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diff --git a/77365-h/77365-h.htm b/77365-h/77365-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a912f2d --- /dev/null +++ b/77365-h/77365-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11646 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + Bound to get there | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.bbox {border: 2px solid; padding: 0 30px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.small {font-size: 75%;} +.medium {font-size: 125%;} +.large {font-size:150%;} +.huge {font-size:200%;} +.sig {text-align: right; margin-right: 2.5em; } + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp50 {width: 50%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp50 {width: 100%;} +.illowe5 {width: 5em;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77365 ***</div> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="cover" style="max-width: 118.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="ALGER_SERIES_No_199"> + ALGER SERIES No. 199 + </h2> +<h1> +Bound to<br> +Get There + </h1> +</div> + + +<p class="center"> + <i>By <span class="large">Roy Franklin</span></i> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="BOOKS_THAT_NEVER_GROW_OLD"> + BOOKS THAT NEVER GROW OLD + <br> + <br> + <span class="large">Alger Series</span> + <br> + <br> + Clean Adventure Stories for Boys + <br> + <br> + The Most Complete List Published + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The following list does not contain all the books that Horatio Alger +wrote, but it contains most of them, and certainly the best.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<hr class="r5"> + +<h3>By HORATIO ALGER, Jr.</h3> + +<p> + 1—Driven from Home<br> + 2—A Cousin’s Conspiracy<br> + 3—Ned Newton<br> + 4—Andy Gordon<br> + 5—Tony, the Tramp<br> + 6—The Five Hundred Dollar Check<br> + 7—Helping Himself<br> + 8—Making His Way<br> + 9—Try and Trust<br> + 10—Only an Irish Boy<br> + 11—Jed, the Poorhouse Boy<br> + 12—Chester Rand<br> + 13—Grit, the Young Boatman of Pine Point<br> + 14—Joe’s Luck<br> + 15—From Farm Boy to Senator<br> + 16—The Young Outlaw<br> + 17—Jack’s Ward<br> + 18—Dean Dunham<br> + 19—In a New World<br> + 20—Both Sides of the Continent<br> + 21—The Store Boy<br> + 22—Brave and Bold<br> + 23—A New York Boy<br> + 24—Bob Burton<br> + 25—The Young Adventurer<br> + 26—Julius, the Street Boy<br> + 27—Adrift in New York<br> + 28—Tom Brace<br> + 29—Struggling Upward<br> + 30—The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy<br> + 31—Tom Tracy<br> + 32—The Young Acrobat<br> + 33—Bound to Rise<br> + 34—Hector’s Inheritance<br> + 35—Do and Dare<br> + 36—The Tin Box<br> + 37—Tom, the Bootblack<br> + 38—Risen from the Ranks<br> + 39—Shifting for Himself<br> + 40—Wait and Hope<br> + 41—Sam’s Chance<br> + 42—Striving for Fortune<br> + 43—Phil, the Fiddler<br> + 44—Slow and Sure<br> + 45—Walter Sherwood’s Probation<br> + 46—The Trials and Triumphs of Mark Mason<br> + 47—The Young Salesman<br> + 48—Andy Grant’s Pluck<br> + 49—Facing the World<br> + 50—Luke Walton<br> + 51—Strive and Succeed<br> + 52—From Canal Boy to President<br> + 53—The Erie Train Boy<br> + 54—Paul, the Peddler<br> + 55—The Young Miner<br> + 56—Charlie Codman’s Cruise<br> + 57—A Debt of Honor<br> + 58—The Young Explorer<br> + 59—Ben’s Nugget<br> + 60—The Errand Boy<br> + 61—Frank and Fearless<br> + 62—Frank Hunter’s Peril<br> + 63—Adrift in the City<br> + 64—Tom Thatcher’s Fortune<br> + 65—Tom Turner’s Legacy<br> + 66—Dan, the Newsboy<br> + 67—Digging for Gold<br> + 68—Lester’s Luck<br> + 69—In Search of Treasure<br> + 70—Frank’s Campaign<br> + 71—Bernard Brook’s Adventures<br> + 72—Robert Coverdale’s Struggles<br> + 73—Paul Prescott’s Charge<br> + 74—Mark Manning’s Mission<br> + 75—Rupert’s Ambition<br> + 76—Sink or Swim<br> + 77—The Backwoods Boy<br> + 78—Tom Temple’s Career<br> + 79—Ben Bruce<br> + 80—The Young Musician<br> + 81—The Telegraph Boy<br> + 82—Work and Win<br> + 83—The Train Boy<br> + 84—The Cash Boy<br> + 85—Herbert Carter’s Legacy<br> + 86—Strong and Steady<br> + 87—Lost at Sea<br> + 88—From Farm to Fortune<br> + 89—Young Captain Jack<br> + 90—Joe, the Hotel Boy<br> + 91—Out for Business<br> + 92—Falling in with Fortune<br> + 93—Nelson, the Newsboy<br> + 94—Randy of the River<br> + 95—Jerry, the Backwoods Boy<br> + 96—Ben Logan’s Triumph<br> + 97—The Young Book Agent<br> + 168—Luck and Pluck<br> + 169—Ragged Dick<br> + 170—Fame and Fortune<br> + 171—Mark, the Match Boy<br> + 172—Rough and Ready<br> + 173—Ben, the Luggage Boy<br> + 174—Rufus and Rose +</p> + + +<hr class="r5"> +<h3>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</h3> + +<p> + 98—The Last Cruise of <i>The Spitfire</i><br> + 99—Reuben Stone’s Discovery<br> + 100—True to Himself<br> + 101—Richard Dare’s Venture<br> + 102—Oliver Bright’s Search<br> + 103—To Alaska for Gold<br> + 104—The Young Auctioneer<br> + 105—Bound to Be an Electrician<br> + 106—Shorthand Tom<br> + 107—Fighting for His Own<br> + 108—Joe, the Surveyor<br> + 109—Larry, the Wanderer<br> + 110—The Young Ranchman<br> + 111—The Young Lumberman<br> + 112—The Young Explorers<br> + 113—Boys of the Wilderness<br> + 114—Boys of the Great Northwest<br> + 115—Boys of the Gold Field<br> + 116—For His Country<br> + 117—Comrades in Peril<br> + 118—The Young Pearl Hunters<br> + 119—The Young Bandmaster<br> + 120—Boys of the Fort<br> + 121—On Fortune’s Trail<br> + 122—Lost in the Land of Ice<br> + 123—Bob, the Photographer +</p> + + +<hr class="r5"> +<h3>By OLIVER OPTIC</h3> + +<p> + 124—Among the Missing<br> + 125—His Own Helper<br> + 126—Honest Kit Dunstable<br> + 127—Every Inch a Boy<br> + 128—The Young Pilot<br> + 129—Always in Luck<br> + 130—Rich and Humble<br> + 131—In School and Out<br> + 132—Watch and Wait<br> + 133—Work and Win<br> + 134—Hope and Have<br> + 135—Haste and Waste<br> + 136—Royal Tarr’s Pluck<br> + 137—The Prisoners of the Cave<br> + 138—Louis Chiswick’s Mission<br> + 139—The Professor’s Son<br> + 140—The Young Hermit<br> + 141—The Cruise of <i>The Dandy</i><br> + 142—Building Himself Up<br> + 143—Lyon Hart’s Heroism<br> + 144—Three Young Silver Kings<br> + 145—Making a Man of Himself<br> + 146—Striving for His Own<br> + 147—Through by Daylight<br> + 148—Lightning Express<br> + 149—On Time<br> + 150—Switch Off<br> + 151—Brake Up<br> + 152—Bear and Forbear<br> + 153—The “Starry Flag”<br> + 154—Breaking Away<br> + 155—Seek and Find<br> + 156—Freaks of Fortune<br> + 157—Make or Break<br> + 158—Down the River<br> + 159—The Boat Club<br> + 160—All Aboard<br> + 161—Now or Never<br> + 162—Try Again<br> + 163—Poor and Proud<br> + 164—Little by Little<br> + 165—The Sailor Boy<br> + 166—The Yankee Middy<br> + 167—Brave Old Salt +</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">175</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Fighting for Fortune </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">176</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Young Steel Worker </td><td class="tdr">By Frank H. MacDougal<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">177</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Go-ahead Boys </td><td class="tdr">By Gale Richards<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">178</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">For the Right </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">179</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Motor Cycle Boys </td><td class="tdr">By Donald Grayson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">180</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Wall Street Boy </td><td class="tdr">By Allan Montgomery<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">181</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Stemming the Tide </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">182</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">On High Gear </td><td class="tdr">By Donald Grayson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">183</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">A Wall Street Fortune </td><td class="tdr">By Allan Montgomery<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">184</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Winning by Courage </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">185</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">From Auto to Airship </td><td class="tdr">By Donald Grayson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">186</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Camp and Canoe </td><td class="tdr">By Remson Douglas<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">187</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Winning Against Odds </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">188</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Luck of Vance Sevier </td><td class="tdr">By Frederick Gibson</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in July, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">189</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Island Castaway </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">190</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Boy Marvel </td><td class="tdr">By Frank H. MacDougal<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">191</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">A Boy With a Purpose </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in August, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">192</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The River Fugitives </td><td class="tdr">By Remson Douglas<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">193</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Out For a Fortune </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in September, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">194</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Boy Horse Owner </td><td class="tdr">By Frederick Gibson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">195</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Always on Deck </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in October, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">196</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Paul Hassard’s Peril </td><td class="tdr">By Matt Royal<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">197</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">His Own Master </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in November, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">198</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">When Courage Wins </td><td class="tdr">By Edward S. Ellis<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">199</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Bound to Get There </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in December, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">200</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Who Was Milton Marr? </td><td class="tdr">By Frederick Gibson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">201</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">The Lost Mine </td><td class="tdr">By Roy Franklin<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">202</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Larry Borden’s Redemption </td><td class="tdr">By Emerson Baker</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="TALES_OF_THE_ROLLING_PLAINS"> + <i>TALES OF THE ROLLING PLAINS</i> + <br> + <br> + <span class="large">Great Western Library</span> + <br> + <br> + By COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM and W. B. LAWSON + <br> + <br> + Thrilling Adventure + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">1</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick’s Own Brand </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">2</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Honor </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">3</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick’s Maverick </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">4</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Phantom Hunt </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">5</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick’s Man Hunt </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">6</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Fight with Fire </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">7</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick’s Danger Signal </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">8</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Danite Trail </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">9</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick’s Prospect </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">10</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Ranch Riders </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">11</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick and the Gold Bugs </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">12</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Death Trail </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">13</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick at Comet City </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p class="center">To be published in July, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">14</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Trackers </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">15</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick and the Worthless Bonanza </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in August, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">16</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Mid-air Flight </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">17</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick’s Black List </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in September, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">18</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill, Ambassador </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">19</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick and the Indian Outlaw </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in October, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">20</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Air Voyage </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">21</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick and Gentleman Jack </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in November, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">22</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Secret Mission </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">23</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick at Secret Pass </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">24</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill’s Long Trail </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p class="center">To be published in December, 1927.</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr">25</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Diamond Dick’s Red Trailer </td><td class="tdr">By W. B. Lawson<br></td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">26</td><td class="tdc">—</td><td class="tdl">Buffalo Bill Against Odds </td><td class="tdr">By Col. Prentiss Ingraham</td><td class="tdr"></td></tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2>Bound To Get There</h2> +<p class="center p4">OR</p> +<p class="center large p2">A Boy Who Could Not Be Downed</p> +<p class="p4 center">By<br> +<span class="medium">ROY FRANKLIN</span><br> + Author of “His Own Master,” “Always on Deck,”<br> + “Out For a Fortune,” etc. +</p> + +<p class="p4"> </p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe5" id="i1"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i1.jpg" alt="S AND S NOVELS"> +</figure> + +<p class="center p4"><span class="medium">STREET & SMITH CORPORATION</span><br> + PUBLISHERS<br> + <span class="medium">79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York</span> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="bbox"> + <p class="center"> + Copyright, 1910<br> + By STREET & SMITH<br> + </p> + <hr class="r5"> + <p class="center"> + Bound To Get There<br> + </p> +</div> +<p class="p6 center"> + All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign + languages, including the Scandinavian.<br> + <br> + Printed in the U. S. A. +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="BOUND_TO_GET_THERE"> + BOUND TO GET THERE. + </h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="center"> + <a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. THREE DISCONTENTED BOYS.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. JACK BENSON’S REVENGE.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. A STORY OF THE PAST.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. ON TO THE CITY.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. THE CRAZY ADMIRAL.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. SEEKING WORK.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. THE YELLOW PACKAGE.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. A DEEP MYSTERY.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. AT THE OFFICE.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. EVIL PLOTTERS.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. A BRAVE BOY’S RESOLVE.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. EVENTS OF A DAY.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. A NIGHT OF SUSPENSE.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. NEW PLOTS.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. AFLOAT ON THE OCEAN.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. A TERROR AT SEA.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. OUTWARD BOUND.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. YARNING BY THE WAY.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. THE ADMIRAL’S YARN.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI. ADRIFT.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII. STRANGE ADVENTURES.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII. WRECKED AT THE DOOR OF HOPE.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV. THREE BOY CRUSOES.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV. THE TREASURE.</a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI. ALL ENDS WELL.</a><br> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br><br><span class="small"> + THREE DISCONTENTED BOYS. + </span></h2> +</div> + +<p>“I won’t stand it!”</p> + +<p>“What will you do, Nick?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>had passed away when he was very young, and +his father, a sailor, had gone to sea and never +returned.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, Nick,” said Frank Alden, “you’re better +off than my brother Will and I are. Six dollars a +week——”</p> + +<p>“I don’t get six dollars a week.”</p> + +<p>“They say you do.”</p> + +<p>“All the same, I don’t. That’s my wages, but I +don’t get it.”</p> + +<p>“Who does, then?”</p> + +<p>“Jerry Steele.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + +<p>“Doesn’t he give you your board and clothes?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nick!” he whispered. “Something has +happened.”</p> + +<p>“I guess you’re right, Frank.”</p> + +<p>The familiar sounds were the wailing, pleading +cries of a boy in distress, and the harsh, coarse +accents of an angry man.</p> + +<p>“Ye hain’t had enough of it yit!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I have.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, please don’t,” the victim of the man +wailed. “I don’t deserve a licking.”</p> + +<p>“Ye don’t, eh?”</p> + +<p>“No. It wasn’t me that let the duck into the +parlor.”</p> + +<p>“Tell that to the marines. Mebbe ye didn’t +steal my silk hat?”</p> + +<p>“No, I didn’t.”</p> + +<p>“Ye didn’t, eh? Then who was it?”</p> + +<p>For a moment there was silence. Evidently the +boy would not tell. “Out with it!” cried the man. +“Do ye hear?”</p> + +<p>Still silence.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“He’s getting it bad, Frank,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and it isn’t his fault. I’m not going to +stand it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + +<p>“I’m with you, Frank,” the other said firmly. +“What had we better do?”</p> + +<p>“Wait! He’s coming.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s Ahab Towns, and he’s going to hunt another +switch,” whispered Frank. “Come along. +Now’s our chance.”</p> + +<p>“What’s your plan?”</p> + +<p>“Sh! Come and see.”</p> + +<p>Frank’s voice was resolute. He led the way +toward the barn, entered it quietly, and Nick followed.</p> + +<p>“Will, Will! Are you there?” called out Frank +in the darkness.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!” came the quick, eager response. +“Oh, help me out of this. Look out! He’s coming +back.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll help you, Will.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” added Nick. “That’s what we’re here +for.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Will,” said Frank, “you get out of the +window as quick as you can; and you, too, Nick, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>and wait for me outside. Never mind what I intend +to do. Skip!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We’ve paid him off, anyway,” muttered Frank +grimly. “Now, boys, let us leave here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, and he’ll pay us off when we come home +again,” replied Will, in alarm.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, Frank?” asked Will.</p> + +<p>“Come over to the common, where we will have +a fair run if Towns follows us, and I’ll tell you.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The expression of the features of each indicated +their peculiar individual characteristics.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>About five years previous their mother, who +was a widow, had married again. Two years +later she had died, and Ahab Towns, already a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>disagreeable, fault-finding stepfather, became a +cruel, heartless guardian and taskmaster.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Schooling, clothes, and even proper food were +denied them, and the loveless life the boys were +thus compelled to lead almost broke their spirits.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The three boys reached the village common +and found a grassy spot, where they seated themselves.</p> + +<p>They found the playground deserted, for it +happened to be that hour when supper claimed +boys’ and girls’ attention for a time.</p> + +<p>Will kept glancing back apprehensively in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>direction of home, as if fearful of pursuit from +his stepfather.</p> + +<p>Frank translated the significance of his anxious +looks with a scornful glance.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be afraid, Will!” he said. “I meant +what I told you.”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“Ahab Towns won’t whip me again.”</p> + +<p>“Nor me?”</p> + +<p>“Not if you’re wise.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Look here, Will,” said Nick, “what was the +trouble to-night, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing that I was to blame for.”</p> + +<p>“I believe that.”</p> + +<p>“You know Jack Benson?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and everybody knows him as the meanest, +roughest boy in town.”</p> + +<p>“You know the gang of loafers he goes with?”</p> + +<p>“You bet I do.”</p> + +<p>“Well, a few days ago, you remember, we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>had some trouble with him and his friends—those +fellows from the river?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I guess they’ll remember it, too,” +said Frank. “We gave them a good whipping.”</p> + +<p>“And you remember what Jack said?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—that he’d get even with us.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he did.”</p> + +<p>“How’s that?”</p> + +<p>“Ahab Towns”—the boys never called their ill-natured +stepfather otherwise—“caught Jack +stealing apples a week ago, and licked him for it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the best thing Ahab ever did,” remarked +Frank, with a grin.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I see. And Towns blamed you for it?”</p> + +<p>“He whipped me for it,” replied Will, with a +long face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> + +<p>“I should say he did, the way you hollered. +Well, go on.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Who wants some real fun?” called out the +voice of one of the larger boys.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p> + +<p>A ready response came in a dozen voices.</p> + +<p>“You know where old Captain Eccles lives?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, let us make him a quiet visit.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! A nice welcome he’d give us.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Who’ll put it on the window?” was asked.</p> + +<p>Will Alden, a ready victim in all cases, assumed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>the duty. The pin was attached, he returned to +the bushes.</p> + +<p>Tap, tap! amid the stillness of the place, and +then a cry of disappointment.</p> + +<p>“The pin has fallen out. It will have to be +put in place again, boys,” spoke the leader of the +group.</p> + +<p>“I’ll fix it,” whispered Nick.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Run, Nick!”</p> + +<p>“The captain!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Ha! You young rascal! I’ve caught you!” +said some one in a gruff voice.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be cowards!” he cried. “See here, are +you going to desert a comrade?”</p> + +<p>There was no reply.</p> + +<p>“Let us pelt the house with stones,” suggested +Will.</p> + +<p>“No—that’s no use. I wonder what the captain +will do with Nick?