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Updated: May 23, 2025
In the meanwhile the kibitka pursued its way, at a pace which Michael longed to render more rapid. But Nicholas and his horse were accustomed to a pace which neither of them would like to alter. The horse went for two hours and rested one so on, day and night. During the halts the horse grazed, the travelers ate in company with the faithful Serko.
He has not heard, nor has he seen me. "Thomas Roch!" I repeat. He raises his head, turns and gazes at me. "Ah! it is you, Simon Hart!" he replies calmly, even indifferently. He knows my name. Engineer Serko must have informed him that it was Simon Hart, and not Keeper Gaydon who was watching over him at Healthful House. "You know who I am?" I say.
"But if Ker Karraje's secrets are known, do you suppose the powers are not also aware of the existence of the Count d'Artigas' submarine boat?" Engineer Serko looked at me suspiciously. "Mr. Hart," he said, "you appear to me to carry your deductions rather far." "I, Mr. Serko?" "Yes, and I think you talk about all this like a man who knows more than he ought to."
He is alone on the other side of the lagoon, and I wonder, inasmuch as I have not seen them since the previous day, whether Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko, and Captain Spade have not gone off on some expedition. I walk round towards Thomas Roch, and before he can see me I examine him attentively. His serious, thoughtful physiognomy is no longer that of a madman.
The men are going about their business as usual. The tug is moored near the jetty. Thomas Roch is going to his laboratory, and Ker Karraje and Engineer Serko are tranquilly pacing backwards and forwards by the lake and chatting. The island therefore could not have been attacked during the night. Yet I was awakened by the report of cannon, this I will swear.
This word of a scientific language used in conversation with a simple hospital attendant surprises me, I admit, and I merely reply: "I should have no reason to complain, Mr. Serko, if, after having had the pleasure of visiting this cavern, I were at liberty to quit it." "What! Already thinking of leaving us, Mr. Gaydon, of returning to your dismal pavilion at Healthful House?
They are the crew of this submarine boat, and Captain Spade has been able to communicate with them and transmit his orders as to the direction to be taken by means of electric signals connected with the tug by a wire that passes along the stem of the schooner. Engineer Serko approaches me and says, pointing to the boat: "Get in." "Get in!" I exclaim. "Yes, in the tug, and look sharp about it."
I dare say that if the Count d'Artigas could guess how certain things have suddenly become clear to me, he would not hesitate to have me thrown overboard. Prudence therefore commands me to be more circumspect than ever. Without giving rise to any suspicion even in the mind of Engineer Serko I have succeeded in raising a corner of the mysterious veil, and I begin to see ahead a bit.
No one could suppose that in accordance with instructions received from the Count d'Artigas and Engineer Serko this submarine machine, which was destined to act as the invisible tug of the schooner, would not emerge till it had gone several miles beyond the rendezvous.
The kibitka no longer drifted, but spun rapidly round, inclining towards the center of the eddy, like a rider in a circus. The horse could scarcely keep his head above water, and ran a great risk of being suffocated. Serko had been obliged to take refuge in the carriage. Michael knew what was happening. He felt himself drawn round in a gradually narrowing line, from which they could not get free.
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