The Madness from the Sea

           Ifheaveneverwishestograntmeaboon,itwillbeatotaleffacingoftheresultsofamerechancewhichfixedmyeyeonacertainstraypieceofshelfpaper. ItwasnothingonwhichIwouldnaturallyhavestumbledinthecourseofmydailyround,foritwasanoldnumberofanAustralianjournal,theSydneyBulletinforApril18,1925. Ithadescapedeventhecuttingbureauwhichhadatthetimeofitsissuancebeenavidlycollectingmaterialformyuncle’sresearch. 

           IhadlargelygivenovermyinquiriesintowhatProfessorAngellcalledthe"CthulhuCult",andwasvisitingalearnedfriendinPaterson,NewJersey;thecuratorofalocalmuseumandamineralogistofnote. Examiningonedaythereservespecimensroughlysetonthestorageshelvesinarearroomofthemuseum,myeyewascaughtbyanoddpictureinoneoftheoldpapersspreadbeneaththestones. ItwastheSydneyBulletinIhavementioned,formyfriendhadwideaffiliationsinallconceivableforeignparts;andthepicturewasahalf-tonecutofahideousstoneimagealmostidenticalwiththatwhichLegrassehadfoundintheswamp. 

           Eagerlyclearingthesheetofitspreciouscontents,Iscannedtheitemindetail;andwasdisappointedtofinditofonlymoderatelength. Whatitsuggested,however,wasofportentoussignificancetomyflaggingquest;andIcarefullytoreitoutforimmediateaction. Itreadasfollows: 

           MYSTERYDERELICTFOUNDATSEA 

           VigilantArrivesWithHelplessArmedNewZealandYachtinTow. OneSurvivorandDeadManFoundAboard. TaleofDesperateBattleandDeathsatSea.