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Nice fellows, they are!” he growled.</p> + +<p>“What can they do to help Nick, anyway?” +asked Will.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> + +<p>“They might wait, at least.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! the captain won’t hurt him. See here, +Frank, it’s time we were home.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“Home.”</p> + +<p>“Is it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and Towns will whip us as it is.”</p> + +<p>“He won’t whip me!” declared Frank. “I’m +not going home, Will. I’m going to wait here +for Nick.”</p> + +<p>“It may be all night.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. + <br><br><span class="small"> + JACK BENSON’S REVENGE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Run away!” gasped the latter.</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean it?”</p> + +<p>“I do.”</p> + +<p>“But——”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“N—no.”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>I’m going to leave Parkdale. If you go with me, +well and good. If not, I’ll go alone.”</p> + +<p>Will looked bewildered.</p> + +<p>“Where shall we go to?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Will Nick go?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly he will.”</p> + +<p>“We may starve or get arrested——” began +the timid Will.</p> + +<p>“No, we won’t. Come along, if you are with +me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’m with you,” replied Will faintly. His +manner certainly was not very enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> + +<p>Plainly revealed in the moonlight, from behind +a fallen log, a human face, and then a boy’s form +came into view.</p> + +<p>He was a low-browed, bold-eyed youth, and his +eyes twinkled with some secret satisfaction as he +looked after the retreating boys.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>Only for a moment did the sneaking fellow +remain where he was.</p> + +<p>“I’ll hurry to the house,” he said to himself, +“and tell old Towns all about it.”</p> + +<p>He started on a run as he spoke, but halted +abruptly a few feet farther on.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>A rapid detour made him master of the situation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>over his unsuspecting enemies, who went on +more slowly and cautiously.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>him much. He just spelled them any old way. +When at last he had finished, he looked upon his +work with pride.</p> + +<p>It read:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>To ower stepfother and Jerry Steele—surs. you +aboused us, and we tak ower revenj on you both, you +will see in the barn.</p> + +<p class="sig"> + <span class="smcap">Nick Collins,</span><br> + <span class="smcap">Frank Alden,</span><br> + <span class="smcap">Will Alden.</span> +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>quicker pace when he saw somebody passing by +on the walk outside.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Who could have taken it?” murmured Will, +completely mystified.</p> + +<p>“I cannot imagine.”</p> + +<p>“Have you any suspicion?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Who do you suspect?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, maybe Towns took it.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps. Look! Who is that?”</p> + +<p>A form had passed hurriedly across a level +stretch of ground beyond them. It was the figure +of a boy.</p> + +<p>“It’s Jack Benson!” exclaimed Will.</p> + +<p>“And coming from the direction of the house, +too.”</p> + +<p>“So he is.”</p> + +<p>“Wonder what he is in such a hurry about?”</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>strikingly bright. A flash seemed to shoot +athwart the hilltop.</p> + +<p>“Frank! Did you see that?”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“It’s a fire!”</p> + +<p>“That glow? By jiminy, it does look like one.”</p> + +<p>“And in the direction of home.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Fire, fire!”</p> + +<p>A man running toward the village was crying +the word at the top of his voice.</p> + +<p>Another man, coming from the village, asked +him excitedly:</p> + +<p>“What’s burning?”</p> + +<p>“Towns’ barn,” replied the other breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Are you going for the fire engine?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. We must get it out quick or the house +will go.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> + +<p>The man ran on, but the other called after him:</p> + +<p>“How did it catch?”</p> + +<p>“Set afire.”</p> + +<p>“Tramps?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br><br><span class="small"> + A STORY OF THE PAST. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Captain Eccles thrust Nick into a chair, eyed +him with apparent fierceness, and then in a gruff +and terrible voice ejaculated:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> + +<p>“So you’re the bold privateer who comes annoying +a quiet sea dog in winter quarters, eh?”</p> + +<p>Nick did not know what to say, but he managed +to stammer the truth:</p> + +<p>“I—I—it was only a bit of harmless fun, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Fun, eh? Disturbing the old craft that’s laid +up for repair after thirty years of service. Who +are you, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“A boy from the village.”</p> + +<p>“Are they all like you?”</p> + +<p>“Well, perhaps I’m as bad as any of ’em.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What’s your name?”</p> + +<p>“Nick Collins.”</p> + +<p>Captain Eccles started, stared hard at the lad, +and seemed deeply interested.</p> + +<p>“Say that again,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Nick Collins.”</p> + +<p>“Son of Captain David Collins, mariner, of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>the good ship <i>Star of Hope</i>, lost with all on board +off the coast of South America ten years agone?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Did you know my father, sir?”</p> + +<p>“Did I know him, lad? I knew him as the +bravest, truest friend I ever had. Did you never +hear of me?”</p> + +<p>“Only from what my grandfather told me. +He’s dead, you know, sir.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It makes me sad to have old times revived,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>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?”</p> + +<p>“Very rarely, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Never spoke of the strange voyage he took +and the treasure and the shipwreck?”</p> + +<p>Nick looked startled.</p> + +<p>“I always supposed that my father died in a +general wreck at sea,” he murmured.</p> + +<p>“Humph! Not much of a teaching for a brave +captain’s boy. No, Nick, there was a strange +story about the <i>Star of Hope</i>. It was a ship +owned by Admiral Semmes. Never heard of +him, either, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>Nick nodded negatively, and a contemptuous +look came over the captain’s face.</p> + +<p>“Never told you of it, and you a captain’s son! +Never been on the sea, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“I never saw it, even.”</p> + +<p>“And I was afore the mast at twelve!” remarked +Eccles proudly. “Well, I’m going to tell +you about your father.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> + +<p>“I wish you would, sir.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“To buy a ship.”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Star of Hope</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“That was the ship that my father was lost +in?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>from James Vail, a broker, of New York +City.”</p> + +<p>“Did the ship go on a regular cruise?”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Star of Hope</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>There was a pause, during which Captain +Eccles betrayed deep and silent emotion. Then +he continued:</p> + +<p>“Four months later a China steamer brought +news to San Francisco of the finding at sea of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>raft containing a dying man—a sailor of the <i>Star +of Hope</i>. He lived long enough to tell that a terrible +storm had overtaken the <i>Star of Hope</i> 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 <i>Star of Hope</i> has ever been received.”</p> + +<p>“And the secret of the treasure died with my +father?”</p> + +<p>“No. Strangest of all romances, when the ship +on its fatal voyage touched at Valparaiso he +wrote two letters.”</p> + +<p>“Two?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What was that for?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And you received them?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> + +<p>“And since then, sir.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“It is indeed, sir.”</p> + +<p>Its recital had made Nick sad and serious, and +he forgot place and circumstances as he gave way +to reflection.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I will remember, sir,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“And if you remain here come and see me +again, and come often, but don’t rouse me with +your tricks,” laughed the captain.</p> + +<p>He named the address of Admiral Semmes in +New York City as they parted at the door of the +cabin.</p> + +<p>Nick Collins fairly gasped as he found himself +alone and looked around him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> + +<p>All that had transpired within the last hour +seemed like some vague dream.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He was confused, bewildered. He wandered +on a few paces and sat down on a rock to recover +himself.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The fire’s pretty nigh out,” remarked one of +them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the other. “No fear of it spreading +now.”</p> + +<p>“It’s quite a heavy loss.”</p> + +<p>“Towns can stand it. The widow Alden +brought him two other farms.”</p> + +<p>Nick Collins started and listened intently. A +fire, and at Ahab Towns’! What did it mean?</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“He’s hot after those who fired the place.”</p> + +<p>“Yes? Rather ungrateful children.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Nick Collins’ heart seemed to stand still. Frank +and Will charged with setting fire to Ahab +Towns’ home! It could not be possible!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p> + +<p>“There were three of them in it,” he says.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A word here and there imparted much information +to Nick. He knew that suspicion of +crime rested against the Alden boys and himself, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>grove, came as close to them as he could without +being seen, and tried to catch what they were +saying.</p> + +<p>“Quite a blaze down there, wasn’t it?” remarked +Jack’s companion.</p> + +<p>“Yes. It serves old Towns right.”</p> + +<p>“How’s that?” asked the other.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he’s a mean old snoozer. I hope they’ll +get Collins and the others.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because I’d like to see them sent away for a +long term.”</p> + +<p>“You must have it in for them, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Surest thing you know.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Frank and Will have certainly left the village,” +mused Nick. “I wish I could find them.” +He set out in search of his friends.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Whether he met Frank and Will or not, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Wake up, Nick Collins. Wake up!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. + <br><br><span class="small"> + ON TO THE CITY. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Nick was somewhat dismayed, but he took the +situation pluckily, and did not act at all like a +guilty boy.</p> + +<p>“It’s about the fire at the Towns house, I suppose?” +he said, stretching himself and yawning.</p> + +<p>“That’s what it is,” replied the marshal, with +twinkling eyes.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t have anything to do with that,” Nick +asserted stoutly.</p> + +<p>“You didn’t, eh?” the other rejoined, trying +to look severe.</p> + +<p>“No, I didn’t; and if you’ve followed me all the +way from Parkdale for that, you’ve been wasting +time.”</p> + +<p>To the boy’s surprise, the marshal burst out +laughing.</p> + +<p>“Why, Nick, who accused you?” he said.</p> + +<p>“But——”</p> + +<p>“I guess nobody has accused you but yourself, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>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?”</p> + +<p>Nick looked confused, but very much relieved.</p> + +<p>“That’s about the size of it,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Now that you know, I don’t want you, Nick,” +the marshal went on, “I’ll tell you who I do +want.”</p> + +<p>“Who is it?”</p> + +<p>“The guilty one.