months I have been unable to ascertain. In the condition of intellectual collapse into which my fellow-countryman has fallen

that I must think just now, and this is what I have experie

thing. I surmise that this something must be the hull of a ship, and that we have run alongside. There is some scurrying and excitement. Indistinctly throu

ottom of the hold and keep me there till the vessel is far out at sea. Obviously they will not a

but on the contrary am being lowered. Are they going to drop me overboard to drown like a rat, so as to get rid of a dangerous witness? This thought flashes into my brain,

ation of metallic coldness. I am lying at full length. To my extreme surprise, I find that the ropes with which I was bound

am I alone? I tear the gag from my

even the vague perception of light that the e

air I breathe is hot, heavy, thick, and the working of my lungs wi

feel about me, and th

e more than four cubic yards. I can feel that the walls are of b

for the hinges protrude somewhat. This door must open inwar

the metallic floor when I move about. None of the dull noises usually to be heard on board a ship is perceptible, not even the rippling of the water along the hull

p in waiting for it, opposite Healthful House, have been rowed to a point further down the river? In this case is it not possible that I was carried into the cellar of a house? This would explain the complete immobility

an to eat. Still, I hope I shall have energy enough to resist the inclination. I will not give way to it. I must try and find out what is going on outside. But neither sound nor light can penetrate this iron box. Wait a minute, though; perhaps by listening intently I may hear some sound, however feeble. Therefore I concentrate all

We are evidently moving, but the motion is scarcely perceptible. It is not a jerky, but rather a

e expedition. A boat brought me aboard, but, I repeat, I did not feel that I was lifted over her bulwarks. Was I passed through a porthole?

go on deck. It will not be for some hours to come, however, that is certain, for they won't want us to be seen, so that there is no chance of getting a whiff of fresh air till we are

other odors of the engine-room. And then I should feel the trembling of the m

taken the trouble to bring me aboard, but would have dropped me to the bottom of the river had they been desirous of getting rid of me. Once we are out at sea, what will they have to fear from me? No one could hear my shouts. As to demanding an explanation and making a

le of warder. No one, no! none, can suspect that Gaydon is Simon Hart, the engineer. There are two advantages in this: in the first place, they will take no notice of

ng of escaping. It will be time enough to bother about that when the occasion presents itself. Until then t

by some powerful machine. There are none of the noises, nor is there the trembling that accompanies the working of steam engines. The movement of the vessel is more continuous and regul

rged tube, are destined to replace the ordinary screw, it being claimed that they utili

ll doubtless know all abou

rolling or pitching. How is it that Pamlico Sound is so extraordinarily calm? The var

ill, no matter, the thing is inexplicable, for a ship propelled by machinery, no matter at what s

is suffocating atmosphere, I am resolved not to close my eyes. I will keep awake till daylight, and there will be no daylight for me till it is let into my pris

l somnolent in spite of myself, I get up and walk about. Then I wax wrathful, anger fills my soul, I beat upon the iron wal

myself that I would remain calm under all ci

at would they go further inland for? If Thomas Roch has been carried off from Healthful House, his captors obviously mean to take him out of the United States-probably to a distant island in the Atlan

rock right enough in the swell off shore, even though there be no wind,-unle

he door is. One of the crew no doubt. Are they going to let me out at last? I can now hear voices. A conversation is going on outsi

, wait, wait! I keep repeating the wor

way for at least four or five hours. I reckon it must be past midnight, but I can

, whether we issued by Ocracoke or Hatteras inlet, and must be off the coast

made a mistake? Am I the dupe of an illusion? Am

his event we can only be in one of the coast ports to the north or south of Pamlico Sound. But why should Thomas Roch be landed again? The abduction mu

in as it is paid out, and feel the jerk as the ship is brought up. I know that sound and

t-I l

n board. I begin to wonder whether I am

t it is impossible to do so. The temperature rises to such a degree that I am compelled to divest myself of part of my clothing. T

it day? I know not. I remark, however, that I breathe more

slept? Has the door been ope

is the p

that exhales an inviting odor. I raise it to my lips, which, are burning, for

y-which refreshes and comforts me, a

die of thirst, neither have they cond

find a basket, and this basket c

ily, and my strength li

n door admitted a little of the oxygen from the outside, without which I should have been suffocated

as to what time of the day or night it may be. I was careful to wind up my watch, though, and perhaps by feeling the hands-Yes, I think the littl

n to renew my stock of air and provisions. Yes, they are waiting to take advantage of my slumbers. But this time