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diff --git a/77365-0.txt b/77365-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a61d816 --- /dev/null +++ b/77365-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9195 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77365 *** + + + + +ALGER SERIES No. 199 + + Bound to + Get There + + _By Roy Franklin_ + +[Illustration: S AND S NOVELS] + + + + +BOOKS THAT NEVER GROW OLD + +Alger Series + +Clean Adventure Stories for Boys + +The Most Complete List Published + + +The following list does not contain all the books that Horatio Alger +wrote, but it contains most of them, and certainly the best. + +Horatio Alger is to boys what Charles Dickens is to grown-ups. His +work is just as popular to-day as it was years ago. The books have a +quality, the value of which is beyond computation. + +There are legions of boys of foreign parents who are being helped +along the road to true Americanism by reading these books which +are so peculiarly American in tone that the reader cannot fail to +absorb some of the spirit of fair play and clean living which is so +characteristically American. + +In this list will be included certain books by Edward Stratemeyer, +Oliver Optic, and other authors who wrote the Alger type of stories, +which are equal in interest and wholesomeness with those written by the +famous author after which this great line of books for boys is named. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + + +By HORATIO ALGER, Jr. + + 1--Driven from Home + 2--A Cousin’s Conspiracy + 3--Ned Newton + 4--Andy Gordon + 5--Tony, the Tramp + 6--The Five Hundred Dollar Check + 7--Helping Himself + 8--Making His Way + 9--Try and Trust + 10--Only an Irish Boy + 11--Jed, the Poorhouse Boy + 12--Chester Rand + 13--Grit, the Young Boatman of Pine Point + 14--Joe’s Luck + 15--From Farm Boy to Senator + 16--The Young Outlaw + 17--Jack’s Ward + 18--Dean Dunham + 19--In a New World + 20--Both Sides of the Continent + 21--The Store Boy + 22--Brave and Bold + 23--A New York Boy + 24--Bob Burton + 25--The Young Adventurer + 26--Julius, the Street Boy + 27--Adrift in New York + 28--Tom Brace + 29--Struggling Upward + 30--The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy + 31--Tom Tracy + 32--The Young Acrobat + 33--Bound to Rise + 34--Hector’s Inheritance + 35--Do and Dare + 36--The Tin Box + 37--Tom, the Bootblack + 38--Risen from the Ranks + 39--Shifting for Himself + 40--Wait and Hope + 41--Sam’s Chance + 42--Striving for Fortune + 43--Phil, the Fiddler + 44--Slow and Sure + 45--Walter Sherwood’s Probation + 46--The Trials and Triumphs of Mark Mason + 47--The Young Salesman + 48--Andy Grant’s Pluck + 49--Facing the World + 50--Luke Walton + 51--Strive and Succeed + 52--From Canal Boy to President + 53--The Erie Train Boy + 54--Paul, the Peddler + 55--The Young Miner + 56--Charlie Codman’s Cruise + 57--A Debt of Honor + 58--The Young Explorer + 59--Ben’s Nugget + 60--The Errand Boy + 61--Frank and Fearless + 62--Frank Hunter’s Peril + 63--Adrift in the City + 64--Tom Thatcher’s Fortune + 65--Tom Turner’s Legacy + 66--Dan, the Newsboy + 67--Digging for Gold + 68--Lester’s Luck + 69--In Search of Treasure + 70--Frank’s Campaign + 71--Bernard Brook’s Adventures + 72--Robert Coverdale’s Struggles + 73--Paul Prescott’s Charge + 74--Mark Manning’s Mission + 75--Rupert’s Ambition + 76--Sink or Swim + 77--The Backwoods Boy + 78--Tom Temple’s Career + 79--Ben Bruce + 80--The Young Musician + 81--The Telegraph Boy + 82--Work and Win + 83--The Train Boy + 84--The Cash Boy + 85--Herbert Carter’s Legacy + 86--Strong and Steady + 87--Lost at Sea + 88--From Farm to Fortune + 89--Young Captain Jack + 90--Joe, the Hotel Boy + 91--Out for Business + 92--Falling in with Fortune + 93--Nelson, the Newsboy + 94--Randy of the River + 95--Jerry, the Backwoods Boy + 96--Ben Logan’s Triumph + 97--The Young Book Agent + 168--Luck and Pluck + 169--Ragged Dick + 170--Fame and Fortune + 171--Mark, the Match Boy + 172--Rough and Ready + 173--Ben, the Luggage Boy + 174--Rufus and Rose + + +By EDWARD STRATEMEYER + + 98--The Last Cruise of _The Spitfire_ + 99--Reuben Stone’s Discovery + 100--True to Himself + 101--Richard Dare’s Venture + 102--Oliver Bright’s Search + 103--To Alaska for Gold + 104--The Young Auctioneer + 105--Bound to Be an Electrician + 106--Shorthand Tom + 107--Fighting for His Own + 108--Joe, the Surveyor + 109--Larry, the Wanderer + 110--The Young Ranchman + 111--The Young Lumberman + 112--The Young Explorers + 113--Boys of the Wilderness + 114--Boys of the Great Northwest + 115--Boys of the Gold Field + 116--For His Country + 117--Comrades in Peril + 118--The Young Pearl Hunters + 119--The Young Bandmaster + 120--Boys of the Fort + 121--On Fortune’s Trail + 122--Lost in the Land of Ice + 123--Bob, the Photographer + + +By OLIVER OPTIC + + 124--Among the Missing + 125--His Own Helper + 126--Honest Kit Dunstable + 127--Every Inch a Boy + 128--The Young Pilot + 129--Always in Luck + 130--Rich and Humble + 131--In School and Out + 132--Watch and Wait + 133--Work and Win + 134--Hope and Have + 135--Haste and Waste + 136--Royal Tarr’s Pluck + 137--The Prisoners of the Cave + 138--Louis Chiswick’s Mission + 139--The Professor’s Son + 140--The Young Hermit + 141--The Cruise of _The Dandy_ + 142--Building Himself Up + 143--Lyon Hart’s Heroism + 144--Three Young Silver Kings + 145--Making a Man of Himself + 146--Striving for His Own + 147--Through by Daylight + 148--Lightning Express + 149--On Time + 150--Switch Off + 151--Brake Up + 152--Bear and Forbear + 153--The “Starry Flag” + 154--Breaking Away + 155--Seek and Find + 156--Freaks of Fortune + 157--Make or Break + 158--Down the River + 159--The Boat Club + 160--All Aboard + 161--Now or Never + 162--Try Again + 163--Poor and Proud + 164--Little by Little + 165--The Sailor Boy + 166--The Yankee Middy + 167--Brave Old Salt + 175--Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin + 176--The Young Steel Worker By Frank H. MacDougal + 177--The Go-ahead Boys By Gale Richards + 178--For the Right By Roy Franklin + 179--The Motor Cycle Boys By Donald Grayson + 180--The Wall Street Boy By Allan Montgomery + 181--Stemming the Tide By Roy Franklin + 182--On High Gear By Donald Grayson + 183--A Wall Street Fortune By Allan Montgomery + 184--Winning by Courage By Roy Franklin + 185--From Auto to Airship By Donald Grayson + 186--Camp and Canoe By Remson Douglas + 187--Winning Against Odds By Roy Franklin + 188--The Luck of Vance Sevier By Frederick Gibson + +In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the +books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New +York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance +promptly, on account of delays in transportation. + + +To be published in July, 1927. + + 189--The Island Castaway By Roy Franklin + 190--The Boy Marvel By Frank H. MacDougal + 191--A Boy With a Purpose By Roy Franklin + + +To be published in August, 1927. + + 192--The River Fugitives By Remson Douglas + 193--Out For a Fortune By Roy Franklin + + +To be published in September, 1927. + + 194--The Boy Horse Owner By Frederick Gibson + 195--Always on Deck By Roy Franklin + + +To be published in October, 1927. + + 196--Paul Hassard’s Peril By Matt Royal + 197--His Own Master By Roy Franklin + + +To be published in November, 1927. + + 198--When Courage Wins By Edward S. Ellis + 199--Bound to Get There By Roy Franklin + + +To be published in December, 1927. + + 200--Who Was Milton Marr? By Frederick Gibson + 201--The Lost Mine By Roy Franklin + 202--Larry Borden’s Redemption By Emerson Baker + + + + +_TALES OF THE ROLLING PLAINS_ + +Great Western Library + +By COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM and W. B. LAWSON + +Thrilling Adventure + + +For many years we have been urged by readers who like Western stories +to publish some tales about the adventures of Diamond Dick. Therefore, +we decided to have a new series of stories based upon the adventures of +this famous Western character, and to put them in a line called GREAT +WESTERN LIBRARY, together with stories about Buffalo Bill, by Col. +Prentiss Ingraham. + +Thus, in this line two of the most famous of all American characters +join hands. The so-called society stories with a kick in them come +and go, but these clean, wholesome tales of the West give a clean-cut +picture of the lives and characters of the men who carried the advance +banners of civilization westward. + +There are Indian stories, cowboy stories, outlaw stories, all sorts of +stories of adventures out West. Each one is clean and decent, even if +it is thrilling. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + + 1--Diamond Dick’s Own Brand By W. B. Lawson + 2--Buffalo Bill’s Honor By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 3--Diamond Dick’s Maverick By W. B. Lawson + 4--Buffalo Bill’s Phantom Hunt By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 5--Diamond Dick’s Man Hunt By W. B. Lawson + 6--Buffalo Bill’s Fight with Fire By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 7--Diamond Dick’s Danger Signal By W. B. Lawson + 8--Buffalo Bill’s Danite Trail By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 9--Diamond Dick’s Prospect By W. B. Lawson + 10--Buffalo Bill’s Ranch Riders By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 11--Diamond Dick and the Gold Bugs By W. B. Lawson + 12--Buffalo Bill’s Death Trail By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 13--Diamond Dick at Comet City By W. B. Lawson + +In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the +books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New +York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance +promptly, on account of delays in transportation. + +To be published in July, 1927. + + 14--Buffalo Bill’s Trackers By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 15--Diamond Dick and the Worthless Bonanza By W. B. Lawson + + +To be published in August, 1927. + + 16--Buffalo Bill’s Mid-air Flight By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 17--Diamond Dick’s Black List By W. B. Lawson + + +To be published in September, 1927. + + 18--Buffalo Bill, Ambassador By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 19--Diamond Dick and the Indian Outlaw By W. B. Lawson + + +To be published in October, 1927. + + 20--Buffalo Bill’s Air Voyage By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 21--Diamond Dick and Gentleman Jack By W. B. Lawson + + +To be published in November, 1927. + + 22--Buffalo Bill’s Secret Mission By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + 23--Diamond Dick at Secret Pass By W. B. Lawson + 24--Buffalo Bill’s Long Trail By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + + +To be published in December, 1927. + + 25--Diamond Dick’s Red Trailer By W. B. Lawson + 26--Buffalo Bill Against Odds By Col. Prentiss Ingraham + + + + + Bound To Get There + + OR + + A Boy Who Could Not Be Downed + + By + ROY FRANKLIN + + Author of “His Own Master,” “Always on Deck,” + “Out For a Fortune,” etc. + + [Illustration] + + STREET & SMITH CORPORATION + PUBLISHERS + 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York + + + + + Copyright, 1910 + By STREET & SMITH + + Bound To Get There + + + All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign + languages, including the Scandinavian. + + Printed in the U. S. A. + + + + +BOUND TO GET THERE. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I. THREE DISCONTENTED BOYS. + CHAPTER II. JACK BENSON’S REVENGE. + CHAPTER III. A STORY OF THE PAST. + CHAPTER IV. ON TO THE CITY. + CHAPTER V. THE CRAZY ADMIRAL. + CHAPTER VI. SEEKING WORK. + CHAPTER VII. THE YELLOW PACKAGE. + CHAPTER VIII. A DEEP MYSTERY. + CHAPTER IX. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. + CHAPTER X. AT THE OFFICE. + CHAPTER XI. EVIL PLOTTERS. + CHAPTER XII. A BRAVE BOY’S RESOLVE. + CHAPTER XIII. EVENTS OF A DAY. + CHAPTER XIV. A NIGHT OF SUSPENSE. + CHAPTER XV. NEW PLOTS. + CHAPTER XVI. AFLOAT ON THE OCEAN. + CHAPTER XVII. A TERROR AT SEA. + CHAPTER XVIII. OUTWARD BOUND. + CHAPTER XIX. YARNING BY THE WAY. + CHAPTER XX. THE ADMIRAL’S YARN. + CHAPTER XXI. ADRIFT. + CHAPTER XXII. STRANGE ADVENTURES. + CHAPTER XXIII. WRECKED AT THE DOOR OF HOPE. + CHAPTER XXIV. THREE BOY CRUSOES. + CHAPTER XXV. THE TREASURE. + CHAPTER XXVI. ALL ENDS WELL. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THREE DISCONTENTED BOYS. + + +“I won’t stand it!” + +“What will you do, Nick?” + +“I’ll run away. If I work for my money I ought to have it. Mr. Steele +can get a new boy. I won’t work any longer and get nothing for it.” + +The scene was a yard at the rear of a barn that belonged to a +comfortable-looking house in Parkdale. Nick Collins, just turned his +sixteenth year, was the first speaker, and his companion was Frank +Alden, about the same age. Day had just died beyond the high, blue +hills, and evening sounds were in the air. + +Until two months before the story opens Nick had lived with his +grandfather, his only known relative. The old man died, leaving the lad +an orphan; at least, people told him so. His mother had passed away +when he was very young, and his father, a sailor, had gone to sea and +never returned. + +Nick was left penniless, and at the death of his grandfather was +obliged to earn a living as best he could. He was a bright boy in many +respects. At mechanics and navigation, his grandfather’s hobbies, he +had become quite proficient, but neither of these sciences offered him +any opportunity in the dull, inland town of Parkdale. + +So Nick took the only work he could get, that of lighting the lamps +of the little town. In this employment he was the assistant of Jerry +Steele, the official lamplighter--a man who had treated him none too +well. + +“Well, Nick,” said Frank Alden, “you’re better off than my brother Will +and I are. Six dollars a week----” + +“I don’t get six dollars a week.” + +“They say you do.” + +“All the same, I don’t. That’s my wages, but I don’t get it.” + +“Who does, then?” + +“Jerry Steele.” + +“Doesn’t he give you your board and clothes?” + +“He promised to; but you ought to see the board! As for the clothes, +look at them. These are my best--Sunday and week day alike. Oh, I don’t +want to talk about it. It isn’t worth wasting breath over. I’ve made up +my mind. Mr. Jerry Steele and I will part. That’s the end of it.” + +There was a resolute look in Nick’s eye, and his friend knew that he +meant to keep his word. Just then there came from the barn sounds that +were familiar to the ears of one of the boys--Frank Alden. + +“Oh, Nick!” he whispered. “Something has happened.” + +“I guess you’re right, Frank.” + +The familiar sounds were the wailing, pleading cries of a boy in +distress, and the harsh, coarse accents of an angry man. + +“Ye hain’t had enough of it yit!” + +“Oh, yes, I have.” + +“No, ye hain’t. I’ll teach ye to worrit the life out o’ me. Take that, +an’ that, an’ that! Ha, the switch’s broke. Well, I’ll git a new one.” + +“Oh, please don’t,” the victim of the man wailed. “I don’t deserve a +licking.” + +“Ye don’t, eh?” + +“No. It wasn’t me that let the duck into the parlor.” + +“Tell that to the marines. Mebbe ye didn’t steal my silk hat?” + +“No, I didn’t.” + +“Ye didn’t, eh? Then who was it?” + +For a moment there was silence. Evidently the boy would not tell. “Out +with it!” cried the man. “Do ye hear?” + +Still silence. + +“Then take the consequences, ye stubborn little mule!” exclaimed the +other. “I’ll beat it out o’ ye, or my name ain’t Ahab Towns!” + +The two boys outside the barn looked at one another significantly, and +then at the building whence the talk and wails had come. Their glance +spoke indignation and resentment. + +“He’s getting it bad, Frank,” said Nick. + +“Yes, and it isn’t his fault. I’m not going to stand it. + +“I’m with you, Frank,” the other said firmly. “What had we better do?” + +“Wait! He’s coming.” + +The boys found a convenient clump of lilacs to shelter them as they saw +the dim outlines of a man’s burly form at the barn door. + +“It’s Ahab Towns, and he’s going to hunt another switch,” whispered +Frank. “Come along. Now’s our chance.” + +“What’s your plan?” + +“Sh! Come and see.” + +Frank’s voice was resolute. He led the way toward the barn, entered it +quietly, and Nick followed. + +“Will, Will! Are you there?” called out Frank in the darkness. + +“Yes, yes!” came the quick, eager response. “Oh, help me out of this. +Look out! He’s coming back.” + +“We’ll help you, Will.” + +“Yes,” added Nick. “That’s what we’re here for.” + +“Now, Will,” said Frank, “you get out of the window as quick as you +can; and you, too, Nick, and wait for me outside. Never mind what I +intend to do. Skip!” + +Frank and Nick scampered to the other end of the barn, taking Frank +at his word, and not turning back to see what he was about. They only +noticed, as they were getting out of the window, that Frank was busying +himself about something at the door. In the dim light that showed from +the outside they could not tell what he was doing. + +A minute more, however, and Frank also sprang through the window. +Then the boys waited, all together, until Ahab Towns should return. +Presently they saw him, armed with a fresh switch, rush for the barn. +He was shaking with rage, and determined to whip the stubbornness, as +he called it, out of his stepson. + +In the semi-darkness and amid his haste, however, he never noticed a +rope stretched across the open door, perfectly taut. There was a wild +sprawl forward, a quivering shock, and Ahab Towns measured his length +on the floor, and made the air hideous with his cries of pain and anger. + +“We’ve paid him off, anyway,” muttered Frank grimly. “Now, boys, let us +leave here.” + +“Yes, and he’ll pay us off when we come home again,” replied Will, in +alarm. + +“You leave that to me,” was Frank’s assuring response. “Ahab Towns has +whipped me for the last time. If you haven’t the grit to say the same, +why, stand it, that’s all!” + +“What do you mean, Frank?” asked Will. + +“Come over to the common, where we will have a fair run if Towns +follows us, and I’ll tell you.” + +The three boys moved on silently after this. A bright, intelligent trio +they were, although the episode of the hour somewhat clouded their +youthful, handsome faces. + +The expression of the features of each indicated their peculiar +individual characteristics. + +Frank looked resolute, reckless, defiant. Will’s countenance expressed +a haunting fear and anxiety. Their history was a brief but strange one. +Frank and Will were brothers and Ahab Towns was their stepfather. + +About five years previous their mother, who was a widow, had married +again. Two years later she had died, and Ahab Towns, already a +disagreeable, fault-finding stepfather, became a cruel, heartless +guardian and taskmaster. + +He seemed thoroughly to hate the boys, and on every occasion that +presented the slightest excuse for an exercise of his mean authority, +he beat them unmercifully. + +Schooling, clothes, and even proper food were denied them, and the +loveless life the boys were thus compelled to lead almost broke their +spirits. + +Matters had been going from bad to worse until Frank had formed a +secret resolve at some near time to cast aside the galling yoke that +bound him and his brother to an unhappy fate. He had been delighted at +heart, therefore, when he heard Nick Collins complaining of his hard +lot, and declaring that he, too, intended to run away and strike out +for himself. + +The three boys reached the village common and found a grassy spot, +where they seated themselves. + +They found the playground deserted, for it happened to be that hour +when supper claimed boys’ and girls’ attention for a time. + +Will kept glancing back apprehensively in the direction of home, as if +fearful of pursuit from his stepfather. + +Frank translated the significance of his anxious looks with a scornful +glance. + +“Don’t be afraid, Will!” he said. “I meant what I told you.” + +“What?” + +“Ahab Towns won’t whip me again.” + +“Nor me?” + +“Not if you’re wise.” + +“What do you mean?” + +“I’ll tell you later. When the boys come we’ll play with them. When +they go home you and Nick be sure to wait and see me.” + +“Look here, Will,” said Nick, “what was the trouble to-night, anyway?” + +“Nothing that I was to blame for.” + +“I believe that.” + +“You know Jack Benson?” + +“Yes, and everybody knows him as the meanest, roughest boy in town.” + +“You know the gang of loafers he goes with?” + +“You bet I do.” + +“Well, a few days ago, you remember, we had some trouble with him and +his friends--those fellows from the river?” + +“Yes, and I guess they’ll remember it, too,” said Frank. “We gave them +a good whipping.” + +“And you remember what Jack said?” + +“Yes--that he’d get even with us.” + +“Well, he did.” + +“How’s that?” + +“Ahab Towns”--the boys never called their ill-natured stepfather +otherwise--“caught Jack stealing apples a week ago, and licked him for +it.” + +“That’s the best thing Ahab ever did,” remarked Frank, with a grin. + +“Maybe it was, but the double licking made Jack hot to get even with +all of us. To-day, when we were in the garden, Jack came along. He was +ready to do anything to spite us. He drove the duck into the parlor and +shut it in, and there Towns found it when he brought in a friend an +hour or so afterward.” + +“I see. And Towns blamed you for it?” + +“He whipped me for it,” replied Will, with a long face. + +“I should say he did, the way you hollered. Well, go on.” + +“Then Jack saw Towns’ high silk hat on the ledge of the sitting-room +window. He broke a dozen eggs into it. When Towns put it on you can +imagine how he raved and tore. I told him that I saw Jack around +and that I knew he did it. No use. I had to take the blame and the +punishment for it.” + +Just at that moment there was an interruption to the talk of the three +boys. The advance courier of the players of the evening had arrived +with a joyous shout, and within five minutes several others had joined +him. In half an hour a score of light-hearted boys were engaged in +harmless, enjoyable games on the village green. + +Amid the excitement of the hour, Frank, Nick, and Will forgot all about +their troubles and plans, and joined heartily in the fun. Hi-spy, +pump-pump, pull-away, and other spirited games finally palled on their +spirits, and mischief began its subtle promptings. + +“Who wants some real fun?” called out the voice of one of the larger +boys. + +A ready response came in a dozen voices. + +“You know where old Captain Eccles lives?” + +“Yes, yes!” + +Captain Eccles was a retired sailor who lived alone near the river. +His hermitlike life had long been a theme of discussion and mystery to +Parkdale boys. + +“Well, let us make him a quiet visit.” + +“Huh! A nice welcome he’d give us.” + +“Oh! I don’t mean a friendly call. We’ll put a “tick-tack” on the +window and get him out after us with that old broken blunderbuss of +his.” + +There were some dissenting voices, but the majority prevailed, and the +throng were soon on their way toward the river. Eager for the “real +fun,” they could hardly keep silent as they neared the dilapidated +cabin where Captain Eccles had lived so many years. It was merged in +complete darkness, and the boys got in the shadow of some bushes. One +of them had produced the bent pin, stone, and string that comprises +that fascinating mischief maker so dear to boys’ hearts. + +“Who’ll put it on the window?” was asked. + +Will Alden, a ready victim in all cases, assumed the duty. The pin was +attached, he returned to the bushes. + +Tap, tap! amid the stillness of the place, and then a cry of +disappointment. + +“The pin has fallen out. It will have to be put in place again, boys,” +spoke the leader of the group. + +“I’ll fix it,” whispered Nick. + +Nick Collins approached the cabin window cautiously. The stealthy +application of the pin to the window was only the work of a moment, but +it was disturbed rudely. + +“Run, Nick!” + +“The captain!” + +The warning came from the group in the bushes and startled Nick. It +came too late, however, for just as he began to run, a man’s form +darted from the door of the house. + +“Ha! You young rascal! I’ve caught you!” said some one in a gruff voice. + +And then appeared Captain Eccles. He dragged his struggling captive to +the open door of the cabin, thrust him in roughly, followed himself, +and locked the door after them. + +Those in the bushes had started to run at the first sign of danger +in the appearance of the captain. They paused finally, dismayed and +frightened. Frank Alden, less timorous than the others, had remained +behind, and checked their flight by a sudden call. + +“Don’t be cowards!” he cried. “See here, are you going to desert a +comrade?” + +There was no reply. + +“Let us pelt the house with stones,” suggested Will. + +“No--that’s no use. I wonder what the captain will do with Nick?” + +But wondering and impatient waiting were all that resulted from a brief +consultation. One by one the boys decided that they were expected at +home, and abandoned Nick Collins to his fate. All except Frank and +Will. They remained behind. The former looked sullen and angry as the +last of their companions disappeared toward the village. + +“Nice fellows, they are!” he growled. + +“What can they do to help Nick, anyway?” asked Will. + +“They might wait, at least.” + +“Oh! the captain won’t hurt him. See here, Frank, it’s time we were +home.” + +“Where?” + +“Home.” + +“Is it?” + +“Yes, and Towns will whip us as it is.” + +“He won’t whip me!” declared Frank. “I’m not going home, Will. I’m +going to wait here for Nick.” + +“It may be all night.” + +“I don’t care. I shouldn’t go home, anyway. Will, that is what I meant +to tell you. I’m through with hard work and hard knocks from Ahab +Towns. I shall never go home again. I’m going to try life on my own +hook--I am going to run away!” + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +JACK BENSON’S REVENGE. + + +Frank Alden’s face was resolute and set as he announced his bold +intention to rebel against the tyranny of a cruel stepfather. His +brother Will’s face was fairly white with fear and surprise. + +“Run away!” gasped the latter. + +“Exactly.” + +“You don’t mean it?” + +“I do.” + +“But----” + +“Don’t be afraid, Will. You are more scared at the idea than you will +be at the reality,” said Frank. “Stop and think for a moment. Can we +stand the life at the house any more?” + +“N--no.” + +“Then now is the time to end it. We owe our stepfather nothing. He +hates us, and will probably be glad to get rid of us. I’ve been +thinking of this for a long time, and seriously, too, and I’m going +to leave Parkdale. If you go with me, well and good. If not, I’ll go +alone.” + +Will looked bewildered. + +“Where shall we go to?” he asked. + +“To the city. Nick is going there. He will join us. I’ve got a package +in the grove back of the house hidden in the big oak tree. I made it +up to-day. It contains all we have, and a dollar I have saved besides. +We’ll go and get it and come back here and wait for Nick, and then +start out together.” + +“Will Nick go?” + +“Certainly he will.” + +“We may starve or get arrested----” began the timid Will. + +“No, we won’t. Come along, if you are with me.” + +“Yes, I’m with you,” replied Will faintly. His manner certainly was not +very enthusiastic. + +The two boys left the spot with a last look at Captain Eccles’ cabin. +It was dark and still, as before. As they walked toward the common a +strange thing occurred at the place where they had just been talking so +earnestly. + +Plainly revealed in the moonlight, from behind a fallen log, a human +face, and then a boy’s form came into view. + +He was a low-browed, bold-eyed youth, and his eyes twinkled with some +secret satisfaction as he looked after the retreating boys. + +“That’s how it is, eh!” he chuckled. “I heard all they said. Going to +run away. Well, smarties, I’ll get even with you more than ever now, or +my name ain’t Jack Benson!” + +Only for a moment did the sneaking fellow remain where he was. + +“I’ll hurry to the house,” he said to himself, “and tell old Towns all +about it.” + +He started on a run as he spoke, but halted abruptly a few feet farther +on. + +“Better still!” muttered Jack gleefully, as a new idea struck him. +“They’ve hidden some clothes and money in the oak tree in the grove. I +can get there afore they do. I’ll get the package, pocket the money, +and carry the clothes to Towns.” + +A rapid detour made him master of the situation over his unsuspecting +enemies, who went on more slowly and cautiously. + +Jack had no difficulty in finding the oak tree. As he drew out a +package from its hollow, he hastened to a copse some distance away, +coolly ransacked the bundle, secured a dollar tied in a handkerchief, +and then sat silently awaiting developments. + +In a few moments a form came toward the tree. It was that of Frank +Alden. Jack saw him go through all the pantomime of search, surprise, +disappointment, and dismay. Then he retreated, and the chuckling, +malignant watcher could observe him and Will at the edge of the thicket +engaged in anxious talk. + +“They may think that Towns found the bundle and may start away,” +thought Jack. “Now is my time to act. They licked me once too often, +but I’m even with them.” + +He abandoned the scattered clothing, and started at once for the house. +Just inside the gate he paused, and fell to thinking. It occurred to +his malicious mind that he owed Ahab Towns a grudge as well as his +stepsons. He was still smarting under the punishment the man had given +him for stealing the apples. The more he thought of this beating the +more spiteful he felt against Towns. + +“If I tell on the boys,” Jack reflected, “I’ll be helping that mean old +bear. I won’t do it. I know what I’ll do. I’ll kill two birds with one +stone. I’ll wipe out old scores to-night, and settle with Towns for +that whipping. And I’ll do both at the same time.” + +Whatever Jack’s crafty plan might be, it required some time to put into +execution. He went to where the moonlight fell full upon a flat-topped +board fence. Then he ransacked his pockets. + +A greasy pack of cards, some cigar stumps, and other articles about +as valuable, were transferred from one pocket to another. Finally he +produced a lead pencil and a not overclean strip of paper. + +Placing the paper flat against the fence, Jack proceeded with no small +difficulty to outline what bore some resemblance to a placard. He +twisted his fingers first this way, then that, in his efforts to write. +The spelling of the words did not bother him much. He just spelled +them any old way. When at last he had finished, he looked upon his work +with pride. + +It read: + + To ower stepfother and Jerry Steele--surs. you aboused us, and we tak + ower revenj on you both, you will see in the barn. + + NICK COLLINS, + FRANK ALDEN, + WILL ALDEN. + +This fine piece of literary work Jack stood and admired for some +time. He decided that he had done a smart thing in putting Jerry +Steele’s name on the notice as well as addressing it to the other +boys’ stepfather, for this would tell Nick’s unfair taskmaster that +his victim was one of the conspirators--at least, one of those whom he +wished to make out as conspirators. When Jack had filled himself with +admiration for his miserable attempt at writing and spelling, he stole +toward the house, mounted the front steps, and paused at the door. + +With a pin he fastened the written paper on a panel of the door, then +sneaked away to the garden, scudding through the shrubbery with a +quicker pace when he saw somebody passing by on the walk outside. + +A moment he halted when he reached the barn; then he darted inside. For +not more than two minutes he remained there, but when he came out his +face was pale and his manner that of a badly frightened boy. He broke +into a brisk run and never lessened his speed until he was well on the +other side of the common. + +Meantime Frank and Will Alden had gone through several experiences that +were none too happy. The visit to the oak tree had proved a severe +disappointment to Frank. In vain he felt for the package he had placed +there. It was gone. He tried to account for its disappearance, but +without success. After searching again, to no purpose, he decided to +return with Will to the vicinity of Captain Eccles’ cabin. + +“Who could have taken it?” murmured Will, completely mystified. + +“I cannot imagine.” + +“Have you any suspicion?” + +“Yes.” + +“Who do you suspect?” + +“Well, maybe Towns took it.” + +“Perhaps. Look! Who is that?” + +A form had passed hurriedly across a level stretch of ground beyond +them. It was the figure of a boy. + +“It’s Jack Benson!” exclaimed Will. + +“And coming from the direction of the house, too.” + +“So he is.” + +“Wonder what he is in such a hurry about?” + +They followed the fleeting figure, but Jack was out of sight before +they could overtake him. To Frank the incident kindled suspicion in a +new direction. He and Will went on until they came to the neighborhood +of the Eccles cabin. There they halted and looked around in search of +Nick Collins. But he was nowhere in sight. They sat down patiently to +wait for him. Frank was serious and thoughtful, and Will plagued with +fears and uncertainties. Thus it happened that neither paid attention +to a deepening glow in the sky over a point from which they had come +not long before, until of a sudden the illumination became strikingly +bright. A flash seemed to shoot athwart the hilltop. + +“Frank! Did you see that?” + +“What?” + +“It’s a fire!” + +“That glow? By jiminy, it does look like one.” + +“And in the direction of home.” + +They sprang to their feet and gazed intently at the lurid glare. A +moment or two and they heard the discordant, confused shouts of many +persons in the distance. These sounds came nearer and nearer, and +the boys set off at a run for the crest of the hill. They had hardly +reached it when they heard some one just beyond them, shouting: + +“Fire, fire!” + +A man running toward the village was crying the word at the top of his +voice. + +Another man, coming from the village, asked him excitedly: + +“What’s burning?” + +“Towns’ barn,” replied the other breathlessly. + +“Are you going for the fire engine?” + +“Yes. We must get it out quick or the house will go.” + +The man ran on, but the other called after him: + +“How did it catch?” + +“Set afire.” + +“Tramps?” + +“No,” came the reply as the man ceased running and turned around, more +eager to repeat some gossip he had heard than to call out the engine. +“His own boys did it. They fired the barn because he whipped them. They +ran away this evening, and left a note saying they set the fire out of +revenge.” + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A STORY OF THE PAST. + + +Nick Collins was never so dismayed and startled in his life as when he +found himself rudely seized by the arm outside of the cabin of Captain +Eccles, detected in the act of mischief which had for its result the +annoyance of its strange inmate. + +When his captor had pushed him through the open door, locked it, and +regained a grasp of his arm, he led him into a lighted room. + +A strange room it was, almost as strange as the grizzly, weather-beaten +captain himself. It resembled the cabin of a ship, and its walls were +covered with models of various kinds of sea craft, curiosities from the +ocean, and nautical instruments of antique design. + +Captain Eccles thrust Nick into a chair, eyed him with apparent +fierceness, and then in a gruff and terrible voice ejaculated: + +“So you’re the bold privateer who comes annoying a quiet sea dog in +winter quarters, eh?” + +Nick did not know what to say, but he managed to stammer the truth: + +“I--I--it was only a bit of harmless fun, sir.” + +“Fun, eh? Disturbing the old craft that’s laid up for repair after +thirty years of service. Who are you, anyway?” + +“A boy from the village.” + +“Are they all like you?” + +“Well, perhaps I’m as bad as any of ’em.” + +To Nick’s immense relief, the captain laughed outright at this +candid confession, and the boy began to think that the gruff old +mariner rather enjoyed his capture as a relief to the monotony of his +hermitlike existence. + +“What’s your name?” + +“Nick Collins.” + +Captain Eccles started, stared hard at the lad, and seemed deeply +interested. + +“Say that again,” he said. + +“Nick Collins.” + +“Son of Captain David Collins, mariner, of the good ship _Star of +Hope_, lost with all on board off the coast of South America ten years +agone?” + +It was Nick’s turn to look amazed as the captain reeled off the +sentence like a man thoroughly conversant with the subject under +discussion. + +“Did you know my father, sir?” + +“Did I know him, lad? I knew him as the bravest, truest friend I ever +had. Did you never hear of me?” + +“Only from what my grandfather told me. He’s dead, you know, sir.” + +“Dead? Well, well! I scarcely know that the sun rises and sets, shut up +in this dreary hold here. Go on, lad--tell me all about yourself.” + +It was a strange situation strangely arrived at. Nick found himself +suddenly the entertainer of an interested host. In simple language, +he related the details of the uneventful life he had led at Parkdale. +There was a long pause when he had concluded his recital. The captain +seemed to be lost in mournful reflection, and he uttered a deep sigh as +at last he aroused himself and gazed earnestly at Nick. + +“It makes me sad to have old times revived,” he said. “So you are +the son of Captain Dave. I knew you lived here, and I went to see +your grandfather once for acquaintance sake, but he was gruff and +unsociable. Did he never talk about your father?” + +“Very rarely, sir.” + +“Never spoke of the strange voyage he took and the treasure and the +shipwreck?” + +Nick looked startled. + +“I always supposed that my father died in a general wreck at sea,” he +murmured. + +“Humph! Not much of a teaching for a brave captain’s boy. No, Nick, +there was a strange story about the _Star of Hope_. It was a ship owned +by Admiral Semmes. Never heard of him, either, I suppose?” + +Nick nodded negatively, and a contemptuous look came over the captain’s +face. + +“Never told you of it, and you a captain’s son! Never been on the sea, +I suppose?” + +“I never saw it, even.” + +“And I was afore the mast at twelve!” remarked Eccles proudly. “Well, +I’m going to tell you about your father.” + +“I wish you would, sir.” + +“Ten years ago there lived in Boston an old naval officer called +Admiral Semmes. He was a great sailor and had circumnavigated the globe +a dozen times, and had known many strange adventures. Your father and +he were great friends, and I knew him quite well, for I was mate in +the merchant service when David Collins was captain. Now this Admiral +Semmes was not a rich man, but one day he and your father managed to +raise a sum amounting to eight thousand dollars. Do you know what for?” + +“No, sir.” + +“To buy a ship.” + +“The _Star of Hope_?” + +“Exactly.” + +“That was the ship that my father was lost in?” + +“That was the ship of which he owned half and Admiral Semmes the other +half,” replied Captain Eccles. “They could not pay for all of it, so +they mortgaged it to secure eight thousand dollars to pay the balance. +That money they obtained from James Vail, a broker, of New York City.” + +“Did the ship go on a regular cruise?” + +“No. That was the strangest part of it. The voyage was purely one of +speculation. Your father, it seems, had secured from a dying sailor the +secret of the hiding place of a vast amount of sunken treasure near an +island in the Pacific. It was the wreck of a Spanish galleon containing +nearly a quarter of a million dollars in bullion and coin, and sunk by +pirates. So convinced was your father that the story was true and that +he could find the treasure, that he brought Admiral Semmes to the same +belief. To search for that treasure the _Star of Hope_ was equipped +and provisioned. I tried to get a release from the merchant service to +go with him, but could not. I bade your father good-by at the dock at +Boston. I never saw him again.” + +There was a pause, during which Captain Eccles betrayed deep and silent +emotion. Then he continued: + +“Four months later a China steamer brought news to San Francisco of +the finding at sea of a raft containing a dying man--a sailor of the +_Star of Hope_. He lived long enough to tell that a terrible storm had +overtaken the _Star of Hope_ in mid-ocean. The longboats and raft were +put out. The captain alone refused to desert the wrecked ship, which +floated away and was never seen again. He, the sailor, was the one +survivor, apparently, for from that day to this not one word of the +_Star of Hope_ has ever been received.” + +“And the secret of the treasure died with my father?” + +“No. Strangest of all romances, when the ship on its fatal voyage +touched at Valparaiso he wrote two letters.” + +“Two?” + +“Yes. One to me and one to Admiral Semmes. He wrote that he was +tortured with a vague premonition that disaster would follow his +venture; that should the ship be lost a valuable secret would die with +him. He wrote out the location of the treasure on a sheet of paper and +cut it in two.” + +“What was that for?” + +“To interest me in the affair if he died, for in that contingency he +left me his share of the treasure to be divided with his father and +yourself. These parts of one letter he mailed at Valparaiso, destined +one for me and the other for Admiral Semmes.” + +“And you received them?” + +“I received my half. The letter to Admiral Semmes miscarried, or +was never sent, for it never came. The half sent me was utterly +unintelligible without the remainder. Many and many an hour did the +admiral and myself try to decipher the mutilated fragment. It conveyed +no coherent meaning. Then the admiral began to advertise for news of +the ship, for the letter. It was of no avail. + +“I gave it up as a hopeless task long ago, and came here to live, +telling the admiral that if ever a clue should be discovered, I would +lead the expedition for the treasure. But the years have gone on, and +I never heard from the admiral until a few weeks ago, when he wrote +me that he believed he had secured a trace of the missing half of the +letter your father wrote.” + +“And since then, sir.” + +“He has not written me. I long since abandoned all hopes of the ship or +the treasure. That is the story. A strange one, is it not, Nick?” + +“It is indeed, sir.” + +Its recital had made Nick sad and serious, and he forgot place and +circumstances as he gave way to reflection. + +“If you go to the city to seek your fortune,” said Captain Eccles after +a pause, “find Admiral Semmes and tell him who you are. For the sake of +your father he will befriend you, although I imagine that his wealth +and influence have sadly deteriorated in his almost fanatic search for +the lost ship and the treasure paper.” + +“I will remember, sir,” said Nick. + +“And if you remain here come and see me again, and come often, but +don’t rouse me with your tricks,” laughed the captain. + +He named the address of Admiral Semmes in New York City as they parted +at the door of the cabin. + +Nick Collins fairly gasped as he found himself alone and looked around +him. + +All that had transpired within the last hour seemed like some vague +dream. + +A mystic hand appeared to have drawn him beyond the threshold of the +past, and then after a fleeting glimpse of its dark secrets to have +thrust him beyond its portals again. + +He was confused, bewildered. He wandered on a few paces and sat down on +a rock to recover himself. + +Why did the story of Captain Eccles so impress him? Why did it seem +that fate had sent its revelation upon this eventful night? What caused +the dim thought that his father might still be alive; that in some way +the treasure-trove of the Pacific was to be mingled with his own young +life? + +Quick, animated conversation aroused Nick Collins from his reverie. +Some men were passing leisurely by from the direction of the common, +and paused to glance back at a fading glare in the northern sky. + +“The fire’s pretty nigh out,” remarked one of them. + +“Yes,” said the other. “No fear of it spreading now.” + +“It’s quite a heavy loss.” + +“Towns can stand it. The widow Alden brought him two other farms.” + +Nick Collins started and listened intently. A fire, and at Ahab Towns’! +What did it mean? + +“He was lucky to escape with his life,” resumed the last speaker. “His +sister and her family were in the house, and the barn had caught the +house before they were awakened. They say Towns was wild over his loss, +and ran back to save some papers, and if his sister hadn’t thrown a +cloth over his head and dragged him out he would have been overcome by +the smoke and have perished.” + +“He’s hot after those who fired the place.” + +“Yes? Rather ungrateful children.” + +“They ain’t his children, you know, and he wasn’t much of a stepfather +to them. It will go hard with Frank and Will if they are caught.” + +Nick Collins’ heart seemed to stand still. Frank and Will charged with +setting fire to Ahab Towns’ home! It could not be possible! + +“There were three of them in it,” he says. + +“Yes, that Collins boy probably put them up to it. Anyway, the three +names were signed to the paper that Towns found pinned to his front +door. That Nick Collins always was a roving, restless boy. Now they’ve +all three cut out, probably for the city.” + +The men passed on. Nick Collins stood like one stunned. He knew that +there must be some mistake, but what did the reference to the signed +paper mean? + +It would be folly to venture in the vicinity of the Towns homestead +and attempt to vindicate himself. In his heart, at that moment, Nick +believed Towns himself had fired the place, and for some crafty, +mysterious reason cast the blame upon his stepchildren and himself. + +Nick lingered where he was for over an hour. Many people were returning +from the fire, and talk about the incendiary plot seemed to be upon +every tongue. + +A word here and there imparted much information to Nick. He knew that +suspicion of crime rested against the Alden boys and himself, and that +Frank and Will had disappeared. He was mystified as to the motive for +the fire. What could Ahab Towns hope to gain by convicting them of the +crime? The more Nick thought about it the deeper seemed the mystery +that underlay the affair. + +The glow had all gone from the sky now. People returning to the village +passed the common now and then. At length two boys came along. One of +them Nick instantly recognized. It was Jack Benson. His companion was a +tough-looking lad whom Nick did not know, but who was apparently one of +his associates at the low, river settlement beyond the village. + +Jack’s face looked triumphant, excited, and full of malice. Nick told +himself that there must be some reason for this. His wits, naturally +sharp, had been set on keenest edge by the events of the last few +hours. Something in the appearance of Jack Benson aroused a vague +concern and suspicion in his mind. + +He decided that one of those boys, at least, would bear watching, and +that boy was Jack Benson. As they passed on Nick skirted the grove, +came as close to them as he could without being seen, and tried to +catch what they were saying. + +“Quite a blaze down there, wasn’t it?” remarked Jack’s companion. + +“Yes. It serves old Towns right.” + +“How’s that?” asked the other. + +“Oh, he’s a mean old snoozer. I hope they’ll get Collins and the +others.” + +“Why?” + +“Because I’d like to see them sent away for a long term.” + +“You must have it in for them, Jack.” + +“Surest thing you know.” + +That was all Nick heard. But it was quite enough to set him thinking in +a new line, and Jack Benson became a decided object of suspicion. + +“Frank and Will have certainly left the village,” mused Nick. “I wish I +could find them.” He set out in search of his friends. + +Realizing that the utmost caution was necessary, that they would seek +to arrest him for the fire in the Towns house, he avoided the public +streets as much as possible, and made his way toward the outer edge +of the village. Once he had a narrow escape from walking right into +the arms of the constable. This happened as both were turning the +corner going in opposite directions. But the man, who was smoking and +thinking probably about the fire, and the work it would give him to do +in finding the incendiary, passed on without so much as a look at Nick +Collins’ face. + +“It is dangerous for me to stay here,” he told himself. “Why should I? +If I am arrested, Towns will be sure to make out a bad case against me. +Frank and I often talked of going to the city, and how we would walk +there on the railroad track. This looks like a good time to go. Maybe +Frank and Will have started already.” + +Thus it came about that Nick, almost unconsciously, became a fugitive. +A minute or two after deciding to go to the city he had started down +the rickety little railroad line that ran from Parkdale to the county +seat. He kept on and on, his determination to quit Parkdale growing +stronger as he proceeded. + +Whether he met Frank and Will or not, he would continue as far as the +city. No more of humdrum, sleepy Parkdale for him. He had passed many +a bitter day there, chafing under the injustice inflicted upon him by +Jerry Steele, and he had no regret at leaving it. As he walked along he +fell to reflecting on Captain Eccles’ strange story, and thought of the +things he had read about life in the great city. It was nearly midnight +when Nick stopped at a small station and sat down on a bench outside to +rest. + +No one was in the station, and the village near by was wrapped in +silence and darkness. He fell asleep. The sun was shining in his face +when, with a start, he awoke. Some one was shaking him vigorously. Nick +sprang to his feet at the sound of a familiar voice shouting in his ear: + +“Wake up, Nick Collins. Wake up!” + +The man shaking him was the town marshal of Parkdale. Nick guessed +instantly that he was there to arrest him for his supposed share in the +fire at Ahab Towns’ home. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ON TO THE CITY. + + +Nick was somewhat dismayed, but he took the situation pluckily, and did +not act at all like a guilty boy. + +“It’s about the fire at the Towns house, I suppose?” he said, +stretching himself and yawning. + +“That’s what it is,” replied the marshal, with twinkling eyes. + +“I didn’t have anything to do with that,” Nick asserted stoutly. + +“You didn’t, eh?” the other rejoined, trying to look severe. + +“No, I didn’t; and if you’ve followed me all the way from Parkdale for +that, you’ve been wasting time.” + +To the boy’s surprise, the marshal burst out laughing. + +“Why, Nick, who accused you?” he said. + +“But----” + +“I guess nobody has accused you but yourself, and I don’t say it’s a +guilty conscience at work. You heard the stories flying around last +night; you got frightened, and you beat it while your shoes were good. +Isn’t that so, my lad?” + +Nick looked confused, but very much relieved. + +“That’s about the size of it,” he said. + +“Now that you know, I don’t want you, Nick,” the marshal went on, “I’ll +tell you who I do want.” + +“Who is it?” + +“The guilty one.” + +“Do you mean Frank or Will? If you do----” + +“Frank and Will,” the marshal interrupted, “are wanted by Ahab Towns, +but that’s none of my business. If they want to run away, it doesn’t +concern me. No, Nick, the chap that set fire to the barn is the only +one I want just now.” + +“I see; and you don’t know who he is?” + +“Did I say so?” + +“Then you do know?” + +“I’m pretty sure.” + +“Who do you think it is?” + +“Jack Benson,” the marshal answered. + +“I thought so!” cried Nick. + +“Have you seen him?” + +“No, sir.” + +“Have you any idea where he would be likely to hide?” + +“I haven’t, marshal.” + +Nick told how he had seen Jack the night before, and the marshal +related how they had learned of his guilt in the matter of the fire. +After the first excitement had abated somewhat, it was proved that the +clumsy writing and horrible spelling on the placard that the audacious +but foolish Jack had attached to Towns’ front door was not the work of +such intelligent boys and good scholars as Nick, Frank, or Will. + +Besides, on the reverse side was found some scrawling memoranda made by +Jack Benson, and in this way the paper was traced to him. And to fix +the guilt more securely on the revengeful Benson, a passer-by had seen +him in the yard of the Towns home a little while before the fire. And +next, by way of a crowning bit of stupidity, Jack had boasted of his +crime among his chums, and then, learning that he had been found out, +he had fled from the village as fast as his legs could carry him. + +The marshal had started to try and find him, and had a horse and buggy +near the station, where he had discovered Nick fast asleep. + +“I have an idea that he crossed the country to Allentown, where some +relatives of his live,” said the marshal. “Anyway, I shall go there and +look for him. Going to the city, Nick?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Waiting for a train?” + +“Oh, no. I was only resting here.” + +“You haven’t got the Alden boys hidden anywhere about here, have you, +Nick?” asked the marshal, winking. + +“No, sir. I have no idea even where they are.” + +“Well, tell them to put as much space as possible between themselves +and Ahab Towns if you see them. He is furious at everything, and wants +them back to vent his spite on if nothing else. And say, Nick, I think +I can give you a lift on your way. Here.” + +The marshal wrote a few words on a card and handed it to Nick. + +“I have a relative who runs the engine on the wood train, due here in a +short time. Hand him that card and make yourself generally useful and +he’ll give you a ride, I guess.” + +Nick considered himself very fortunate at meeting the marshal, +frightened as he was at first. It was a great relief to know that +suspicion had been removed from himself and the Alden boys so far as +the fire at Parkdale was concerned, and he longed to find Frank and +Will and join them in the new life that now looked so bright with the +shadows of past anxiety removed. + +At about eight o’clock a rusty locomotive steamed up to the station +and began to take in water. Nick handed the card to the engineer. It +resulted in an invitation to Nick to take a seat in the locomotive. + +This he did. The train ran from down the river to the county seat, +and had about ten cars loaded with cordwood. The route was desolate, +the rails uneven, and the rolling stock old and dilapidated, yet Nick +enjoyed the journey, and for over two hours did little else but view +the changing landscape. + +At every curve or crossroad the engineer told him to pull the whistle +and ring the bell, and so promptly and intelligently did Nick obey +these orders that he finally trusted him entirely to keep the lookout +from the window of the locomotive. + +It was well that Nick did not tire of the task and that he was vigilant +in his duty, else a serious and probably fatal accident might have +occurred. + +At a curve in the road Nick suddenly aroused the engineer by giving the +quick signal of warning and shouting excitedly: + +“Stop the locomotive!” + +“What’s the matter?” + +“Some one is motioning us ahead!” + +“Boys!” remarked the engineer carelessly as he glanced out of the +window of the cab and saw that two boys were signaling the train +frantically. + +“No, no. They mean something! The rails seem broken beyond them.” + +The engineer sprang to the lever quickly and reversed it. None too +quickly, for when the puffing, panting monster of steam came to a halt +it was only a very few feet from the evidences of what might have +caused a terrible accident. + +Two rails were torn up and several wooden ties crossed the roadway, +forming a formidable obstacle to progress. + +Two boys, who had so opportunely signaled the train, had stepped aside, +and for them Nick looked eagerly. + +“It’s lucky you saw the youngsters!” said the engineer as he viewed the +broken rails. + +“The boys who warned us saved us,” responded Nick. “I should not have +discovered the break until we were fairly upon it but for them.” + +“Where are they?” + +“Here they come.” + +The boys approached the engine. + +Suddenly, with a cry of delight and surprise, Nick sprang from the cab. + +“Frank--Will!” he ejaculated. + +“Why, it’s Nick Collins!” + +The meeting was a most happy one, and the trio forgot their +surroundings momentarily amid the excitement of joyous reunion. + +The train hands had gathered about the front of the engine and were +discussing the broken roadway. They decided that a broken axle on the +night train had dragged over the ties and dislocated them. Then they +set at work to repair the damage. + +Nick overwhelmed Frank and Will with questions as to their being there. + +“We got frightened when we heard that we were accused of burning the +barn at home,” explained Frank. + +“And left the village at once?” + +“Yes. About an hour ago we reached here and saw that an accident would +occur if we did not do something to give warning.” + +Both boys were overjoyed when Nick told them of the discovery of the +real incendiary in Jack Benson. + +“I suspected him,” cried Frank excitedly. “It was he who stole our +bundle, too. He must have heard us talking about it. Well, I’m glad we +aren’t leaving home under a cloud.” + +“Are you still determined to go?” asked Nick. + +“Yes,” responded Frank firmly. + +“And you, Will?” + +“I go where Frank does.” + +“Then we will all go together. Come, boys, we won’t starve so long as +we can work, and we won’t get into trouble if we keep honest and behave +ourselves.” + +“Are you going to the city, Nick?” asked Frank. + +“Yes.” + +“On this train?” + +“As far as it goes in that direction.” + +“Where is that?” + +“To the county seat.” + +“I wish we could ride with you.” + +“Do you suppose I would let you walk and me stay here?” + +“You can all go!” cried the engineer, surprising the trio in the midst +of their talk, which he had, in part, overheard. “We owe you young +fellows a big debt of gratitude for warning us.” + +Frank and Will looked pleased at the hearty compliment, and when the +broken rails had been repaired they were given comfortable seats in the +tender of the engine. + +They reached the county seat, the terminus of the road, about noon. +Here a pleasant surprise awaited them. + +The engineer insisted on their accompanying him to a restaurant, and +such a meal as he ordered for his hungry young friends they had never +partaken of before. + +“Well,” he said when they had finished the repast, “I suppose you are +going to the city?” + +“Yes,” replied Nick. + +“It’s fifty miles yet, you know.” + +“We can walk it in two days.” + +“Or steal a ride now and then,” put in Will. + +“Sort of economical, ain’t you?” laughed the engineer, who was deftly +leading the boys on to learn the state of their pockets. + +“We have to be,” said Nick. + +“No money?” + +“A few cents, that’s all.” + +“Well, just walk with me as far as the railroad offices till I hand in +my report and I’ll direct you the best way to go.” + +The engineer was bound that the brave signalers of the train at the +broken rails should not go unrewarded if he could help it. When they +reached the company’s offices he told them to sit down in the outer +room, and was gone for some time. + +When he returned a clerical-looking gentleman accompanied him. + +“So these are the boys, eh?” said this individual, beaming benignantly +on the youthful trio. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Saved the train and want to go to the city?” + +The engineer nodded assent. + +The gentleman, who was an official of the road, shook hands with each +of the boys. Then he went into the inner office again and returned +shortly. He bore an envelope in his hand and handed it to Nick. + +“That will help you on your way,” he said, “and if ever you come here +again, remember, we don’t forget your services, and you shall travel +free over our line.” + +The boys were voluble in their thanks as the official waved them a +pleasant adieu. + +“What’s in the envelope?” asked Will curiously, as they again reached +the street. + +“Open it and see,” smiled the engineer. + +Nick did so. + +The inclosure consisted of two pieces of paper. + +One was a pass over the railroad to the city for the three of them. + +The other was a crisp, new five-dollar bill. You may be sure that there +were exclamations of delight by the happy boys at this unexpected help +toward reaching their proposed destination. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CRAZY ADMIRAL. + + +The young adventurers were fortunate in securing a train for the city +almost immediately after leaving the engineer. + +Amid the excitement and pleasure of their recent experience life looked +pretty bright, and their enthusiasm lasted all the way to the city. + +The money seemed a fortune to them, and they discussed various ways and +means to make it last until they could obtain work. + +For that, Nick had insisted, must be their first thought, and even amid +the enjoyable bustle of the train, the novelty of swift travel, and the +rosy promise of the future he found time for serious reflection. + +It was dusk when the train rolled into the station at New York--the +giant, teeming metropolis that had been the subject of their fond +dreams for weeks, and which none of them had ever visited before. + +At first the stir and din of the streets confused them. The crowds of +hurrying, rushing people in the station, the shouting drivers outside, +the roar from the pavements, the dazzling electric lights, and all the +kaleidoscopic variety of street life bewildered and almost frightened +them. + +It was a world of wonders to the country-bred boys. It was some time +before they ventured to leave the vicinity of the station. At last, +however, they plucked up courage and set forth. + +“Where are we going to?” asked Will, who clung, half frightened, to +Nick’s arm. + +“To look and see what we had better do for a place to sleep,” was the +careless-spoken reply. + +Nick did not feel careless, however. Far from it. A great sense of +loneliness and depression dampened for the moment every hope he had +entertained of being able to fight his way in this great, noisy sea of +life. + +As they left the railroad terminus, however, the glare and turmoil +decreased. They found quieter streets, and they began to feel less +strange. + +“We may as well walk around for an hour or two,” suggested Nick. + +“Yes--why not?” said Frank readily. “When we get tired we can find some +place to sleep.” + +“There’s another thing, too,” said Nick. + +“What’s that?” + +“Captain Eccles gave me an address. I’d like to find it.” + +“All right.” + +Nick referred to the directions the captain had given him concerning +the city residence of Admiral Semmes. He had jotted it down, but he +remembered the street without looking at the written memorandum. + +He made an inquiry of a man they passed, and the latter told him that +the street he named was about two miles south and west. + +More than once in their efforts to find it the boys went astray. They +were delighted at last to come to a street corner which bore the name +of the thoroughfare they sought. + +It was a quiet, retired street, and Nick quickly got the hang of its +ascending scale of numbers and the odd and even sides of the street. +They passed along until they reached the number that Captain Eccles +had given him. + +“That’s the house,” said Will eagerly. + +He had kept close track of the numbers, and now he pointed to a +house that set far back from the street--one of the few dwellings on +Manhattan Island that still have a long courtyard in front. + +“It looks dark and unoccupied,” said Frank. + +“And seems to have been so some time,” remarked Nick. + +The front fence was broken and the gate lay at one side on the ground. +The walk was in disorder. As the boys approached the veranda, a glance +showed it to be in bad condition, with the steps frail and rickety. + +“The windows are broken and the door is open,” said Nick, in surprise. +“What a strange house!” + +He felt disappointed as he peered at its dark interior. Plainly the +house was untenanted. Either Captain Eccles had given him the wrong +address, or Admiral Semmes had moved away. + +They ventured to enter the dismantled structure. Evidences of +destruction and wanton mischief were revealed on every side. Doors had +been torn from their hinges, blinds broken, and the windows appeared +to have been the target for every mischievous lad’s sling in the +neighborhood. + +“This must be the place,” said Nick, “but Admiral Semmes has moved +away. There’s a man passing. I’ll ask him.” + +Nick hurried down the steps and spoke to the man. + +“Please excuse me, sir,” he said, “but do you live near here?” + +“Yes--over there,” and the stranger indicated a house opposite. + +“Do you know anything about this house?” asked Nick. + +The man smiled oddly. + +“Oh, yes, everybody knows about it.” + +“Who lives here, sir?” asked Nick eagerly. + +“No one now.” + +“I mean--you see--who did live here last?” the boy stammered. + +“The crazy admiral.” + +Nick started. This answer conveyed to the quick-witted lad a feeling +of distrust of Captain Eccles’ strange story. Perhaps all he had told +Nick was a romance, come to him mostly from the distracted mind of a +deluded person. + +“The crazy admiral?” repeated Nick. + +“Yes. That’s what they called him.” + +“Do you mean Admiral Semmes?” + +“I believe his name was Semmes. He was a curious old man, who came here +some years ago and shut himself up in that house, and never spoke to +his neighbors.” + +“Why did people call him crazy?” asked Nick. + +“Oh, he acted so strange. He would lock and bar every window days, and +wander around the garden nights armed with a gun, as if guarding some +treasure. No one ever entered the house but sailors.” + +“Sailors, sir?” repeated Nick. + +“Yes. When a ship from around the Horn came into New York harbor +you would see the admiral at the docks. He’d invite a whole ship’s +crew here, and give them a great feed and lots of drink for days at +a stretch. Then they would go away, and he would be more solemn and +strange for weeks, when he would repeat the operation.” + +“Why did he do that?” + +“People said that years ago a ship he owned mysteriously disappeared in +the Pacific Ocean, and he had a hope by questioning sailors from there +to get a clue to it.” + +Nick grew more hopeful. There was no insanity in this. Rather, +it verified Captain Eccles’ story, and indicated the systematic +perseverance of a determined man resolute to pursue a shadow till it +gave some semblance of reality to the hope of his life, to learn the +fate of the _Star of Hope_ and the mystery of the hidden treasure of +the far, unknown ocean isle. + +The revelations of the man were fascinating to Nick. He listened +eagerly as the former continued: + +“Then the admiral would advertise for some letter he had lost. +Altogether he acted very strange, very strange!” + +“And when did he leave here, sir?” + +“Only a few weeks ago.” + +“Do you know where he went?” + +“No. One day he rushed to a real-estate man near here. ‘The object of +my life is attained!’ he shouted. ‘I have discovered the lost letter. +Sell my house at once--this day, this very hour, at any sacrifice. I +must have money to perfect my cherished schemes!’ The notary found a +customer who gave $5,000 for the property--less than half its value. +That night the crazy admiral disappeared. We have never seen him since. +The boys have had free range of the building since and have nearly +ruined it, but the man who bought it is going to build stores here. You +seem interested, lad. Do you know the admiral?” + +“I wish to see him, sir. He knew my father,” replied Nick. + +They talked a little more, then the man passed on. + +Nick walked slowly back to the veranda and sat down on the steps, +lost in reflection. There was no fiction in Captain Eccles’ story, no +madness in Admiral Semmes’ strange movements. He believed firmly that +the latter had found the missing letter. How he longed to see him! How +the mysticism and romance of all the events centring around the lost +ship, the _Star of Hope_, thrilled and fascinated him! + +He must try and find Admiral Semmes--he must write to Captain Eccles +and tell him of his discoveries and state his own whereabouts. + +What more natural than that the admiral should seek out the captain? +And if he did, and an expedition was sent out to search again for the +hidden treasure, how he, Nick Collins, would delight in joining it! + +Frank and Will stood watching him curiously and did not disturb his +meditations. He had told them all about his interview with Captain +Eccles, and they discerned that his talk with the man in front of the +house had disturbed him somewhat. Finally Nick broke his reverie and +told them what he had learned. + +“It’s getting late, boys,” he said at the conclusion of his interesting +recital. “We must find a place to sleep.” + +“Where shall we go?” asked Will. + +“We can find a cheap lodging place somewhere.” + +“I saw none near here,” said Frank. “Look here, Nick!” + +“Well?” + +“The weather is fine and no one will disturb us if we stay here.” + +“That’s so!” replied Nick. + +“Then let us stay here to-night.” + +“I’m willing if you are.” + +“We are,” said Frank and Will together. + +They placed a couple of broken doors on a slant, spread their coats +over them, and were soon in the land of dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +SEEKING WORK. + + +“Work and the admiral!” + +These words comprised the motto that kept ringing through Nick Collins’ +mind as, early the next morning, he left the deserted house. + +They had awakened bright and refreshed from their sleep, and Nick had +gone to a neighboring store and bought some things for breakfast, of +which all partook heartily. As they ate they made their plans. + +“We know where this place is,” said Nick, “and we can meet here +to-night, even if we do not stay here--eh, boys?” + +“Yes--just the thing!” + +“We will all go out and look around. To-night we will return here, +meet, and report our success.” + +Nick divided the money he had among them, and the trio started forth. + +As they came to a business portion of the city they separated. Nick +took one street and Frank and Will went down another together. + +The first hour was not a very encouraging one to Nick. He kept a sharp +outlook for signs bearing the coveted legend, “Boy Wanted,” but no such +welcome call to work appeared. + +He had gradually passed from the neighborhood of hotels and dry-goods +stores to the wholesale district, and thence into the Wall Street +section, where bankers, brokers, and financial men generally had their +establishments. + +He had paused, somewhat wearied and undecided, against a railing of +iron outside a building aglare with polished metalwork, and marble, and +plate glass, when he saw an open automobile move up to the curb. + +The sole occupant and driver of the machine was an elderly, +haughty-looking man, who got out leisurely and ascended the white +marble steps with an air of proprietorship. + +Nick glanced at the gilded inscription over the arched doorway. + +A strange, intense look came over his face as he read the same: + + JAMES VAIL, + BROKER. + Marine Loans and Insurance a Specialty. + +Somehow the name held his attention. It sounded familiar. Where had he +heard it before? + +“James Vail--James Vail! Oh! I remember now. Captain Eccles spoke of +him. That was the name of the broker who loaned my father and Admiral +Semmes the eight thousand dollars on their ship, the _Star of Hope_.” + +The discovery was an exciting one to Nick, for it seemed another +accidental link in the chain of circumstances attending the mystery of +the hidden treasure of the Pacific, in quest of which his father had +lost his ship and his life. + +Why might not this man, James Vail, know something of the whereabouts +of Admiral Semmes? Why might not the admiral, at last securing the +long-lost letter, go direct to Vail to report his success and secure +his coöperation in finding the treasure? + +The impulse to enter the place at once and seek and question James +Vail was checked as Nick contrasted his own attire with that of the +well-dressed people who were passing in and out of the building. + +Perhaps the man who had got out of the automobile was James Vail, and +Nick glanced at the car again. + +Then he started, and his amazed glance rested upon the vehicle and its +vicinage intently curious. + +A strange pantomime was going on near it--for it was a pantomime. A +ragpicker, with quick, glittering eyes, was traversing the outer edge +of the curb and was every moment drawing nearer to the carriage. + +He carried a huge bag over his shoulders filled with paper and rags, +and as he moved along, to all appearances his eyes were fixed on the +ground, as if he were looking for stray pieces of paper. + +What fixed Nick’s attention, however, was the fact that the man, while +he pretended to be absorbed in his gutter quest, in reality had eyes +only for the building into which the man from the automobile had just +disappeared. + +His glance was eager, sly, piercing, and, as he made feints to pick up +pieces of paper, he kept nearing the rear of the motor car, stealthily, +slowly, surely. + +On a front seat at that moment Nick saw a brass-bound portfolio or +reticule, and he was convinced that the ragman saw it, too. The latter +directed a last watchful glance at the building. No one seemed to be +noticing him. Of a sudden he darted to the car. Quick as a flash his +deft, bony hand reached toward the seat. With a rapidity that was swift +and effective as sleight of hand he grasped the portfolio, popped it +into the bag, and started to cross the street. + +The boldness and suddenness of the act, for a second or two, left Nick +somewhat dazed; but no longer. Another instant and he was down the +steps in a bound. + +He came upon the ragpicker before he had reached the middle of the +street, and laid hold of the bag. + +“Stop! stop!” he cried. + +The man tugged at the sack, and then turned a fierce, angry face on +Nick. + +“Letta alone! Go away! I licka you! Letta go, letta go!” he shouted, +reaching his free hand around to strike Nick. + +“No. You stole something out of that automobile. Put it back or I will +call a policeman!” + +“Ah! you boy, I killa you!” + +The fierce, revengeful face of the ragpicker was aflame with passion as +he tried to wrest the bag from Nick’s grasp. + +The latter held on, however, and was whirled round and round, always +opposite the man. + +Suddenly the latter dropped the bag. Like a flash Nick went down, the +bag on top of him. + +The man caught his throat in an iron grip. + +“Help! help! This man is a thief!” + +Although nearly choked, Nick clung to the bag. A crowd began to gather. +The man who owned the automobile came running out. Several persons +in the crowd were ready to help the boy, but the ragpicker made this +unnecessary. Directing a vicious kick at young Collins, he fled around +a corner. + +Nick struggled to his feet, pale and gasping. A policeman bustled up +and seized his arm. + +“Here, what’s the trouble?” he demanded. + +“Arrest that man!” Nick answered, pointing in the direction the ragman +had gone. + +“What man?” + +“The man that owns this bag.” + +“Ain’t this your bag?” asked the policeman suspiciously. + +“No.” + +“What are you doing with it, then?” + +“He tried to steal--oh, from your automobile, sir.” + +Nick had seen the owner of the machine among the bystanders. + +“My car?” repeated the man, casting a glance at his automobile. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“What do you mean?” + +“That man reached into it and stole--this!” + +As he spoke Nick opened the bag and produced the portfolio. The owner +of it turned pale. + +“Good gracious!” he ejaculated. “How careless of me to leave it there. +Did you stop the man?” + +“Yes, sir,” answered Nick quietly. + +“A hundred thousand dollars in negotiable securities, and nearly +stolen!” murmured the other. “Here, boy!” + +He drew some coins from his pocket, looked at them a moment, as if in +hesitation, then said: + +“Come into the office, boy. I want to see you.” + +Nick followed him. The crowd gazed at the young hero of the occasion +admiringly. + +“Plucky boy! He deserves a hundred for that act,” was the remark of one +onlooker. + +“Who is it?” + +“Vail, the broker. The boy saved him a hundred thousand dollars.” + +“No danger of a big reward there! He’s too close-fisted!” + +“And needs all his money to pay his honest debts if rumor has it right!” + +These and similar comments fell upon Nick’s ears as he mounted the +steps of the building, but the broker was too far ahead to hear them. + +Mr. Vail ushered Nick into a large countingroom and thence into his +private office. + +A crafty-faced, smirking man, evidently a manager or confidential +clerk, stood at a railed inclosure and looked up inquiringly. + +“Trouble outside, Mr. Vail?” he asked. + +“I should say so! Loucks, look here!” + +“Your portfolio?” + +“Yes. I carelessly left it in the automobile and some one stole it.” + +“How did you get it back?” + +“This boy recovered it.” + +“Much in it?” + +“All the Speedwell bonds.” + +“Well, well! And this boy saved it?” Loucks regarded Nick with a snaky, +smirking glance that, while it seemed to express admiration, impressed +Nick very unpleasantly. + +“We must reward the boy, Loucks.” + +“If you please, sir----” + +“We must give him a substantial reward.” + +“Let the boy speak, Mr. Vail. What was it, lad?” + +“I want no reward, sir.” + +Mr. Vail, halfway to his desk, stopped short. + +“No reward!” he exclaimed. + +“Eminently unselfish and proper!” nodded Loucks, smiling. “Quite right, +my lad! Only a duty, eh?” + +“Yes, sir, but I would like work.” + +Mr. Vail looked relieved at an escape from paying money in reward for +Nick’s services. He regarded the boy searchingly for a moment. + +“Do you live in the city?” he asked. + +“I just came here last night.” + +“He looks honest, Loucks. Is there a vacancy?” + +“I can make one, sir.” + +“Do so. This boy will work cheap.” + +“Write your name on that,” said Loucks, handing a pen and paper to Nick. + +Nick did so. + +“Call at eight o’clock to-morrow morning. Position as messenger. Wages, +five dollars a week. If honest and reliable, six dollars after next +January. Good day. Boy of sense and honesty! No reward! Excellent! +Good day!” + +Then, with the same smirking smile, he bowed Nick from the desk, out of +the office into the countingroom, and, with a last nod and smile, into +the street. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE YELLOW PACKAGE. + + +The last few days of Nick Collins’ life had been full of surprises, +but this last one was too bewildering to realize readily. He had +really expected no reward for what he had done for Mr. Vail, but the +impatience and indifference of the broker contrasted painfully with the +honest, hearty kindness of the railroad engineer. + +“I’ve got a situation, anyhow,” reflected Nick as he walked slowly from +the place. “It isn’t much of a salary, but I will try to make myself +useful and worth more in time. This man knew my father and Admiral +Semmes. I wonder if he will recognize my name when he sees it, and if +he could tell me anything about the admiral?” + +The remainder of the day was uneventful to Nick; monotonous, too, for +he was eager to begin work and to see Frank and Will, and learn if they +had found employment. + +Outside of the rushing, excited life of business and the evidences of +wealth about him, Nick found but little in the city that was pleasant. +For whole blocks he would pass amid squalid houses where poverty and +misfortune seemed in their most hideous aspect. The sight of these +wretched homes, swarms of ill-clad children, and the absence of trees +and flowers, depressed his spirits. A memory of country life, of its +serene joys and peacefulness, forced a striking contrast. While the +city might be attractive to the seeker after fortune, he told himself, +the blessed haunts of nature made life at its leisure purer, and +brighter, and nearer to heaven. + +He found no difficulty in returning to the former home of Admiral +Semmes, and he was compelled to wait for Frank and Will nearly two +hours. + +The latter was tired, discouraged, and dissatisfied. He had found no +work, had wandered to the wharves, been nearly drowned, and voted the +city a bore. + +Frank had been more fortunate. Finding no regular situation open, he +had sold copies of a weekly paper, and by perseverance and hard work +had actually made a dollar by his day’s labor. + +Both the boys were amazed and interested at Nick’s story. + +“You are always having lucky adventures,” said Will. + +“Not very lucky. Only five dollars a week,” replied Nick. + +“But it’s a steady place.” + +“You will find one if you persevere, or I may find one for you,” said +Nick encouragingly. “We’ve all done the best we could, boys, and we +have reason to be very thankful. Well, boys, what’s the program for +to-night?” + +“Stay here,” said Will promptly. + +“Yes. It’s going to rain, and it’s comfortable and economical here,” +assented Frank. + +“Very well, boys,” replied Nick, and preparations for supper were soon +under way. + +It began to rain soon afterward, and they made a bench of some boards +and sat on the covered veranda and looked out on the street and talked. +Will fell asleep while Nick and Frank were still talking, and soon +after the latter lapsed into silence. + +Nick was aroused from a fit of reflection abruptly. + +“Nick!” + +It was Frank’s voice, and raised scarcely above a whisper. + +Nick regarded his companion inquiringly. + +“What is it, Frank?” + +“Sh! not so loud.” + +“Why?” + +“We may be heard.” + +“Who by?” + +“A man outside there.” + +“What of it?” + +“He seems to be watching the house.” + +“Nonsense.” + +“Maybe it’s some one who might arrest us for staying here?” + +“I guess not. He’s only taking a walk.” + +“In the rain?” + +“That’s so. It does look singular.” + +“It’s the third time he has passed the house in the last half hour.” + +“Are you sure?” + +“Yes--I’ve been watching him. Now, you wait and he’ll come in sight +again.” + +“He must walk around the block, then?” + +“It looks so, and it looks suspicious, Nick.” + +The boys watched the street from their shadowed covert, and sure +enough, at the end of a few minutes the same man appeared. + +He would walk slowly a few steps, pause, glance at the house across the +street, walk on, halt again, and then, reaching the lamp-post near by, +take a yellow-covered package from his pocket and hold it conspicuously +before him. + +Then he would glance searchingly around again and resume his walk, +passing out of sight down the block. + +“What can it mean?” asked Nick. + +“He seems to be expecting some one.” + +“Yes.” + +“To come for the package?” + +“I don’t know.” + +“Let’s watch again.” + +“All right.” + +The result was the same. The man reappeared, went through the same +strange movements, and disappeared as before. + +Once, twice, three times, four times. + +The man came and went, came and went. Always the same searching +glances, always the yellow package. + +Just as he disappeared the last time, Nick started to his feet +excitedly. + +“What is it, Nick?” asked Frank. + +“The man!” + +“He’s gone.” + +“Yes, but the package.” + +“What of it?” + +“He dropped it.” + +“I didn’t see him.” + +“I did.” + +“Where?” + +“You can’t see it from here, but I saw it fall.” + +“Then it’s on the sidewalk?” + +“Just at the edge of the fence. He went to put it back in his pocket, +and it slipped and fell to the walk.” + +“Go and get it.” + +“And give it to him--yes.” + +“Shall I go with you?” + +“No. There is no use of both of us getting wet.” + +Nick ran down the veranda steps and out to the sidewalk. + +Traversing its length, just at the end of the lot he paused and looked +around him. + +Lying at the edge of the sidewalk in a little puddle of water was a +yellow-covered parcel. + +Nick picked it up and examined it. It bore no marks or writing, and he +saw that the paper was oiled and impervious to moisture, as the water +dripped freely from it as he held it up. + +It was raining hard, and Nick stepped under the spreading tree near the +lamp-post. + +What could the package contain? But that was not his affair. His +business was to return it to the man who had lost it. + +He gazed down the street in the direction that the man had gone. + +No one was in sight--the stranger had disappeared. + +“He has gone around the block,” decided Nick. “He will be sure to +return. I won’t run after him. When he comes this way again I will +return it to him.” + +He waited. Five--ten--fifteen minutes--half an hour passed, and still +the stranger did not return. + +“Had I better go in search of him?” Nick asked himself. + +He had thrust the package inside his coat and glanced once more +searchingly up and down the street. + +“Ah, there he comes!” + +Yes, some one was coming; but as the man neared Nick, the latter saw at +a glance that it was not the owner of the yellow package. + +The newcomer, however, was certainly as much an object of curiosity as +the other. He was almost hidden in a waterproof coat and his movements +were stealthy and suspicious. + +Like the other, he scanned the vicinity anxiously. + +As he neared Nick the latter could just see a pair of unnaturally +bright eyes and the end of a long, snow-white beard. + +The man started and shrank back as he caught sight of Nick for the +first time. + +Their eyes met. + +And then transpired for the startled Nick Collins an event as strange +and perplexing as ever fell to the lot of boy or man. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A DEEP MYSTERY. + + +Whoever the man was, he stared very hard at Nick, and seemed about to +address him. + +He had come up directly near the lamp-post, and a dash of rain and the +wind took back the cloak that enveloped his form as he did so. + +Then, in an effort to restore its clinging folds, the face was +revealed, and Nick Collins had a full view of it. + +It was particularly pale--a white, anxious face, careworn and sad, +but eager and excited just now, in keeping with the wild, staring +expression of the restless eyes, which shone like two stars of fire. + +That face Nick never forgot, and he was destined to see it very soon +again under the strangest of circumstances. + +Somehow he associated the newcomer with his mysterious predecessor. +Almost involuntarily, as if he believed the former to have been sent by +the other, Nick took the yellow package from his coat. + +As the light fell upon it, and its conspicuous glare of color struck +the eyes of the man, he startled Nick by uttering a wild cry, +resembling that of some beast of prey. + +In a bound he was at Nick’s side. + +“The yellow package!” he cried, in shrill, eager tones. + +“Yes. The man----” + +“Give it to me! At last! Here!” + +He had torn the parcel from Nick’s hand. Fairly gloating over it, he +drew a similar package from his cloak, only that it was larger and more +compact, and thrust it into the bewildered boy’s grasp. + +Then with a hunted look about him, as if fearing that some one might +be lurking in the shadows to rob him of what he appeared to prize as +a great treasure, the man darted off, ran down the thoroughfare, and +disappeared around the next corner, leaving the astounded Nick Collins +standing beneath the lamp-post, staring vaguely, mutely at the package +so deftly substituted for the one he had previously held. + +What did it mean? What was the significance of these strange doings? +Who were the two men who appeared and disappeared so singularly? + +What was their connection one with the other? What was the mystery of +the two packages? Nick turned the new package over and over in his +hand; he tried vainly to reason out some motive for the action of the +men who had come and gone. + +Frank called to him from the veranda. + +“Nick!” + +Collins looked up and down the street, and reluctantly entered the +garden and approached the veranda. + +“I thought you were going to stay away all night,” said Frank. + +“I thought so myself,” was the other’s preoccupied answer. + +“Aren’t you wet through?” + +Nick had not noticed, but believed he was. Frank, who had observed all +that had occurred, was keen for information. + +“Nick!” he cried sharply. + +“Well?” + +“What does all of it mean? Rouse up! You seem to be going to sleep.” + +Nick roused himself. + +“Tell me what it all means!” persisted Frank. + +“You saw me on the sidewalk?” + +“Yes.” + +“Well, you know as much as I do.” + +“But the man?” + +“There were two men.” + +“Yes, I know, and the last one?” + +Nick related what he had said. + +“And he gave you another package?” said Frank. + +“Yes.” + +“Is that it?” + +“Yes.” + +Frank looked at the package curiously. + +“What do you suppose is in it, Nick?” + +“I don’t know.” + +“Aren’t you going to open it?” + +“It isn’t mine.” + +“The man gave it to you.” + +“By mistake.” + +“Why do you think so?” + +“Because it certainly was not intended for me.” + +“Whether or not, it is yours now. Open it. That may give us a clue to +the owner.” + +“Maybe we had better.” + +“Of course we had,” cried the curious Frank. + +“Come inside.” + +Frank had bought a candle that evening. He lighted it, and took it into +a room where the blinds had been carefully closed, so that no light +might warn outsiders of their presence there. The boys sat down on the +floor, with the candle beside them. + +Nick glanced at the outside of the package. It was covered with a piece +of manila paper and tied carelessly with a string. + +He untied this. The first covering was removed. A second one appeared; +it was of thin tissue paper. This was removed. + +“Oh, Nick!” + +No wonder that Frank gasped out the words and recoiled in wonder. Nick +Collins sat speechless, and the contents of the package fell from his +nerveless fingers. + +Bank notes--fives, tens, twenties! + +There was nothing in the package but money. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. + + +Never in their life had the boys seen so much money at one time. + +They could scarcely believe the evidence of their eyes. + +But it was certainly money--genuine wealth--heaps of it, and, for all +the outside world might know, it was theirs. + +Nick Collins sat staring at it blankly, as if dazed. Frank looked +frightened. + +“Nick, it’s money!” + +“Of course it is, Frank.” + +“What shall we do with it?” + +Nick began to pick up the scattered bills. As he piled them one upon +another he counted them. + +He restored them to their original package, tied them up with trembling +fingers, and said: + +“Frank, it’s strange!” + +“Nick, I should say so.” + +“Do you know how much there is in that package?” + +“About one million dollars.” + +“Not quite as much as that,” said Nick, smiling. + +“Half a million?” + +“No, five thousand dollars.” + +“And we’ve got it?” + +Nick looked around cautiously. + +“Yes, Frank, and we want to be careful that no one sees us with it.” + +“They’ll rob us of it, you mean?” + +“Yes, or think that we have stolen it.” + +“Well, of all strange things!” + +“It’s strange, all right; but I begin to see the light.” + +“You do?” + +“Yes.” + +“What is it?” + +“It’s only an idea I have.” + +“It may be the right one.” + +“Possibly.” + +“Tell me about it, Nick.” + +“Well, the first man that passed by here had the yellow package.” + +“Yes.” + +“He seemed to hold it so that any one expecting to meet him would see +it.” + +“It looked so.” + +“He finally got tired of waiting.” + +“Why?” + +“Probably he thought that the person he expected wouldn’t come +to-night.” + +“On account of the rain?” + +“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Nick. + +“Then what happened?” + +“He went away.” + +“Losing the package as he went?” + +“Without knowing it--yes.” + +“What about the second man?” + +“He appeared a few minutes later.” + +“Yes, Nick.” + +“He looked around as if expecting to find some one here.” + +“I noticed that.” + +“He discovered me.” + +“Yes; and then?” + +“Well, I was not the person he expected to see, probably, but he +eyed me closely. The minute that he saw the package he seemed to be +satisfied that he had found out what he had come for. It was not me or +any one else he was after, but a package.” + +“What did he do next?” + +“Just picked up the package and scooted.” + +“Leaving the money in its place?” + +“Yes.” + +“Why?” + +“Well, I think that the yellow package probably contained valuable +papers or something of that sort, found or stolen by the first man. The +other was anxious to recover them and pay for them, and he came ready +to do so. He supposed that I must be authorized to receive the money, +as I had the yellow package, and would not listen to any explanations, +but thrust the money upon me.” + +“Nick, I believe you are right,” cried Frank. + +“Anyway, here is the money. It isn’t ours. It is a large amount, and it +will be sought for.” + +“What shall we do with it?” + +“Keep it for a while. One of the men may return here to-night or +to-morrow night. It is our duty to watch for him.” + +“And if he does not?” + +“Then I will take the money to some bank or public officer and have him +advertise for the owner by explaining how it came into our possession.” + +This plan was adopted. Nick stowed the money safely away in an inner +pocket of his coat, and then they went out again on the veranda. + +It was agreed that they would say nothing to Will of the money that +night, and they did not disturb him from his slumbers. + +Nick and Frank took turns at remaining awake, but the alternate watch +until daylight resulted in no return of either of the men of the +mysterious packages. + +From his last doze Nick awoke as much mystified about the money as ever. + +He had dreamed of murder, fire, and thieves. The possession of the +money was a burden of care and responsibility to him. + +“Five thousand dollars! Why, that is the price the notary paid Admiral +Semmes for this house,” he heard the dozing Frank murmur half +consciously. + +But he noted the coincidence carelessly. + +Clever boys sometimes fail to appreciate the importance of trifles. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AT THE OFFICE. + + +Long before eight o’clock that morning Nick Collins was at the office +of James Vail, the broker. + +He had bought a collar and tie, a handkerchief, and a neat, cheap hat, +and looked quite presentable as he left the boys at the old house. + +The money affair had unsettled Frank, but Nick resolutely insisted that +it was an outside issue that could have but one result--its restoration +to its rightful owner, and he advised the boys to follow out the +program of the day previous regarding a quest of work. + +The Vail offices were in charge of the janitor when Nick arrived, and +the latter, not knowing him, refused to admit him. + +Mr. Loucks was there soon after Nick arrived, however, and greeted him +with his usual smirk of calmness. + +“Ah! early, my boy! That’s right. Come in--come in, and I’ll tell you +what you have to do.” + +He made Nick sit down when they reached the private office. + +“Well, ready for work, eh?” he asked briskly. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“And willing? That’s right. Let’s see, Nick is your name?” + +“Yes, sir--Nick Collins.” + +“Yes--yes,” and Loucks regarded Nick keenly. “Your parents living?” + +“They are both dead, sir.” + +“Father a farmer, I suppose?” + +As Loucks said this his crafty eyes belied the sincerity of the +question. + +“No, sir--a sailor.” + +“Ah, yes--a sailor. Merchant service?” + +“I believe so, sir. He died when I was quite young, and I don’t +remember much about him.” + +This information seemed to please Loucks, for he changed the subject at +once and began to inform Nick of his duties as messenger. + +“See how snug and cozy we make you,” he said, as he led Nick to a +closet between the countingroom and the private office. “You see, it’s +a sort of sentry box. When you’re not busy you can look out of the +window. You see two ground-glass slides here. Do you know what they are +for?” + +“No, sir.” + +“Tap! That is the bell for the countingroom, and you open the slide on +that side, thus,” and Loucks briskly manipulated the sash. “Then the +caller nods for you to come to him, or calls his orders to you. Same +way on other side, only tap! tap! is our signal.” + +“Yours and Mr. Vail’s, sir?” + +“Yes, ours. We are the same as partners,” remarked Loucks, with an +effort at conscious dignity and pride; “that is--hem!--I am a kind of +confidential partner, but of course I tell you this in confidence.” + +“Yes, sir.” + +The clerks began to arrive soon afterward, and later still Mr. Vail +himself appeared. + +He took no notice of Nick until he called him to take a letter to +a bank near by, and his face wore a preoccupied look whenever Nick +glanced at him. + +Nick was kept quite busy during the morning, running errands and +helping carry the enormous ledgers and other blank books for the clerks +to and from the vault. + +In the afternoon, however, he was comparatively idle. After two o’clock +he sat in the closet to which he had been apportioned, and had no +orders until the clerks began to leave for the day. + +Then Loucks came to him. + +“Stay till five o’clock, Nick,” he said. “I may want to send you on a +special errand.” + +“Very well, sir.” + +Nick soon tired of watching the court from the closet. Whoever had +preceded him in the office as messenger evidently had experienced the +same weariness, for the windows on both sides had been scraped bare of +the white paint in patches, and Nick could see perfectly both into the +countingroom and Mr. Vail’s private office. + +More than that, as the hubbub of daily toil in the first-named +apartment subsided, he found that sounds from the office occupied by +the broker and Loucks were perfectly audible in his little waiting room. + +A small, broken piece of glass in one corner of the sash, evidently +pried out by his curious predecessor, aided his effect. + +As Nick sat there he could both see and hear all that transpired in the +private office. + +He did not suppose that the dry details of business would interest him, +but almost unconsciously he found himself listening to the monotonous +humdrum tones of Loucks’ voice. + +The latter seemed to be reading to his employer a statement of the +business of the office. As he concluded, Mr. Vail made a startling +remark. + +“Well, Loucks,” he said, “that’s the balance--that’s the outlook, is +it?” + +“Yes, Mr. Vail.” + +“Then it’s ruin!” + +Nick started in surprise. + +“Ruin it is at those figures, sir.” + +“Is there no way out of it?” + +“There is.” + +“What?” + +Nick, glancing through the window, saw the snaky Loucks move nearer to +Vail. + +“You must leave all to me, sir.” + +“What do you mean, Loucks?” + +“I mean crash, ruin, protested notes, bankruptcy! The business has been +running at a loss for a year. If we can tide over another year, I know +one or two schemes that we can set in motion, work, terminate, and go +out of business rich men.” + +“You do?” + +“Yes.” + +“What are they?” + +“Rather risky, but sure.” + +“Well?” + +“The Speedwell estate.” + +“What about it?” + +“Negotiate the securities lying in the vault, and secure a temporary +loan to tide over present difficulties.” + +If ever there was a tempter’s face shown, it was Loucks’ just then. The +broker turned pale. + +“No! no!” he cried. “Are you mad, Loucks? That would be fraud.” + +Loucks smiled calmly. + +“And what, then, sir, may I ask?” + +“Arrest--disgrace.” + +“If found out--yes; but trust me that no one can ever find us out. No, +sir. Use the securities, borrow a sum adequate to tide us over, and +rely on me to bring things about all right.” + +James Vail seemed to be in mental misery at the words of Loucks. + +“How can you do that?” he asked. + +“Never mind how, but I can give you one hint. You know the _Vista_?” + +“Our old ship in the West Indies trade?” + +“Exactly, sir.” + +“What of it?” + +“She’s past her best, you know.” + +“Yes.” + +“Cost thirty thousand dollars and worth ten thousand dollars.” + +“Well?” + +“Insure her for her full cost. Suppose she should burn some night?” + +The broker was startled; so was Nick at the crime involved in Loucks’ +suggestion. Plainly Loucks was a scoundrel--his employer a weak, +wavering man. + +At that moment there came an interruption. + +Tap! tap! + +“Some one is at the office door, Loucks,” said Vail. + +Loucks glided to the door and opened it. + +The janitor stood there, a man behind him. + +“Some one to see Mr. Vail, sir,” he said. + +“It is past business hours----” began Loucks. + +“I must see him!” declared the visitor, pushing his way past the +janitor. + +“Mr. Vail is engaged, I tell you,” said Loucks. + +“He will see me.” + +“What is your business, sir?” + +“That I can tell to him only.” + +“And your name?” + +“Admiral Semmes.” + +To this rapid talk Nick had listened intently. As that name was spoken +he could not repress a start of wonder, doubt, and joy. He had not yet +seen the face of the newcomer. Loucks also looked startled. + +Vail, at the desk, arose quickly to his feet. + +“Show him in--show the admiral in,” he said quickly. + +The stranger strode across the floor with rapid, nervous tread. + +“Mr. Vail, do you remember me?” he asked, extending his hand to the +broker. + +“Perfectly. Close the door, Loucks.” + +Nick Collins recoiled, with a faint cry. + +He had caught a fine glimpse of the face of the man who announced +himself as Admiral Semmes. + +He might well be amazed, for the visitor was no other than the man who, +the night before, had so mysteriously given him the package containing +the five thousand dollars! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +EVIL PLOTTERS. + + +Nick recognized the admiral readily, as much by his quick movements +and bent form as from a memory of his snow-white beard and keen, +penetrating eyes as revealed in the street-light glow the previous +night. + +He was attired in a threadbare suit, and resembled some veteran of war +service, an air of dignity being apparent even beneath his nervous +manner. + +Nick was glad that the admiral had come to light at last, doubly glad +now that he had not questioned Vail as to his probable whereabouts. + +In view of the developments of the hour Nick felt that he could +scarcely venture to trust James Vail with the money--the $5,000. + +He would wait until the admiral had left the office, when he would +follow him, return the money, and hope for an explanation of what the +strange proceedings of the past might signify. + +Vaguely Nick began to comprehend a plot about the money in which the +story of Captain Eccles was involved. He believed that once he could +see the admiral alone much that was now obscure would be made plain to +him. + +Vail had grasped the admiral’s hand and motioned him to a seat. + +“It is many years since we met,” said the admiral. “Mr. Vail, I should +like to see you alone.” + +The admiral glanced at Loucks as he spoke. + +Vail made the latter a quick signal, and he retired within a railed +inclosure and pretended to busy himself at a desk, although Nick +noticed that his crafty eyes watched the visitor intently. + +“Mr. Loucks is my confidential associate in business,” explained Vail, +“and you can freely give me your confidence before him.” + +“Very well, Mr. Vail.” + +“What is it, admiral?” + +“You say you remember me?” + +“Perfectly.” + +“You remember loaning me and a friend eight thousand dollars ten years +ago?” + +“Yes, I recall it distinctly.” + +“That friend was Captain Collins.” + +“Of the merchant service.” + +“And the ship----” + +“The _Star of Hope_.” + +“You have a good memory, I see,” said the admiral. + +“I ought to have in that affair.” + +“Why so?” + +“My loan was secured by insurance on the _Star of Hope_.” + +“Well?” + +“And the companies for a time refused to pay it, claiming that there +was no evidence that the ship was ever lost.” + +“Well, I guess it was, and my poor friend, Captain Collins, drowned. +But that is all passed, Mr. Vail, and my visit here is on more recent +and vital issues. I come to you as our business friend of the past to +place at your disposal a great fortune.” + +The admiral’s tone grew slightly more earnest and excited as he spoke +these words. + +“What!” ejaculated Vail, starting eagerly. + +“A fortune, I say. After many years’ waiting it is mine.” + +The effect of this statement was to bring into Vail’s face an +expression of all the latent avarice of his nature. Loucks had also +been deeply impressed by the words, for he leaned forward at his desk, +a hungry look in his sinister face. + +“That fortune,” cried the admiral, with flashing eyes, “is there!” + +He had drawn an object from his pocket and brought it down with a +resounding slam on the desk at which the broker sat. + +Nick Collins had a new surprise at the sight of the parcel in Admiral +Semmes’ hand. It was the yellow package--the one he had found the night +before in front of the dismantled house, and had exchanged to the +admiral for the bundle of bank notes. + +“Does that contain the money--the fortune?” asked Vail eagerly. + +“No, Mr. Vail, but it is the key to the fortune.” + +“The key?” + +“Yes--the clue to a treasure estimated to be worth over a quarter of a +million of dollars.” + +The broker looked somewhat disappointed, still he evinced an +unmistakable interest in the package. + +“Do you remember what the _Star of Hope_ was fitted out for?” asked the +admiral. + +“Yes. For a South American cruise.” + +“After treasure.” + +“I heard something of that. The ostensible voyage was for coffee from +Brazil.” + +“That was to hide our secret and prevent others pursuing our line of +quest. Listen.” + +To absorbed listeners, in graphic, eloquent words, Admiral Semmes +repeated the story of the sunken treasure already narrated to Nick +Collins by Captain Eccles at Parkdale. + +As he proceeded, the zest of a man deeply in earnest, and in love +with fixed convictions, made him greatly excited. He told of the two +letters, or, rather, of the one cut in two at Valparaiso by Captain +Collins on his outward-bound voyage. + +“That letter revealed the hiding place of the sunken treasure,” said +the admiral. “Half of the letter arrived in safety and was received by +Captain Eccles. That he gave to me. The other half was never mailed, or +miscarried, it seems, for although we waited for nearly a year it did +not arrive. Eccles, after the news of the wreck of the _Star of Hope_, +abandoned the secret and the treasure as irretrievably lost.” + +“And you?” asked Vail. + +“I never lost faith in a hope that some day the dream of my life would +be realized, and I would recover the lost clue. To that end I devoted +health, money, patience, time. I visited every ship from Pacific waters +that came to New York. I made friends with the crews. I fêted them: I +questioned them. It was of no avail. No one had seen a trace of the +wrecked _Star of Hope_. + +“Then I began to advertise for the lost half of Captain Collins’ +letter. I even advertised in the Spanish-American papers and tried to +trace the letter from Valparaiso. About six weeks ago I received a +strange letter from the South. A man signing himself Don Felisterra, +and claiming to be a Brazilian, wrote me that he could produce the +paper I wanted. He wanted a price for it--five thousand dollars. Would +I give it? I telegraphed him four decisive words in reply.” + +“What were they?” queried the interested Vail. + +“Simply these: ‘Come to New York.’” + +“Did he do so?” + +“Yes. Four days since I received a second letter from him. For some +reason Felisterra was very cautious and suspicious. He evidently +feared that he would not get the money--he seemed to fear deception +or trouble, or else he was a criminal who wished to evade being seen +publicly. At any rate, he told me to meet him near my former residence.” + +“Your former residence?” + +“Yes--I sold it for the five thousand dollars to buy the paper. I +was to meet him or a messenger he would send after dark on a certain +night--last night. He would have a yellow package in his hand +containing the document in question. I was to exchange the money for +it, ask no questions, and make no attempt to follow Felisterra or have +him followed.” + +“A strange arrangement!” murmured Vail. + +“Yes, but I agreed to it.” + +“And went to the place indicated?” + +“Promptly.” + +“With the money?” + +“Certainly.” + +“Ready to give it possibly to a swindler who would palm off a worthless +piece of paper upon you for the money?” + +“I risked that, and I would have risked double if I had had it and it +was necessary.” + +“Was the man there?” + +“No, but his messenger was--a boy.” + +“You obtained the yellow package?” + +“Yes, and exchanged the money for it and went home. Oh, the profound +happiness of the moment when I opened this precious yellow package and +perused its contents!” + +“It contained what you expected?” + +“The other half of the letter, written by Captain Collins in +Valparaiso, Chili, ten years ago--yes. It matched the half I had +unmistakably. It indicates the course at sea to the island, to the +treasure itself, so that any sailor could find it. Think of it, Mr. +Vail--a quarter of a million of dollars! It is mine, all mine, except +the share that goes to Eccles and to any family Collins may have left.” + +There was no mistaking the fact that Vail was deeply impressed with +the admiral’s story. He believed it to be true, believed in the +treasure--and envied this man his possession of the key to its secret. + +“Oh! I almost forgot to tell you the outcome of Felisterra’s schemes,” +said the admiral. “A strange fatality happened to him.” + +“How was that?” + +“I don’t know.” + +“Have you any theory?” + +The admiral paused before answering, as if in thought. At length he +said: + +“I had a theory.” + +“What is it?” + +“Well, I figured out that he robbed or killed some man in South America +and found the letter, which probably had been picked up somewhere.” + +“Why do you think this?” asked Vail. + +“I don’t say that I do think so now; but I did, and it was because +Felisterra was so cautious.” + +“Why don’t you think so now?” + +“Because I know better.” + +“Well?” + +“Early this morning,” the admiral went on, “a man came to the hotel +where I have been living recently--a policeman.” + +“To see you?” + +“Yes.” + +“What about?” + +“About Felisterra. It seems that the man must have had enemies who were +pursuing him. Probably he received the money from the messenger he sent +to meet me, and started on his way home.” + +“I don’t quite follow you, admiral,” said Vail. “Has anything happened +to Felisterra?” + +“I should say something had happened to him,” was the old mariner’s +reply. + +“What was it?” + +“He was found late last night only two blocks away from my old home, a +dagger in his breast.” + +“Dead?” + +“Yes, indeed.” + +“How did you hear of it?” + +“The police found my name in a memorandum book on the body, and came to +me for information. I suppose they thought I might know something about +the murder even if I didn’t have a hand in it.” + +“Could you give them any clue?” + +“No. The assassin is unknown, and probably never will be found.” + +“Has anything been learned as to this Felisterra’s past?” asked the +broker. + +“Yes,” the admiral answered. “From the memorandum book I learned that +he had been an outlaw in the Andes, and had a terrible enemy in the +person of another outlaw, who had sworn to kill him. Probably this man +followed him from place to place, came up with him at last in this +city, and made good his threat.” + +“Did you learn anything else?” + +“Yes. The memorandum showed also that in a robbery of the +mail--committed probably by some band of South American desperadoes--my +letter had been found and preserved for its strangeness.” + +“How came Felisterra to visit this country--this city?” + +“It was the result of a chance reading, on his part, of a newspaper +advertisement. Poor fellow! They’ve taken his body away for burial. His +money is gone, but the secret of the treasure I have pierced at last.” + +“And what do you intend to do with it?” asked Vail, his eyes glinting +with interest. + +“Make use of it,” the admiral answered promptly. + +“You will go in search of the treasure?” + +“Certainly.” + +“Alone?” + +“Certainly not. I’m getting along in years, Mr. Vail, but I’m not a +fool.” + +“I didn’t think you were, admiral. Well, what do you propose?” + +“First of all, sir, let me tell you that I am a pauper. This paper cost +me the last dollar I had in the world, but I do not care for that. I +must have a ship, capital, coöperation in this great undertaking.” + +“How do you expect to get these things?” + +“Oh,” replied the admiral, with a wave of his hand, “any capitalist +would finance a surely paying enterprise like this.” + +“I understand, admiral. You have come to me----” + +“To place in your hands a fortune,” broke in the confident old sailor. +“You loaned me money before. Loan it to me now. Advance enough to man a +ship and provision it, and I will give you----” + +“How much?” asked Vail eagerly. + +“One-eighth of the treasure recovered.” + +The broker was disappointed, but concealed his feelings. After +pretending to think a moment, he said: + +“I might lend you a hand, admiral.” + +“You might!” repeated the older man. “Will you--yes or no?” + +“Yes--if your story is true.” + +“My story true!” cried Semmes excitedly. “Look for yourself! I’m not +afraid to let you read the description, for it is too complicated to be +committed to memory. Besides, I know you to be an honorable man.” + +He opened the package as he spoke, and produced two halves of a yellow, +timeworn letter, pasted on a single sheet of paper. At sight of it +Vail’s face took on a pallid hue, and a crafty look came into his eyes. + +“Loucks,” he said, extending the hand that held the letter over the +railing of the desk compartment, “just cast your eye over that. See if +there is anything in it that would warrant us making an investigation +of the admiral’s scheme.” + +So calm and businesslike were the broker’s manner and tone that Semmes +suspected no unfair play. Nevertheless, he kept his eyes on the +precious paper until Vail, for a moment, distracted his attention from +Loucks, who sat at a desk and spread the letter before him. When he +turned again to watch the confidential associate of Vail the latter +made a quick sign to Loucks, which the admiral did not see. That sign +meant plainly, “Copy it--quick!” + +“I believe that the venture is a good one, admiral,” said Vail, +resuming his seat. + +“It is sure, and bound to be highly profitable.” + +“And one-eighth is all you will give to me if I capitalize the +expedition?” + +“Absolutely all. The amount at issue is so large that----Hold on, +there!” + +Admiral Semmes sprang excitedly to his feet. + +“What’s the matter?” asked Vail. + +“My paper! See what he’s doing!” + +“Mr. Loucks is only examining it, as I requested him to do. You don’t +think we’re going to buy a pig in a poke?” + +“He’s doing more than look at it!” exclaimed the old seaman. “He’s +copying it. That’s what he’s doing.” + +“Well, if we go in with you, haven’t we a right----” + +“No copies, I say,” broke in Semmes. “I won’t have it!” + +He reached over the railing and tried to seize the paper, but Loucks +moved away. + +“Here, you!” the admiral cried. “Give me my paper.” + +Loucks only grinned. + +Then Vail showed his true colors. He laid hold of Semmes and held him +back from the railing. + +“You’ll get your paper, admiral,” he said, “when we have made a copy of +it.” + +“But you’ve no right to copy it!” + +“What! Not when we are going to join you in the enterprise?” + +“You may not join me.” + +“We want a copy, anyway.” + +“What right----” + +“Oh, I’ve got plenty of right on my side,” sneered Vail, “if that’s +what’s worrying you.” + +“Right on your side!” fumed the admiral. “What is it, I should like to +know?” + +“There is an unpaid claim of interest on the _Star of Hope_ mortgage,” +Vail answered exultantly. “You’ll not have the courage to deny that.” + +This reply bewildered the admiral for a moment. He stared vaguely at +the crafty man before him, then, with a cry of rage, made another rush +for the railing. + +“You scoundrel!” he roared. “I see that I’ve fallen into the hands of a +thief.” + +Vail stepped before the admiral to keep him back. The men clinched. +There was a brief struggle. The old admiral was thrown to the floor. In +the fall his head struck an iron post of the railing. An ugly wound was +the result, and Nick, from his boxlike inclosure, saw the blood flow as +Semmes lay white and motionless on the floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A BRAVE BOY’S RESOLVE. + + +Nick Collins’ first impulse was to rush from his place of concealment +and call the police. But he did not do so, probably because a desire to +see what Vail and Loucks would do held him to his point of observation. + +Evidently Vail had not intended to inflict bodily injury on the +admiral, and the serious result of his interference with the old man +filled him with fear for the consequences. + +For a minute or two he stood looking down at the prostrate, motionless +figure on the floor, and then he turned to Loucks. The latter had +ceased his work of copying the letter, and was leaning on the rail +beside his employer. + +“Loucks,” said