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean Frank or Will? If you do——”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I see; and you don’t know who he is?”</p> + +<p>“Did I say so?”</p> + +<p>“Then you do know?”</p> + +<p>“I’m pretty sure.”</p> + +<p>“Who do you think it is?”</p> + +<p>“Jack Benson,” the marshal answered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p> + +<p>“I thought so!” cried Nick.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen him?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Have you any idea where he would be likely +to hide?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t, marshal.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>had fled from the village as fast as his legs could +carry him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Waiting for a train?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no. I was only resting here.”</p> + +<p>“You haven’t got the Alden boys hidden anywhere +about here, have you, Nick?” asked the +marshal, winking.</p> + +<p>“No, sir. I have no idea even where they are.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The marshal wrote a few words on a card and +handed it to Nick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At a curve in the road Nick suddenly aroused +the engineer by giving the quick signal of warning +and shouting excitedly:</p> + +<p>“Stop the locomotive!”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>“Some one is motioning us ahead!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“No, no. They mean something! The rails +seem broken beyond them.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<p>Two rails were torn up and several wooden +ties crossed the roadway, forming a formidable +obstacle to progress.</p> + +<p>Two boys, who had so opportunely signaled the +train, had stepped aside, and for them Nick +looked eagerly.</p> + +<p>“It’s lucky you saw the youngsters!” said the +engineer as he viewed the broken rails.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Where are they?”</p> + +<p>“Here they come.”</p> + +<p>The boys approached the engine.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, with a cry of delight and surprise, +Nick sprang from the cab.</p> + +<p>“Frank—Will!” he ejaculated.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s Nick Collins!”</p> + +<p>The meeting was a most happy one, and the +trio forgot their surroundings momentarily amid +the excitement of joyous reunion.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>night train had dragged over the ties and dislocated +them. Then they set at work to repair the +damage.</p> + +<p>Nick overwhelmed Frank and Will with questions +as to their being there.</p> + +<p>“We got frightened when we heard that we +were accused of burning the barn at home,” explained +Frank.</p> + +<p>“And left the village at once?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. About an hour ago we reached here and +saw that an accident would occur if we did not +do something to give warning.”</p> + +<p>Both boys were overjoyed when Nick told them +of the discovery of the real incendiary in Jack +Benson.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Are you still determined to go?” asked Nick.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” responded Frank firmly.</p> + +<p>“And you, Will?”</p> + +<p>“I go where Frank does.”</p> + +<p>“Then we will all go together. Come, boys, we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>won’t starve so long as we can work, and we +won’t get into trouble if we keep honest and behave +ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to the city, Nick?” asked +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“On this train?”</p> + +<p>“As far as it goes in that direction.”</p> + +<p>“Where is that?”</p> + +<p>“To the county seat.”</p> + +<p>“I wish we could ride with you.”</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose I would let you walk and me +stay here?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They reached the county seat, the terminus of +the road, about noon. Here a pleasant surprise +awaited them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said when they had finished the repast, +“I suppose you are going to the city?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Nick.</p> + +<p>“It’s fifty miles yet, you know.”</p> + +<p>“We can walk it in two days.”</p> + +<p>“Or steal a ride now and then,” put in Will.</p> + +<p>“Sort of economical, ain’t you?” laughed the +engineer, who was deftly leading the boys on to +learn the state of their pockets.</p> + +<p>“We have to be,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“No money?”</p> + +<p>“A few cents, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>down in the outer room, and was gone for some +time.</p> + +<p>When he returned a clerical-looking gentleman +accompanied him.</p> + +<p>“So these are the boys, eh?” said this individual, +beaming benignantly on the youthful trio.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Saved the train and want to go to the city?”</p> + +<p>The engineer nodded assent.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The boys were voluble in their thanks as the +official waved them a pleasant adieu.</p> + +<p>“What’s in the envelope?” asked Will curiously, +as they again reached the street.</p> + +<p>“Open it and see,” smiled the engineer.</p> + +<p>Nick did so.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> + +<p>The inclosure consisted of two pieces of paper.</p> + +<p>One was a pass over the railroad to the city +for the three of them.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V. + <br><br><span class="small"> + THE CRAZY ADMIRAL. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>The young adventurers were fortunate in securing +a train for the city almost immediately +after leaving the engineer.</p> + +<p>Amid the excitement and pleasure of their recent +experience life looked pretty bright, and +their enthusiasm lasted all the way to the city.</p> + +<p>The money seemed a fortune to them, and they +discussed various ways and means to make it last +until they could obtain work.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Where are we going to?” asked Will, who +clung, half frightened, to Nick’s arm.</p> + +<p>“To look and see what we had better do for a +place to sleep,” was the careless-spoken reply.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As they left the railroad terminus, however, +the glare and turmoil decreased. They found +quieter streets, and they began to feel less +strange.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> + +<p>“We may as well walk around for an hour or +two,” suggested Nick.</p> + +<p>“Yes—why not?” said Frank readily. “When +we get tired we can find some place to sleep.”</p> + +<p>“There’s another thing, too,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p>“Captain Eccles gave me an address. I’d like +to find it.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>passed along until they reached the number that +Captain Eccles had given him.</p> + +<p>“That’s the house,” said Will eagerly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It looks dark and unoccupied,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“And seems to have been so some time,” remarked +Nick.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The windows are broken and the door is +open,” said Nick, in surprise. “What a strange +house!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They ventured to enter the dismantled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“This must be the place,” said Nick, “but Admiral +Semmes has moved away. There’s a man +passing. I’ll ask him.”</p> + +<p>Nick hurried down the steps and spoke to the +man.</p> + +<p>“Please excuse me, sir,” he said, “but do you +live near here?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—over there,” and the stranger indicated +a house opposite.</p> + +<p>“Do you know anything about this house?” +asked Nick.</p> + +<p>The man smiled oddly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, everybody knows about it.”</p> + +<p>“Who lives here, sir?” asked Nick eagerly.</p> + +<p>“No one now.”</p> + +<p>“I mean—you see—who did live here last?” +the boy stammered.</p> + +<p>“The crazy admiral.”</p> + +<p>Nick started. This answer conveyed to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“The crazy admiral?” repeated Nick.</p> + +<p>“Yes. That’s what they called him.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean Admiral Semmes?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Why did people call him crazy?” asked Nick.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Sailors, sir?” repeated Nick.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>strange for weeks, when he would repeat the +operation.”</p> + +<p>“Why did he do that?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Star of Hope</i> +and the mystery of the hidden treasure of the +far, unknown ocean isle.</p> + +<p>The revelations of the man were fascinating +to Nick. He listened eagerly as the former continued:</p> + +<p>“Then the admiral would advertise for some +letter he had lost. Altogether he acted very +strange, very strange!”</p> + +<p>“And when did he leave here, sir?”</p> + +<p>“Only a few weeks ago.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know where he went?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span></p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I wish to see him, sir. He knew my father,” +replied Nick.</p> + +<p>They talked a little more, then the man +passed on.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>around the lost ship, the <i>Star of Hope</i>, +thrilled and fascinated him!</p> + +<p>He must try and find Admiral Semmes—he +must write to Captain Eccles and tell him of his +discoveries and state his own whereabouts.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s getting late, boys,” he said at the conclusion +of his interesting recital. “We must find a +place to sleep.”</p> + +<p>“Where shall we go?” asked Will.</p> + +<p>“We can find a cheap lodging place somewhere.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span></p> + +<p>“I saw none near here,” said Frank. “Look +here, Nick!”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“The weather is fine and no one will disturb +us if we stay here.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so!” replied Nick.</p> + +<p>“Then let us stay here to-night.”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing if you are.”</p> + +<p>“We are,” said Frank and Will together.</p> + +<p>They placed a couple of broken doors on a slant, +spread their coats over them, and were soon in +the land of dreams.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. + <br><br><span class="small"> + SEEKING WORK. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Work and the admiral!”</p> + +<p>These words comprised the motto that kept +ringing through Nick Collins’ mind as, early the +next morning, he left the deserted house.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We know where this place is,” said Nick, “and +we can meet here to-night, even if we do not stay +here—eh, boys?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—just the thing!”</p> + +<p>“We will all go out and look around. To-night +we will return here, meet, and report our +success.”</p> + +<p>Nick divided the money he had among them, +and the trio started forth.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> + +<p>As they came to a business portion of the city +they separated. Nick took one street and Frank +and Will went down another together.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Nick glanced at the gilded inscription over the +arched doorway.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> + +<p>A strange, intense look came over his face as +he read the same:</p> + +<p class="center"> + JAMES VAIL,<br> + <span class="smcap">Broker</span>.<br> + Marine Loans and Insurance a Specialty. +</p> + +<p>Somehow the name held his attention. It +sounded familiar. Where had he heard it before?</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Star of Hope</i>.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the man who had got out of the automobile +was James Vail, and Nick glanced at the +car again.</p> + +<p>Then he started, and his amazed glance rested +upon the vehicle and its vicinage intently +curious.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>for the building into which the man from the +automobile had just disappeared.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He came upon the ragpicker before he had +reached the middle of the street, and laid hold +of the bag.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p> + +<p>“Stop! stop!” he cried.</p> + +<p>The man tugged at the sack, and then turned +a fierce, angry face on Nick.</p> + +<p>“Letta alone! Go away! I licka you! Letta +go, letta go!” he shouted, reaching his free hand +around to strike Nick.</p> + +<p>“No. You stole something out of that automobile. +Put it back or I will call a policeman!”</p> + +<p>“Ah! you boy, I killa you!”</p> + +<p>The fierce, revengeful face of the ragpicker +was aflame with passion as he tried to wrest the +bag from Nick’s grasp.