
which called for the abilities of a superman, and Doc had been trained from the cradle, that he might have
the strength to arise to any occasion. Each day, he went through an intensive exercise routine to develop
his great brain and body. Two hours of intense practice!
There was no mystery about Doc's powers. His terrific daily exercise accounted for them.
The necessity for a sanctum in which to study, that he might periodically increase his vast fund of
knowledge, had led Doc to establish a mysterious retreat known as his "Fortress of Solitude." None but
Doc knew the whereabouts of this place, or what amazing scientific equipment it contained. No human
could get in touch with Doc during the periods when he retired to his retreat for study. His strenuous
mental labors brooked no interruption.
Doc had returned tonight from his Fortress of Solitude. Just how thoroughly. a mystery his retreat was
could be realized by the fact that not even an offer of a million dollar reward had located him. Doc's five
men, those closest to him, could not find him.
DECIDING HE was near the Yankee Beauty, Doc stroked to the surface. He had calculated well. The
ship lay only a few yards distant.
Doc sank once more, and when he came up, he was near the stern.
He removed the artificial "lung" and placed it in the bag. Out of the container, he took a coil of thin, stout
silk line. To one end of this was affixed a grapple hook of light alloy metals.
Doc flipped the grapple upward. It dropped over the rail and hooked securely.
The silken cord, because of its small diameter, would have presented quite a problem to an ordinary
climber. But so toughened were the big sinews in Doc's hands, that he gripped the line and climbed it
with what looked like comparative ease.
He surmounted the rail, making no noise, and whipped behind a near-by capstan, which was nearly as
large as a barrel. Lurking there, he wrung water out of the skirts of his bathing suit. His bronze hair,
straight and lying tightly to his head, possessed the remarkable quality of seeming impervious to
water-like the pelt of some water-dwelling animal. Scant moisture clung to his fine-textured bronze skin.
Doc was soon dry enough that he did not leave wet footprints on the deck. A great form which seemed
to flow from shadow to shadow, he glided forward. The waterproof bag reposed under an arm.
Doc was hardly out of sight when a creeping figure appeared around the opposite corner of the deck
house. A man! The fellow carried a large revolver, cocked for a quick shot.
He was tall, but with a body so wasted that it was composed of little else than bones. His skin was
unnaturally white, as if it were a sheet stretched over his bony frame. His eyes were feverish, staring,
sunken far in his head. He was not an old man - yet his hair was entirely white! A man physically
broken!
It was apparent he had discerned some movement on the deck, but did not know what it meant. He
crept slowly ahead.
A distant searchlight, its glow reflected by the white-deck house, lighted the deck faintly.
The skulking man discovered the damp spots where water had dripped from Doc's bathing suit. The sight
set him shaking as with the ague.