Vail gravely, “this is bad work.” + +Loucks came from behind the rail, bent down, and examined the face of +the admiral. + +“What do you think of it?” asked the broker. + +Loucks, intent on his examination, did not answer. + +“Is he--dangerously hurt?” faltered Vail. + +“No, I think not,” was the other’s answer. “But he breathes strangely.” + +“What does that mean?” + +“Can’t say exactly, but I don’t like it.” + +“What shall we do?” + +“Leave it to me,” said Loucks reassuringly. + +“But what--what is--to be done?” asked Vail anxiously. + +“Oh, don’t get frightened,” Loucks muttered. “We’re not responsible for +accidents. Our main care should be for the paper.” + +“That’s so. Give the paper to me.” + +Loucks handed the bit of writing to Vail, then started to leave the +room. + +“Where are you going?” asked his employer, in surprise. + +“For a doctor.” + +“Is it as bad as that?” + +“Best to be on the safe side. If he should die on our hands it might be +awkward for us. Here, Nick!” + +Loucks had entered the outer office, and approached the door of the +messenger’s closet. + +Nick Collins fully realized that fate, in leading him to a knowledge of +the dark plots of these evil men, had made him seemingly the guardian +of an imperiled man’s interests. He therefore feigned sleep and closed +his eyes as Loucks opened the closet door. + +“Here, Nick, wake up! wake up!” + +Nick started to his feet. + +“An errand, sir?” he asked, in as calm a tone as he could command. + +“Yes--run for a doctor.” + +“Where, sir?” + +“The nearest doctor is in the Hills Building, around the corner. A +client has fallen in the office, and needs medical care.” + +Nick sped away with a pounding, anxious heart. He could only think of +obeying orders just now. + +When he returned in five minutes a professional-looking man accompanied +him. + +Nick followed him into the private office and watched his +ministrations to the injured admiral with an anxious face. + +The admiral had recovered motion but not consciousness. He moved +restively and moaned incoherent words and sentences. + +The physician looked puzzled, and his face grew graver and graver as +the minutes passed by. + +“The hurt is a trivial one,” he said, “a mere scalp wound, yet its +effect alarms me. Who is the gentleman, sir?” + +“A chance visitor who came here to borrow money,” said Loucks. “He fell +as he was leaving the office.” + +“Did he seem rational when he came here?” + +“Scarcely,” replied Vail. “He seemed to be entertaining some delusion +regarding an immense amount of money.” + +“Ah! that explains it. I would advise you to get him to his friends.” + +“We do not know them.” + +“Then to some hospital. He needs watching and care more than medicine. +The fall evidently has precipitated a long-threatened mental trouble. +I may be mistaken, gentlemen, but all the indications tend to the +distressing conclusion that when the patient recovers consciousness he +will be hopelessly insane.” + +Nick Collins heard this with a sinking heart. A sense of responsibility +for the safety of the old friend of his father had grown upon the lad +in the last few minutes. Admiral Semmes was friendless now, at the +mercy of unscrupulous and powerful plotters. Who would protect his +interests? Who would wrest the stolen secret of the treasure of the +Western deep from the clutches of these cruel, heartless schemers? + +“Heaven help me to be a friend to this lonely old man in his misery and +misfortune!” was the wish that Nick breathed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +EVENTS OF A DAY. + + +“What the dickens is the matter, Nick?” + +It was Frank Alden who asked the question, and its anxious tone was +caused by Nick’s long, woebegone face. He had just appeared at the old +house, which was still the home of the three adventurers. + +Nick told his story, and if ever there were three startled and +interested listeners to a recital they were certainly Frank and Will +Alden. Nick took them through all the exciting events at the broker’s +office. + +“And what became of the admiral?” Frank asked, when Nick had finished +his narrative of the events of which the reader is cognizant. + +“They took him to a hospital.” + +“Where?” + +“I could not learn.” + +“Why, Nick!” exclaimed the other boys, in a tone of rebuke. + +“I couldn’t help it,” Nick explained. “They got me out of the +office--sent me on an errand, and when I returned the admiral was +gone--taken away in an ambulance, I heard. The office was locked up, +and there was nothing for me to do but come home.” + +“That’s too bad,” said Frank. “But I don’t see that you are to blame.” + +“Of course you are not, Nick,” chimed in Will. + +“Boys,” said Nick, “I’m terribly cut up about it. It seems as if the +old man’s misfortune is my own.” + +“It is, isn’t it?” + +“In a way, yes; for my father was part owner in the treasure.” + +“I know what I’d do!” cried Will. + +“What?” asked Nick eagerly. + +“I’d--I’d have those men arrested.” + +“Who?” + +“Vail and Loucks.” + +Nick smiled at Will’s greenness. + +“What would you have them arrested for, Will?” he asked. + +“For stealing the paper.” + +“I couldn’t prove that.” + +“Then have them arrested for knocking down the admiral.” + +“They would deny it all and get me into trouble,” replied the keen but +cautious Nick. + +“One thing is certain,” said Will. “I wouldn’t work another day for +such villains.” + +“I don’t think that would be a good plan, either,” returned Nick. + +“What! You don’t mean to say you’re going to stay in their office after +all that has happened?” + +“I certainly am,” replied Nick calmly. + +“But they are the wickedest kind of men.” + +“I know it, Will, and it’s just on that account I’m going to remain in +their employ.” + +“I understand what you mean, Nick!” cried Frank. + +“Do you?” + +“Yes. You’re going to stay there and keep an eye on them.” + +“You’ve hit it. Don’t you see now, Frank?” said Nick. “Unless some one +watches them, and beats them in their scheme, they will succeed.” + +“Then you’re going to watch them?” + +“Yes; and I’m going to beat them, too,” Nick answered confidently. +“Look here. This is their game, as I figure it out: They mean to rob +the admiral by sending for the treasure or going to it themselves. They +don’t suspect how much I heard and know. Don’t question me any more, +boys. I want to think.” + +So the boys let him alone. Not only did Nick think, but he acted, as +well, that very evening. He went out and bought a pen, ink, and some +paper, and by the light of the candle wrote a long letter to Captain +Eccles, at Parkdale. + +He related all that had occurred since his arrival in the city, for +he knew that it would prove of the utmost interest and importance to +the captain. He mailed the letter that night. It asked Captain Eccles’ +advice, and suggested that he come to New York, find his friend, the +admiral, take charge of the $5,000 belonging to him, which Nick had, +and help Nick to regain possession of the stolen letter. He wrote out +a careful description of the place where the boys were making their +home, so that the captain might find it easily. + +When his letter was in the mail box Nick set his mind at work to devise +some means of getting hold of the stolen writing. He realized that +this would prove a very difficult task, for he had shrewd as well as +unscrupulous men to deal with. He decided that his stay in the broker’s +office would be very brief, once he had gained possession of the +all-important letter. + +Frank and Will had been offered work in a printing establishment, so +the boys all left their temporary home early the next morning. + +Nick arrived at the broker’s office on time. After Mr. Loucks got there +the lad went into the private room of the head of the concern to tidy +up the desks. Although he kept a watchful eye, he saw no traces of the +tragedy of the night before, and caught no sign of the letter stolen +from Admiral Semmes. + +Evidently Loucks had not the faintest suspicion that Nick knew +anything at all of the important events attending the visit of the old +sailor, for he scarcely noticed the boy that morning, and treated him +carelessly. + +Nick, on his part, was on the alert. He had resolved to hear the first +words exchanged by Vail and his confidential man when they should meet. +And luck was with him, for when the two came face to face for the first +time since the admiral was taken to the hospital, Nick happened to be +in his little messenger’s closet, where he could hear as well as see. + +The broker’s countenance was pale and wore a worried look, and Nick +guessed that he had passed a sleepless night. + +“What news, Loucks?” he asked eagerly. + +“About--our man?” + +“The admiral--yes.” + +“All charming and serene,” Loucks answered, with a crafty wink and a +chuckle. + +Nick noted that he was more familiar than ever in his manner toward +his employer. He said neither “Sir” nor “Mr. Vail.” Evidently the +comradeship of crime had broken down the last barrier of respect +between these two. + +“What do you mean?” Vail demanded, in a low tone. + +“Haven’t we got everything our own way?” + +“Explain.” + +“Why, you have the paper.” + +“Yes--the treasure clue.” + +“The hospital has the man. The situation looks pretty good to me.” + +“Did you go to the hospital this morning?” Vail asked, after pondering +the other’s words a moment. + +“Yes.” + +“How is he?” + +“Nothing to be feared from that quarter.” + +“Why?” + +“The man is a raving maniac.” + +Vail, not yet wholly hardened to guilt, quailed a little at this. + +“Well,” he said presently, as if to still the voice of conscience, “we +didn’t make him a maniac.” + +“Of course not,” chimed in Loucks, with a grin. “It was an accident.” + +“And as Semmes owes us some back interest----” + +“Very far back, and very misty, Vail,” put in the other, whistling +lowly. + +The broker frowned at the other’s familiarity, but did not rebuke him +with words. + +“Well, it’s a pity to have all that treasure lying idle,” he went on. + +“Right you are.” + +“Especially at this time.” + +“When we need the money.” + +“Exactly. No one knows about it but us.” + +It was Nick’s turn to smile, and he did so, taking in every word they +uttered, although, in his closet, he seemed to be paying attention to +nothing in particular. + +“One thing is certain,” Loucks said. “The admiral will never be able to +claim anything in this life.” + +“But suppose, by an unlucky chance, he should?” said Vail anxiously. + +“That chance is so long as not to be worth thinking about,” returned +the broker’s associate. “But if ever he should claim it, isn’t +one-eighth of it ours?” + +“I suppose so,” replied Vail absently. + +“No one even knows that the admiral is at the hospital. He seems to +have no friends or relatives. His partner is dead.” + +“Captain Collins?” + +“Yes.” + +“But his son lives. Funny he stumbled across us, eh, Vail? Little he +suspects, though. Well, go on.” + +“So I have decided to act.” + +“At once?” + +“Yes.” + +“How? Go for the treasure?” + +“Exactly.” + +“Not yourself?” + +“Yes, myself. Why not?” + +“But the office business here?” + +“You must take care of that.” + +“We need money.” + +“Raise it by a loan for a year on the Speedwell estate.” + +“We can do that.” + +“Long before it is due I will have returned with the treasure.” + +“If you don’t get wrecked.” + +“Oh, I don’t worry about that.” + +“But you’ve got to find the treasure,” remarked Loucks. + +“I can’t fail.” + +“Are the directions explicit?” + +“Very.” + +“Where is the letter?” + +“I put it in my private box in the vault.” + +“We divide on the result, don’t we?” asked Loucks greedily. + +“Dollar for dollar.” + +“Good. That is fair, and I am with you to the end. Now, what is the +program?” + +“To raise money, first.” + +“I’ll attend to that.” + +“To get the business here in running shape for a year.” + +“Money will do it.” + +“To buy or charter a ship.” + +“That’s easy.” + +“Secure a crew.” + +“Yes.” + +“And start for the treasure island.” + +A visitor on business here interrupted the colloquy, and that was all +Nick heard spoken by the plotters that day that bore on the subject so +prominent in his mind. + +Later, however, he overheard a brief conversation that startled +him. Loucks, opening a letter that had come in the mail, uttered an +ejaculation of dissatisfaction. + +“Bad eggs from a broken basket!” he cried savagely. + +“What’s the matter, Loucks?” asked Vail. + +“A young scapegrace relative of mine in trouble, and he is being sent +to me to reform.” + +“Who is he?” + +“His name is Jack Benson.” + +Nick Collins started. + +“He’s been getting in serious trouble. Ah, I have it. He might be +useful on a ship, and a cruise at sea might steady him down somewhat. +Could he not go with you?” + +“Well, we’ll see about it,” replied Vail carelessly. + +All that day the broker was busy figuring and writing, and seemed to be +anxious to complete all the office work so as to get time to attend to +preparations for the voyage for the treasure. + +Nick did his work that day in a mechanical sort of a way. He had yet +to accomplish the task he had set for himself--the wresting of the +admiral’s letter from the hands of his enemies. + +Nick’s heart failed him when, at about three o’clock that afternoon +something happened to indicate that Captain Eccles, even if he came to +the city at once, would arrive too late to prevent the success of the +plotters’ schemes. + +The secret of the treasure was henceforth a divided secret, for +when Vail left the office for the day Loucks went stealthily to the +vault and returned soon after with a folded paper. It had a yellow +covering--it was the halved letter of Admiral Semmes. + +Evidently Loucks was guilty of double-dealing, and unknown to Vail +had a key to his private box. Nick saw him proceed to copy the paper, +letter for letter. The wily Loucks apparently intended to make sure +that his individual rights should be protected. + +He returned the letter to the vault and folded the copy and placed it +in his pocket with a sinister smile of satisfaction. + +Then he came to Nick, his hat and gloves in hand. + +“I’m going home for the day, Nick,” he said. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“And the bookkeeper may remain some time. You wait until he goes and +see that the vault is securely locked, and notify the janitor to close +up.” + +“I will, sir.” + +Loucks departed. Nick glanced into the countingroom. There was but one +person there, the bookkeeper poring over his ledgers. + +A wild impulse thrilled Nick to a desperate movement. The vault door +was ajar as Loucks had left it. Within that vault was the broker’s +private box which contained the clue to the treasure. + +Could he but obtain that, and place it and the money in Captain Eccles’ +hands, what better outfit for a voyage in quest of the treasure could +they ask? + +Even if Vail and Loucks, relying on the copy to pursue the same course, +should be rivals in the quest, what chance for success had they against +a skilled mariner like Captain Eccles? + +It would only be a question of speed and activity. The temptation was +too great to be resisted. The paper in the vault belonged to Admiral +Semmes. His friend and partner was Captain Eccles. Nick determined to +secure it. + +Once that resolve was made he was reckless of consequences. He stole +cautiously toward the vault. + +The bookkeeper seemed about to close his books, but he did not glance +toward Nick, and the latter kept on his way. + +He was all atremble with suspense, fear and uncertainty. The venture +was a bold one. A new employee of the place and comparatively unknown, +if discovered in the vault his presence there would be regarded as +having a criminal purpose. + +He reached the iron door and pushed it quickly, gently back. He +crossed the threshold and then the stone floor. + +Around, on all sides, were wooden shelves, and boxes, and rows of +pigeonholes. Account books, tin boxes, small safes, and bundles of +papers were arranged in bewildering confusion. + +He had seen the tin box which Vail sometimes brought to his desk from +the vault, but there were several like it, and he could not in the dim +light of the place distinguish the one he sought. + +Besides, even if he succeeded in finding it, he knew that it would be +locked and time and patience would be required to get access to its +contents. + +He felt discouraged and disappointed. He had half a mind to abandon his +hastily formed project as impossible, and even started to leave the +vault. + +Then he recoiled in terror. + +Hasty footsteps were coming toward the vault. + +“The bookkeeper,” murmured Nick, in affright. “I shall be discovered.” + +He could not hope to escape through the open door without being seen. + +He glanced wildly about him. The bookkeeper had probably come after a +book and would soon return to his desk. + +If he could hide safely during his brief visit Nick felt assured that +he could later escape unperceived. + +There was a kind of cabinet at one end of the vault that was partly +empty. It contained only a few rolls of paper--plans, maps, and the +like. To this refuge Nick sprang quickly, hid himself within its narrow +confines, and drew close the door. + +The bookkeeper entered the vault with an armful of books and threw them +on a shelf. Then he started to leave the place. Nick uttered a sigh of +relief, but in the next instant a gasp of dismay and alarm. + +As the bookkeeper left the vault he closed the ponderous outer door +securely, making the boy a prisoner. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A NIGHT OF SUSPENSE. + + +Nick sprang from his covert the moment that the door closed. He +realized in a flash that the bookkeeper had made his final visit to the +vault, had put his books away for the night, secured the receptacle for +the valuable papers of the broker’s office, and was probably now about +to leave the place, all unconscious of the boy he had shut in a living +tomb. + +No ray of light penetrated the vault now. Its air was close. What if +it had no outlet for ventilation? Would he be shut in to a slow and +horrible death by suffocation? + +The thought was terrible to Nick. + +He sprang to the ponderous iron door and beat upon it. He shouted and +screamed for help. Only the dull and hollow echoes of his own voice +ringing through the confined, metal-bound vault replied. + +Finally exhausted, he sank to the marble floor in despair. No sound +from the outside reached him, and perhaps his own cries would have +been inaudible even if any one was just outside the vault door. The +bookkeeper probably had gone away now, and the office was locked and +abandoned for the night. No one probably would visit it until the +janitor came for his early morning rounds. + +Nick strove bravely to be calm, and to reason to some definite purpose. +He remembered that there was an electric light in the vault, and he +began to feel around for the button by which to switch it on. He +found it at last, and quickly the darkness was dispelled. The light +illuminated the place brightly, and gave the captive new courage. + +Next he looked around to see if there was not some means of +ventilation, and he leaped with joy to find a small iron grating in +a corner, which covered a flue that communicated with the outer air +somehow, or, at least, with the large rooms that composed the broker’s +offices. + +With light and an assurance of air, Nick felt that he was in no +immediate danger. It was only a matter of patience now. Twelve hours +or more to morning! How should he pass the time? He tried to be +cheerful, and drive away the haunting dread of discovery in the morning. + +“There will be some way of escape,” he told himself. “When they open +the vault in the morning I will say that I was accidentally shut in +here, which is the truth. I certainly did not get shut in from choice.” + +One thing was certain. He had plenty of time to form whatever plan he +should adopt when the moment came to account for his presence in the +vault. He thought of everything, but finished by deciding that there +was only one thing for him to do when the door of the vault should be +thrown open. That was to get out of the office as quickly as he could, +and never come back again. He realized that the execution of this plan +would be beset by difficulties, but it was the best he could hit upon, +so he dismissed the subject from his mind, and turned his attention to +what had brought him into his present predicament. + +“The paper!” + +The clue to the treasure was now as good as in his possession. He had +only to look around a bit and find it. It must be in the broker’s box +of private papers. More than once he had seen Loucks carry that box +into the vault. + +“I came here to get it. I need time to do so, and time--well,” he +mused, with a grim smile, “I’ve got nothing but time on my hands.” + +He began a close examination of the shelves, and at last brought his +search down to the tin boxes only. There were several almost alike. At +last he came across one bearing the initials “J. V.” + +“This is it!” he exclaimed. + +The lid was fastened by a small padlock. Nick placed the box on a shelf +at a convenient height and examined the lock. He set to work trying +to manipulate the lock so as to force it open. But it was rather a +complicated affair, and baffled all his effort. While he was working at +it the hook of the padlock snapped in two. + +“Now I’ve done it!” murmured Nick. “If I’m caught here they’ll blame me +for the broken lock. The paper will be missed, and it will go hard with +me. This settles it. There’s nothing left for me but to make a break +for it as soon as the door is opened.” + +Then he lifted the lid of the box anxiously. Hooray! It was there. The +all-important yellow package was in his hand. He opened it, and read +the letter that his father had written so many years before. + +He shut the box and put it back on the shelf from which he had taken +it. Then he studied the timeworn document that had caused poor Admiral +Semmes years and years of anxiety. What struck Nick was the clearness +of the directions it contained. The writing was simplicity itself once +the separate halves had been placed together. It was a plain direction +as to the location of the treasure. + +Nick read it again and again, learned it by heart, repeated it aloud, +and at last put the paper in his pocket. + +“What will Frank and Will think of my staying away all night?” he +mused. “Well, no use worrying about that. Ten hours more to wait. I’ve +done enough thinking and reading. What’s the matter with my having a +sleep. It looks good to me.” + +So he lay on the floor of the vault, and was soon in the land of +dreams. When he awoke it seemed to him that it must be near morning. He +waited an hour. It seemed an age. At last there came a sound that made +him start. Somebody was at the door of the vault. + +Nick turned out the light. + +He did not think of concealing himself in the cabinet, as he had +planned--and later attempting to escape--but he moved up close to the +door with a sudden impulse. + +The heavy bolts shot back. The door was opened gingerly, a little +way. The room without was flooded with sunshine. Nick made out a form +outlined against the light--the form of a man. He was holding the door, +about to swing it wide. + +The man was Loucks. + +He was speaking to some clerk near the vault. Nick heard the clerk +answer: + +“No, the boy has not been here this morning.” + +“They have missed me!” murmured Nick. + +“Is your private box all you want, Mr. Vail?” called out Loucks toward +the private office. + +There seemed to be an affirmative response. + +Then Loucks opened the door wide and entered the vault. + +Every nerve was on edge as Nick shrank close to the corner nearest the +door. + +Loucks passed by him and reached for the tin box on the shelf. + +Nick started to spring from the vault, but he was not quick enough. +Loucks turned suddenly and grabbed him. + +“Hello! What does this mean?” he exclaimed. + +One hand holding the box, Loucks dragged the boy out into the light of +the countingroom. + +The clerks had heard Loucks’ startled cry, and stared wonderingly at +Nick. Loucks looked blankly at his prisoner. + +“Nick! Nick Collins!” he ejaculated. + +“Yes, sir,” murmured Nick faintly. + +“You were in that vault all night?” + +“I was locked in accidentally, sir.” + +A dark, distrustful look came into Loucks’ face. He fairly dragged Nick +into the private office, scowled disapprovingly at the staring clerks, +opened and closed the door, and pushed Nick to a chair. + +“What is this?” cried Mr. Vail, who was seated at his desk. + +“It’s the errand boy.” + +“Ah, and late, too! That’s bad.” + +“He is, on the contrary, very early,” said Loucks, in a peculiar tone. + +“What!” + +“He has been here since daylight, since midnight--in fact, all night, +shut up in the vault, accidentally, he says.” + +“Incredible, Loucks!” + +The broker had started violently as his eye fell on the tin box. + +“Loucks, look at that!” + +“The box!” + +“Yes. The lock is broken. Boy, what do you know of this?” demanded the +broker sternly. + +Nick did not answer. Vail opened the box. + +“Gone!” he cried. + +“What is gone?” asked Loucks. + +“The yellow package.” + +“Then the boy has it. Vail, we have been deceived. I feared the +coincidence of his being a son of Captain Collins. No, you don’t!” + +Loucks uttered the words as Nick, in sheer desperation, made a break +for the door. Loucks seized him and dragged him back before the desk. + +Just then there was an interruption. The office door opened. A clerk +from the countingroom appeared. + +“A gentleman to see you, Mr. Vail.” + +“I am busy. Let him wait a minute or two.” + +“Now, then,” said Loucks, scowling down at the pale and agitated Nick, +and neither he nor the broker noticing that the clerk had not entirely +closed the door, and that the visitor he had announced lingered +impatiently at its threshold--“where’s that paper?” + +Nick was silent. + +“You took it.” + +“Search him!” ordered Vail angrily. + +“He’s in some plot to rob us,” cried Loucks. “Here it is!” + +Sure enough, there it was. All Nick Collins’ bravery and patience had +been of no avail. The yellow package was produced triumphantly by +Loucks from an inner pocket of the boy’s coat and thrown upon the desk. + +Loucks resumed his search and brought forth a second package. + +“This is mine--not yours!” declared Nick. “Give it back to me!” + +The second package was the five thousand dollars that belonged to +Admiral Semmes. + +“Ha! money!” exclaimed Vail. “Why, this boy is a systematic thief!” + +“Three--four--why, Vail, there’s fully five thousand dollars in this +package!” + +“But it isn’t ours!” + +“Not ours?” + +“No.” + +“Why not?” + +“I didn’t leave a dollar in the vault last night.” + +“No, it is not yours. Give it to me!” cried Nick. + +But Loucks held him in a strong grasp. + +“Boy,” he said fiercely, “how came you in that vault?” + +Nick was desperate now. + +“To prevent your wicked plans to rob Admiral Semmes,” he replied +audaciously. + +“He knows all!” cried Vail, in dismay. + +“Where did you get that money?” + +“It belongs to Admiral Semmes. Let me go. Give me that money or I will +go to the police and expose you.” + +“You will, eh?” sneered Loucks, giving him a vicious jerk. “The truth, +boy! Who sent you here? What is your scheme? The truth, or we will send +you to prison.” + +“No, you won’t!” + +A new voice had spoken. Vail and Loucks started. The man at the door, +a witness to all that had transpired, had entered the room silently, +cautiously. Now he revealed himself, and at sight of him Nick Collins +uttered a cry of joy. + +To the dismayed plotters the newcomer was only a bronzed, rough-looking +sailor. To Nick he was his strange acquaintance of Parkdale--Captain +Eccles! + +He bore in his hand a heavy cane. His homely face fairly bristled with +indignation as he strode boldly to the desk. + +With one swift swoop he seized the two packages lying there. + +The broker sprang to his feet. Loucks made a movement to tear the money +and paper from his grasp. + +Whack! The heavy cane came down on Loucks’ pate with a sounding blow. + +“Stand back!” roared the captain. “I am not to be trifled with!” + +“You murderous scoundrel! I’ll call the police!” cried Loucks. + +The whirling cudgel again drove him back. + +“Who are you?” gasped Vail, in amazement. + +“This boy’s friend, you thieving lubbers, who are trying to rob him. +Here, Nick, lad, take these parcels and run for it. I’ll cover your +retreat. To the house where you wrote me to come. Go--no questions. +I’ll deal with these pirates alone.” + +And then, as Nick darted to the office door and out of the room, the +captain guarded its threshold, cane in hand, and said, in a mocking +tone: + +“In two minutes hoist your anchors if you like, my coveys. Until then +it’s an embargo or a broken head. Avast, there! both of ye. Don’t try +to run the blockade or I’ll into you, as sure as my name is Captain +Eccles!” + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +NEW PLOTS. + + +At the name of the bold captain, Vail paled and Loucks looked alarmed, +for they both recognized it as that of the man whom Admiral Semmes had +mentioned as the partial legatee of the secret letter written by Nick’s +father. + +“Now, then, arrest me!” cried the captain, when he was satisfied that +Nick was many blocks away. He flung himself into a chair and gazed +contemptuously at the broker and his accomplice. + +But neither of them spoke. There was a difference between dealing with +a helpless, friendless boy and a big, powerful, self-possessed man. + +“You’re downed, and confess it, eh?” said Eccles scornfully. “Well, +you’re wise. That boy is a jewel, and has defeated your plots, but it +happens that I came just in time. That money you dare not touch. As to +the paper, if it’s yours, prove it. I claim that you stole it. If I +find that you have injured my friend, Admiral Semmes, I’ll have you +locked up before night.” + +There was no reply yet. The plotters saw the uselessness of argument +with their visitor. + +“I’m going to leave here,” said Eccles, rising. “If you need me it +won’t be hard to find me. You won’t want me, you thieving lubbers! +You’re lucky to get off clear, as it is. Now, you try to trick me or +follow me and it will be the worse for you.” + +Captain Eccles darted a last menacing glance at Vail and Loucks and +strode from the room. + +As the door slammed after him the eyes of the plotters met. + +One furious, desperate ejaculation alone left the lips of Vail, the +broker. + +It was---- + +“Ruined!” + +“Yes, the boy and his friend have beaten us!” + +“Follow him!” + +“That man?” + +“Yes.” + +Loucks rubbed his bruised head ruefully and shrugged his shoulders. + +“Not I,” he said. + +“We must know where he goes--we must defeat his plans.” + +“I’ll try it.” + +Loucks caught up his hat and hurried from the room. + +On the steps outside the building he paused. + +Just across the road stood Captain Eccles. He saw Loucks, waved his +cane warningly, and strode on. + +Loucks turned to go back to the office, but at sight of a boy that +stood between him and the door he halted and uttered an exclamation of +surprise. + +“Uncle!” + +The boy who spoke the word was ragged and an unpleasant grin was on his +face. + +Loucks only stared at him. + +“Uncle!” repeated the boy. “Don’t you know me?” + +“Know you!” said the man, in a tone of disgust. “I should say I did. +Jack Benson.” + +“Yes, uncle. Ain’t you glad to see me?” + +“What the dickens are you doing in New York?” demanded Loucks, with a +frown. + +“The folks sent me here.” + +“Sent you _here_! In Heaven’s name, what for?” + +“To see you. They said you’d find something for me to do.” + +“Who said so?” + +“The folks, uncle.” + +“Confound the folks! They’ve sent you here to sponge on me. You look +half starved.” + +“I am,” Jack said quickly. “But say, uncle, what is that man doing +here?” + +“What man?” + +“The one that shook the club at you.” + +Loucks started, and an eager look came into his eyes. + +“Do you know that man, Jack?” he asked. + +“Sure I do.” + +“Who is he?” + +“Captain Eccles.” + +“Yes. He told us that. But where’s he from?” + +“Parkdale.” + +“Do you know Nick Collins, too?” + +“You bet I do.” + +“Why do you say it that way?” asked Loucks. + +“I had a row with him in Parkdale, and I got into trouble through +getting even with him.” + +Loucks’ crafty face worked with excitement. + +“Look here, Jack,” he said. “I guess I can find something for you to +do. In fact, I have a job for you right now.” + +“I want something to eat first,” put in Benson. + +“Oh, you’ll get all you want to eat. Do you see this?” + +Loucks held up a ten-dollar gold piece that he had taken from his +pocket. + +Jack’s eyes glittered. + +“Do I see it?” he said. “I should say so! What about it?” + +“It’s yours if you do what I tell you.” + +“I’ll do it,” declared Jack, not caring what the task might be. “I +think I could eat up about half of it in ten minutes.” + +“Well, do what I tell you and you can have all you want to eat.” + +“All right.” + +“I want you to follow that man.” + +He pointed across the street, where Captain Eccles, his back to them +now, stood looking in a shop window. + +“Follow Captain Eccles?” + +“Yes, and find out where he is staying.” + +“I’ll do it.” + +“Here’s the money. Now, don’t stop to eat. There’ll be plenty of time +for that when you’ve found out what I want to know.” + +Jack started to go. + +“Wait a second,” said Loucks. “He’s standing there yet. Now, this man +probably will meet Nick Collins.” + +“Why do you think so?” + +“Never mind. Just listen to me. If he should meet Nick, be sure you +don’t let either of them see you. Bring me word here as soon as you +have learned where they are living.” + +“I’ll do it.” + +“And, Jack--if you succeed I’ll make it twenty dollars. Quick! He’s +going!” + +Jack was off like a shot. He hit up a very good pace for a boy who was +running on an empty stomach, and with a ten-dollar gold piece in his +pocket. Fortunately for Loucks’ plan, however, Captain Eccles, after +he turned a corner, entered a restaurant, and Jack followed him; so +the boy, while keeping an eye on the captain, was able to satisfy the +cravings of his stomach. It is no sure thing that Jack would not have +abandoned the chase had this opportunity to eat not presented itself. +As it was, he swallowed some food, followed the captain out of the +restaurant, unseen by the latter, and kept him in sight for some time. + +Meanwhile Loucks, a smile of satisfaction on his evil face, had gone +back to the broker’s office. There he found Vail at his desk wearing a +very long face. + +“Cheer up, Vail,” said Loucks. “All is not lost yet.” + +“What do you mean?” + +Loucks told of his meeting with his nephew, and how he had sent him to +shadow Captain Eccles. + +“I don’t see how that is going to help us,” said Vail despondently. + +“Don’t you?” + +“I certainly do not.” + +“Suppose we locate the captain?” + +“Well?” + +“And the boy?” + +“What of it?” + +“Suppose by that means we recover the paper and the money?” + +“But we won’t.” + +“Don’t be so sure of that. But even if we don’t recover them there is +still a chance in our favor.” + +“I should like to know what it is.” + +“Oh, you would? Evidently you haven’t much faith in my judgment. Look +here, Vail; suppose you stop thinking I’m a fool.” + +“What are you driving at?” growled the broker. + +“Just this,” answered the other triumphantly. “I made a duplicate key +to your private box not long ago.” + +Vail only frowned at this evidence of his associate’s duplicity and +craft. + +“You don’t seem to like that little precaution I took,” remarked Loucks. + +“Precaution! Rascality, I call it,” Vail said. + +“No,” returned Loucks quietly, “it was only a very wise move on my +part, for which you have to thank me.” + +“Explain yourself.” + +“Well, last night I went to your box.” + +“Indeed!” + +“Yes; and I took out that blessed yellow package.” + +“Pity you didn’t keep it out. Then the boy wouldn’t have got it.” + +“Oh, I did better than keeping out.” + +“Come, come,” said Vail impatiently. “Stop talking in riddles. What did +you do?” + +“I made a copy of the paper. There!” + +Vail’s eyes lighted up with pleasure. + +“You made a copy of it?” he said eagerly. + +“That’s what I did.” + +“Then--you--know--the location of the treasure?” + +“Just as well as they do.” + +“And it’s only a question of who gets to the island where it is first?” + +“Precisely.” + +“Good for you, Loucks! Splendid work!” + +“I thought you’d say so.” + +“Then we needn’t worry about the captain and the boy. Let them go.” + +“Oh, no. I’m going to keep them in sight, just the same. I think I’ll +be able to put them out of the way, so far as giving us any trouble +goes. Meantime, you’d better go ahead with the arrangements to search +for the treasure.” + +“That’s a good idea. I’ll take up the matter to-day.” + +“Now you’re talking.” + +“I know of a ship, the _Diamond_, a fast sailer, that can be chartered +at once.” + +“Take her.” + +“I will. And the money?” + +“I will have it by night.” + +Two hours afterward, Loucks, sitting alone in the office, received a +welcome visitor. He did not recognize him at first, but at closer view +saw that it was his precious nephew. + +“Jack!” he exclaimed. + +“It’s me, uncle.” + +“By Jingo! I didn’t know you.” + +“No? Well, I’m disguised,” said Jack, grinning. + +“I should say you were!” + +Jack’s disguise was not very elaborate or skillful. It consisted merely +of a handkerchief tied over his face so as almost to conceal it. + +“I’ve got a terrible toothache,” the young scamp said, with a wink. + +“I see. What did you put that thing on for?” + +“Wasn’t I doing detective work?” asked Jack smartly. “This disguise +helped me to watch those people you sent me after.” + +“Without being recognized.” + +“Bet your life, uncle.” + +Jack was feeling good. He had just put away a large “feed” of corned +beef and cabbage. + +“Did you follow them?” + +“Eccles--yes.” + +“Where did he go?” + +“To an old house near the river.” + +“Was Nick Collins there?” + +“Yes, and two other boys.” + +“Who are they?” + +“Frank and Will Alden.” + +“You know them?” + +“Oh, yes! They are from Parkdale.” + +“Well?” + +“The house is not occupied, except by them. I managed to sneak upstairs +and listen to what they said.” + +“They didn’t see you?” + +“Trust me for that. I’m a natural-born detective!” said Jack proudly. + +“Well, what did they say?” + +“They seemed to have some paper about a treasure.” + +“Yes, yes!” cried Loucks eagerly. + +“They talked about it for a long time. Then they decided to go after +it.” + +“What, at once?” + +“Yes, to-day. They said that others might be on the same track.” + +“I understand,” commented Loucks impatiently. + +“And hurry was the thing.” + +“I see.” + +“So the captain said they would go to Pan--Pan----” + +“Panama?” + +“That’s it--Panama--first.” + +Loucks looked puzzled, but asked: + +“And then?” + +“He said that he had seen a friend, a ship captain, who sails for there +to-morrow.” + +“Did he speak this captain’s name?” + +“Yes. Captain Dare.” + +“Say that again!” cried Loucks sharply. + +“Captain Dare.” + +“You are sure?” + +“Surest thing you know.” + +“Did he name the ship?” + +“Yes.” + +“What was it?” + +“The _Vista_.” + +An ejaculation of delight came from Loucks. + +“The _Vista!