</p> + +<p>The latter held on, however, and was whirled +round and round, always opposite the man.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the latter dropped the bag. Like a +flash Nick went down, the bag on top of him.</p> + +<p>The man caught his throat in an iron grip.</p> + +<p>“Help! help! This man is a thief!”</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>a vicious kick at young Collins, he fled around a +corner.</p> + +<p>Nick struggled to his feet, pale and gasping. +A policeman bustled up and seized his arm.</p> + +<p>“Here, what’s the trouble?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>“Arrest that man!” Nick answered, pointing in +the direction the ragman had gone.</p> + +<p>“What man?”</p> + +<p>“The man that owns this bag.”</p> + +<p>“Ain’t this your bag?” asked the policeman +suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“What are you doing with it, then?”</p> + +<p>“He tried to steal—oh, from your automobile, +sir.”</p> + +<p>Nick had seen the owner of the machine among +the bystanders.</p> + +<p>“My car?” repeated the man, casting a glance +at his automobile.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“That man reached into it and stole—this!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span></p> + +<p>As he spoke Nick opened the bag and produced +the portfolio. The owner of it turned pale.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” he ejaculated. “How careless +of me to leave it there. Did you stop the +man?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered Nick quietly.</p> + +<p>“A hundred thousand dollars in negotiable securities, +and nearly stolen!” murmured the other. +“Here, boy!”</p> + +<p>He drew some coins from his pocket, looked at +them a moment, as if in hesitation, then said:</p> + +<p>“Come into the office, boy. I want to see you.”</p> + +<p>Nick followed him. The crowd gazed at the +young hero of the occasion admiringly.</p> + +<p>“Plucky boy! He deserves a hundred for that +act,” was the remark of one onlooker.</p> + +<p>“Who is it?”</p> + +<p>“Vail, the broker. The boy saved him a hundred +thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“No danger of a big reward there! He’s too +close-fisted!”</p> + +<p>“And needs all his money to pay his honest +debts if rumor has it right!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Mr. Vail ushered Nick into a large countingroom +and thence into his private office.</p> + +<p>A crafty-faced, smirking man, evidently a +manager or confidential clerk, stood at a railed +inclosure and looked up inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“Trouble outside, Mr. Vail?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“I should say so! Loucks, look here!”</p> + +<p>“Your portfolio?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I carelessly left it in the automobile and +some one stole it.”</p> + +<p>“How did you get it back?”</p> + +<p>“This boy recovered it.”</p> + +<p>“Much in it?”</p> + +<p>“All the Speedwell bonds.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“We must reward the boy, Loucks.”</p> + +<p>“If you please, sir——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> + +<p>“We must give him a substantial reward.”</p> + +<p>“Let the boy speak, Mr. Vail. What was it, +lad?”</p> + +<p>“I want no reward, sir.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Vail, halfway to his desk, stopped short.</p> + +<p>“No reward!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Eminently unselfish and proper!” nodded +Loucks, smiling. “Quite right, my lad! Only a +duty, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, but I would like work.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Vail looked relieved at an escape from paying +money in reward for Nick’s services. He regarded +the boy searchingly for a moment.</p> + +<p>“Do you live in the city?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“I just came here last night.”</p> + +<p>“He looks honest, Loucks. Is there a vacancy?”</p> + +<p>“I can make one, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Do so. This boy will work cheap.”</p> + +<p>“Write your name on that,” said Loucks, handing +a pen and paper to Nick.</p> + +<p>Nick did so.</p> + +<p>“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. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>Good day. Boy of sense and honesty! No +reward! Excellent! Good day!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + THE YELLOW PACKAGE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Frank had been more fortunate. Finding no +regular situation open, he had sold copies of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>weekly paper, and by perseverance and hard work +had actually made a dollar by his day’s labor.</p> + +<p>Both the boys were amazed and interested at +Nick’s story.</p> + +<p>“You are always having lucky adventures,” +said Will.</p> + +<p>“Not very lucky. Only five dollars a week,” +replied Nick.</p> + +<p>“But it’s a steady place.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Stay here,” said Will promptly.</p> + +<p>“Yes. It’s going to rain, and it’s comfortable +and economical here,” assented Frank.</p> + +<p>“Very well, boys,” replied Nick, and preparations +for supper were soon under way.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>talking, and soon after the latter lapsed into +silence.</p> + +<p>Nick was aroused from a fit of reflection +abruptly.</p> + +<p>“Nick!”</p> + +<p>It was Frank’s voice, and raised scarcely above +a whisper.</p> + +<p>Nick regarded his companion inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Frank?”</p> + +<p>“Sh! not so loud.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“We may be heard.”</p> + +<p>“Who by?”</p> + +<p>“A man outside there.”</p> + +<p>“What of it?”</p> + +<p>“He seems to be watching the house.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe it’s some one who might arrest us +for staying here?”</p> + +<p>“I guess not. He’s only taking a walk.”</p> + +<p>“In the rain?”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. It does look singular.”</p> + +<p>“It’s the third time he has passed the house in +the last half hour.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> + +<p>“Are you sure?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—I’ve been watching him. Now, you wait +and he’ll come in sight again.”</p> + +<p>“He must walk around the block, then?”</p> + +<p>“It looks so, and it looks suspicious, Nick.”</p> + +<p>The boys watched the street from their shadowed +covert, and sure enough, at the end of a few +minutes the same man appeared.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then he would glance searchingly around again +and resume his walk, passing out of sight down +the block.</p> + +<p>“What can it mean?” asked Nick.</p> + +<p>“He seems to be expecting some one.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“To come for the package?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s watch again.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>The result was the same. The man reappeared, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>went through the same strange movements, and +disappeared as before.</p> + +<p>Once, twice, three times, four times.</p> + +<p>The man came and went, came and went. Always +the same searching glances, always the yellow +package.</p> + +<p>Just as he disappeared the last time, Nick +started to his feet excitedly.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Nick?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“The man!”</p> + +<p>“He’s gone.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but the package.”</p> + +<p>“What of it?”</p> + +<p>“He dropped it.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t see him.”</p> + +<p>“I did.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“You can’t see it from here, but I saw it fall.”</p> + +<p>“Then it’s on the sidewalk?”</p> + +<p>“Just at the edge of the fence. He went to put +it back in his pocket, and it slipped and fell to the +walk.”</p> + +<p>“Go and get it.”</p> + +<p>“And give it to him—yes.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p> + +<p>“Shall I go with you?”</p> + +<p>“No. There is no use of both of us getting +wet.”</p> + +<p>Nick ran down the veranda steps and out to the +sidewalk.</p> + +<p>Traversing its length, just at the end of the +lot he paused and looked around him.</p> + +<p>Lying at the edge of the sidewalk in a little +puddle of water was a yellow-covered parcel.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was raining hard, and Nick stepped under +the spreading tree near the lamp-post.</p> + +<p>What could the package contain? But that +was not his affair. His business was to return it +to the man who had lost it.</p> + +<p>He gazed down the street in the direction that +the man had gone.</p> + +<p>No one was in sight—the stranger had disappeared.</p> + +<p>“He has gone around the block,” decided Nick. +“He will be sure to return. I won’t run after him. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>When he comes this way again I will return it +to him.”</p> + +<p>He waited. Five—ten—fifteen minutes—half +an hour passed, and still the stranger did not return.</p> + +<p>“Had I better go in search of him?” Nick asked +himself.</p> + +<p>He had thrust the package inside his coat and +glanced once more searchingly up and down the +street.</p> + +<p>“Ah, there he comes!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Like the other, he scanned the vicinity anxiously.</p> + +<p>As he neared Nick the latter could just see a +pair of unnaturally bright eyes and the end of a +long, snow-white beard.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> + +<p>The man started and shrank back as he caught +sight of Nick for the first time.</p> + +<p>Their eyes met.</p> + +<p>And then transpired for the startled Nick Collins +an event as strange and perplexing as ever +fell to the lot of boy or man.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + A DEEP MYSTERY. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Whoever the man was, he stared very hard at +Nick, and seemed about to address him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then, in an effort to restore its clinging folds, +the face was revealed, and Nick Collins had a full +view of it.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>That face Nick never forgot, and he was destined +to see it very soon again under the strangest +of circumstances.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In a bound he was at Nick’s side.</p> + +<p>“The yellow package!” he cried, in shrill, eager +tones.</p> + +<p>“Yes. The man——”</p> + +<p>“Give it to me! At last! Here!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>What did it mean? What was the significance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>of these strange doings? Who were the two men +who appeared and disappeared so singularly?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Frank called to him from the veranda.</p> + +<p>“Nick!”</p> + +<p>Collins looked up and down the street, and reluctantly +entered the garden and approached the +veranda.</p> + +<p>“I thought you were going to stay away all +night,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“I thought so myself,” was the other’s preoccupied +answer.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you wet through?”</p> + +<p>Nick had not noticed, but believed he was. +Frank, who had observed all that had occurred, +was keen for information.</p> + +<p>“Nick!” he cried sharply.</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“What does all of it mean? Rouse up! You +seem to be going to sleep.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> + +<p>Nick roused himself.</p> + +<p>“Tell me what it all means!” persisted Frank.</p> + +<p>“You saw me on the sidewalk?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you know as much as I do.”</p> + +<p>“But the man?”</p> + +<p>“There were two men.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know, and the last one?”</p> + +<p>Nick related what he had said.</p> + +<p>“And he gave you another package?” said +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Is that it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Frank looked at the package curiously.</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose is in it, Nick?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you going to open it?”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t mine.”</p> + +<p>“The man gave it to you.”</p> + +<p>“By mistake.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you think so?”</p> + +<p>“Because it certainly was not intended for me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> + +<p>“Whether or not, it is yours now. Open it. +That may give us a clue to the owner.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe we had better.”</p> + +<p>“Of course we had,” cried the curious Frank.</p> + +<p>“Come inside.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Nick glanced at the outside of the package. It +was covered with a piece of manila paper and tied +carelessly with a string.