Chapter I: Front Matter

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

THE WOMAN OF MYSTERY
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
THE SECRET OF SAREK
EYES OF INNOCENCE
THE THREE EYES
THE EIGHT STROKES OF THE CLOCK

THE TREMENDOUS EVENT

BY MAURICE LE BLANC

TRANSLATED BY ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS

NEW YORK THE MACAULAY COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY THE MACAULAY COMPANY

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The tremendous event of the 4th. of June, whose consequences affected the relations of the two great Western nations even more profoundly than did the war, has called forth, during the last fifty years, a constant efflorescence of books, memoirs and scientific studies of truthful reports and fabulous narratives. Eye-witnesses have related their impressions; journalists have collected their articles into volumes; scientists have published the results of their researches; novelists have imagined unknown tragedies; and poets have lifted up their voices. There is no detail of that tragic day but has been brought to light; and this is true likewise of the days which went before and of those which came after and of all the reactions, moral or social, economic or political, by which it made itself felt, throughout the twentieth century, in the destinies of the world.

There was nothing lacking but Simon Dubosc's own story. And it was strange that we should have known only by reports, usually fantastic, the part played by the man who, first by chance and then by his indomitable courage and later still by his clear-sighted enthusiasm, was thrust into the very heart of the adventure.

To-day, when the nations are gathered about the statue over-looking the arena in which the hero fought, does it not seem permissible to add to the legend the embellishment of a reality which will not misrepresent it? And, if it is found that this reality trenches too closely upon the man's private life, need we object?

It was in Simon Dubosc that the western spirit first became conscious of itself and it is the whole man that belongs to history.

CONTENTS

PART THE FIRST

CHAPTER PAGE I. THE SUIT 13 II. THE CROSSING 32 III. GOOD-BYE SIMON 54 IV. THE GREAT UPHEAVAL 71 V. VIRGIN SOIL 85 VI. TRIUMPH 98 VII. LYNX-EYE 120 VIII. ON THE WAR-PATH 143

PART THE SECOND

I. INSIDE THE WRECK 169 II. ALONG THE CABLE 189 III. SIDE BY SIDE 209 IV. THE BATTLE 223 V. THE CHIEF'S REWARD 242 VI. HELL ON EARTH 265 VII. THE FIGHT FOR THE GOLD 282 VIII. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES 301