_” he cried. “Our ship. Jack, can I trust you?” + +“You bet.” + +“Here is a hundred dollars.” + +In blank amazement Jack Benson stared at the bills Loucks placed in his +hand. He had never seen so much money in his life. + +“Mine?” he gasped. + +“All yours, and double it if you obey.” + +“I will.” + +“Then come back here in an hour. Don’t let the captain or Nick Collins +see you.” + +“Not on your life.” + +The minute Jack left the room Loucks gave way to the most extraordinary +antics of joy. He paced the floor, laughed, chuckled, danced, and +rubbed his hands in glee. + +“Success!” he cried. “They sail on our leaky old scow, the _Vista_. Ha, +ha, ha! We’ll insure the ship for seventy or eighty thousand dollars +right away, send Jack on board with instructions, and burn her to the +water’s edge in mid-ocean--Eccles, Collins, secret, and all. By jingo! +My ragged nephew, is a trump! He’ll do the trick!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AFLOAT ON THE OCEAN. + + +“Is everything ready, Nick?” + +It was Captain Eccles who spoke. In the room were many evidences that +preparations for departure had been under way. + +“Yes,” the boy answered; “I guess we’ve got everything packed.” + +“Good.” + +It was two days after Nick’s escape from the vault and the clutches of +Loucks and the broker. Nick, Captain Eccles, Frank, and Will were now +occupants of an apartment in a boarding house not far from the North +River. + +The captain’s sudden appearance in Vail’s office had come about in this +way: After receiving Nick’s letter at Parkdale, he had got into action +at once. He took the first train to the city, and, arrived there, went +straight to the former home of Admiral Semmes. There he found Frank +and Will. The boys were much alarmed because Nick had not been there +the night before, and when they had told the captain, he, too, became +anxious. So he went off without delay to the office of Vail, with the +startling result known. + +From the restaurant where Jack Benson had followed him, he made his way +to the dismantled old house, and, as he expected, found Nick there, +anxiously waiting for him. + +Then the friends held a council of war. It was decided, first of all, +that before undertaking to block the schemes of Vail and Loucks they +must find a comfortable place to live. This the captain looked after. +He insisted that the boys accompany him to a boarding house over by the +river--a comfortable enough place patronized mostly by seafaring folk. +He knew the woman who kept it, and she placed a roomy apartment at the +disposal of the little party. + +Then Captain Eccles went out in search of his friend, the skipper of +the _Vista_, to arrange for carrying out a plan he had formed. Eccles, +of course, had no idea that the _Vista_ was a ship over which Vail had +any control. But such was the case. The vessel had come into the part +ownership of the broker as the result of some financial transaction, +and it had been leased now and then to firms in the carrying trade +between this country and the West Indies. + +Eccles saw his friend, the captain, talked over matters with him, and +came away satisfied, although he didn’t like the looks of the ship any +too well. Arrived at the boarding house, he took Nick aside and made +known his plan. + +“I have decided to act at once,” he said. + +“How, sir?” + +“By starting for the treasure island just as quickly as we can get +away.” + +“That sounds good to me,” said Nick; “but how about Admiral Semmes?” + +“I have visited him,” the other replied. + +“At the hospital?” + +“Yes. I managed after a good deal of trouble to find the place.” + +“How is he?” asked Nick eagerly. + +“Well,” the captain answered, shaking his head gravely, “the admiral is +certainly raving crazy now; but the attendants said that it was a kind +of temporary fever.” + +“Then there is hope for him?” + +“Yes. The hospital people thought he would be all right in a few weeks.” + +“Bully!” cried Nick. + +“I made every precaution for his comfort,” Eccles went on, “and I left +a letter for him telling him that his friends were busy blocking the +schemes of his enemies, and were on the sure track of the treasure.” + +“By gracious, I hope you are right, captain!” exclaimed Nick. + +“I think I am. Anyway, that letter the admiral will get when he is +himself again. It will be a comfort to him until we return.” + +“What about Vail and Loucks?” + +“We will cook their bacon when we get back and the admiral is well +again.” + +“What will you do?” + +“With your help, Nick, I’ll see that the law deals with them. No use to +do it now. It would only mean delay for our big undertaking. Vail and +Loucks, you may be sure, would fight prosecution to the last ditch.” + +“They have a copy of the treasure clue, captain.” + +“What of that?” + +“They may sail for the island first.” + +“Let them!” cried Eccles. “We’ll outwit them, my boy. Don’t bother your +head about those fellows.” + +“But so much depends upon our getting ahead of them, captain.” + +“I know it, Nick. And if we attend closely to business we’ll do it. I +am determined to protect the admiral’s interests. I am going to sail in +search of the treasure.” + +“Won’t it take a lot of money?” + +“Yes, and we have it. The five thousand dollars is really the admiral’s +money, but if he were able to decide the matter, I am sure he would +say, Use it to find the treasure. I shall do that very thing, Nick, for +I am certain it is his wish.” + +“I’ve no doubt you are right, captain.” + +“It is a sure thing. I had a talk with an old friend to-day--captain of +a West Indian merchantman called the _Vista_. His ship touches at the +Isthmus of Panama on its southern course. She sails to-morrow morning. +Will you go?” + +“Will I go?” exclaimed Nick. “Captain, you know that I’d give anything +to go to sea.” + +“How about your friends?” + +“Frank and Will?” + +“Yes. I don’t know just what to do about them.” + +“Oh, they’ll go, too; never fear.” + +“That’s just it. I know they’ll want to go, and you want to have them. +But it’s a serious thing carrying them away from home and, possibly, +into all kinds of hardship.” + +“But they haven’t any home, and they say they’ll go to sea, anyway.” + +After thinking a moment, the captain said: + +“Well, let them come.” + +Thus it fell out that Nick and the captain put in a busy day buying the +things they needed for their expedition and packing them up. + +“I made a very lucky discovery yesterday,” said Eccles. “It gives us a +great start over Vail if he, too, goes after the treasure.” + +“What’s that?” + +“We shan’t go round the Horn at all.” + +“Why not?” + +“The _Vista_ will drop us at the Isthmus.” + +“Yes; you told me that. And from the Isthmus how do we go?” + +“Overland to the Pacific coast. There we can find a steamer or a +sailing vessel to make the voyage south.” + +“And after that?” + +“At Buenaventura or some Peruvian port we shall find a ship in the +coast trade called the _Regent_.” + +“Then what?” asked Nick, his eyes glowing at the prospect of all this +voyaging. + +“Then, Nick, for the island and the treasure.” + +“Hooray! You know the captain of the _Regent_?” + +“Oh, yes--an old friend. His name is Dartmoor. He’d do almost anything +for me. I see by the papers that he makes trips along the coast only, +so that we can soon get hold of him.” + +“How long will it all take?” + +“Well, let me see. If we meet with no accidents, we ought to be well +on the track of the treasure before Vail rounds the Horn.” + +You may be sure that it was a trio of very happy boys who the next day +went aboard the _Vista_, and at noon they found themselves watching the +skyscrapers and shipping of New York fade from view as the vessel moved +out of the harbor. + +Captain Dare, skipper of the _Vista_, had greeted the boys in a +friendly manner, and they soon felt at home aboard the ship. + +Nick found the _Vista_ to be a strange sort of craft. She was half +steamer, half sailing vessel. The patched-up, built-over boat did +not look very trim or staunch. Once on free water, however, she made +very good speed; and, as she forged ahead, seemed to lose much of her +clumsiness. + +For hours the boys were delighted watching the working of the ship. +They were interested in everything that was done by the crew. Just +before daylight faded the sky became clouded, and the _Vista_ passed +out of sight of land. + +It was about an hour after dusk, and only a faint moonlight relieved +the darkness, when something fell overboard, and a boat was sent out +to pick it up. The sailors on their return received a hasty call to +supper, and neglected to hoist the boat again to the davits, and it +floated astern. + +Nick was alone on the aft deck, and, venturesome and bold, he thought +he would enjoy the novelty of a ride in the yawl as it was drawn +rapidly in the _Vista’s_ wake. + +It was but the effort of a moment for Nick to climb over the rail, +grasp the rope, slide its length, and drop into the yawl. He clung to +the side, but the motion of the small boat was far from a pleasant one, +and he found that it wasn’t any fun at all. The rapid progress of the +ship dragged the bow of the yawl fairly out of the water, and this made +Nick’s head dizzy. He decided to get back on the ship. + +But just as he came to this decision he was aware that the small boat +was moving through the water more slowly; and the next instant he +realized the terrible truth. + +The rope that had held it had been cut or cast off, and the yawl was +drifting, while the _Vista_ steamed on, leaving the boy tossing in her +wake! + +“Help! Help! Man overboard!” Nick cried wildly. + +But there was no one near to hear him; at least, no one willing to give +him a helping hand. There was some one standing at the rail and looking +down at him, and, it seemed to Nick, in the dim light, that this some +one had an evil grin on his face. + +It was a boy. Just at the moment that distance effaced his features, +and left them only a blur in the moonlight, Nick recognized him. + +The boy at the rail was Jack Benson! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A TERROR AT SEA. + + +Two hours went by before any one noted Nick’s absence from the deck of +the _Vista_. + +Captain Eccles had not seen him about the ship, but he supposed that +he was with Frank and Will in the forecastle, and Frank and Will, not +seeing him, took it for granted that he was in the cabin with Eccles +planning the expedition for the treasure. + +When, at last, Nick’s friends met, and all declared they could not +find him, a thorough search of the ship was begun, to no purpose, of +course. The only theory Captain Eccles could form was connected with +the missing yawl. + +“He must have seen something drop overboard and started off in the yawl +for it,” he said to the skipper of the _Vista_. + +“More likely he got sick of the sea and ran away in the yawl.” + +“No, he would not do that. Perhaps he went into the yawl out of +curiosity, and it got afloat and he couldn’t hail the ship. Captain, if +we pass a port-bound ship, I’ll go back in search of him.” + +“Nonsense!” growled Dare. “You could not find him any more than a +needle in a haystack now. He’s safe enough on calm water like this, and +will be picked up by some steamer.” + +With this Eccles was forced to be content, but his fears were revived +when, an hour later, it was learned that the rope attached to the yawl +had been cut and not untied. + +“There’s some mystery about it,” said Frank Alden to his brother Will +that night. + +Jack Benson could have told them what a simple thing it had been to +dispose of Nick Collins. + +Money had induced Jack to agree to the plots of his uncle, Loucks, and +the morning the _Vista_ sailed he was sent to its captain with a note +from Loucks stating that he was to give him a free passage to Cuba. + +Jack had kept out of the way all the first day for fear of being seen +and recognized by Captain Eccles or the boys of the party, but at +nightfall he had ventured on deck. + +When he saw his enemy, Nick Collins, in the yawl, he decided that it +was a fine chance to further the plans of his uncle, and at the same +time get even with Nick. The result was that Collins was sent adrift. + +Jack’s success made him reckless, and the next morning he came boldly +on deck. He recalled the fact that Loucks had given him a certain order +to execute when the _Vista_ passed the Gulf of Mexico. Until then he +must be idle. Sooner or later he must be seen by Eccles or the boys, so +he decided that he might as well go on deck and enjoy himself. + +His idea of enjoyment was to go about the ship making a nuisance of +himself. He climbed the rigging, tampered with the ropes and the +compass, and what else he might have done no one knows; but one of the +officers at last ordered him to leave things alone and go to his cabin. + +“I’ll go there when I get ready,” Jack replied. + +“What’s that, you young scamp?” exclaimed the officer. + +“Oh, mind your own business.” + +Hardly had the last word left Benson’s lips when the angry officer had +him in an iron grasp. + +“Let go of me!” cried Jack. “If you don’t, I’ll----” + +He never finished the sentence. He received a blow from the man that +made him see stars, and they were not the few that were shining in the +heavens. + +Just at that moment Frank and Will Alden came on-deck. The blow Jack +had received did not knock him senseless, but it caused him to stagger +and grasp a belaying pin for support. Jack set up a bellowing that +could be heard for some distance. It brought Captain Dare hurrying to +that part of the ship. + +“What’s all this about?” he demanded. + +“An unruly passenger, sir,” replied the officer, “and I had to take him +in hand.” + +“I see. What has he done, Mr. Gallup?” + +“Been meddling with things, sir, and when I ordered him to go below, he +was insolent.” + +“He hit me!” cried Jack. + +“Is that so, Mr. Gallup?” + +“Yes, sir. I struck him because he told me to mind my own business. I +thought it part of my business to make him understand that while he’s +on this ship he must behave himself.” + +“You did your duty,” said Captain Dare. Then turning to Benson: “Go +below, boy, and don’t bother my men.” + +“I won’t,” returned Jack. + +“What’s that?” + +“I won’t go below till I get ready.” + +The captain regarded him a moment with flashing eyes. Then he said to +the officer: + +“Mr. Gallup, have the young mutineer put in irons. Perhaps that will +bring him to his senses.” + +“You’d better not lock me up,” said Jack. “If you do you’ll get the +worst of it.” + +The captain smiled. + +“Get the worst of it, eh?” he said. “How’s that?” + +“My uncle, Mr. Loucks, owns some of this ship, and I’ll have him +discharge all of you.” + +Captain Dare and the officer burst into laughter. Just then a sailor +appeared with a pair of handcuffs. At sight of them all the resistance +fled from Jack, and he let go his hold on the belaying pin and scooted +for the gangway. As fast as his legs could carry him he went to his +cabin. + +Frank and Will Alden had witnessed the whole affair. + +“What do you think of that, Will?” said Frank. “Think of it. Jack +Benson on this ship!” + +“How did he ever get here?” + +“Search me. Let’s tell Captain Eccles.” + +They hunted up Eccles and told him about it. Thus it came about that +Eccles went to Captain Dare and learned from him that the owner of +the ship was Admiral Semmes’ worst enemy--James Vail. Then the sturdy +mariner began to scent a plot. He did not alarm Frank and Will by +imparting to them his suspicions, but after that, you may be sure, he +kept a close watch on the movements of Jack Benson. + +This is how Eccles thought the matter out: “This boy has been put +aboard by Loucks and Vail. He has begun his evil mission by sending +Nick adrift. No doubt at all that it was he who cut the rope that held +the yawl. Poor Nick! I wonder if we’ll ever see him again. By jingo, +if I catch that Jack Benson playing any dirty tricks, it will go hard +with him.” + +But Jack gave no sign after that night of doing anything wrong. He +seemed to have been thoroughly cowed by the threat to put him in irons +and the apparent indifference of the skipper to the fact that Loucks, +or, rather, his employer, James Vail, was owner of the ship. Jack was +sullen and reticent, and seldom came on deck. With all his watching, +Captain Eccles was thrown off his guard, for it did not look as if any +trouble was to be feared from Benson now. + +Thus matters stood until one dark night, when a storm seemed brewing. +All the passengers had retired to rest. Frank and Will were in their +berths, but not sleeping. They were talking over the mysterious +disappearance of their chum, Nick, the loss of whom was a severe blow +to them. They agreed with Captain Eccles that Jack Benson had something +to do with Nick’s disappearance, although, of course, they could not +prove anything. In time the boys stopped talking, and fell asleep +along with the rest of the passengers. The only persons awake were the +officer on the bridge, the men in the engine and boiler rooms, a few +sailors on deck, and others who had to be on hand to work the ship. + +Jack Benson had pretended to retire, like all the other passengers, but +he did not undress. He waited in his cabin until it was late enough for +him to carry out the scheme he had planned. + +When, at about midnight, he had opened his cabin door a little, looked +up and down the passage that ran along by the staterooms, and had made +sure that no one was moving about in that part of the ship, he stole +out of his cabin and made his way toward the forward hold. Save for the +throbbing of the engine, and the swish of the seas against the vessel’s +side, all was silence. + +In his stockinged feet Benson crossed the main saloon, gained the +companionway, ascended to the deck, glanced quickly about him, and made +sure that no one was looking. + +Then he darted along the deck, and down a gangway that led to a narrow +passage, at the end of which was a bulkhead door. Producing a key he +had stolen that day from the captain’s cabin, he opened this door, and +entered the hold. + +Closing the door after him, he lighted a short candle, which he drew +from a coat pocket. Its rays cast ghostly shadows about the place, but +revealed the indistinct outlines of the great piles of merchandise that +were part of the ship’s cargo. + +In a moment Jack decided what to do. He caught up a dry pine box that +contained some light material--this he knew by the weight of it--and +the box he placed beside a barrel of oil not far away. He did the same +with one box of the same kind after another, until he had four or five +of them ranged near the barrel of oil. + +His next move showed that Jack had come well prepared for his fiendish +work. From a pocket of his coat he took out a handful of excelsior, +and then, reaching into the unbuttoned bosom of his shirt, he drew +forth another handful of the same inflammable material. The production +of this last lot of the finely cut strings of wood accounted for the +wonderful chest development Jack had at the moment he slipped out of +his cabin. Now he was himself again as to chest measurement. + +He set the excelsior carefully about the boxes, and then, to make +certain that his kindlings should not fail, he began hacking with his +jack-knife at the boxes, and kept this up until he had added to the +excelsior a lot of splinters and chips. + +It was remarkable how coolly and with what apparent fearlessness he +performed this evil task. Not for a single instant did he hesitate. +He did not seem to realize his own peril in firing a ship that was so +many miles from land. This might have been because Loucks had assured +him that everybody lucky enough to be awake at the time the fire began +could escape in the lifeboats. + +At last Jack decided that all was in readiness for the match. He +lighted one, and applied its flickering flame to the excelsior. Then he +ran to the bulkhead door, opened, relocked it, and stole back to the +gangway, up that to the deck, and then down the companionway, and along +the stateroom passage to his own quarters. He had not encountered a +soul. + +He stood in the cabin, ears alert, waiting for the cry which he knew +would come. He had not more than three minutes to wait. + +“Fire! Fire! Fire!” + +This, the most terrible cry that can be heard on shipboard, began to +ring, and quickly was taken up on all sides. + +A quiver of horror went through the _Vista_ from stem to stern. + +The gangways began to fill with partly dressed passengers, trembling, +wringing their hands, shouting for help, weeping--laughing, some of +them, in a delirium of fright--rushing for safety, or standing still, +frozen with terror. Blinding smoke filled the ship, and presently the +glare of flames could be seen. + +In a moment the upper deck became a scene of hopeless confusion. +Officers and crew were powerless to preserve even a semblance of order. +One glance that Captain Dare gave the fire convinced him the ship +was doomed. He knew it would be useless to fight those all-devouring +flames. An attempt to do so would only be a waste of time and a futile +risking of human life. Jack Benson had done his work successfully. + +“Lower the boats!” + +Above the tumult of frightened voices, this order of the captain, +delivered in clear, ringing tones, could be heard. It was taken up by +the officers, and the crew fell to work getting the boats ready to be +lowered from the davits. Sailors stood by each boat keeping back the +frenzied passengers until it should be time for them to get in. Other +sailors were sent through the ship to wake up any one who, by chance, +had not been roused by the cries and general tumult. + +Captain Eccles, Frank, and Will managed to keep their heads, and by +example or word help others to do the same. They took a hand also in +helping the women and children to get into the boats. When the word was +given to board the lifeboats, Jack Benson tried to push by some women +and children and get into the first one. Frank Alden caught him by the +shoulders and pulled him back. + +Jack ripped out an oath, and told Frank to mind his own business--a +favorite expression of Jack’s, it appears, and one that he accompanied +now with a threat against Frank. It was the first time any words had +passed between the boys since they had been on the _Vista_. + +“All right,” returned Frank to the threat; “you can do anything you +like, but you don’t get into a boat until your turn comes. Now, stand +back!” + +There was a look in Frank’s eye that Benson did not like. So he went +off to seek some other boat to which he might have a chance of pushing +his way. He shook his fist at Frank as he moved away. + +In the rush for the boats one of the passengers, a woman, fell +overboard, and there was a delay in the efforts of a sailor to rescue +her which held one of the lifeboats hovering near the ship for a long +time. The seaman succeeded at last in reaching the boat with his +exhausted burden, and both were lifted aboard by willing hands. Such +scenes made the hour one of excitement, suspense, and terror. At last, +however, every soul on board had been rescued. Even Jack Benson, after +several ineffectual attempts to crowd past children, was allowed to get +into a lifeboat. + +“But if you don’t stop playing the hog,” said the officer in charge of +it to him, “I’ll throw you overboard.” + +The last boat to leave the ship contained Captain Dare, Eccles, Frank, +Will, and several of the crew. + +Luckily the storm which seemed brewing did not descend with any fury. +The boats, with loads of human freight, reached an island for which +they were all headed, about twenty-four hours after the _Vista_ was +abandoned. + +The cause of the fire was a mystery which bothered Captain Dare a +good deal. He talked about it with Eccles as they rowed on. When they +arrived at the island mentioned they found the other boats there, and +not a single life had been lost by the burning of the _Vista_. + +From the island everybody was transferred to the mainland, and from +there to various points--according to the port to which they wished to +go in order to continue their journey by water. + +A week later Captain Eccles, Frank, and Will found a ship bound for the +Isthmus of Panama by way of Colon and Aspinwall. On this they arranged +for passage. + +What had become of Jack Benson they did not know. Having finished the +work for which he had been put aboard the _Vista_ by Loucks and Vail, +that young scamp had taken himself off with a group of passengers who +took ship for Havana, and from there he intended to take passage back +to New York. The conspirators had supplied him with plenty of money, +which he had been careful to tuck away in a safe place on his person +when he set fire to the ship. + +Captain Eccles and his boy companions had saved little from the wreck +except the clothes they wore. But Eccles had a good part of the cash +that belonged to Admiral Semmes, and which was to be used in his +interest; so they did not fear for the success of their treasure hunt. +And, best of all, despite the hurry in which they had left the burning +ship, Eccles had taken good care to bring with him the chart that Nick +had recovered from the treacherous bankers. + +As for poor Nick, there was no news of him at the port from which they +set sail for the Isthmus. They made inquiry at every place where there +was likely to be news of a ship having picked up a boy at sea, but all +to no purpose. Needless to say, the disappearance of Nick had cast a +gloom over the little party, but they decided to continue their quest +for the treasure, and hope for the best. + +After a stormy passage in the Caribbean Sea, Eccles, Frank, and Will +arrived at Colon. From there they went to Panama, where the gigantic +work of digging the canal across the Isthmus was in full swing. Armies +of workmen, many of them Americans, made a scene of activity in that +southern clime which the boys from Parkdale regarded with open-eyed +wonder. + +Captain Eccles explained to them the great work which the United States +Government had undertaken in opening a waterway between the Caribbean +Sea and the Pacific. + +“Will it be wide and deep enough for big ships to go through?” asked +Frank. + +“Yes, indeed,” the captain told him. “The very largest ships will be +able to pass through. Vessels that now have to make the long voyage +around the Horn will take a short cut when the canal is finished. It +will save weeks and weeks of time in the passage from New York to the +Pacific coast.” + +From Colon they took a train across the Isthmus, and this for a part +of the way followed the course of the canal, so that the digging +operations were in full view from the car window. It was an experience +which the boys thought they would always remember. It helped them to +forget for a while their sadness over the loss of Nick Collins. + +Arrived at the Pacific side of the Isthmus, they were fortunate in +finding a ship bound south, and they reached Buenaventura in safety. +Here Captain Eccles made inquiry for the ship _Regent_, commanded by +his friend Dartmoor. Again they were in good luck. They learned that +the _Regent_ was due, on a return voyage from Peru, at Valencia, two +hundred miles down the coast, in a week. + +For Valencia the three took the first steamer that sailed. + +“A little while, boys,” said the captain, elated over the prospect, +“and we shall be on our way toward the treasure island.” + +It was good news to Frank and Will, as well, but they could not help +thinking how happy they would be if only Nick Collins were with them to +enjoy the adventures that were soon to be theirs. + +They reached Valencia, and found much to interest them in that quaint +old place while they waited for the _Regent_ to arrive. In two days she +arrived. Eccles was waiting on the wharf when she came up. He was the +first one on shore to hail her commander, Captain Dartmoor, his old +friend. As soon as the gangplank was down he rushed aboard to clasp +hands with the skipper. + +Did Captain Dartmoor give him a warm welcome? + +He fairly danced with delight at sight of his old shipmate. + +“By jingo, Eck!” he exclaimed, “you don’t look a day older.” + +“And you,” returned his friend--“why, Jack, you’re the same young +fellow of fifteen years ago!” + +For more than an hour the brotherly mariners were shut up in the +skipper’s cabin while Eccles told his story. Dartmoor listened to it +with wrapped attention and wonder. + +“By jingo!” he exclaimed, “it takes me back to the days when we used to +read yarns of the sea.” + +“But this is going to be no yarn, captain.” + +“I sincerely hope not, Eck. I hope it will prove to be what you +think--the biggest kind of a reality.” + +“Don’t you believe it?” asked Eccles. + +“Wait a minute,” the other answered evasively. “Give me time to think +about it. Let me see that chart.” + +Eccles produced the two halves of the letter written by Nick Collins’ +father, and spread them before his friend. The latter studied the +document for some minutes in silence. Then suddenly he exclaimed: + +“Why, first point to reach, according to this, is Mountain Island.” + +“Yes. What of it?” + +“What of it? Man, I know the place.” + +“Hurrah!” exclaimed Eccles. “You’ve been there?” + +“Yes. It is little more than a barren reef twelve hundred miles due +southwest.” + +“Then the letter is right. That’s what it says.” + +“That much is right, surely,” chimed in Dartmoor. + +“From there we follow the course described in the letter. Now, what do +you think of the project?” + +“I think very well of it,” drawled Dartmoor, which was a good deal for +him to say, as his friend well knew. + +“Then you believe in it?” cried Eccles eagerly. + +“Yes, old shipmate, I do.” + +“Hurrah!” again burst out Captain Eccles. “Just how much confidence +have you in it?” + +“A great deal.” + +“Enough to come along and help me find it?” + +“I have, Eccles,” replied the other earnestly. + +“Shake on it.” + +And the old-time friends and fellow mariners clasped hands. + +“This is glorious!” said Eccles. “You’ll know where we can get a ship, +how much we ought to pay, and all about it. It’s a long time, Jack, +since I was in service, and I’ve sort of lost track of things.” + +“What do you want of a ship?” asked Captain Dartmoor after a moment of +silence. + +“Can we get along without one?” returned the other, smiling. + +“You cannot, of course. But I guess one will be enough.” + +“It sure will.” + +“Well, isn’t my ship good enough?” + +“Do you mean,” said the overjoyed Eccles--“do you mean that you’ll use +the _Regent_ for our expedition?” + +“That’s exactly what I mean. Do you suppose I’d let you go in any other +ship, Eck, as long as I have one at my command?” + +Again the old friends’ hands met in a cordial grasp. + +“Now, friendship is one thing and business another,” said Captain +Eccles. “I have money. I will charter your ship outright or go in with +you on shares.” + +“Never mind that part of it. We’ll fix things up satisfactorily to +both. I guess we won’t quarrel.” + +“But I’d rather have it fixed. I want to do what is right by you and +everybody connected with you in this matter.” + +“All right. We’ll settle about the money later on. Come on deck.” + +It was plain that the project had awakened all the enthusiasm and love +of adventure in Captain Dartmoor’s nature, of which there was plenty, +although he was a cool and level-headed man. + +“Mr. Griggs,” he called to his mate when they had reached the deck. + +The mate touched his hat and drew near. + +“What’s our cargo to be?” + +“Wool.” + +“Where for?” + +“Buenaventura.” + +“I want you to make arrangements to have some other ship carry it.” + +The mate looked puzzled. + +“I beg your pardon, sir,” he said. “Do you mean that we’re not to take +it aboard?” + +“Exactly.” + +“But we are under contract to deliver it at Buenaventura.” + +“Never mind. The reason for making the change is an important one. You +will transfer the cargo and papers to the next ship that is bound for +Buenaventura. Be sure that there shall be no slip-up, for I want the +delivery to be made just as promptly as if the goods were carried in +the _Regent_. This must be done in justice to the persons concerned.” + +“I’ll do the best I can, sir,” said the mate. + +“See here, captain,” put in Eccles. “I don’t want you to take this risk +for me. Suppose----” + +“Suppose nothing,” interrupted Dartmoor, his eyes sparkling. “There +lies treasure island, doesn’t it?” + +He pointed southwest. + +“Yes,” Eccles answered. + +“That’s our destination, isn’t it?” + +“Of course, Jack, but----” + +“But me no buts, shipmate,” broke in the skipper of the _Regent_. “You +are my life-long friend, aren’t you?” + +“Yes.” + +“You’ve said, ‘Help me,’ haven’t you?” + +“That’s right.” + +“Well, when a friend like you says that, Jack Dartmoor is there! That’s +all there is to it. Yonder lies our treasure island. We transfer our +cargo, we provision, and we sail just as quickly as we can.” + +“When will that be?” + +“To-night. This very hour,” was Captain Dartmoor’s resolute and hearty +answer. + +And so it fell out. At nightfall the stately _Regent_, with Eccles, +Frank, and Will aboard, sailed into the hazy crimson of the western +sky, a trailer on the ill-fated course of the _Star of Hope_, gone down +in tropic waters ten years before with all the treasure it had on board. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +OUTWARD BOUND. + + +What of Nick Collins? + +At the first step in what fate had made the main purpose of his +life--the successful carrying out of his father’s project, and the +securing of Admiral Semmes’ rights--the lad had met with disaster. + +The _Vista_ glided from sight, while only the winds heard his cries for +help. As darkness closed about him, he realized that all hope of rescue +for many hours to come must be abandoned. + +But he told himself that now was the time to be brave. He must keep up +till daylight should make it possible for passing ships to see him, and +possibly come to his rescue. + +There was no oar in the boat, and no other means either of propelling +or guiding the frail craft. Fortunately the sea was calm; danger of the +yawl swamping was not very great. + +The stars came out, and a light breeze rose, and altogether the night +was a mild and beautiful one. As the hours wore on Nick had all he +could do to keep awake, but he did so by a plucky effort, being +encouraged to this now and then by sight of the lights of a passing +ship. Impulsively he cried out for help, but the vessels were all too +far away to hear his voice. + +He was rejoiced at last by the first faint glow of dawn, and in time +the welcome warmth of the sun’s rays. + +He busied himself scanning the horizon at every point in the hope of +sighting a ship. But it must have been nearly noon before he discerned +a distant sail. It seemed to be bearing directly down upon him, and +his heart leaped with joy. He watched it breathlessly, with all the +suspense of one whose life was at stake. He waved his hat, and his +coat. He shouted himself hoarse, and then---- + +The ship passed on! + +A mere speck on the vast expanse of water, he was invisible to those on +the ship who, in all likelihood, would have been glad to come to his +aid. + +Twice a similar hope was kindled, only to be dashed. But ships came +near, he told himself, and sooner or later he must be seen and rescued. +With this hope he buoyed himself, and tried to forget his gnawing +hunger and terrible thirst. + +Finally, toward nightfall, when despair had begun to claim him, a +fourth ship hove into view. How the poor boy waved his coat, and +shouted with what was left to him of his voice! + +This time his frantic signals were seen! + +A yawl was launched, and soon he heard the welcome sound of the rowers. + +An hour later Nick Collins was seated in the cabin of the brig +_Pawtucket_, bound back for the port of New York. Before him was food +and drink in plenty, and how he put it away! Nick had been hungry many +a time before, but never in his life, it seemed to him now, had he +really known hunger. + +The captain of the _Pawtucket_ was considerate enough not to bother +Nick for his story until he had stowed away all the food he could hold. + +In due time the brig sailed into port, and Nick went ashore, thankful +for his escape, but with a heart none too happy at the thought that he +was alone and friendless in the noisy, cruel vastness of New York. + +But he had made up his mind what should be his first step. He would +go to the hospital where Admiral Semmes was a patient, and see how it +fared with his father’s old friend. He remembered that Captain Eccles +had said that the doctors there had predicted that the old sailor would +be himself again in two weeks. + +Fortunately Nick had a little money, so he was in no immediate anxiety +about shelter for the night and the means of living until he could +carry out a certain plan he had in mind. + +He found his way to the hospital, a great building on the east side of +the city. + +“What can we do for you?” asked a pleasant-faced man at a desk in the +office. + +“I want to know something about Admiral Semmes,” said Nick. + +“Is he a friend of yours?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Well, I don’t know that we can tell you anything about him, except +that he is a very fine old gentleman.” + +“Is he better?” + +“Better? I should say he was; so much so that he wouldn’t listen to +staying here any longer, although the doctors thought he’d better.” + +“Has he gone?” gasped Nick. + +“Oh, yes--left two days ago.” + +“Where has he gone?” + +“I couldn’t tell you that. But wait a minute. Perhaps the people in the +ward where he was may know.” + +He called up the ward by telephone, but, after making inquiry, told +Nick that no one there knew where the admiral had gone. He had left no +word at the hospital as to where he intended to go, except to say that +he would sail for Panama as soon as he could get a ship. + +Nick thanked the man and left the hospital. + +Admiral Semmes going to Panama! This was, indeed, interesting news for +the boy. It was exactly the thing that Nick also intended to do, by +hook or by crook. Nick knew that Captain Eccles, and Frank, and Will +would go on to Panama in pursuance of their purpose to hunt for the +sunken treasure. + +“The thing for me to do, first of all,” Nick told himself, “is to find +Admiral Semmes.” + +The clue the hospital clerk had given him seemed a valuable one. If the +old sailor was looking for a ship to the Isthmus, the thing to do was +to visit the offices of the steamship lines to Panama. And this Nick +set about doing straightway. It had been his plan to look up a ship +bound for the Isthmus, and seek an opportunity to work his passage to +that point, in the belief that he might find Captain Eccles and the +boys there, or, if they had been there and departed, find some trace of +them, and follow on. + +Nick visited one office after another that bulletined ships for Central +and South American ports. But it was not until he had begun to despair +of getting any clue to Admiral Semmes that he did come upon some +encouraging news. This was in the office of a steamship line for New +Orleans, the Isthmus, and Central America. + +“Has Admiral Semmes been here?” Nick asked somewhat innocently, as if +everybody must know the old mariner. + +“Admiral Semmes?” repeated the man at the desk, smiling, but regarding +the boy with twinkling, keen eyes. “I don’t know anybody by that name, +but I shouldn’t be at all surprised if the person you seek is the +elderly gentleman who was here not ten minutes ago.” + +Nick was all attention, you may be sure. + +“What sort of a looking man is your friend?” the clerk inquired. “Tall +and thin?