</p> + +<p>He untied this. The first covering was removed. +A second one appeared; it was of thin +tissue paper. This was removed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nick!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Bank notes—fives, tens, twenties!</p> + +<p>There was nothing in the package but money.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. + <br><br><span class="small"> + FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Never in their life had the boys seen so much +money at one time.</p> + +<p>They could scarcely believe the evidence of +their eyes.</p> + +<p>But it was certainly money—genuine wealth—heaps +of it, and, for all the outside world might +know, it was theirs.</p> + +<p>Nick Collins sat staring at it blankly, as if +dazed. Frank looked frightened.</p> + +<p>“Nick, it’s money!”</p> + +<p>“Of course it is, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do with it?”</p> + +<p>Nick began to pick up the scattered bills. As he +piled them one upon another he counted them.</p> + +<p>He restored them to their original package, tied +them up with trembling fingers, and said:</p> + +<p>“Frank, it’s strange!”</p> + +<p>“Nick, I should say so.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span></p> + +<p>“Do you know how much there is in that package?”</p> + +<p>“About one million dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Not quite as much as that,” said Nick, smiling.</p> + +<p>“Half a million?”</p> + +<p>“No, five thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“And we’ve got it?”</p> + +<p>Nick looked around cautiously.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Frank, and we want to be careful that no +one sees us with it.”</p> + +<p>“They’ll rob us of it, you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, or think that we have stolen it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, of all strange things!”</p> + +<p>“It’s strange, all right; but I begin to see the +light.”</p> + +<p>“You do?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“It’s only an idea I have.”</p> + +<p>“It may be the right one.”</p> + +<p>“Possibly.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me about it, Nick.”</p> + +<p>“Well, the first man that passed by here had +the yellow package.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“He seemed to hold it so that any one expecting +to meet him would see it.”</p> + +<p>“It looked so.”</p> + +<p>“He finally got tired of waiting.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Probably he thought that the person he expected +wouldn’t come to-night.”</p> + +<p>“On account of the rain?”</p> + +<p>“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“Then what happened?”</p> + +<p>“He went away.”</p> + +<p>“Losing the package as he went?”</p> + +<p>“Without knowing it—yes.”</p> + +<p>“What about the second man?”</p> + +<p>“He appeared a few minutes later.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Nick.”</p> + +<p>“He looked around as if expecting to find some +one here.”</p> + +<p>“I noticed that.”</p> + +<p>“He discovered me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; and then?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I was not the person he expected to see, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>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.”</p> + +<p>“What did he do next?”</p> + +<p>“Just picked up the package and scooted.”</p> + +<p>“Leaving the money in its place?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Nick, I believe you are right,” cried Frank.</p> + +<p>“Anyway, here is the money. It isn’t ours. It +is a large amount, and it will be sought for.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do with it?”</p> + +<p>“Keep it for a while. One of the men may return +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>here to-night or to-morrow night. It is our +duty to watch for him.”</p> + +<p>“And if he does not?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that they would say nothing to +Will of the money that night, and they did not disturb +him from his slumbers.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>From his last doze Nick awoke as much mystified +about the money as ever.</p> + +<p>He had dreamed of murder, fire, and thieves. +The possession of the money was a burden of care +and responsibility to him.</p> + +<p>“Five thousand dollars! Why, that is the price +the notary paid Admiral Semmes for this house,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>he heard the dozing Frank murmur half consciously.</p> + +<p>But he noted the coincidence carelessly.</p> + +<p>Clever boys sometimes fail to appreciate the +importance of trifles.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. + <br><br><span class="small"> + AT THE OFFICE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Long before eight o’clock that morning Nick +Collins was at the office of James Vail, the broker.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The Vail offices were in charge of the janitor +when Nick arrived, and the latter, not knowing +him, refused to admit him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Loucks was there soon after Nick arrived, +however, and greeted him with his usual smirk of +calmness.</p> + +<p>“Ah! early, my boy! That’s right. Come in—come +in, and I’ll tell you what you have to do.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> + +<p>He made Nick sit down when they reached the +private office.</p> + +<p>“Well, ready for work, eh?” he asked briskly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“And willing? That’s right. Let’s see, Nick +is your name?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir—Nick Collins.”</p> + +<p>“Yes—yes,” and Loucks regarded Nick keenly. +“Your parents living?”</p> + +<p>“They are both dead, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Father a farmer, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>As Loucks said this his crafty eyes belied the +sincerity of the question.</p> + +<p>“No, sir—a sailor.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, yes—a sailor. Merchant service?”</p> + +<p>“I believe so, sir. He died when I was quite +young, and I don’t remember much about him.”</p> + +<p>This information seemed to please Loucks, for +he changed the subject at once and began to inform +Nick of his duties as messenger.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>can look out of the window. You see two ground-glass +slides here. Do you know what they are +for?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Yours and Mr. Vail’s, sir?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>The clerks began to arrive soon afterward, and +later still Mr. Vail himself appeared.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Nick was kept quite busy during the morning, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>running errands and helping carry the enormous +ledgers and other blank books for the clerks to +and from the vault.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then Loucks came to him.</p> + +<p>“Stay till five o’clock, Nick,” he said. “I may +want to send you on a special errand.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, sir.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A small, broken piece of glass in one corner of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>the sash, evidently pried out by his curious predecessor, +aided his effect.</p> + +<p>As Nick sat there he could both see and hear all +that transpired in the private office.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, Loucks,” he said, “that’s the balance—that’s +the outlook, is it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mr. Vail.”</p> + +<p>“Then it’s ruin!”</p> + +<p>Nick started in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Ruin it is at those figures, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Is there no way out of it?”</p> + +<p>“There is.”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>Nick, glancing through the window, saw the +snaky Loucks move nearer to Vail.</p> + +<p>“You must leave all to me, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, Loucks?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You do?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What are they?”</p> + +<p>“Rather risky, but sure.”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“The Speedwell estate.”</p> + +<p>“What about it?”</p> + +<p>“Negotiate the securities lying in the vault, +and secure a temporary loan to tide over present +difficulties.”</p> + +<p>If ever there was a tempter’s face shown, it was +Loucks’ just then. The broker turned pale.</p> + +<p>“No! no!” he cried. “Are you mad, Loucks? +That would be fraud.”</p> + +<p>Loucks smiled calmly.</p> + +<p>“And what, then, sir, may I ask?”</p> + +<p>“Arrest—disgrace.”</p> + +<p>“If found out—yes; but trust me that no one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>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.”</p> + +<p>James Vail seemed to be in mental misery at the +words of Loucks.</p> + +<p>“How can you do that?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Never mind how, but I can give you one hint. +You know the <i>Vista</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Our old ship in the West Indies trade?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What of it?”</p> + +<p>“She’s past her best, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Cost thirty thousand dollars and worth ten +thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“Insure her for her full cost. Suppose she +should burn some night?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At that moment there came an interruption.</p> + +<p>Tap! tap!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> + +<p>“Some one is at the office door, Loucks,” said +Vail.</p> + +<p>Loucks glided to the door and opened it.</p> + +<p>The janitor stood there, a man behind him.</p> + +<p>“Some one to see Mr. Vail, sir,” he said.</p> + +<p>“It is past business hours——” began Loucks.</p> + +<p>“I must see him!” declared the visitor, pushing +his way past the janitor.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Vail is engaged, I tell you,” said Loucks.</p> + +<p>“He will see me.”</p> + +<p>“What is your business, sir?”</p> + +<p>“That I can tell to him only.”</p> + +<p>“And your name?”</p> + +<p>“Admiral Semmes.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Vail, at the desk, arose quickly to his feet.</p> + +<p>“Show him in—show the admiral in,” he said +quickly.</p> + +<p>The stranger strode across the floor with rapid, +nervous tread.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span></p> + +<p>“Mr. Vail, do you remember me?” he asked, +extending his hand to the broker.</p> + +<p>“Perfectly. Close the door, Loucks.”</p> + +<p>Nick Collins recoiled, with a faint cry.</p> + +<p>He had caught a fine glimpse of the face of the +man who announced himself as Admiral Semmes.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. + <br><br><span class="small"> + EVIL PLOTTERS. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Vail had grasped the admiral’s hand and motioned +him to a seat.</p> + +<p>“It is many years since we met,” said the admiral. +“Mr. Vail, I should like to see you alone.”</p> + +<p>The admiral glanced at Loucks as he spoke.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Loucks is my confidential associate in +business,” explained Vail, “and you can freely +give me your confidence before him.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, Mr. Vail.”</p> + +<p>“What is it, admiral?”</p> + +<p>“You say you remember me?”</p> + +<p>“Perfectly.”</p> + +<p>“You remember loaning me and a friend eight +thousand dollars ten years ago?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I recall it distinctly.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> + +<p>“That friend was Captain Collins.”</p> + +<p>“Of the merchant service.”</p> + +<p>“And the ship——”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Star of Hope</i>.”</p> + +<p>“You have a good memory, I see,” said the +admiral.</p> + +<p>“I ought to have in that affair.”</p> + +<p>“Why so?”</p> + +<p>“My loan was secured by insurance on the <i>Star +of Hope</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“And the companies for a time refused to pay +it, claiming that there was no evidence that the +ship was ever lost.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The admiral’s tone grew slightly more earnest +and excited as he spoke these words.</p> + +<p>“What!” ejaculated Vail, starting eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> + +<p>“A fortune, I say. After many years’ waiting +it is mine.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That fortune,” cried the admiral, with flashing +eyes, “is there!”</p> + +<p>He had drawn an object from his pocket and +brought it down with a resounding slam on the +desk at which the broker sat.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Does that contain the money—the fortune?” +asked Vail eagerly.</p> + +<p>“No, Mr. Vail, but it is the key to the fortune.”</p> + +<p>“The key?