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Gray hair and beard?” + +“Yes, sir. And he had on, the last time I saw him, a suit of gray +clothes.” + +“So had this man. I guess you’re on the right track, my lad.” + +“Where did he go?” asked Nick. + +“Well, it just happens,” the other answered, “that I’m able to tell +you--at least, I’m able to tell you where he said he was going from +here. He was looking for a ship that would sail soon for the Isthmus, +and as none of ours will sail for ten days, I directed him to the +Mexican-Costa Rica Line.” + +“Where is that?” + +“Just around the corner.” + +“Oh, thank you, sir; thank you!” + +And Nick was off like a shot. His heart beat wildly as he came in sight +of the sign of the steamship office indicated, and he sprang up the +steps two at a time. And there, standing at a desk, talking to the +booking clerk, was a gray-haired man. A glance told Nick it was the man +he sought. + +“Admiral Semmes!” he cried, in his delight. + +The old mariner started and stared at the boy. Then, in a kindly tone, +he said: + +“Who are you, lad?” + +“I am Nick Collins, sir. I am your friend. I--I--Captain +Eccles--Panama--Loucks--Vail--the treasure!” + +Nick was so excited that it all came out in a jumbled lot of words, but +words, needless to say, that conveyed a clear enough meaning to the +admiral. + +He called Nick aside, and said to him: + +“I see you know me.” + +“Yes, sir, and I know Captain Eccles; and I know, too, that you are +looking for a ship to Panama.” + +Semmes started anew. + +“The dickens!” he exclaimed. “How did you know that?” + +“They told me at the steamship office around the corner--the one you +just left; and I heard it also at the hospital.” + +“Well, well,” said the admiral, looking Nick over in amazement. “You’re +a pretty bright boy. But what of it, if I _am_ going to Panama?” + +“I am going, too,” Nick answered simply. + +“You?” + +“Yes, sir; and we shall overtake Captain Eccles if we can only get a +ship that sails at once.” + +“We?” gasped Semmes. + +“Yes, sir. I know all his plans.” + +“All whose plans?” asked the other. + +“Captain Eccles’.” + +“What in the name of goodness are you driving at?” + +“Didn’t you get the letter that Captain Eccles left for you at the +hospital?” + +Then a smile came over the admiral’s face. Whatever suspicion of Nick +that he had entertained was banished by the boy’s question about the +letter. It proved that he must be in the confidence of Captain Eccles. +He threw his arm around Nick, and exclaimed: + +“Heaven bless you, lad! Tell me all about it.” + +Nick related the events with which the reader is familiar so far as +they concerned Eccles, Vail, Loucks, and the occurrence in the broker’s +office that so greatly concerned the admiral himself. + +The admiral listened like one in a dream. + +“You are indeed a friend to me,” he said, grasping Nick’s hand. “My +boy, you are a brave fellow, and worthy the father I loved as my best +friend.” + +Then he related his own experience. Two days before he had amazed the +people at the hospital by suddenly coming to his reason. They gave him +the letter left by the captain. Then, realizing that his secret was +safe, that Vail had been baffled, he had set out to raise money to +enable him to follow the captain. A friend had loaned him $1,000. + +“I said I realized that Vail was baffled,” the admiral went on. “That +was my belief, Nick, when I first read the letter. But since I have +been moving around, I am not so sure of that.” + +“What do you mean, sir?” + +“Well, I have learned something. It is that Vail has left suddenly on a +mysterious cruise.” + +“In what direction, admiral?” + +“As near as my informant could say, he is bound for the South Pacific +Ocean.” + +“The treasure island is in that region,” said Nick. + +“Of course it is; and for the treasure island, you may be sure, the +precious scoundrel has sailed. He’s on the track of the treasure.” + +“But he won’t succeed, sir.” + +“Not if Eccles beats him to it.” + +“When did Vail set out?” + +“Yesterday, I am told.” + +“Then Captain Eccles will get there first!” cried Nick joyously. “See +what a start he has.” + +“But we must be with Eccles when he gets there, Nick.” + +“That’s what I have hoped for, admiral. But even if we miss him, we can +feel sure that he will come out all right.” + +“You have no more confidence in him than I have; yet I’m going to join +him, if such a thing is a human possibility.” + +“I wish we could.” + +“But I have a new plan, Nick,” the admiral said. + +“What is that, sir?” + +“I have given up the idea of sailing to Panama. I have decided that it +would be less risky to take another course.” + +“What course?” + +“Overland to California, or to Texas, and thence to the coast. Going +that way we shall be almost certain to overtake the captain. Perhaps +we shall pick him up at Buenaventura, perhaps at Valencia. We have the +clue that must bring us to him sooner or later?” + +“Captain Dartmoor, of the _Regent_!” exclaimed Nick. + +“Right you are, my boy. What do you think of my plan?” + +“Splendid, admiral! Much better than to follow him to the Isthmus and +run a chance of missing him there, and trailing on after him all the +way, and perhaps missing him at last.” + +“That’s just how I figure it out. All right, then, Nick, we start for +the Golden Gate to-night.” + +And the midnight train bore them out of New York. In five days they +reached the Pacific coast. + +At San Francisco the admiral was lucky enough to find a ship that +sailed the very day of their arrival, so that three hours after they +set foot in that city they were watching its buildings fade away from +the deck of a steamer bound for Buenaventura. + +Despite this auspicious beginning of their journey by sea, trouble +began to brew not many hours after they had got beyond sight of land. + +The ship was caught in a severe storm and driven far out of her course. +For several days they were at the mercy of the gale. At last the storm +subsided, but the vessel was left in a condition so unmanageable that +the outlook for finishing the voyage on her was not very hopeful. + +Indeed, it seemed so bad to the practiced eyes of Admiral Semmes that +he decided to go ashore at an island about which the ship had been +drifting for several hours. This island lay off the coast of Mexico, +and the admiral concluded that it would be better to land and take a +chance of getting passage to the mainland on some vessel that might +call there. + +The captain agreed to their landing, and sent a sailor to row them +ashore. And the venture turned out just as the admiral had anticipated. +They did get passage, two days later, on a ship that took them to the +mainland, and the very next morning they boarded another ship bound for +Buenaventura. At this place it did not take them long to get track of +Captain Eccles, and Frank, and Will Alden. + +“We’ve had a lot of delay, Nick,” said the admiral, “but we’ll catch +them, after all.” + +“I hope so,” was Nick’s earnest response. + +“It’s a sure thing. They are only a few days ahead of us.” + +“Where have they gone?” + +“To Valencia.” + +“And Captain Dartmoor--have you heard anything of him?” + +“Oh, yes.” + +“Is he at Valencia?” + +“No, but he soon will be, I am told.” + +“When can we sail for Valencia?” + +“In two days.” + +The two days they had to wait were anxious ones for the old mariner and +his boy companion, and even after they had set sail this anxiety did +not wear off. The voyage down the South American coast seemed a very +long one. Nick, at the admiral’s request, wrote out from memory the +letter relating to the sunken treasure. + +One beautiful morning they arrived at Valencia. The admiral bade Nick +remain on the steamer, and hastened to the office of the principal +shipping firm in the place. He returned in two hours, and Nick could +see from his face that he was the bearer of bad news. + +“They are not here,” he guessed. + +“No,” said the admiral sadly. “They have gone.” + +“Sailed?” + +“Yes.” + +“On the _Regent_?” + +“Yes. They met Captain Dartmoor, and went away at once.” + +“When?” + +“Last night.” + +“What shall we do?” + +“Do, lad?” exclaimed the admiral. “What else but follow them?” + +The firm tone in which the admiral spoke made Nick’s hope glow again. + +“Come ashore,” said his companion. “We have one chance yet, and it is a +good one.” + +“What is that, sir?” + +“To overtake them.” + +“Oh, sir, can we do it?” + +“I think we can. At any rate, we can make a good try for it.” + +“And we will, sir,” said Nick, catching the admiral’s enthusiasm. + +With the boy accompanying him, Semmes went back to the shipping +office. The proprietor, a Spaniard, greeted them courteously. + +“Ah, the admiral has returned!” he said. + +“I have. Look here.” + +As he spoke, Semmes took from his pocket a big roll of bills. + +“Do you see that?” he asked. + +“Yes, señor.” + +“Would you like to have it?” + +“I don’t think I should mind having it; but what does the admiral mean?” + +“It is yours.” + +“Mine?” + +“Yours. But you’ll have to do something for it.” + +“Ah, it is an American joke!” exclaimed the Spaniard, with a grin. +“Well, what is the admiral’s pleasure?” + +“Do you own that small brig in the harbor?” asked Semmes. He pointed +to a pennant-decked ship at anchor, the foresails of which were just +visible from the office windows. + +“Yes, señor.” + +“Is she a fast sailer?” + +“None faster on the coast.” + +“Is she idle?” + +“Yes; for a while.” + +“How long?” + +“Two days.” + +“Good! Give me a good captain and crew, with orders to pursue the +_Regent_ for two days, and the money is yours.” + +“Agreed.” + +“You know which course the _Regent_ took?” + +“Northwest.” + +“Overtake her, and when I have seen the captain I will double the +money,” said Semmes. “Come, get busy, and give us an imitation of an +American hustle.” + +And it was a very good imitation indeed that the Spaniard gave of +Yankee “git up and git.” And his enthusiasm was imparted to the crew +when they were told of the brig’s mission. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +YARNING BY THE WAY. + + +Within an hour they set sail. The skipper proved to be an active, +intelligent man, and fell into the spirit of the undertaking. He +crowded on all the sail his little ship could carry, and they scudded +through the waves at a splendid pace. And this was kept up all day and +through the night. There was a good stiff breeze all the time. + +Captain Dartmoor and Admiral Eccles, like true old sailors, fell to +spinning yarns, and you may be sure the boys were delighted listeners. +Captain Dartmoor told this story: + +“Not so many years ago I found myself with very little money, and, +as far as I could see, not much chance of getting more in Vancouver, +British Columbia. I had arrived there from Australia with the hopes +of getting up to Klondike and making a fortune in no time. As it was +almost impossible for me or any one else to get through to Dawson City +in the winter time, I knocked about Vancouver doing whatever my hand +found to do, from peeling potatoes in a hotel kitchen to painting the +woodwork of a house. + +“Just when I was breaking into my last few cents I met another +Australian, who, with his wife, immediately offered me that boundless +hospitality of the Australian all the world over, and in a few days I +was as one of themselves. This gentleman’s name was Grindle, and he +and his wife had more than once made the trip to Dawson City by way +of White Horse. He was then contemplating another journey into the +gold region when I met him, but, being a lazy sort of individual and +careless of his belongings when on the tramp, his wife, who could not +on this occasion accompany him, offered me fifty dollars to go and look +after her husband. + +“Of course, I jumped at the chance, and with a couple of other +companions we left by boat in June, nineteen hundred, and, landing +shortly after at White Horse, on the Yukon River, prepared for our +long tramp of two hundred miles to a part of the country known as the +Alsek, where, in the creeks, we hoped to stake out claims and return +muchly enriched. + +“I had always considered this part of the world as a cold and barren +land, the home of snowdrifts and storm; but when we landed at White +Horse I found it to be a land of beauty, of sunny days and clear skies, +of foaming waters and green, dome-shaped hills, of high cliffs and +granite peaks, snow-crowned for all time. + +“The great river which we call the Yukon the Indians call the +Yu-kon-ah--meaning mighty water; nor does it belie its name. It is over +two thousand miles long and seventy-five miles wide at its mouth, and +the large river steamers can navigate it for over one thousand eight +hundred miles. + +“The enchanting beauty of the wide-spreading Yukon Valley--its sunshine +and wealth of vegetation, fruits, and flowers--came as a great surprise +to me, and forced me to exclaim, ‘This cannot be the North!’ And it +certainly was not that northland of which you may have read, described +by the vivid imagination of those who have never seen it. No more +glorious summers are to be found anywhere else on the earth’s surface, +so far as I know--and I have visited many corners of this globe--and it +is a hunter’s paradise. + +“Here, in the late fall, you can hear the moose and caribou calling +that it is time to get into their favorite meadows, where they winter; +and hear in the white, soft evenings the goats and sheep trampling in +droves, and seeming to confer as to the best location for their exodus; +the grouse softly call in the thickets, and the ptarmigan, wild geese, +and ducks gather in great flocks. There are also bears--black, grizzly, +brown, and cinnamon--fat and sleepy; and in the sedges can be heard +waterfowl discussing the annual excursion to the South. The streams +are thick with trout, and one has only to cut a stick from the nearest +tree, affix a line to it, with a couple of hooks baited with a bit +of flannel, and at the first cast you will probably land a brace of +beauties. + +“This was the country, then, I found myself in when we started off from +White Horse to tackle our little ‘stampede,’ as they call the tramp in +the far Northwest. Each of us carried a pack weighing one hundred and +twelve pounds, and we didn’t make very good progress the first day. + +“Anyhow, when we came to the end of the day’s march, the first thing +I did was to strip by the bank of a creek for a swim. I selected what +I took to be a deep water hole about ten yards across; and without as +much as dabbling a toe in it, to see what the temperature was like--as +I said before, it was a fine day in June--I plunged in, and I’m not +quite sure that I have recovered from the shock yet! That creek was a +glacial one, and the water liquid ice! + +“Our second day’s tramp was spent mostly in my trying to get my +circulation up again, and my companions in joking me on my bathing +propensities. Also, on this day, every old hand we passed on the +trail warned us about a dry patch of country ahead of us on our next +day’s travel, and we were advised to start at daybreak if we wished +to negotiate this terrible stretch of country successfully. Not only +did we get verbal warnings, but scattered about on the trunks of pine +trees we came across the legend, ‘Beware of the dry patch!’ + +“Well, the next morning we were on the move early, and I would just +like to say here that Grindle and myself were each armed with a good +old Australian ‘billy’ can. These we filled with water from a creek +before we went, and, humping our packs, off we started to cross the +dry patch. And what do you think this awful dry patch was? Why, just +a little stretch of fine, dry, scrub country, only fourteen miles in +extent! An Australian doesn’t reckon anything under about fifty miles +of waterless country a dry patch, but out on the Yukon they think great +things of themselves to have ‘crossed the dry patch.’ + +“After we’d tramped eight miles or so we called a halt, lit a fire, +and soon had our two billies going. And the sensation they caused +to the uninitiated American and European prospectors who passed our +camps! They all wanted to know where we got the water from; and when +we explained that we had carried it along with us in the billies they +seemed quite flabbergasted at the idea. + +“Needless to say, the dry patch held no terrors for us. As to the +food we carried, it consisted of bacon, rice, flour, and salt, with, +of course, tea and sugar. Whether the awful cold of the eight-months +winter freezes all the goodness out of the wood I do not know, but +ashes never retain their heat in the northwest and damper is always +cooked in ashes. We made flapjacks instead. These are made by mixing +flour and water to the consistency of thin dough in a gold pan and +pouring it into a frying pan, in which bacon fat still remains. The +frying pan is then set in an oven built of boulders heated almost white +hot by fire, and in no time one has a plentiful and excellently baked +supply of flapjacks; or, if you want plain loaves, the frying pan is +first cleaned of all fat. + +“We came in for a mild sensation on the fourth day. I was walking some +distance from my three companions, and, on reaching the top of a small +knoll, I came slap on a pair of bear cubs, playing and gamboling about +like a couple of kittens. Having no firearms with me--in fact, the only +weapon among the four of us was a jack-knife--I skirted round them +to see if the parents were anywhere in the vicinity; and not seeing +them, and finding my companions were now on ahead of me, I let out a +yell of ‘Bears!’ The way those three fellows hustled was a caution, as +they thought the bears might be after the food they had in the packs on +their backs. + +“We carried extra rations of food, and ‘cached’ it each day for our +needs on the return journey, in case we decided to return. By ‘caching’ +I mean we suspended meat, or whatever we thought necessary, in the +forked branches of trees, and the bears, of which there are a great +many in that part of the world, naturally try and break open the caches +to get a cheap feed. + +“It’s only natural, too, for a bear to try and do this; but there is +a very strict, unwritten law that man may not break a cache except +when in the last pangs of hunger, and then he must only take enough to +keep himself alive. Any one found breaking a cache for the purpose of +stealing would receive a short shrift in a summary and most unpleasant +manner. + +“The morning of our fifth day’s stampede found us on the edge of +what is known as the Champagne Landing, so named from the manner in +which the water foams and bubbles over the river bed. It is a ford +or crossing over a creek where the current swirls above a shifting +bed at a frightful pace. Grindle explained that it was hopeless to +try and wade through in bare feet, as the toes and feet sank into the +treacherous sand, and, besides having to battle with the water, a man +might almost get sucked down. We tackled it, accordingly, in top-boots, +held one another’s hands, and worked across upstream from one patch of +firm sand, or poised ourselves on a jutting bit of rock until we could +find a safe stepping place ahead. + +“It only took us actually four minutes to cross the Champagne Landing, +and it mayn’t sound much to talk about; but it’s one of the nastiest +and most dangerous spots on the road to Alsek, and many have been the +tragedies and hairbreadth escapes experienced in those foaming waters. + +“Beyond the Landing, and when we had recovered from the buffeting we +had received in the crossing, we struck into beautiful meadowlands, +where flowers bloomed and mosses carpeted the earth. + +“A friend of mine, now in White Horse, has made a collection of these +Alaskan mosses--principally found on the Yukon and Klondike--comprising +one thousand three hundred species, some of them exceedingly graceful; +and unless you have seen them, you can hardly imagine the wonderful +length and softness of the mosses in that region. For the greater part +of the year they lie buried under the snow and ice, only to cover the +earth with a mantle of vivid green when the snows have melted. + +“After continuing our tramp till almost sundown, we struck a patch +of wild strawberries and gooseberries, and we stayed right there. We +slung off the packs, lay down, and just had, as the lower-school boys +would say, ‘a real good blow-out.’ Unfortunately, those berries of both +varieties were hardly ripe, but it made no difference; we ate, and +ate, and ate till we could eat no more. Then we rolled over and tried +to sleep. But we tried in vain, and the reason was not far to seek. I +never saw men tied in such knots before outside a circus; and even in +my own pain I could scarcely help laughing at the agonized expressions +on my companions’ faces. + +“Owing to one accident which occurred on the next day, I might have +been compelled to enter Alsek even as Adam promenaded the Garden of +Eden before his fall. It came about this way. All night it rained in +torrents, and in the morning we built a huge fire under a giant fir +tree. We erected a sort of drying house out of stripped boughs, and, +stretching our sopping garments on this, we sauntered away to keep +ourselves warm by moving about. On our return to the drying house, +what was our consternation to discover that the fire had undermined +it, and our clothes--at least my clothes, my companions were more +fortunate--were burned. Of my one suit nothing remained but a metal +trousers button and a buckle, both partly melted! + +“The next hour or so had to be spent by all hands in fashioning me +a pair of nether garments out of old flour sacks and a bit of spare +canvas off one of the packs. + +“Nothing more of interest happened till we reached the Alsek creeks, +eight days after we had left White Horse, and then we at once set about +staking our claims. Our first venture was on the side of a hill, and +after a thorough trial we gave it up as hopeless. The only crop we +might have raised out of it was boulders, and it didn’t give even a +glimmer of gold. + +“We pegged another claim on one of the creeks, and thought it looked +very promising; it petered out, and didn’t show gold worth a cent. + +“As our two claims had come to naught, we decided to return to White +Horse. From information we received after having been only a day on the +creeks, we found every yard of likely ground had been acquired; so, +with a stay of but three days, we set out on our return journey, which +occupied us two days less than the first one had done. + +“On the final day we created a record, too, by doing the last +forty-five miles into White Horse in one day, and on one meal. When we +at last reached the city, I, for one, was too tired to eat; the very +sight of food made me feel sick, so I turned in and slept for twelve +solid hours; then I got up and showed them how a hungry Australian +could eat! + +“Meals cost a dollar a time then in White Horse; but I don’t fancy the +restaurant keeper made much profit out of the first meal he served me +with when I awoke.” + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE ADMIRAL’S YARN. + + +“I guess that’s right, captain,” was Admiral Eccles’ quiet comment when +Dartmoor had finished his yarn. “You always were able to do your share +of eating, even on ordinary occasions.” + +There was silence for a while, then Nick, who knew that Admiral Eccles +was a storehouse of good stories, ventured to say: + +“Won’t you tell us one, admiral?” + +“Yes; give us a yarn,” urged the other lads. + +For a moment the old sailor did not answer, but at length, cocking an +eye upward, he began: + +“And so, lads, you would like to have a yarn from me. Well, I’ll tell +you the story of what I am a little too fond, it may be, of calling ‘My +Strange Christmas Day on an Iceberg.’ + +“Aye, strange enough I did think it at the time, too. As you must know, +my boys, it was only my second voyage, and I wasn’t very much bigger +than Master Nick here, then. Very likely, if the truth was all told, I +was a bit awkward and wild, as lads are apt to be still, I fear. But, +bless you, that voyage, or, rather, its ending, was enough to sober +anybody. I’ve never forgotten it, and if the rest of my mates are still +alive, I don’t expect any one of them has, either. + +“When I was sixteen years old the time came for me to leave school, and +my parents--who were comparatively well to do--wished to put me into a +wholesale grocery house, where I should have had a very good chance, +indeed, of rising. + +“I rebelled. My mind was set on going to sea. My bookcase was cram full +of Marryat’s novels, naval wars, maps, compasses, and a big treatise +on navigation that I had picked up at a bookstall, and could no more +comprehend than Joanna, the cook. I pleaded with all the hot, eloquent +force of boyhood in favor of the ocean life of my fancy. + +“My father called me a fool, and bade me at once make my mind up for +business. + +“‘For into business you go, my lad,’ he said. + +“I wasn’t quite so sure, for if neither argument, nor passion, nor +tears were of any avail, there was still an alternative, and I meant to +take it. + +“I did. I ran away to sea. + +“When I came back from that first voyage, after an absence of nearly +eight months, I was still in love with the briny, and still resolute in +my determination to be a sailor. + +“I had undergone not a little hardship of one kind or another, but it +had not altered me. My relatives--with whom, despite my evil conduct, +I had corresponded as often as circumstances would allow--placed, this +time, no obstacles in the way of my ambition. On the contrary, they did +their best to give me a good start on my second trip--a kindness which +you must grant, my boys, I had not deserved at their hands. + +“Thus it came about that I sailed again on board the _Vanthy_, a +merchantman, bound for the cod fisheries of Newfoundland. + +“As we neared the Newfoundland Banks, heavy fogs again and again +overtook us, and the morning of the twenty-fourth of December found +the _Vanthy_ enveloped in one, if possible, denser and thicker than +before. + +“The very masts, a few feet above our heads, became as though they were +not, in the thick, yellowy vapor. And with the fog a strange, ominous +stillness had crept over the deep. Once or twice since then I have +noted that peculiar, inexplicable silence--like the hush before the +storm--and always peril has been born of it. + +“It was a stillness broken only by two sounds: the voices of captain +and sailors issuing and answering orders, and the constant, regular +wash, wash of the somber-colored waves against our vessel’s sides. + +“A great quantity of watching and working had fallen to my share during +the small hours of the night that was past, and so I seized the first +chance I could get to slip below and take a brief spell of rest. + +“It was not to be. + +“Hardly had I tossed myself into my hammock when a terrific shock +dashed me out again with much violence upon the boards beneath. + +“My experience was limited, and the first thing that struck my mind +was that we had run on shore. + +“Hastily I scrambled to my feet and up on deck, to see there, looming +weirdly up in the fog that, now the mischief was done, was beginning +slowly to evaporate, the awe-inspiring form of a gigantic iceberg, a +sight that would have appalled, nay, had appalled, stouter hearts than +mine. + +“Upon that iceberg it seemed we had struck with irretrievable damage +to the _Vanthy_, stout and thoroughly seaworthy though the good ship +was--no mere cockleshell or refurbished coffin ship, I can tell you. + +“The captain’s voice broke through the tumult. Curiously calm it seemed +to me, for I barely gave it a thought that at such a crisis a single +moment’s indecision or want of self-control on the part of authority +may mean the loss of many a valuable life, let alone a vessel’s cargo. + +“‘Order, my men,’ he said. ‘This will never do. We have, as you know, +been rammed by this iceberg. The ship has sprung leaks which no +carpenter can repair. The collision has stove in our boats. Our only +hope is to take refuge on the ice floe; the part nearest looks too +steep, but I think it may be done farther round. What do you say? Shall +we try? Luckily the sea is calm, or even that may be impossible,’ he +added, in an undertone, and to himself alone; yet, standing as I did at +the instant close to the speaker, I caught it, and in some small degree +it served to reassure me. + +“If Captain Beach did not despair, why need I? + +“‘Aye, aye! Try, sir,’ gruffly responded the men. + +“They were willing, and more than willing, eager, as the captain well +knew, to embrace this chance of at least temporary safety. + +“So we set to work as men only can work when life or death is the issue. + +“Some, by plugs, did what was possible in the way of stopping the +leaks. Some, in gangs, kept the pumps going; the remainder, under the +carpenter’s directions, toiled at the making of the raft which was to +carry us across. + +“It was a great pity, the disaster to our boats, for if they had been +spared us we might have got away to shore without difficulty. + +“They were gone, however, and it was of no use crying over spilt milk; +we worked instead. + +“A light skiff packed away below--a whim of the chief mate’s, it was +said to be--was fished up and sent off with the one occupant it alone +had room for, on a trip of discovery around the berg. + +“The man returned with the welcome news that the captain’s surmise +was right. On the opposite side, he said, there was both space for +a landing--on ice--and accommodation within reach for us all. Once +thereon, we might easily contrive to rig some sort of a shelter. + +“Well, we were not long, I need scarcely say, when the raft was once +made, in setting about our departure from the doomed _Vanthy_. And +not a moment too soon, either, for that vessel was now settling lower +and lower into the placid bosom of the ocean. We took across, as best +we could, food, water, blankets, wraps, canvas, rope, and whatever +of a portable nature we were likely to urgently require. If some of +us looked out for what few valuables we had it’s not to be wondered +at--they were not many. + +“Then began the task of filing off the crew. + +“We were obliged to divide our company into three sections to get +them over in anything like safety, for both the raft and the space +of time in which to use it were narrow--the latter much more narrow +than anybody thought, and it was, doubtless, owing to this unfortunate +miscalculation that the disaster which followed came. + +“Two of the parties had been conveyed across in safety, myself in the +second batch; the raft had been piloted back for the last time, and +the men were seen climbing down the ship’s side onto it, when--as +we watched from that corner of the floe from which we could get a +distant side view--the battered _Vanthy_ was seen to be going down, +dragging with her into the vortex our raft, and the poor fellows who +were already on it. So we were compelled to witness, in dire agony of +soul and utter impotence for aid, the sinking into a watery grave of +those who for long months had been our companions and friends. It was +an awful spectacle; one that even now, boys, almost overwhelms me. One +man, and one only, of all those left behind for that fatal third trip +managed to swim close enough to be picked up and rescued--thus far--by +the skiff. + +“The one proved to be the captain. + +“When I parted with him in port many days afterward, he seemed, I +declare, fully ten years older than when we first sailed together; and +not much wonder, eh, lads? + +“The rest of that memorable day we occupied in making ourselves as +comfortable as was possible in our cold quarters, sheltering as best we +might under the overhanging brows of ice. + +“Night came slowly on. The cold was simply intense. + +“One by one the pale, glittering stars of the northern constellation +broke in upon our loneliness, and the clear, calm moon drifted pitiless +up into the sky. + +“We needed no telling that if one of our number should fall asleep +there, unnoticed, and hence unmolested by his comrades, it was more +than probable that he would wake no more in the land of the living, +rescue or no rescue. + +“We talked, we told stories--grim ones they were--we even tried to +sing; and thus the long, dreary hours of the night paced on. + +“Morning dawned, gray and misty again--the blessed Christmas morn! +Rations were served out in the usual order, and a sharp lookout was +kept--I’ll warrant you, by all without exception--for some passing +vessel that might be to us an angel of rescue. None came, nor sign of +any, and that ‘strange,’ as I truly called it, Christmas day left us as +it found us--cold, miserable, and tormented with a sleepiness we dared +not indulge. + +“Not many miles away--for we could not be far from land now--happy +households were keeping the festive season in merry, orthodox fashion; +we thus; doubting much whether there would ever again be any chance of +our joining in the like. + +“In what direction the iceberg was drifting, or if, indeed, it moved at +all, was very hard to say. + +“We waited, and well-nigh despaired. + +“However, the next morning, as we were trying to gulp down the +sorrowful meal that did duty for breakfast, a joyful shout rang from +the man on the chief watch: + +“‘A sail! a sail!’ + +“How those brief syllables nerved anew every heart in our little +group. What wild pulsations of joy and reviving hope they kindled in +our veins! With eager, straining eyes we gazed out over the boundless +water waste to the distant southern horizon. There a large vessel was +slowly looming into view. We stayed our breath in very dread, lest at +any instant she should prove to be that horrible _Flying Dutchman_, a +messenger of death, and not of life. + +“But, no; she approached nearer and yet nearer. + +“Would those on board note the tragedy that lay before them? That was +for us now the all-important question. + +“For some time the ship kept right on in her straight-ahead course, +apparently bearing right down upon us. But at length we grew conscious +of an alarming change of tactics. As might have been expected, the +vessel’s course was being altered, with the intention of giving the +floe in front as wide a berth as was practicable. For her crew, it was +just an ordinary measure of precaution, nothing more and nothing less; +but to us it meant very probably sheer destruction, and that by one of +the most awful of all lingering deaths. Ah, the agonized despair of +that moment, lads, stamped, as it is, indelibly upon my memory! + +“Hurriedly, one of our party--it chanced to be myself--climbed with +numbed limbs, and hands, and feet, that soon became torn and bleeding +against the rough, jagged edges of ice, to the highest attainable peak +overhead, and hung out thereupon a signal of distress--a patched blue +jacket stripped from one of the shivering wretches below. Anything to +attract attention to our forlorn and desperate condition. + +“Then, with parched lips but still lusty voices, we shouted together. +Once; no answer. Again; and every instant now those on deck of this +passing ship were becoming less and less likely to have their notice +drawn by any means to us. Again, and with redoubled force in the +extremity of our woe, we shouted. And again no answer. Again and yet +again we cried aloud with all the concentrated energy of our sailor +lungs, and the fourth time several of our fellows fancied that a faint +answering shout broke the harassing stillness that succeeded our +efforts. Once more we halloed together, and launched the skiff as well. + +“But this time there could not longer be any doubt of the joyful fact +that we were heard. A half shifting of the vessel’s course, a louder, +more distinct cheer, followed by the booming of a gun, proclaimed it; +and very soon a boat was seen putting off from the ship’s side and +coming toward us. + +“It was, however, but too clear that their boat could not be safely +brought near enough to the ice mass for us to have merely to step +down into it as we had previously stepped up from our raft. We were, +therefore, under the necessity of going to the ledge of ice nearest our +deliverers, and from thence leaping into the sea and swimming to them. + +“But what cared we for that? + +“Life was in the deed, and one by one we accomplished it; those who +could barely swim a yard--not so uncommon a thing among sailors as +you might think--being very unceremoniously hauled into the boat by +their comrades. Four of our wrecked crew, even then, were obliged to +stay on their disagreeable refuge a bit longer, to prevent the risk +of overcrowding. It was not a great while, though, and we were soon +together again--a nice little bundle of castaways. Once privileged to +find our tired feet again on wooden boards instead of cold, glittering +ice, more than one or two of our poor fellows pretty nearly ‘knocked +under,’ as the saying goes. What with the intense cold, the want of +rest, the awful danger they had fronted, the alternate despair and +rapture of the rescue, I don’t think that that is at all a matter for +surprise. + +“A short period of quietude, and the kindly attentions of the ship’s +doctor and his medicine chest, soon, however, brought them around. As +for myself, I was well again in much less time than any one would have +imagined, considering my youth and the tender sort of bringing up I had +had. + +“The vessel that had effected so opportune a rescue was the _General +Washington_--her destination New York, at which port she did not take +long in arriving. + +“Many and many a voyage I’ve taken since then, as you well know, +my boys, to all parts of the globe almost, and not few are the +‘hairbreadth escapes’--as folks call them--through which I’ve been; +but, somehow, whether because of my comparative inexperience at the +time, I cannot say, not one has impressed me so much as My Strange +Christmas Day on an Iceberg.” + +After this yarn the boys turned in for the night, and had a good sound +sleep. + +At noon of the next day the watch aloft called out: + +“Bear south by west!” + +“Helm true! What is it?” + +“A sail!” + +The admiral paced the deck in a fever of excitement. Nick’s heart beat +faster. + +The man aloft kept his eye glued to the glass. A few minutes more and +he called out again: + +“Double-rigged--a schooner!” + +A flutter went the rounds of the crew. The admiral uttered an +exclamation of delight. Nick could not repress a hearty “Hooray!” + +Fifteen minutes passed. The men on the deck could now see a dim speck +on the horizon. All were excited, for success meant a prize award to +all of them. + +“Two pennants flying!” came the next report from the forearm. + +“Can you make them out?” shouted the captain. + +“Ay, sir.” + +“What are they?” + +“The red, white, and blue of America!” + +A cheer interrupted him. + +“And a heart and--it looks like a wreath!” + +A wild yell of delight rent the air. + +“The _Regent_!” cried Admiral Semmes and Nick Collins as they clasped +hands in their outburst of joy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ADRIFT. + + +“Once abeam of Mountain Island set sail due west. There are several +clusters of rocks here that are down on the chart. These you will know +as the Archipelago. Directly south thirty miles there is a barren +stretch of island again. This is Mountain Island, also--but we shall +call it, for the sake of clearness, Second Mountain Island. Reach that, +then----” + +“All is plain sailing!” cried Admiral Semmes, in delight. “Ah, Captain +Eccles, I feel like a shipwrecked sailor nearing the shore of peace and +rest at last.” + +He was on board the _Regent_ now, along with Nick Collins. There had +been a happy reunion of all the friends. The Spanish brig had earned +her money, for the pursuit of the _Regent_ had been successful. Within +an hour after it was a certainty that the schooner in the distance was +the one they sought, the admiral and Nick were welcomed on board the +Yankee craft. + +Nick was received on the _Regent_ like one come back from the dead. + +Frank, Will, and Nick were the happiest boys on the Pacific or any +other ocean. If ever three lads had stories of wonderful adventures to +relate, it was that trio. + +After a day or two of rest for the overtaxed admiral, he took part with +Eccles and Captain Dartmoor in the daily study of the written clue to +the sunken treasure. + +“Mountain Island,” said Semmes when, on the second morning after the +reunion, he was discussing the situation with Dartmoor and Eccles. +“I knew it well when I was in active service. It used to serve as a +mid-ocean watering station.” + +“I have never seen it, but I’ve been near it, and I’ve noticed it on +the chart,” said Captain Eccles. + +“Well, then comes the Archipelago,” went on Semmes. “We can’t very well +miss that.” + +“No; it’s not likely.” + +“Then Second Mountain Island.” Semmes put on his glasses and referred +again to the letter. “‘A barren stretch of island,’ it says.” + +“Thirty miles south,” put in Eccles from memory. + +“I’ve never seen Second Mountain Island,” said Dartmoor; “but it’s easy +of location. Once there, as the admiral says, it’s plain sailing. That +is, the directions make it seem so, and yet----” + +Dartmoor paused, and a serious look came into his face. + +“What is it, Jack?” asked Eccles anxiously. + +“The charts give a blank beyond it for many leagues.” + +“Why is that?” + +“It means that the waters there are not navigable.” + +“Not navigable!” exclaimed the admiral. “Nonsense!” + +“Oh, there’s water, and you can sail there; but it is a dangerous +region.” + +“In what way dangerous?” + +“It may be full of breakers.” + +“We can manage them.” + +“It may be a region that is subject to sudden and severe storms.” + +“We’ll get ready for them,” replied the admiral, dauntlessly. + +“It may be ridden with pestilence.” + +“You have a medicine chest aboard, captain, haven’t you?” + +“Yes.” + +“Well, we won’t worry about the pestilence.” + +“But there may be other grave obstacles,” contended Captain Dartmoor. + +“Go on, my lad. Name them,” said the doughty admiral. + +“Well, what if we should encounter a grassy sea that clogs progress and +makes the ship unmanageable?” + +“We’ll cut our way through the grass!” cried Semmes. + +Dartmoor smiled. “You’re determined to surmount all obstacles, I see, +admiral,” he said. + +“Of course I am. I haven’t fought my way through life for nothing. +Now look here, Captain Dartmoor. It’s all right to be careful; but +you’ve only been making guesses about that section of the ocean that +the chart leaves blank. Isn’t it possible that nothing worse than +unfavorable winds and currents make mariners shun the place?” + +“It’s quite possible, admiral,” acquiesced Dartmoor. “At any rate, when +we sail from Second Mountain Island we go south by west.” + +“Yes.” + +“About forty leagues.” + +“That’s what the letter says.” + +“There are several islands in our course. And the one that we must find +is very appropriately named. It is called Treasure Island.” + +“And the directions, I believe, say that it is easily distinguishable?” + +“Yes; by a forest of palm trees on its western coast.” + +“That’s a mark we can’t miss.” + +“No; and once we reach the island the treasure is ours!” + +“By jingo, we are indebted to the clear head of Nick Collins’ father. +What a lucid description of it all he has given! He has pointed out the +location precisely.” + +And so, hopefully, buoyantly, the confident mariners discussed their +plans. + +For the three boys life was a golden dream under those sunny skies. +The crew of the _Regent_ were devoted to their captain, and the entire +ship’s company was on the best of terms. They were a happy family. + +The crew had been let into the secret of the voyage, and they took as +much interest in attaining success for the undertaking as the persons +chiefly concerned. Perhaps a promise of prize money had something to do +with their enthusiasm. + +Twice heavy storms drove the _Regent_ out of her course, but she +weathered the tempest bravely on both occasions, and in time regained +her proper bearings. + +One morning, just as the big, red sun came out of the eastern rim of +the horizon, the _Regent_ stood abeam of Second Mountain Island. + +The news brought Admiral Semmes out of his berth two hours earlier than +usual, and the boys, you may be sure, were up and on hand to join in +the general rejoicing. Somewhere, within a hundred miles of them now, +everybody believed, lay the much-hunted and wished-for sunken treasure. + +The three principals in the expedition--Admiral Semmes, Captain Eccles, +and Captain Dartmoor--held a council of navigation. + +They agreed, after a good deal of discussion, that the best plan was to +sail by day as much as possible, and anchor at night. Thus they could +see exactly where they were going, progress slowly, and be sure to +follow a definite course. + +The first evening after leaving Second Mountain Island they came to a +rounding reef that afforded a fine harborage. + +“Safe in a calm, but bad in a storm,” said Captain Dartmoor. + +“Right you are,” agreed the admiral. + +“We’ll keep to the outer edge of those rocks there, and watch well, for +a storm seems to be brewing.” + +“I don’t think it will reach us to-night,” put in Captain Eccles, after +giving the sky a weatherwise survey. + +“I don’t, either, Eck, but we’d better be on the safe side.” + +It was a night of such beauty as only the tropics afford. The stars +were fair and serene, and a yellow moon gilded the scene with its +radiance. + +The ship at anchor, the sailors took their ease about the deck. Some +of them sang or danced. One seasoned tar spun yarns of the tropics for +three very keen boy listeners. He so excited Nick, Frank, and Will with +descriptions of the beauties and wonders of coral reefs and palm-shaded +islands that finally Nick said to Frank: + +“That’s a coral reef yonder.” + +“Yes, and those trees are palms.” + +“How would you like to go to them?” + +“I’d like it, you bet!” + +“And you, Will?” + +“I’d like to, of course, but what’s the use? They won’t let us go +ashore.” + +“Let us ask Captain Dartmoor,” suggested Will. + +“No; I’ll ask Captain Eccles,” said Nick. + +And he did so. But Eccles shook his head firmly when Nick, with the +other boys at his side, presented their request. + +“You’re safe here, Nick,” he said. “I lost you once, you know, and I +don’t want to take a chance of repeating the experience.” + +“But we’re not to be in danger, captain,” pleaded Nick. + +“Not in danger?” repeated Eccles. “How do you happen to know that?” + +“I mean that we shall only go just inside the reef.” + +But Captain Eccles shook his head. + +The boys looked sadly disappointed. + +“Oh, let them go, captain,” said the admiral. + +“Yes, I think you’d better,” put in Dartmoor. “There really isn’t any +danger if they go inside the reef.” + +“Well, all right,” Eccles consented. “But mind, boys, you’re not to be +gone more than half an hour.” + +The delighted lads were quickly in a boat and rowing toward the reef. +As they rounded one end they found that it was not a continued ridge of +rock, as it had seemed from a distance, but was broken here and there +with outlets to the ocean. + +They approached cautiously, found a place to moor their boat, and +landed on the widest part of the reef. They were surprised to see +that even on that scant soil there was vegetation, and of a sort that +filled them with wonder. There were radiant flowers, some of them +seeming almost to sparkle in the moonlight. Near the water’s edge they +saw marvelous shells, which, for color, rivaled the splendid flowers. +The boys felt as if they had suddenly been dropped into a section of +fairyland. + +The half hour granted them went by, grew into an hour, and then they +remembered that they had a promise to keep. + +“I’m sure we’ve been gone more than half an hour,” said Nick. + +“So am I.” + +“I’m sorry. We gave our word, you know, to Captain Eccles.” + +“Well, let us row back just as fast as we can.” + +“We’d better,” said Nick, “for more reasons than one. Do you feel this +wind?” + +“Yes,” answered Frank. “I thought it had grown stronger.” + +They were still some distance from their boat. + +“Hurry up, boys!” cried Nick, starting into a run. + +Frank and Will followed. But when they came in sight of the place where +they had moored the yawl, an exclamation of dismay escaped Nick. + +“Heavens! It’s gone!” he cried. + +In the moonlit water, not very far yet from the edge of the reef, their +boat was adrift. It was making for one of the outlets to the sea. + +“After it, boys, quick!” cried Nick, as he took the lead in an effort +to recover the boat. + +All three of the boys sprang into the water, and waded toward the yawl. +The heightened wind, which had swept the little craft from its insecure +mooring, was now aided by the rising tide in carrying it toward the +outlet. + +But the boys made after it with good speed, and managed at last to come +up with it. They laid hold of it by the gunwales, and tried to check +its progress, but failed. It drew them along with it. + +“Climb aboard!” shouted Nick. + +They all did so. By the time they got at the oars the yawl had swung +through the outlet and was in open water. + +“Now, then, a steady pull for the _Regent_!” cried Frank. + +But hardly had he spoken the words when the swift current tore an oar +from his hands, and whirled it into the water far beyond his reach. + +“An oar is gone!” he cried out. + +“And we are drifting out to sea!” exclaimed Will, in terror. + +In a flash Nick Collins realized the danger into which events had +suddenly plunged them. One glance at the fast-receding reef told him +how rapidly they were being swept to sea. A swift current fairly drove +the yawl along. Dark clouds began to overcast the sky. The wind gave +forth an ominous blast again and again. + +With one oar Nick could do nothing. He looked into the pale faces of +his companions. + +“Boys,” he said, “we’re in for it. But keep cool. They may see us from +the _Regent_, and send out a boat to get us.” + +It was just a forlorn hope, as Nick knew, but he gave voice to it +for the sake of keeping up his companions’ courage. On account of +the intervening reef the yawl could not be seen from the deck of the +_Regent_. + +The land faded away. A roaring breeze stirred up the sea and rocked +their little craft unmercifully. Will was striving bravely to keep from +crying. Frank was silent. Nick scanned the water in the direction of +the _Regent_, hoping against hope that their danger might have become +known to those on board. + +Farther and farther away from their friends they were carried. There +was no moonlight now, and, with a sinking heart, Nick realized that +even if a boat were sent after them they might not be seen. + +“Lie in the bottom of the boat, both of you,” Nick said as the rocking +grew worse. “There is nothing else we can do--nothing but keep the yawl +as steady as possible. For the rest--we must trust to Providence.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +STRANGE ADVENTURES. + + +Save for the tropical tempest that descended, the experience passed +through that night was not a new one to Nick Collins. He had known +what it was to live through dreary hours of darkness longing for the +dawn, and he had gone through that ordeal alone in an open boat, as the +reader knows. + +But for the other boys it was a new, and therefore all the more +terrible, experience. How the little yawl escaped being overturned +seemed to the three lads a miracle when they thought about it the next +morning; but escape it did, and to that extent the castaways had to +consider themselves lucky. + +When the sun got high enough to illumine the ocean for miles around, +they scanned the horizon with still a glimmering of hope. But there was +no sail in sight, nor any sign of land. + +“I suppose we have drifted far away from the reef,” said Frank. + +“Very likely,” Nick had to admit. + +“We’ll never see the ship again,” groaned Will. + +“That’s not sure, by any means,” returned Nick, in an effort to save +his friends from despair. “But we’ve a great deal to be thankful for at +that.” + +“What?” wailed Will. + +“That we are alive this morning,” replied Nick. + +“But the storm isn’t over,” Will moaned. + +“Oh, come, Will,” urged Nick. “I know it’s pretty hard on you, but +don’t give way. We might be worse off. The storm isn’t over, yet the +worst of it has passed.” + +“But we’re nowhere near land.” + +“I’m not so sure of that,” said Nick. “But whether we are near land or +far from it, one thing we must do.” + +“You’re right, Nick,” put in Frank. “You mean we must keep our spirits +up.” + +“Yes, that’s _just_ what I mean. Thousands of people have been in as +bad a fix as this, and they have got out of it. So try to cheer up, +Will.” + +“I’ll try, Nick.” + +“That’s the way to talk. We may be found by the _Regent_ in an hour. We +may sight land any moment. Now, there’s another thing that is certain.” + +“What’s that, Nick?” asked Frank. + +“We must be in the region of Treasure Island.” + +“What of it?” + +“It means that we are in a part of the ocean where islands are +numerous.” + +“And we may be able to reach one?” + +“That’s it. So, you see, it isn’t so bad as it may look.” + +“Do you think the _Regent_ will hunt for us?” asked Will. + +“I do.” + +As Nick spoke he had been busy fishing out a piece of tarpaulin that +had been crumpled up in a ball in the bow. + +“Here, Frank,” he said. “Catch hold of this.” + +“What for?” + +“Spread out your two corners of it--so.” Nick did the same with the two +corners that he held. “We’d better catch some of this rain. I don’t +see any other way of getting a drink.” + +Thus it was that they quenched their thirst. Then Nick carefully +brought the ends together, making a sort of bag, and in this he +preserved some of the rain water for future use. + +It was as Nick had guessed. The worst of the storm was over. They +drifted on until noon, the sea getting quieter as the wind died down. +But it was not a calm that set in by any means. There was still a brisk +breeze. + +They were all feeling pretty hungry, you may be sure. They had not +tasted food since supper the evening before, on the _Regent_. The +chances for getting anything to eat were certainly very slim. They had +no means of catching fish. At about three o’clock in the afternoon, +Nick, who had been scanning the expanse of water in all directions, +uttered a cry of excitement. + +“What is it?” asked Frank. “A sail?” + +“No.” + +“Land?” + +“No.” + +“What, then?” + +“Look!” + +Nick pointed into the distance, but high above the waves. + +The others looked in the direction he indicated. + +“Oh, only a bird!” said Frank, disappointed. + +“_Only_ a bird!” repeated Nick. “That means land.” + +“How so?” + +“Because, if I am not mistaken, it is a tree or swamp bird.” + +“How can you tell that?” + +“See how short its wings are.” + +“That’s so.” + +They were all country-bred boys, and knew something about the points of +birds. + +“And its short bill!” cried Nick. “You can see it plainer now.” + +“Yes, yes. I guess you’re right, Nick. And--isn’t there something white +on one foot?” + +“Sure there is, Will! Good for you!” + +They watched the bird as it flew in another direction, and passed out +of sight. + +For two or three hours there was no other incident to revive their +hopes or break the monotony of their dreary wait for something to turn +up. Gloomily they realized that night would soon be upon them again, +and, to make matters worse, it looked as if another storm were brewing. + +Suddenly Frank cried out: + +“Look! There’s another bird!” + +Nick and Will cast their eyes upward. + +“No, no,” said Frank. “In the water. Quick! Give me the oar!” + +Nick passed him the oar, and with a rapid movement Frank drew to the +boat a dark object that had been floating by. He leaned over and caught +it up. + +It was a dead bird. + +“It’s a pigeon, isn’t it?” said Nick. + +“I think so. And see! There’s something white on its foot!” + +“By jiminy! You’re right.” + +Attached to one of its legs was a substance of light color. + +“It’s a piece of bark!” exclaimed Nick when he had examined it. “It’s +tied on with the fiber of some plant.” + +“So it is.” + +“It must have been something like this the other bird had tied to it.” + +“I think so.” + +“This means something, boys. The thing didn’t get on this bird by +accident.” + +“That’s a sure thing, Nick.” + +“Some one must have tied it on. Why, look here, boys!” + +They looked, and saw what had caught Nick’s eye. + +“Writing!” exclaimed Frank. + +“That’s what it is, as sure as we’re alive. Now, let’s see if we can +make it out.” + +Nick set to work. Although upon the wood were traced unmistakably +letters and words, the water had obliterated some of them. Over the +remainder Nick bent and tried to make out something. + +“What does it say?” asked Will impatiently. + +“Wait a minute,” said Nick, still studying the scrawl. At length he +said: “Boys, it’s a message.” + +“A message?” + +“No doubt of it. Listen, and I’ll read what I can of it: +‘On--islan--over--en--years--a castaway. If--s--found--send a +ship--t--s--y--years--.’ There’s something else,” Nick went on, “but +I can just make it out. Wait a second. By gracious! I’ve got it: +‘_Sta--f--ope_.’ Hooray! That means _Star of Hope_!” + +The other boys bent over the writing eagerly. + +“That’s _Star of Hope_, all right,” agreed Frank. “Now let’s see if we +can’t put it all together so as to make some sense out of it.” + +And they did so, with the result that they had a message reading thus: + + “On an island, over ten years a castaway. If this is found send a + ship. _Star of Hope._” + +There was more of which they could make nothing--a blurred mass of +color, where the pencil or ink employed in the writing had been washed +out by the water. + +“It’s a puzzle, sure,” said Frank. + +“Of one thing I feel certain, though,” Nick announced. + +“What’s that?” + +“The person who wrote this knows something of the lost ship, the _Star +of Hope_.” + +“It looks so.” + +“And this is my guess,” Nick went on: “Some sailor wrote the thing, and +a sailor that was on that ship, and he was cast away on some island not +far from here.” + +“It seems likely.” + +“You see, the message speaks of ‘ten years’. That’s certain. There +isn’t room for more than one letter in the space between the word +‘over’ and ‘en.’ So it couldn’t have been fourteen, fifteen, or any +other ’teen. Do you see?” + +“Yes,” the others answered, in chorus. + +“Well, it was ten years ago that the _Star of Hope_ was reported lost +at sea.” + +The singular occurrence gave the boys much to talk about, but their own +position and its renewing perils claimed their immediate attention. +With the approach of darkness the signs for a stormy night increased. +By the time the sun had gone below the sea the wind was blowing strong +and the waves running high. The boys had all they could do to cling to +the sides of the yawl. They were hungry, weary, almost exhausted, and +it is not likely that they would have been able to weather the storm +another night; something occurred to put them in the last extremity of +danger. + +It was at a moment when the lads had reached, it seemed to them, the +utmost limit of their endurance. They were yielding to the despair of +their situation when suddenly Nick called out, and with sufficient +force to be heard by his companions above the swish of the waves, and +despite the shrieking wind: + +“A light! A light!” + +He pointed straight ahead, where a somewhat feeble gleam appeared and +disappeared, then showed again: + +“What does it mean?” asked Frank feebly. + +“We must be nearing land,” murmured Nick. + +Oh, yes; they were nearing land. + +Crash! + +The yawl had struck a rock amid the breakers of an island beach! + +The timbers of the small boat parted; the boys were flung into the +sea. Nick caught a glimpse of Frank and Will struggling in the foam, +and he made an effort to reach them, but the next moment they had +vanished. Then he was forced to think of his own safety. + +For a while he battled with the waves and rocks, and then, unable to +continue the unequal fight, he surrendered to the inevitable. + + * * * * * + +When Nick, after several hours had gone by, regained consciousness, the +waves had washed him ashore. He opened his eyes, and felt the cooling +rain upon his face. He saw the light of day. The surf, pounding near +by, sent its spray over him. + +But he was not alone. + +There was a human face near his own. It was not the face of Frank or +Will. + +It was that of an aged, careworn man. Its eyes were riveted upon his +with an expression of great tenderness and anxiety. + +The man supported Nick in his arms. And when the boy opened his eyes he +heard the words: + +“Saved! Thank Heaven!” + +“Who--who are you?” asked the wondering lad. + +“Your father, Nick. The castaway of the _Star of Hope_!” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +WRECKED AT THE DOOR OF HOPE. + + +What of the _Regent_ and the little company of mariners who had set +sail with such glowing hopes from the port of Valencia? + +The storm that had driven the three boys away from the coral reef +showed no mercy to the brig. She was torn from her moorings without a +minute’s warning. + +Until that moment Captain Eccles and Admiral Semmes had waited, with +ever-increasing fear, for the return of the yawl and the three boys. +Captain Eccles reproached himself bitterly for having yielded to the +wishes of the lads and the advice of the admiral and Dartmoor. + +“Oh, why did I not stick to my own judgment,” he raved, “and never let +them go ashore?” + +He forgot his own danger, and was on the point of putting out in a +boat, with some sailors, to go to the aid of the young adventurers, +when the tempest swept the _Regent_ from her moorings. + +And even then Captain Eccles implored Dartmoor to try to keep the ship +near the reef and make an effort to rescue the boys. But this was +impossible. + +When a sailor said he had seen the yawl outside the reef Eccles knew +that his youthful charges were adrift and at the mercy of the waves. + +That night the _Regent_--like the small boat that held Nick, Frank, and +Will--was the plaything of the tempest. Captain Dartmoor did not sleep, +and it required every effort of the crew to keep the _Regent_ from +foundering. Next day when, during a lull in the storm, it was possible +to make an examination of the ship, she was found to be in a very bad +condition. She had sprung a leak, and some of the crew were told off to +man the pumps. In this way they were able to keep her afloat. + +Eccles and Semmes scanned the sea continuously in the hope of +discerning some trace of the yawl, but the quest proved a fruitless one. + +“I wonder if it is possible that the boys managed to get back inside +the reef,” said Captain Eccles, clutching at the only straw of hope. + +Admiral Semmes shook his head. + +“You don’t think so, I see,” Eccles said sadly. + +“No, my dear friend; I fear the boys are lost.” + +On the second day, as the sun sank toward the horizon’s edge, the storm +resumed its old fury, and by the time darkness had set in it was even +fiercer than the night before. But just before night fell the lookout +had reported a low line of black on the weather quarter that looked +like the beach of an island. + +Darkness, however, prevented any definite progress in its direction, +and efforts were given only to carrying the ship safely through the +night. To this end, the first and most important service, the pumps +were kept working, so that the hold might not fill with water. + +Thus the _Regent_ drifted on, hour after hour. It was not until +midnight that anything happened to break the monotony of the dreary +experience. Then a double alarm brought to the deck every man not at +the pumps. + +“Breakers ahead!” was the first alarm that came from the lookout +stationed aloft. + +“Where away?” + +“On the windward quarter.” + +Scarcely had his words died out when the watcher saw something to make +him sound a second alarm: + +“A light!” + +There was no need to ask where, for coming out of the mist, a few +points off their starboard bow, the schooner’s folk saw the binnacle +lamp of a big steamship. + +A second or two and the great steel prow was crashing into the _Regent_. + +Making a diagonal slash through the schooner from port to starboard, +she carried away the sailing vessel’s bowsprit and left her with a gap +forward. + +Then the destroyer, whirled on by the tempest, disappeared in the +darkness. + +It is impossible to realize how quickly this and subsequent events +occurred. In ten minutes from the moment the _Regent_ was struck she +had sunk, and her crew were in the lifeboats beating against the +waves, bent on seeking a landing on the shore which, the breakers told +them, was not far away. + +And they were successful in making a landing. But upon what a shore, +and amid what surroundings! + +The morning light told them the completeness of their disaster. They +were on a desert island, without food, and all their belongings lost. + +In the first gray of the morning a scene inexpressibly dreary met their +eyes. The island, at the place where they had landed, was rock-bound, +with a very narrow strip of beach, but for which their boats must have +been dashed to pieces. + +Beyond the island, at the south, stretched what seemed to be an +interminable swamp. + +There was no sign of the _Regent_. No wreckage from her had been driven +ashore. The only reminders of the schooner on which they had set forth +with such glowing hopes were the two lifeboats. + +The storm had subsided. + +Of the three leaders in the enterprise, Captain Eccles seemed most +distressed by the disastrous turn of events. + +“By Heaven, mates!” he exclaimed. “It is the doom of all our hopes.” + +“We are alive, aren’t we?” said Captain Dartmoor, in an effort to cheer +him up. + +“Yes; but our chance of getting the treasure--that is dead, Jack. And +it seemed almost in our hands two days ago.” + +“It’s hard luck, Eck,” agreed Dartmoor; “but so long as there is life +there is hope.” + +“It’s fine of you to speak so, especially to me,” returned Eccles +gratefully. + +“Why not to you as well as anybody else, Eck?” + +“Have I not lured you into losing your ship?” + +Dartmoor laughed. + +“Why, Jack,” he said, “when I came with you I took a chance. The sea +has its risk--if it isn’t one thing it’s another.” + +“That’s all right, and good of you; but----” + +“Oh, come, old friend. We are in trouble. It’s up to us to get busy, +and find a way out of it. No time like the present, so let’s begin at +once.” + +Suiting the action to the word, he went over to where the crew were +sitting and told them to man the boats. + +“Where are you going?” asked Admiral Semmes. + +“To explore the island.” + +“A good idea. It all can’t be like this.” + +“That’s what I think.” + +Dartmoor and a group of the men got in one boat. Captain Eccles, +Admiral Semmes, and the rest of the sailors entered the other. They set +their course for a promontory that reached from the island’s northern +end. + +Although the men were hungry and weary, they bent to the oars with a +will, for their only chance of relief lay in going somewhere, doing +something. + +They rounded the high point, and were delighted at the prospect that +unfolded to their view. Beyond the swamp, at this side, stretched an +expanse of rich vegetation, its green showing bright in the sunlight, +along with flowers of brilliant hue. + +“Admiral, admiral! Look!” cried Captain Eccles, pointing toward the +charming scene. + +“Ah, yes; it is beautiful,” said the admiral. + +“But it is more than beautiful!” exclaimed Eccles, in excitement. “It +is success!” + +“Success! What do you mean?” + +“This is our destination.” + +The admiral looked at him, fearful that disaster had robbed poor Eccles +of his reason. + +“Our destination?” the admiral repeated. + +“Yes. See the line of palms over there. That--that is Treasure Island.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THREE BOY CRUSOES. + + +The fate that washed Nick Collins ashore alive was equally kind to +Frank and Will Arden. + +They clung to a broken timber of the yawl and were driven to land +about a mile farther down the beach than the breakers had carried +Nick. There, giving up their companion as drowned, they remained until +morning. + +Scarcely had the morning light begun to show the shapes of things when +something happened which, for the moment at least, added to their +terrors. + +The place where Frank and Will passed the night was on the edge of a +clump of trees. When Frank, with the coming of dawn, began to look +about him, one of the first things he saw was a weird-looking creature +coming out of the woods. He stared at them a while, and then moved +toward them. + +The boys’ impulse was to run, and they would have yielded to it but +for these words, called out in a hoarse voice: + +“Don’t be afraid! I won’t harm you!” + +This caused Frank and Will to turn again and look at what had seemed to +them a wild man or some other strange creature. Now, reassured somewhat +by the words they had heard, they stood their ground, and, as the being +drew nearer, saw that he was a man. + +“I don’t wonder that I scared you, boys,” he said. “Ten years alone on +this island have made me look more like beast than man, I suppose. I +have to guess at it,” he said, with a grim smile, “for I haven’t looked +into a mirror in all that time.” + +In a few minutes he told them his story. He was Captain Collins, cast +away ten years before, and ever since a prisoner on the island waiting +vainly from day to day for a sail. Many had appeared on the horizon, +but never near enough to see his signal of distress. + +You may be sure that it was with amazement and a great joy in his +heart that he learned who the boys were and heard their story, until +they came to the part where they said they had parted from Nick and +supposed him to be lost. + +“Heaven grant that he, too, gained the shore!” exclaimed the father of +Nick Collins. “Come, let us look along the beach. Maybe we shall find +him.” + +As the reader knows, their search was rewarded. Hand in hand with his +son, Captain Collins led the way to a rude cabin which the castaway had +built for a home. He told the boys a wonderful story of his experience. +He alone had remained on the sinking _Star of Hope_ in that storm that +sent her to the bottom ten years before. + +He had managed to build a raft, and for days after the ship sank he +floated about on an unknown sea. Then he landed on a desert island, and +it proved to be the goal of his quest. + +“The place where the treasure is hidden?” asked Frank. + +“Yes.” + +“And it is here?” + +“Yes. This is Treasure Island.” + +“And the treasure,” put in Will. “Where is it?” + +“It is here, but not in this exact spot. It is on the other side of the +island. I knew the spot from its description the moment I saw it. There +I built a hut and kept a signal flying. For a year I watched in vain +for a passing ship. Then I decided that I was on the wrong side of the +island. I built a boat--it was lost in a storm recently--and came here. +I saw that a ship had been here for I found an abandoned water barrel. +Evidently it had been brought ashore by some ship’s men, and for some +reason never carried back to the vessel. So I moved my stores to this +side of the island, and have lived here ever since.” + +“Father,” said Nick, “how long have you been sending out messages tied +to birds’ legs?” + +Captain Collins looked at him in wonder. + +“You got one of them, then?” he asked. + +Nick told him of the live bird they had seen with something white +on a leg and then of the dead one they found in the water with the +half-obliterated message. + +“The hand of Fate is in this!” exclaimed the captain. “Those two +messages you saw are only two of hundreds and hundreds that I have sent +out. Trapping wild birds has been my chief occupation all these years. +Those that I did not use for food I set free, first tying the messages +on them.” + +“And the treasure, father. You haven’t told us of that.” + +Captain Collins’ face assumed a sad expression. + +“Ah, my boy,” he said mournfully, “I found it.” + +“And wasn’t there much?” asked Frank, misunderstanding the man’s manner. + +“Much!” Captain Collins said, smiling grimly. “I thought it much at +first--there must be a million dollars’ worth of it--but I have since +learned how little it all is.” + +The boys were puzzled. + +“You did find it, then, father?” + +“Yes, Nick, but what good to me were bars of silver and gold and bags +of coins and jewels. They would not buy me a single mouthful of food. +They could not bring back the friend I had lost to gain this fortune. +It was as if I found so many shells on the beach.” + +The boys were silent, seeing now what he meant, and impressed with his +words. + +“To occupy my mind,” Captain Collins went on, “I located the treasure +and dug for it, and, in time, got it all, I guess. Some of it was in +casks, some in boxes.” + +“What did you do with it?” + +“I moved it here.” + +“In the hut?” asked Nick, he and the other boys glancing about the +place. + +“No; I put it in a cave.” + +“And it is there now?” + +“Yes; at least I suppose so.” + +“Don’t you ever go to see?” + +“Strange as it may seem to you, Nick, I do not. The reason is that +I came to regard it as the cause of all my misery, and I hated that +treasure as much as man can hate anything not endowed with life. So I +never went near it. One day the waves drove ashore the remnant of a +wreck--a sailor’s box. It contained a Bible. How my heart leaped with +joy at sight of it! Willingly at that moment I would have given all my +gold for it. It made life endurable. It taught me patience; it taught +me that contentment of mind and uprightness are better than all the +gold in the world. But enough of this, boys; some other time, perhaps, +you’ll be interested in hearing more about me. Now, what of the plans +of Captain Eccles and Admiral Semmes?” + +Nick told him what he knew about it. + +“They were on the right track,” said Captain Collins, “and if they +weathered the storm are sure to find the island.” + +“Is there any chance that they will come here?” asked Nick. + +“If they keep on the course they laid out they must pass here.” + +“Then let us make some kind of a signal.” + +“That’s just what I was thinking of doing, Nick. We will make a new +beacon light.” + +“Where shall we put it?” + +“Not on this side of the island, for they are not likely to look here.” + +“Why?” + +“Because the treasure is on the other side.” + +“Then we’d better put our light over there.” + +“By all means.” + +“How can we get there?” + +“Not by land.” + +“Why?” + +“There is an impassable swamp between.” + +“Then we must sail there. Have you got a boat?” + +“No, Nick,” answered the captain, smiling; “but I’ve got you and the +other boys to help me build one.” + +The boys, of course, were delighted with the idea, and for two weeks +they had a fine time taking part in the construction of the boat and +exploring the island. The strange flowers, fruits, and birds, the +sparkling sea, the shady forests, made the lads feel that they were +in fairyland. They thought they would like to live on Treasure Island +forever. The days passed like a dream. At the end of a fortnight the +boat was finished. It was a rude device, to be sure, but staunch and +fit for the service for which it was intended. + +“To-morrow we set sail,” announced Captain Collins. + +“And the treasure?” asked Frank. “Do we leave it here?” + +“Yes, for the present. We shall return, you know.” + +But the next morning something happened to cause a decided change in +their plans. Just as they reached the boat and were about to embark +Nick started and pointed seaward. + +“Look!” he cried. + +A stately ship was in full sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE TREASURE. + + +Every man in the boat thrilled with a new excitement when Captain +Eccles announced that the land they had just left and were now +approaching again was Treasure Island. + +“Are you sure of it?” asked Admiral Semmes. + +“As sure as one can be of anything.” + +“I must say,” put in Dartmoor, “that it answers perfectly the +description in the letter.” + +There was no doubt about that, and amid visions of the great wealth +they had come here to secure everybody forgot the disasters passed +through and the discomforts of the present. Soon the boats were moored +and a camp was started. + +“We have found the island,” Captain Dartmoor said; “but we’ve a lot to +do before we can locate the treasure and begin digging for it. Food and +shelter are the first things to think of.” + +All that day and the following one they devoted to building a rude +house and getting a supply of such fruit and fish as they could. The +third day it was decided to go in quest of the treasure. + +“It will take some time even to locate it,” said Admiral Semmes. + +And so it turned out, although the letter gave explicit directions. +Every day they followed its instructions, returning to camp at night. + +“To-morrow we visit that hill yonder,” said Semmes one evening. “That +is the last point of location.” + +“And the treasure?” + +“According to the letter it lies between that hill and a narrow neck +of land. It was a small cove once. There the Spanish galleon sank. The +sand was carried by the sea into the cove, and partly filled it up.” + +“But how did the treasure ever get out of the galleon, do you suppose?” + +“Oh, some of the Spaniards must have tried to save it, and carried it +ashore, to the water’s edge. We’ve been regarding it as sunken treasure +all along. It really is buried treasure.” + +“And we must dig to get it?” + +“Exactly.” + +Next morning all hands went to the hill. They had descended to the +shore when Semmes picked up a bucket that stood in the sand. Some of +the others stood near by while he read the name painted on it. The +admiral’s face grew pale. + +“Eccles!” he cried. “The name on it is _Diamond_.” + +“Vail’s ship!” exclaimed Eccles. “Heavens! He has got here ahead of us!” + +“Yes; the ship he sailed in from New York was called the _Diamond_. It +is not likely there are two ships of that name.” + +“No; it isn’t likely.” + +“Then Vail has baffled us.” + +“Possibly; but it is not certain. Let us press on, anyhow.” + +They went on, and rounded the base of the hill, the others following +Eccles and the admiral. + +“This is the spot!” cried Eccles. + +All looked eagerly at the ground where the captain pointed. What they +saw was an excavation, whether recently made or not was not evident, +the sand gave no hint on this point. It was on the edge of a small cove. + +“What does it mean?” asked the admiral, in wonder. “Some one has been +digging here?” + +Eccles passed a hand across his eyes. “Too late!” he gasped. + +“I’m afraid so,” agreed Semmes more coolly. “Some one has been here.” + +“And the treasure is gone!” + +“Vail has secured it!” + +At this juncture fully twenty men dashed from the forest near by. They +were armed, and advanced boldly until they surrounded the party from +the _Regent_. + +“Who are you?” demanded their leader of Captain Dartmoor. + +Before the latter could answer another of the newcomers spoke up. +Eccles and Semmes recognized him. He was James Vail. + +“I’ve told you who these men are and what they are here for,” the +broker said to the leader of the band. The rascally Wall Street man’s +face wore a leer of triumph. “Seize these three.” He pointed out +Captain Dartmoor, Eccles, and Semmes. + +“You scoundrel!” burst out Admiral Semmes. “It’s not your fault that +you did not murder me.” + +He would have said more, but several ruffians obeyed Vail’s order, and +seized him, along with Dartmoor and Eccles, and stood them apart from +the sailors. + +“Now, you fellows clear out!” Vail cried to the seamen of the _Regent_. +The sailors looked defiant, and stood their ground until the captain +of the _Diamond_ and his crew raised their revolvers; then there was +nothing for them to do but go away. + +The three captives were led some distance up the beach, then around a +point of high rock, where the bay stretched before them, and they could +see the _Diamond_ at anchor. + +“Now, then,” said Vail, facing Admiral Semmes, “where is that treasure?” + +Semmes answered him with a puzzled look. + +“The treasure?” he said at length. “Why do you ask _me_ for it, you +dog?” + +“Be careful what you say!” Vail threatened. “You’re in my hands, +remember, and if you don’t keep a civil tongue in your head and answer +my question truthfully it will go hard with you. Now, what have you +done with that gold and the rest of the treasure?” + +“What treasure are you talking about?” + +“You know well enough. What you got from the cove down there.” + +“The treasure _we_ got?” + +“Yes. Come, out with it!” + +“We didn’t get any treasure,” answered the admiral. + +“You lie, confound you!” cried Vail furiously. + +The captain of the _Diamond_ drew him aside. + +“I told you they would deny it,” he said. “We’ll have to put the screws +on them and make them tell.” + +While they were talking in a low tone, and now and then casting ugly +glances at their prisoners, Eccles and his companions comprehended +the situation. Plainly the _Diamond_ was the ship that had struck the +_Regent_ and sent her to the bottom. That explained why the larger +vessel had not attempted to stand by and offer assistance to the +_Regent’s_ company. Vail had arrived at the island after Eccles and his +party, and found the treasure gone. There could be no doubt of this. +Clearly Vail’s anger was genuine. Evidently he was convinced that the +admiral and the others had carried off the treasure and concealed it. + +Vail put several questions to the prisoners, which they answered; thus +he learned of the loss of the _Regent_, and all that they had done +since their arrival on Treasure Island. + +Still Vail was not satisfied. He believed that his rivals had secured +the boxes and bags of wealth. Turning to the captain of the _Diamond_, +whose name was Smith, he said: + +“They’ve got it and hidden it, all right. We’ll keep hold of them and +try that little game of torture you suggest. I think that will loosen +their tongues.” + +“I guess their story about the _Regent_ is true,” said the other. + +“Perhaps; but if they didn’t take the gold who else could have done so?” + +“I’ll have to give that up, Vail.” + +“Well, watch those sailors we let go. Be sure you keep them at a +distance. They might try to rescue old Semmes and the other two. We’ve +got to hold on to them. It’s our only chance of getting a tip on where +the treasure is.” + +“All right, Vail.” + +Several days passed. Then something occurred that turned the tide of +events. The crew of the _Diamond_ managed to get possession of some +liquor stored in the hold and take it ashore. The result was that all +hands except Vail and Smith got tipsy. + +Those appointed to guard Eccles fell asleep, and the captain made his +escape. As fast as he could he went to where the crew of the _Regent_ +were encamped, about a mile away. A plan was quickly formed to rescue +Semmes and Dartmoor. + +Owing to the drunken state of the _Diamond’s_ guards, and the fact that +Vail and Smith were off hunting for some clue to the supposed hiding +place of the treasure, the admiral and his fellow prisoner were easily +set free. + +At nightfall the _Regent’s_ party captured two of the _Diamond’s_ +boats, and in them stole silently to the side of the anchored ship. All +was still. No one seemed to be awake. Evidently there had been a spree +on board as well as ashore. + +In a very few minutes Eccles and his party shook the sleepers awake, +piled them all into a boat, and sent them ashore. + +Then, just as dawn was breaking, they raised anchor and sailed away. +When they had rounded the island and come in sight of the camp of +Captain Collins and the three boys, the lookout reported signaling from +the shore. + +“It may be some of the _Diamond_ gang,” suggested Semmes. + +“No,” said Eccles, looking through a glass, “it’s a man and three boys. +By Heaven! admiral, I believe they are the youngsters from Parkdale.” + +A yawl was put off from the _Diamond_, and before an hour had passed +Captain Collins’ friends welcomed him back to life, as did the boys +they had given up for lost. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ALL ENDS WELL. + + +One beautiful September night the _Diamond_ passed the Golden Gate and +sailed into the harbor of San Francisco. + +Below decks was a million in gold and silver, in the cabin a party of +happy friends. + +The voyage from Treasure Island had been without incident. Favorable +winds, sunny skies, and calm waters had been with them all the way. + +The day after their arrival in San Francisco the three captains and the +admiral went to a prominent shipping agent. Captain Eccles acted as +spokesman for the party. + +“Are you agent for MacMillan & Lloyd, of New York?” he asked of the +gentleman who presented himself. + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Authorized to make sales and transfers for them?” + +“Under instructions, yes.” + +“The firm own a ship named the _Diamond_?” + +“They do, sir.” + +“It is in port, here. We are ready to settle with the captain and crew, +and buy the ship. What is the price?” + +“How would you pay?” asked the agent. + +“Cash, every cent.” + +The agent named a price, subject to the approval of the owners. For an +hour telegrams flew back and forth across the continent. Before night +Captain Eccles had turned some of the treasure into cash, and become +owner of the _Diamond_. The next morning he went to a reliable sea +captain he knew and offered him a large price to visit Treasure Island +and carry Vail, Smith and the rest of the baffled treasure hunters +back to New York. The offer was accepted, and in the latter city the +disconsolate adventurers arrived in due time. + +There was a surprise for Vail when he reached the door of his office in +Wall Street. He found it closed and the place deserted. The Speedwell +forgeries had been discovered, and Loucks, learning that the police +were after him, had fled, taking all the available funds. His precious +nephew, Jack Benson, who had managed to make his way back to New York +after the wreck, went with Loucks, and neither was ever heard of again +in New York. But Vail was caught, and, after a speedy trial, sent to +Sing Sing prison for ten years. + +Admiral Semmes, Captains Collins, Eccles, and Dartmoor found themselves +well-to-do men when a division was made of the cash from the sale of +the treasure. To Captain Dartmoor were given a new ship and a liberal +allowance of cash, and every member of his crew received a generous +reward. + +Eccles and Collins engaged in the shipping business in New York, and +Nick was made a junior partner. The other boys were not taken into the +business until they had put in two more years at school, for they had +not been as well advanced in their studies as Nick at the time they +left Parkdale. + +In time the two captains as well as Admiral Semmes passed away, but +the sign over the door of the shipping office was not changed. And +as “Collins & Eccles” the firm is known yet, but the head partner +is Nick, and his associates are Frank and Will Alden. By introducing +modern ideas and conducting affairs with the enterprise and enthusiasm +of youth, they have built up a large and prosperous business. + + +THE END. + + +“Who was Milton Marr?” by Frederick Gibson, is the mystery title of No. +200 of the ALGER SERIES. + + + + +BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN + +MERRIWELL SERIES + +ALL BY BURT L. STANDISH + +Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell + +Fascinating Stories of Athletics + + +A half million enthusiastic followers of the Merriwell brothers will +attest the unfailing interest and wholesomeness of these adventures of +two lads of high ideals, who play fair with themselves, as well as with +the rest of the world. + +These stories are rich in fun and thrills in all branches of sports and +athletics. They are extremely high in moral tone, and cannot fail to be +of immense benefit to every boy who reads them. + +They have the splendid quality of firing a boy’s ambition to become a +good athlete, in order that he may develop into a strong, vigorous, +right-thinking man. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + + 1--Frank Merriwell’s School Days + 2--Frank Merriwell’s Chums + 3--Frank Merriwell’s Foes + 4--Frank Merriwell’s Trip West + 5--Frank Merriwell Down South + 6--Frank Merriwell’s Bravery + 7--Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour + 8--Frank Merriwell in Europe + 9--Frank Merriwell at Yale + 10--Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield + 11--Frank Merriwell’s Races + 12--Frank Merriwell’s Party + 13--Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour + 14--Frank Merriwell’s Courage + 15--Frank Merriwell’s Daring + 16--Frank Merriwell’s Alarm + 17--Frank Merriwell’s Athletes + 18--Frank Merriwell’s Skill + 19--Frank Merriwell’s Champions + 20--Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale + 21--Frank Merriwell’s Secret + 22--Frank Merriwell’s Danger + 23--Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty + 24--Frank Merriwell in Camp + 25--Frank Merriwell’s Vacation + 26--Frank Merriwell’s Cruise + 27--Frank Merriwell’s Chase + 28--Frank Merriwell in Maine + 29--Frank Merriwell’s Struggle + 30--Frank Merriwell’s First Job + 31--Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity + 32--Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck + 33--Frank Merriwell’s Protégé + 34--Frank Merriwell on the Road + 35--Frank Merriwell’s Own Company + 36--Frank Merriwell’s Fame + 37--Frank Merriwell’s College Chums + 38--Frank Merriwell’s Problem + 39--Frank Merriwell’s Fortune + 40--Frank Merriwell’s New Comedian + 41--Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity + 42--Frank Merriwell’s Stage Hit + 43--Frank Merriwell’s Great Scheme + 44--Frank Merriwell in England + 45--Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards + 46--Frank Merriwell’s Duel + 47--Frank Merriwell’s Double Shot + 48--Frank Merriwell’s Baseball Victories + 49--Frank Merriwell’s Confidence + 50--Frank Merriwell’s Auto + 51--Frank Merriwell’s Fun + 52--Frank Merriwell’s Generosity + 53--Frank Merriwell’s Tricks + 54--Frank Merriwell’s Temptation + 55--Frank Merriwell on Top + 56--Frank Merriwell’s Luck + 57--Frank Merriwell’s Mascot + 58--Frank Merriwell’s Reward + 59--Frank Merriwell’s Phantom + 60--Frank Merriwell’s Faith + 61--Frank Merriwell’s Victories + 62--Frank Merriwell’s Iron Nerve + 63--Frank Merriwell in Kentucky + 64--Frank Merriwell’s Power + 65--Frank Merriwell’s Shrewdness + 66--Frank Merriwell’s Setback + 67--Frank Merriwell’s Search + 68--Frank Merriwell’s Club + 69--Frank Merriwell’s Trust + 70--Frank Merriwell’s False Friend + 71--Frank Merriwell’s Strong Arm + 72--Frank Merriwell as Coach + 73--Frank Merriwell’s Brother + 74--Frank Merriwell’s Marvel + 75--Frank Merriwell’s Support + 76--Dick Merriwell at Fardale + 77--Dick Merriwell’s Glory + 78--Dick Merriwell’s Promise + 79--Dick Merriwell’s Rescue + 80--Dick Merriwell’s Narrow Escape + 81--Dick Merriwell’s Racket + 82--Dick Merriwell’s Revenge + 83--Dick Merriwell’s Ruse + 84--Dick Merriwell’s Delivery + 85--Dick Merriwell’s Wonders + 86--Frank Merriwell’s Honor + 87--Dick Merriwell’s Diamond + 88--Frank Merriwell’s Winners + 89--Dick Merriwell’s Dash + 90--Dick Merriwell’s Ability + 91--Dick Merriwell’s Trap + 92--Dick Merriwell’s Defense + 93--Dick Merriwell’s Model + 94--Dick Merriwell’s Mystery + 95--Frank Merriwell’s Backers + 96--Dick Merriwell’s Backstop + 97--Dick Merriwell’s Western Mission + 98--Frank Merriwell’s Rescue + 99--Frank Merriwell’s Encounter + 100--Dick Merriwell’s Marked Money + 101--Frank Merriwell’s Nomads + 102--Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron + 103--Dick Merriwell’s Disguise + 104--Dick Merriwell’s Test + 105--Frank Merriwell’s Trump Card + 106--Frank Merriwell’s Strategy + 107--Frank Merriwell’s Triumph + 108--Dick Merriwell’s Grit + 109--Dick Merriwell’s Assurance + 110--Dick Merriwell’s Long Slide + 111--Frank Merriwell’s Rough Deal + 112--Dick Merriwell’s Threat + 113--Dick Merriwell’s Persistence + 114--Dick Merriwell’s Day + 115--Frank Merriwell’s Peril + 116--Dick Merriwell’s Downfall + 117--Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit + 118--Dick Merriwell Abroad + 119--Frank Merriwell in the Rockies + 120--Dick Merriwell’s Pranks + 121--Frank Merriwell’s Pride + 122--Frank Merriwell’s Challengers + 123--Frank Merriwell’s Endurance + 124--Dick Merriwell’s Cleverness + 125--Frank Merriwell’s Marriage + 126--Dick Merriwell, the Wizard + 127--Dick Merriwell’s Stroke + 128--Dick Merriwell’s Return + 129--Dick Merriwell’s Resource + 130--Dick Merriwell’s Five + 131--Frank Merriwell’s Tigers + 132--Dick Merriwell’s Polo Team + 133--Frank Merriwell’s Pupils + 134--Frank Merriwell’s New Boy + 135--Dick Merriwell’s Home Run + 136--Dick Merriwell’s Dare + 137--Frank Merriwell’s Son + 138--Dick Merriwell’s Team Mate + 139--Frank Merriwell’s Leaguers + 140--Frank Merriwell’s Happy Camp + 141--Dick Merriwell’s Influence + 142--Dick Merriwell, Freshman + 143--Dick Merriwell’s Staying Power + 144--Dick Merriwell’s Joke + 145--Frank Merriwell’s Talisman + 146--Frank Merriwell’s Horse + 147--Dick Merriwell’s Regret + 148--Dick Merriwell’s Magnetism + 149--Dick Merriwell’s Backers + 150--Dick Merriwell’s Best Work + 151--Dick Merriwell’s Distrust + 152--Dick Merriwell’s Debt + 153--Dick Merriwell’s Mastery + 154--Dick Merriwell Adrift + 155--Frank Merriwell’s Worst Boy + 156--Dick Merriwell’s Close Call + 157--Frank Merriwell’s Air Voyage + 158--Dick Merriwell’s Black Star + 159--Frank Merriwell in Wall Street + 160--Frank Merriwell Facing His Foes + 161--Dick Merriwell’s Stanchness + 162--Frank Merriwell’s Hard Case + 163--Dick Merriwell’s Stand + 164--Dick Merriwell Doubted + 165--Frank Merriwell’s Steadying Hand + 166--Dick Merriwell’s Example + 167--Dick Merriwell in the Wilds + 168--Frank Merriwell’s Ranch + 169--Dick Merriwell’s Way + +In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the +books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New +York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance +promptly, on account of delays in transportation. + + +To be published in July, 1927. + + 170--Frank Merriwell’s Lesson + 171--Dick Merriwell’s Reputation + + +To be published in Aug., 1927. + + 172--Frank Merriwell’s Encouragement + 173--Dick Merriwell’s Honors + + +To be published in Sept., 1927. + + 174--Frank Merriwell’s Wizard + 175--Dick Merriwell’s Race + + +To be published in Oct., 1927. + + 176--Dick Merriwell’s Star Play + 178--Dick Merriwell a Winner + 177--Frank Merriwell at Phantom Lake + + +To be published in Nov., 1927. + + 179--Dick Merriwell at the County Fair + 180--Frank Merriwell’s Grit + + +To be published in Dec., 1927. + + 181--Dick Merriwell’s Power + 182--Frank Merriwell in Peru + + + + +RATTLING GOOD ADVENTURE + +SPORT STORIES + +_Stories of the Big Outdoors_ + +There has been a big demand for outdoor stories, and a very +considerable portion of it has been for the Maxwell Stevens stories +about Jack Lightfoot, the athlete. + +These stories are not, strictly speaking, stories for boys, but boys +everywhere will find a great deal in them to interest them. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + + 1--Jack Lightfoot, the Athlete + 2--Jack Lightfoot’s Crack Nine + 3--Jack Lightfoot Trapped + 4--Jack Lightfoot’s Rival + 5--Jack Lightfoot in Camp + 6--Jack Lightfoot’s Canoe Trip + 7--Jack Lightfoot’s Iron Arm + 8--Jack Lightfoot’s Hoodoo + 9--Jack Lightfoot’s Decision + 10--Jack Lightfoot’s Gun Club + 11--Jack Lightfoot’s Blind + 12--Jack Lightfoot’s Capture + 13--Jack Lightfoot’s Head Work + 14--Jack Lightfoot’s Wisdom + + + + +NICK CARTER STORIES + +New Magnet Library + +_Not a Dull Book in This List_ + +ALL BY NICHOLAS CARTER + + +Nick Carter stands for an interesting detective story. The fact that +the books in this line are so uniformly good is entirely due to the +work of a specialist. The man who wrote these stories produced no +other type of fiction. His mind was concentrated upon the creation of +new plots and situations in which his hero emerged triumphantly from +all sorts of troubles and landed the criminal just where he should +be--behind the bars. + +The author of these stories knew more about writing detective stories +than any other single person. + +Following is a list of the best Nick Carter stories. They have been +selected with extreme care, and we unhesitatingly recommend each of +them as being fully as interesting as any detective story between cloth +covers which sells at ten times the price. + +If you do not know Nick Carter, buy a copy of any of the New Magnet +Library books, and get acquainted. He will surprise and delight you. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + + 850--Wanted: A Clew + 851--A Tangled Skein + 852--The Bullion Mystery + 853--The Man of Riddles + 854--A Miscarriage of Justice + 855--The Gloved Hand + 856--Spoilers and the Spoils + 857--The Deeper Game + 858--Bolts from Blue Skies + 859--Unseen Foes + 860--Knaves in High Places + 861--The Microbe of Crime + 862--In the Toils of Fear + 863--A Heritage of Trouble + 864--Called to Account + 865--The Just and the Unjust + 866--Instinct at Fault + 867--A Rogue Worth Trapping + 868--A Rope of Slender Threads + 869--The Last Call + 870--The Spoils of Chance + 871--A Struggle with Destiny + 872--The Slave of Crime + 873--The Crook’s Blind + 874--A Rascal of Quality + 875--With Shackles of Fire + 876--The Man Who Changed Faces + 877--The Fixed Alibi + 878--Out with the Tide + 879--The Soul Destroyers + 880--The Wages of Rascality + 881--Birds of Prey + 882--When Destruction Threatens + 883--The Keeper of Black Hounds + 884--The Door of Doubt + 885--The Wolf Within + 886--A Perilous Parole + 887--The Trail of the Finger Prints + 888--Dodging the Law + 889--A Crime in Paradise + 890--On the Ragged Edge + 891--The Red God of Tragedy + 892--The Man Who Paid + 893--The Blind Man’s Daughter + 894--One Object in Life + 895--As a Crook Sows + 896--In Record Time + 897--Held in Suspense + 898--The $100,000 Kiss + 899--Just One Slip + 900--On a Million-dollar Trail + 901--A Weird Treasure + 902--The Middle Link + 903--To the Ends of the Earth + 904--When Honors Pall + 905--The Yellow Brand + 906--A New Serpent in Eden + 907--When Brave Men Tremble + 908--A Test of Courage + 909--Where Peril Beckons + 910--The Gargoni Girdle + 911--Rascals & Co. + 912--Too Late to Talk + 913--Satan’s Apt Pupil + 914--The Girl Prisoner + 915--The Danger of Folly + 916--One Shipwreck Too Many + 917--Scourged by Fear + 918--The Red Plague + 919--Scoundrels Rampant + 920--From Clew to Clew + 921--When Rogues Conspire + 922--Twelve in a Grave + 923--The Great Opium Case + 924--A Conspiracy of Rumors + 925--A Klondike Claim + 926--The Evil Formula + 927--The Man of Many Faces + 928--The Great Enigma + 929--The Burden of Proof + 930--The Stolen Brain + 931--A Titled Counterfeiter + 932--The Magic Necklace + 933--’Round the World for a Quarter + 934--Over the Edge of the World + 935--In the Grip of Fate + 936--The Case of Many Clews + 937--The Sealed Door + 938--Nick Carter and the Green Goods Men + 939--The Man Without a Will + 940--Tracked Across the Atlantic + 941--A Clew from the Unknown + 942--The Crime of a Countess + 943--A Mixed-up Mess + 944--The Great Money-order Swindle + 945--The Adder’s Brood + 946--A Wall Street Haul + 947--For a Pawned Crown + 948--Sealed Orders + 949--The Hate that Kills + 950--The American Marquis + 951--The Needy Nine + 952--Fighting Against Millions + 953--Outlaws of the Blue + 954--The Old Detective’s Pupil + 955--Found in the Jungle + 956--The Mysterious Mail Robbery + 957--Broken Bars + 958--A Fair Criminal + 959--Won by Magic + 960--The Piano Box Mystery + 961--The Man They Held Back + 962--A Millionaire Partner + 963--A Pressing Peril + 964--An Australian Klondike + 965--The Sultan’s Pearls + 966--The Double Shuffle Club + 967--Paying the Price + 968--A Woman’s Hand + 969--A Network of Crime + 970--At Thompson’s Ranch + 971--The Crossed Needles + 972--The Diamond Mine Case + 973--Blood Will Tell + 974--An Accidental Password + 975--The Crook’s Double + 976--Two Plus Two + 977--The Yellow Label + 978--The Clever Celestial + 979--The Amphitheater Plot + 980--Gideon Drexel’s Millions + 981--Death in Life + 982--A Stolen Identity + 983--Evidence by Telephone + 984--The Twelve Tin Boxes + 985--Clew Against Clew + 986--Lady Velvet + 987--Playing a Bold Game + 988--A Dead Man’s Grip + 989--Snarled Identities + 990--A Deposit Vault Puzzle + 991--The Crescent Brotherhood + 992--The Stolen Pay Train + 993--The Sea Fox + 994--Wanted by Two Clients + 995--The Van Alstine Case + 996--Check No. 777 + 997--Partners in Peril + 998--Nick Carter’s Clever Protégé + 999--The Sign of the Crossed Knives + 1000--The Man Who Vanished + 1001--A Battle for the Right + 1002--A Game of Craft + 1003--Nick Carter’s Retainer + 1004--Caught in the Toils + 1005--A Broken Bond + 1006--The Crime of the French Café + 1007--The Man Who Stole Millions + 1008--The Twelve Wise Men + 1009--Hidden Foes + 1010--A Gamblers’ Syndicate + 1011--A Chance Discovery + 1012--Among the Counterfeiters + 1013--A Threefold Disappearance + 1014--At Odds with Scotland Yard + 1015--A Princess of Crime + 1016--Found on the Beach + 1017--A Spinner of Death + 1018--The Detective’s Pretty Neighbor + 1019--A Bogus Clew + 1020--The Puzzle of Five Pistols + 1021--The Secret of the Marble Mantel + 1022--A Bite of an Apple + 1023--A Triple Crime + 1024--The Stolen Race Horse + 1025--Wildfire + 1026--A _Herald_ Personal + 1027--The Finger of Suspicion + 1028--The Crimson Clew + 1029--Nick Carter Down East + 1030--The Chain of Clews + 1031--A Victim of Circumstances + 1032--Brought to Bay + 1033--The Dynamite Trap + 1034--A Scrap of Black Lace + 1035--The Woman of Evil + 1036--A Legacy of Hate + 1037--A Trusted Rogue + 1038--Man Against Man + 1039--The Demons of the Night + 1040--The Brotherhood of Death + 1041--At the Knife’s Point + 1042--A Cry for Help + 1043--A Stroke of Policy + 1044--Hounded to Death + 1045--A Bargain in Crime + 1046--The Fatal Prescription + 1047--The Man of Iron + 1048--An Amazing Scoundrel + 1049--The Chain of Evidence + 1050--Paid with Death + 1051--A Fight for a Throne + 1052--The Woman of Steel + 1053--The Seal of Death + 1054--The Human Fiend + 1055--A Desperate Chance + 1056--A Chase in the Dark + 1057--The Snare and the Game + 1058--The Murray Hill Mystery + 1059--Nick Carter’s Close Call + 1060--The Missing Cotton King + 1061--A Game of Plots + 1062--The Prince of Liars + 1063--The Man at the Window + 1064--The Red League + 1065--The Price of a Secret + 1066--The Worst Case on Record + 1067--From Peril to Peril + 1068--The Seal of Silence + 1069--Nick Carter’s Chinese Puzzle + 1070--A Blackmailer’s Bluff + 1071--Heard in the Dark + 1072--A Checkmated Scoundrel + 1073--The Cashier’s Secret + 1074--Behind a Mask + 1075--The Cloak of Guilt + 1076--Two Villains in One + 1077--The Hot Air Clew + 1078--Run to Earth + 1079--The Certified Check + 1080--Weaving the Web + 1081--Beyond Pursuit + 1082--The Claws of the Tiger + 1083--Driven from Cover + 1084--A Deal in Diamonds + 1085--The Wizard of the Cue + 1086--A Race for Ten Thousand + 1087--The Criminal Link + 1088--The Red Signal + 1089--The Secret Panel + 1090--A Bonded Villain + 1091--A Move in the Dark + 1092--Against Desperate Odds + 1093--The Telltale Photographs + 1094--The Ruby Pin + 1095--The Queen of Diamonds + 1096--A Broken Trail + 1097--An Ingenious Stratagem + 1098--A Sharper’s Downfall + 1099--A Race Track Gamble + 1100--Without a Clew + 1101--The Council of Death + 1102--The Hole in the Vault + 1103--In Death’s Grip + 1104--A Great Conspiracy + 1105--The Guilty Governor + 1106--A Ring of Rascals + 1107--A Masterpiece of Crime + 1108--A Blow for Vengeance + 1109--Tangled Threads + 1110--The Crime of the Camera + 1111--The Sign of the Dagger + 1112--Nick Carter’s Promise + 1113--Marked for Death + 1114--The Limited Holdup + 1115--When the Trap Was Sprung + 1116--Through the Cellar Wall + 1117--Under the Tiger’s Claws + 1118--The Girl in the Case + 1119--Behind a Throne + 1120--The Lure of Gold + 1121--Hand to Hand + 1122--From a Prison Cell + 1123--Dr. Quartz, Magician + 1124--Into Nick Carter’s Web + 1125--The Mystic Diagram + 1126--The Hand that Won + 1127--Playing a Lone Hand + 1128--The Master Villain + 1129--The False Claimant + 1130--The Living Mask + 1131--The Crime and the Motive + 1132--A Mysterious Foe + 1133--A Missing Man + 1134--A Game Well Played + 1135--A Cigarette Clew + 1136--The Diamond Trail + 1137--The Silent Guardian + 1138--The Dead Stranger + 1140--The Doctor’s Stratagem + 1141--Following a Chance Clew + 1142--The Bank Draft Puzzle + 1143--The Price of Treachery + 1144--The Silent Partner + 1145--Ahead of the Game + 1146--A Trap of Tangled Wire + 1147--In the Gloom of Night + 1148--The Unaccountable Crook + 1149--A Bundle of Clews + 1150--The Great Diamond Syndicate + 1151--The Death Circle + 1152--The Toss of a Penny + 1153--One Step Too Far + 1154--The Terrible Thirteen + 1155--A Detective’s Theory + 1156--Nick Carter’s Auto Trail + 1157--A Triple Identity + 1158--A Mysterious Graft + 1159--A Carnival of Crime + 1160--The Bloodstone Terror + 1161--Trapped in His Own Net + 1162--The Last Move in the Game + 1163--A Victim of Deceit + 1164--With Links of Steel + 1165--A Plaything of Fate + 1166--The Key Ring Clew + 1167--Playing for a Fortune + 1168--At Mystery’s Threshold + 1169--Trapped by a Woman + 1170--The Four Fingered Glove + 1171--Nabob and Knave + 1172--The Broadway Cross + 1173--The Man Without a Conscience + 1174--A Master of Deviltry + 1175--Nick Carter’s Double Catch + 1176--Doctor Quartz’s Quick Move + 1177--The Vial of Death + 1178--Nick Carter’s Star Pupils + 1179--Nick Carter’s Girl Detective + 1180--A Baffled Oath + 1181--A Royal Thief + 1182--Down and Out + 1183--A Syndicate of Rascals + 1184--Played to a Finish + 1185--A Tangled Case + 1186--In Letters of Fire + 1187--Crossed Wires + 1188--A Plot Uncovered + 1189--The Cab Driver’s Secret + 1190--Nick Carter’s Death Warrant + 1191--The Plot that Failed + 1192--Nick Carter’s Masterpiece + 1193--A Prince of Rogues + 1194--In the Lap of Danger + 1195--The Man from London + 1196--Circumstantial Evidence + 1197--The Pretty Stenographer Mystery + 1198--A Villainous Scheme + 1199--A Plot Within a Plot + 1200--The Elevated Railroad Mystery + 1201--The Blow of a Hammer + 1202--The Twin Mystery + 1203--The Bottle with the Black Label + 1204--Under False Colors + 1205--A Ring of Dust + 1206--The Crown Diamond + 1207--The Blood-red Badge + 1208--The Barrel Mystery + 1209--The Photographer’s Evidence + 1210--Millions at Stake + 1211--The Man and His Price + 1212--A Double-Handed Game + +In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the +books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New +York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance +promptly, on account of delays in transportation. + + +To be published in July, 1927. + + 1213--A Strike for Freedom + 1214--A Disciple of Satan + + +To be published in Aug., 1927. + + 1215--The Marked Hand + 1216--A Fight with a Fiend + 1217--When the Wicked Prosper + + +To be published in Sept., 1927. + + 1218--A Plunge into Crime + 1219--An Artful Schemer + + +To be published in Oct., 1927. + + 1220--Reaping the Whirlwind + 1221--Out of Crime’s Depths + + +To be published in Nov., 1927. + + 1222--A Woman at Bay + 1223--The Temple of Vice + + +To be published in Dec., 1927. + + 1224--Death at the Feast + 1225--A Double Plot + + + Western Stories + About + BUFFALO BILL + +ALL BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM + +Red-blooded Adventure Stories for Men + + +There is no more romantic character in American history than William +F. Cody, or, as he was internationally known, Buffalo Bill. He, with +Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, Wild Bill Hicock, General Custer, and a few +other adventurous spirits, laid the foundation of our great West. + +There is no more brilliant page in American history than the winning of +the West. Never did pioneers live more thrilling lives, so rife with +adventure and brave deeds, as the old scouts and plainsmen. Foremost +among these stands the imposing figure of Buffalo Bill. + +All of the books in this list are intensely interesting. They were +written by the close friend and companion of Buffalo Bill--Colonel +Prentiss Ingraham. They depict actual adventures which this pair of +hard-hitting comrades experienced, while the story of these adventures +is interwoven with fiction; historically the books are correct. + + +_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ + + 51--Buffalo Bill, Dead Shot + 52--Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Bravos + 53--Buffalo Bill’s Big Four + 54--Buffalo Bill’s One-armed Pard + 55--Buffalo Bill’s Race for Life + 56--Buffalo Bill’s Return + 57--Buffalo Bill’s Conquest + 58--Buffalo Bill to the Rescue + 59--Buffalo Bill’s Beautiful Foe + 60--Buffalo Bill’s Perilous Task + 61--Buffalo Bill’s Queer Find + 62--Buffalo Bill’s Blind Lead + 63--Buffalo Bill’s Resolution + 64--Buffalo Bill, the Avenger + 65--Buffalo Bill’s Pledged Pard + 66--Buffalo Bill’s Weird Warning + 67--Buffalo Bill’s Wild Ride + 68--Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Stampede + 69--Buffalo Bill’s Mine Mystery + 70--Buffalo Bill’s Gold Hunt + 71--Buffalo Bill’s Daring Dash + 72--Buffalo Bill on Hand + 73--Buffalo Bill’s Alliance + 74--Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Foe + 75--Buffalo Bill’s Midnight Ride + 76--Buffalo Bill’s Chivalry + 77--Buffalo Bill’s Girl Pard + 78--Buffalo Bill’s Private War + 79--Buffalo Bill’s Diamond Mine + 80--Buffalo Bill’s Big Contract + 81--Buffalo Bill’s Woman Foe + 82--Buffalo Bill’s Ruse + 83--Buffalo Bill’s Pursuit + 84--Buffalo Bill’s Hidden Gold + 85--Buffalo Bill in Mid-air + 86--Buffalo Bill’s Queer Mission + 87--Buffalo Bill’s Verdict + 88--Buffalo Bill’s Ordeal + 89--Buffalo Bill’s Camp Fires + 90--Buffalo Bill’s Iron Nerve + 91--Buffalo Bill’s Rival + 92--Buffalo Bill’s Lone Hand + 93--Buffalo Bill’s Sacrifice + 94--Buffalo Bill’s Thunderbolt + 95--Buffalo Bill’s Black Fortune + 96--Buffalo Bill’s Wild Work + 97--Buffalo Bill’s Yellow Trail + 98--Buffalo Bill’s Treasure Train + 99--Buffalo Bill’s Bowie Duel + 100--Buffalo Bill’s Mystery Man + 101--Buffalo Bill’s Bold Play + 102--Buffalo Bill: Peacemaker + 103--Buffalo Bill’s Big Surprise + 104--Buffalo Bill’s Barricade + 105--Buffalo Bill’s Test + 106--Buffalo Bill’s Powwow + 107--Buffalo Bill’s Stern Justice + 108--Buffalo Bill’s Mysterious Friend + 109--Buffalo Bill and the Boomers + 110--Buffalo Bill’s Panther Fight + 111--Buffalo Bill and the Overland Mail + 112--Buffalo Bill on the Deadwood Trail + 113--Buffalo Bill in Apache Land + 114--Buffalo Bill’s Blindfold Duel + 115--Buffalo Bill and the Lone Camper + 116--Buffalo Bill’s Merry War + 117--Buffalo Bill’s Star Play + 118--Buffalo Bill’s War Cry + 119--Buffalo Bill on Black Panther’s Trail + 120--Buffalo Bill’s Slim Chance + 121--Buffalo Bill Besieged + 122--Buffalo Bill’s Bandit Round-up + 123--Buffalo Bill’s Surprise Party + 124--Buffalo Bill’s Lightning Raid + 125--Buffalo Bill in Mexico + 126--Buffalo Bill’s Traitor Foe + 127--Buffalo Bill’s Tireless Chase + 128--Buffalo Bill’s Boy Bugler + 129--Buffalo Bill’s Sure Guess + 130--Buffalo Bill’s Record Jump + 131--Buffalo Bill in the Land of Dread + 132--Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Clew + 133--Buffalo Bill’s Wolf Skin + 134--Buffalo Bill’s Twice Four Puzzle + 135--Buffalo Bill and the Devil Bird + 136--Buffalo Bill and the Indian’s Mascot + 137--Buffalo Bill Entrapped + 138--Buffalo Bill’s Totem Trail + 139--Buffalo Bill at Fort Challis + 140--Buffalo Bill’s Determination + 141--Buffalo Bill’s Battle Axe + 142--Buffalo Bill’s Game with Fate + 143--Buffalo Bill’s Comanche Raid + 144--Buffalo Bill’s Aerial Island + 145--Buffalo Bill’s Lucky Shot + 146--Buffalo Bill’s Sioux Friends + 147--Buffalo Bill’s Supreme Test + 148--Buffalo Bill’s Boldest Strike + 149--Buffalo Bill and the Red Hand + 150--Buffalo Bill’s Dance with Death + 151--Buffalo Bill’s Running Fight + 152--Buffalo Bill in Harness + 153--Buffalo Bill Corralled + 154--Buffalo Bill’s Waif of the West + 155--Buffalo Bill’s Wizard Pard + 156--Buffalo Bill and Hawkeye + 157--Buffalo Bill and Grizzly Dan + 158--Buffalo Bill’s Ghost Play + 159--Buffalo Bill’s Lost Prisoner + 160--Buffalo Bill and The Klan of Kau + 161--Buffalo Bill’s Crow Scouts + 162--Buffalo Bill’s Lassoed Spectre + 163--Buffalo Bill and the Wanderers + 164--Buffalo Bill and the White Queen + 165--Buffalo Bill’s Yellow Guardian + 166--Buffalo Bill’s Double “B” Brand + 167--Buffalo Bill’s Dangerous Duty + 168--Buffalo Bill and the Talking Statue + 169--Buffalo Bill Between Two Fires + 170--Buffalo Bill and the Giant Apache + 171--Buffalo Bill’s Best Bet + 172--Buffalo Bill’s Blockhouse Siege + 173--Buffalo Bill’s Fight for Right + 174--Buffalo Bill’s Sad Tidings + 175--Buffalo Bill and “Lucky” Benson + 176--Buffalo Bill Among the Sioux + 177--Buffalo Bill’s Mystery Box + 178--Buffalo Bill’s Worst Tangle + 179--Buffalo Bill’s Clean Sweep + 180--Buffalo Bill’s Texas Tangle + 181--Buffalo Bill and the Nihilists + 182--Buffalo Bill’s Emigrant Trail + 183--Buffalo Bill at Close Quarters + 184--Buffalo Bill and the Cattle Thieves + 185--Buffalo Bill at Cimaroon Bar + 186--Buffalo Bill’s Ingenuity + 187--Buffalo Bill on a Cold Trail + 188--Buffalo Bill’s Red Hot Totem + 189--Buffalo Bill Under a War Cloud + 190--Buffalo Bill and the Prophet + 191--Buffalo Bill and the Red Renegade + 192--Buffalo Bill’s Mailed Fist + 193--Buffalo Bill’s Round-up + 194--Buffalo Bill’s Death Message + 195--Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Disguise + 196--Buffalo Bill, the Whirlwind + 197--Buffalo Bill in Death Valley + 198--Buffalo Bill and the Magic Button + 199--Buffalo Bill’s Friend in Need + 200--Buffalo Bill with General Custer + 201--Buffalo Bill’s Timely Meeting + 202--Buffalo Bill and the Skeleton Scout + 203--Buffalo Bill’s Flag of Truce + 204--Buffalo Bill’s Pacific Power + 205--Buffalo Bill’s Impersonator + 206--Buffalo Bill and the Red Marauders + 207--Buffalo Bill’s Long Run + 208--Buffalo Bill and Red Dove + 209--Buffalo Bill on the Box + 210--Buffalo Bill’s Bravo Partner + 211--Buffalo Bill’s Strange Task + + + + +VALUE + +Although literature is generally regarded as more or less of a luxury, +there is such a thing as getting your money’s worth, and a little more, +in the way of literature. + +For seventy years the firm of STREET & SMITH has specialized in the +publication of fiction. During all this time everything bearing our +imprint represented good value for the money. + +When, about thirty years ago, we began the publication of a series of +paper bound books, which has since become world famous by the name +of “The S & S Novel,” we did our best to publish the right sort of +fiction. The sales of these books proved that we have succeeded in +interesting and pleasing the American reading public. + +There are over 1,800 different titles in our catalogue, and every title +above reproach from every standpoint. The STREET & SMITH NOVEL has been +rightly called the fiction of the masses. + +Do not be deceived by books which look like the STREET & SMITH NOVELS +but which are made like them only in looks. Insist upon having paper +covered books bearing the imprint of STREET & SMITH, and so be sure of +securing full value for your money. + + + STREET & SMITH CORPORATION + 79 Seventh Avenue :: New York City + + + + +The Dealer + +who handles the STREET & SMITH NOVELS is a man worth patronizing. The +fact that he does handle our books proves that he has considered the +merits of paper-covered lines, and has decided that the STREET & SMITH +NOVELS are superior to all others. + +He has looked into the question of the morality of the paper-covered +book, for instance, and feels that he is perfectly safe in handing one +of our novels to any one, because he has our assurance that nothing +except clean, wholesome literature finds its way into our lines. + +Therefore, the STREET & SMITH NOVEL dealer is a careful and wise +tradesman, and it is fair to assume selects the other articles he +has for sale with the same degree of intelligence as he does his +paper-covered books. + +Deal with the STREET & SMITH NOVEL dealer. + + + STREET & SMITH CORPORATION + 79 Seventh Avenue New York City + + + + +Transcriber’s Notes: + + +Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. + +Table of contents has been added and placed into the public domain by +the transcriber. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77365 *** |