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes—the clue to a treasure estimated to be +worth over a quarter of a million of dollars.”</p> + +<p>The broker looked somewhat disappointed, still +he evinced an unmistakable interest in the +package.</p> + +<p>“Do you remember what the <i>Star of Hope</i> was +fitted out for?” asked the admiral.</p> + +<p>“Yes. For a South American cruise.”</p> + +<p>“After treasure.”</p> + +<p>“I heard something of that. The ostensible +voyage was for coffee from Brazil.”</p> + +<p>“That was to hide our secret and prevent others +pursuing our line of quest. Listen.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That letter revealed the hiding place of the +sunken treasure,” said the admiral. “Half of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>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 <i>Star of Hope</i>, abandoned the secret and the +treasure as irretrievably lost.”</p> + +<p>“And you?” asked Vail.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Star of +Hope</i>.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>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.”</p> + +<p>“What were they?” queried the interested Vail.</p> + +<p>“Simply these: ‘Come to New York.’”</p> + +<p>“Did he do so?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Your former residence?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“A strange arrangement!” murmured Vail.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, but I agreed to it.”</p> + +<p>“And went to the place indicated?”</p> + +<p>“Promptly.”</p> + +<p>“With the money?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p>“Ready to give it possibly to a swindler who +would palm off a worthless piece of paper upon +you for the money?”</p> + +<p>“I risked that, and I would have risked double +if I had had it and it was necessary.”</p> + +<p>“Was the man there?”</p> + +<p>“No, but his messenger was—a boy.”</p> + +<p>“You obtained the yellow package?”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“It contained what you expected?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>dollars! It is mine, all mine, except the share +that goes to Eccles and to any family Collins may +have left.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I almost forgot to tell you the outcome +of Felisterra’s schemes,” said the admiral. “A +strange fatality happened to him.”</p> + +<p>“How was that?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“Have you any theory?”</p> + +<p>The admiral paused before answering, as if in +thought. At length he said:</p> + +<p>“I had a theory.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you think this?” asked Vail.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t say that I do think so now; but I did, +and it was because Felisterra was so cautious.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you think so now?”</p> + +<p>“Because I know better.”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“Early this morning,” the admiral went on, “a +man came to the hotel where I have been living +recently—a policeman.”</p> + +<p>“To see you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What about?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t quite follow you, admiral,” said Vail. +“Has anything happened to Felisterra?”</p> + +<p>“I should say something had happened to him,” +was the old mariner’s reply.</p> + +<p>“What was it?”</p> + +<p>“He was found late last night only two blocks +away from my old home, a dagger in his breast.”</p> + +<p>“Dead?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed.”</p> + +<p>“How did you hear of it?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Could you give them any clue?”</p> + +<p>“No. The assassin is unknown, and probably +never will be found.”</p> + +<p>“Has anything been learned as to this Felisterra’s +past?” asked the broker.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Did you learn anything else?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. The memorandum showed also that in +a robbery of the mail—committed probably by +some band of South American desperadoes—my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>letter had been found and preserved for its +strangeness.”</p> + +<p>“How came Felisterra to visit this country—this +city?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And what do you intend to do with it?” asked +Vail, his eyes glinting with interest.</p> + +<p>“Make use of it,” the admiral answered +promptly.</p> + +<p>“You will go in search of the treasure?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p>“Alone?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not. I’m getting along in years, +Mr. Vail, but I’m not a fool.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think you were, admiral. Well, what +do you propose?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>have a ship, capital, coöperation in this great undertaking.”</p> + +<p>“How do you expect to get these things?”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” replied the admiral, with a wave of his +hand, “any capitalist would finance a surely paying +enterprise like this.”</p> + +<p>“I understand, admiral. You have come to +me——”</p> + +<p>“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——”</p> + +<p>“How much?” asked Vail eagerly.</p> + +<p>“One-eighth of the treasure recovered.”</p> + +<p>The broker was disappointed, but concealed his +feelings. After pretending to think a moment, +he said:</p> + +<p>“I might lend you a hand, admiral.”</p> + +<p>“You might!” repeated the older man. “Will +you—yes or no?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—if your story is true.”</p> + +<p>“My story true!” cried Semmes excitedly. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span></p> + +<p>“I believe that the venture is a good one, admiral,” +said Vail, resuming his seat.</p> + +<p>“It is sure, and bound to be highly profitable.”</p> + +<p>“And one-eighth is all you will give to me if +I capitalize the expedition?”</p> + +<p>“Absolutely all. The amount at issue is so +large that——Hold on, there!”</p> + +<p>Admiral Semmes sprang excitedly to his feet.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Vail.</p> + +<p>“My paper! See what he’s doing!”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“He’s doing more than look at it!” exclaimed +the old seaman. “He’s copying it. That’s what +he’s doing.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if we go in with you, haven’t we a +right——”</p> + +<p>“No copies, I say,” broke in Semmes. “I won’t +have it!”</p> + +<p>He reached over the railing and tried to seize +the paper, but Loucks moved away.</p> + +<p>“Here, you!” the admiral cried. “Give me my +paper.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span></p> + +<p>Loucks only grinned.</p> + +<p>Then Vail showed his true colors. He laid +hold of Semmes and held him back from the +railing.</p> + +<p>“You’ll get your paper, admiral,” he said, +“when we have made a copy of it.”</p> + +<p>“But you’ve no right to copy it!”</p> + +<p>“What! Not when we are going to join you +in the enterprise?”</p> + +<p>“You may not join me.”</p> + +<p>“We want a copy, anyway.”</p> + +<p>“What right——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve got plenty of right on my side,” +sneered Vail, “if that’s what’s worrying you.”</p> + +<p>“Right on your side!” fumed the admiral. +“What is it, I should like to know?”</p> + +<p>“There is an unpaid claim of interest on the +<i>Star of Hope</i> mortgage,” Vail answered exultantly. +“You’ll not have the courage to deny +that.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> + +<p>“You scoundrel!” he roared. “I see that I’ve +fallen into the hands of a thief.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + A BRAVE BOY’S RESOLVE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Loucks,” said Vail gravely, “this is bad +work.”</p> + +<p>Loucks came from behind the rail, bent down, +and examined the face of the admiral.</p> + +<p>“What do you think of it?” asked the broker.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span></p> + +<p>Loucks, intent on his examination, did not answer.</p> + +<p>“Is he—dangerously hurt?” faltered Vail.</p> + +<p>“No, I think not,” was the other’s answer. +“But he breathes strangely.”</p> + +<p>“What does that mean?”</p> + +<p>“Can’t say exactly, but I don’t like it.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“Leave it to me,” said Loucks reassuringly.</p> + +<p>“But what—what is—to be done?” asked Vail +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t get frightened,” Loucks muttered. +“We’re not responsible for accidents. Our main +care should be for the paper.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. Give the paper to me.”</p> + +<p>Loucks handed the bit of writing to Vail, then +started to leave the room.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” asked his employer, +in surprise.</p> + +<p>“For a doctor.”</p> + +<p>“Is it as bad as that?”</p> + +<p>“Best to be on the safe side. If he should die +on our hands it might be awkward for us. Here, +Nick!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span></p> + +<p>Loucks had entered the outer office, and approached +the door of the messenger’s closet.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Here, Nick, wake up! wake up!”</p> + +<p>Nick started to his feet.</p> + +<p>“An errand, sir?” he asked, in as calm a tone +as he could command.</p> + +<p>“Yes—run for a doctor.”</p> + +<p>“Where, sir?”</p> + +<p>“The nearest doctor is in the Hills Building, +around the corner. A client has fallen in the +office, and needs medical care.”</p> + +<p>Nick sped away with a pounding, anxious +heart. He could only think of obeying orders +just now.</p> + +<p>When he returned in five minutes a professional-looking +man accompanied him.</p> + +<p>Nick followed him into the private office and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>watched his ministrations to the injured admiral +with an anxious face.</p> + +<p>The admiral had recovered motion but not consciousness. +He moved restively and moaned incoherent +words and sentences.</p> + +<p>The physician looked puzzled, and his face +grew graver and graver as the minutes passed +by.</p> + +<p>“The hurt is a trivial one,” he said, “a mere +scalp wound, yet its effect alarms me. Who is +the gentleman, sir?”</p> + +<p>“A chance visitor who came here to borrow +money,” said Loucks. “He fell as he was leaving +the office.”</p> + +<p>“Did he seem rational when he came here?”</p> + +<p>“Scarcely,” replied Vail. “He seemed to be +entertaining some delusion regarding an immense +amount of money.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! that explains it. I would advise you to +get him to his friends.”</p> + +<p>“We do not know them.”</p> + +<p>“Then to some hospital. He needs watching +and care more than medicine. The fall evidently +has precipitated a long-threatened mental trouble. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>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.”</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>“Heaven help me to be a friend to this lonely +old man in his misery and misfortune!” was the +wish that Nick breathed.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + EVENTS OF A DAY. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“What the dickens is the matter, Nick?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“And what became of the admiral?” Frank +asked, when Nick had finished his narrative of +the events of which the reader is cognizant.</p> + +<p>“They took him to a hospital.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“I could not learn.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Nick!” exclaimed the other boys, in a +tone of rebuke.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s too bad,” said Frank. “But I don’t +see that you are to blame.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you are not, Nick,” chimed in +Will.</p> + +<p>“Boys,” said Nick, “I’m terribly cut up about +it. It seems as if the old man’s misfortune is +my own.”</p> + +<p>“It is, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“In a way, yes; for my father was part owner +in the treasure.”</p> + +<p>“I know what I’d do!” cried Will.</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Nick eagerly.</p> + +<p>“I’d—I’d have those men arrested.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“Vail and Loucks.”</p> + +<p>Nick smiled at Will’s greenness.</p> + +<p>“What would you have them arrested for, +Will?” he asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> + +<p>“For stealing the paper.”</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t prove that.”</p> + +<p>“Then have them arrested for knocking down +the admiral.”</p> + +<p>“They would deny it all and get me into +trouble,” replied the keen but cautious Nick.</p> + +<p>“One thing is certain,” said Will. “I wouldn’t +work another day for such villains.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think that would be a good plan, +either,” returned Nick.</p> + +<p>“What! You don’t mean to say you’re going +to stay in their office after all that has happened?”</p> + +<p>“I certainly am,” replied Nick calmly.</p> + +<p>“But they are the wickedest kind of men.”</p> + +<p>“I know it, Will, and it’s just on that account +I’m going to remain in their employ.”</p> + +<p>“I understand what you mean, Nick!” cried +Frank.</p> + +<p>“Do you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. You’re going to stay there and keep an +eye on them.”</p> + +<p>“You’ve hit it. Don’t you see now, Frank?” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>said Nick. “Unless some one watches them, and +beats them in their scheme, they will succeed.”</p> + +<p>“Then you’re going to watch them?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>out a careful description of the place where the +boys were making their home, so that the captain +might find it easily.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Frank and Will had been offered work in a +printing establishment, so the boys all left their +temporary home early the next morning.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Evidently Loucks had not the faintest suspicion +that Nick knew anything at all of the important +events attending the visit of the old +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>sailor, for he scarcely noticed the boy that morning, +and treated him carelessly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The broker’s countenance was pale and wore +a worried look, and Nick guessed that he had +passed a sleepless night.</p> + +<p>“What news, Loucks?” he asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>“About—our man?”</p> + +<p>“The admiral—yes.”</p> + +<p>“All charming and serene,” Loucks answered, +with a crafty wink and a chuckle.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” Vail demanded, in a low +tone.</p> + +<p>“Haven’t we got everything our own way?”</p> + +<p>“Explain.”</p> + +<p>“Why, you have the paper.”</p> + +<p>“Yes—the treasure clue.”</p> + +<p>“The hospital has the man. The situation +looks pretty good to me.”</p> + +<p>“Did you go to the hospital this morning?” +Vail asked, after pondering the other’s words a +moment.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“How is he?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing to be feared from that quarter.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“The man is a raving maniac.”</p> + +<p>Vail, not yet wholly hardened to guilt, quailed +a little at this.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said presently, as if to still the +voice of conscience, “we didn’t make him a +maniac.”</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” chimed in Loucks, with a +grin. “It was an accident.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> + +<p>“And as Semmes owes us some back interest——”</p> + +<p>“Very far back, and very misty, Vail,” put in +the other, whistling lowly.</p> + +<p>The broker frowned at the other’s familiarity, +but did not rebuke him with words.</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s a pity to have all that treasure lying +idle,” he went on.</p> + +<p>“Right you are.”</p> + +<p>“Especially at this time.”</p> + +<p>“When we need the money.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. No one knows about it but us.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“One thing is certain,” Loucks said. “The admiral +will never be able to claim anything in this +life.”</p> + +<p>“But suppose, by an unlucky chance, he +should?” said Vail anxiously.</p> + +<p>“That chance is so long as not to be worth +thinking about,” returned the broker’s associate. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>“But if ever he should claim it, isn’t one-eighth +of it ours?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,” replied Vail absently.</p> + +<p>“No one even knows that the admiral is at the +hospital. He seems to have no friends or relatives. +His partner is dead.”</p> + +<p>“Captain Collins?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“But his son lives. Funny he stumbled across +us, eh, Vail? Little he suspects, though. Well, +go on.”</p> + +<p>“So I have decided to act.”</p> + +<p>“At once?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“How? Go for the treasure?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“Not yourself?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, myself. Why not?”</p> + +<p>“But the office business here?”</p> + +<p>“You must take care of that.”</p> + +<p>“We need money.”</p> + +<p>“Raise it by a loan for a year on the Speedwell +estate.”</p> + +<p>“We can do that.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> + +<p>“Long before it is due I will have returned +with the treasure.”</p> + +<p>“If you don’t get wrecked.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t worry about that.”</p> + +<p>“But you’ve got to find the treasure,” remarked +Loucks.</p> + +<p>“I can’t fail.”</p> + +<p>“Are the directions explicit?”</p> + +<p>“Very.”</p> + +<p>“Where is the letter?”</p> + +<p>“I put it in my private box in the vault.”</p> + +<p>“We divide on the result, don’t we?” asked +Loucks greedily.</p> + +<p>“Dollar for dollar.”</p> + +<p>“Good. That is fair, and I am with you to +the end. Now, what is the program?”</p> + +<p>“To raise money, first.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll attend to that.”</p> + +<p>“To get the business here in running shape for +a year.”</p> + +<p>“Money will do it.”</p> + +<p>“To buy or charter a ship.”</p> + +<p>“That’s easy.”</p> + +<p>“Secure a crew.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“And start for the treasure island.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Bad eggs from a broken basket!” he cried +savagely.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Loucks?” asked Vail.</p> + +<p>“A young scapegrace relative of mine in +trouble, and he is being sent to me to reform.”</p> + +<p>“Who is he?”</p> + +<p>“His name is Jack Benson.”</p> + +<p>Nick Collins started.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll see about it,” replied Vail carelessly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>to make sure that his individual rights +should be protected.</p> + +<p>He returned the letter to the vault and folded +the copy and placed it in his pocket with a sinister +smile of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Then he came to Nick, his hat and gloves in +hand.</p> + +<p>“I’m going home for the day, Nick,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I will, sir.”</p> + +<p>Loucks departed. Nick glanced into the countingroom. +There was but one person there, the +bookkeeper poring over his ledgers.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Could he but obtain that, and place it and the +money in Captain Eccles’ hands, what better outfit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>for a voyage in quest of the treasure could +they ask?</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Once that resolve was made he was reckless +of consequences. He stole cautiously toward the +vault.</p> + +<p>The bookkeeper seemed about to close his +books, but he did not glance toward Nick, and the +latter kept on his way.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He reached the iron door and pushed it quickly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>gently back. He crossed the threshold and then +the stone floor.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then he recoiled in terror.</p> + +<p>Hasty footsteps were coming toward the vault.</p> + +<p>“The bookkeeper,” murmured Nick, in affright. +“I shall be discovered.”</p> + +<p>He could not hope to escape through the open +door without being seen.</p> + +<p>He glanced wildly about him. The bookkeeper +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>had probably come after a book and would soon +return to his desk.</p> + +<p>If he could hide safely during his brief visit +Nick felt assured that he could later escape unperceived.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As the bookkeeper left the vault he closed the +ponderous outer door securely, making the boy a +prisoner.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. + <br><br><span class="small"> + A NIGHT OF SUSPENSE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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? + </p> + <p> + The thought was terrible to Nick. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + Finally exhausted, he sank to the marble floor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + With light and an assurance of air, Nick felt + that he was in no immediate danger. It was only + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “The paper!” + </p> + <p> + The clue to the treasure was now as good as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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.” + </p> + <p> + “This is it!” he exclaimed. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> + me but to make a break for it as soon as the door + is opened.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p><p> + Nick read it again and again, learned it by + heart, repeated it aloud, and at last put the paper + in his pocket. + </p><p> + “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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> + the matter with my having a sleep. It looks good + to me.” + </p><p> + 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. + </p><p> + Nick turned out the light. + </p><p> + 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. + </p><p> + 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. + </p><p> + The man was Loucks. + </p><p> + He was speaking to some clerk near the vault. + Nick heard the clerk answer: + </p><p> + “No, the boy has not been here this morning.” + </p><p> + “They have missed me!” murmured Nick. + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> + </p><p> + “Is your private box all you want, Mr. Vail?” + called out Loucks toward the private office. + </p><p> + There seemed to be an affirmative response. + </p><p> + Then Loucks opened the door wide and entered + the vault. + </p><p> + Every nerve was on edge as Nick shrank close + to the corner nearest the door. + </p><p> + Loucks passed by him and reached for the tin + box on the shelf. + </p><p> + Nick started to spring from the vault, but he + was not quick enough. Loucks turned suddenly + and grabbed him. + </p><p> + “Hello! What does this mean?” he exclaimed. + </p><p> + One hand holding the box, Loucks dragged the + boy out into the light of the countingroom. + </p><p> + The clerks had heard Loucks’ startled cry, and + stared wonderingly at Nick. Loucks looked + blankly at his prisoner. + </p><p> + “Nick! Nick Collins!” he ejaculated. + </p><p> + “Yes, sir,” murmured Nick faintly. + </p><p> + “You were in that vault all night?” + </p><p> + “I was locked in accidentally, sir.” + </p><p> + A dark, distrustful look came into Loucks’ + face. He fairly dragged Nick into the private + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span> + office, scowled disapprovingly at the staring + clerks, opened and closed the door, and pushed + Nick to a chair. + </p><p> + “What is this?” cried Mr. Vail, who was seated + at his desk. + </p><p> + “It’s the errand boy.” + </p><p> + “Ah, and late, too! That’s bad.” + </p><p> + “He is, on the contrary, very early,” said + Loucks, in a peculiar tone. + </p><p> + “What!” + </p><p> + “He has been here since daylight, since midnight—in + fact, all night, shut up in the vault, accidentally, + he says.” + </p><p> + “Incredible, Loucks!” + </p><p> + The broker had started violently as his eye fell + on the tin box. + </p><p> + “Loucks, look at that!” + </p><p> + “The box!” + </p><p> + “Yes. The lock is broken. Boy, what do you + know of this?” demanded the broker sternly. + </p><p> + Nick did not answer. Vail opened the box. + </p><p> + “Gone!” he cried. + </p><p> + “What is gone?” asked Loucks. + </p><p> + “The yellow package.” + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span> + </p><p> + “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!” + </p><p> + 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. + </p><p> + Just then there was an interruption. The office + door opened. A clerk from the countingroom + appeared. + </p><p> + “A gentleman to see you, Mr. Vail.” + </p><p> + “I am busy. Let him wait a minute or two.” + </p><p> + “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?” + </p><p> + Nick was silent. + </p><p> + “You took it.” + </p><p> + “Search him!” ordered Vail angrily. + </p><p> + “He’s in some plot to rob us,” cried Loucks. + “Here it is!” + </p><p> + Sure enough, there it was. All Nick Collins’ + bravery and patience had been of no avail. The + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> + yellow package was produced triumphantly by + Loucks from an inner pocket of the boy’s coat + and thrown upon the desk. + </p><p> + Loucks resumed his search and brought forth + a second package. + </p><p> + “This is mine—not yours!” declared Nick. + “Give it back to me!” + </p><p> + The second package was the five thousand dollars + that belonged to Admiral Semmes. + </p><p> + “Ha! money!” exclaimed Vail. “Why, this + boy is a systematic thief!” + </p><p> + “Three—four—why, Vail, there’s fully five + thousand dollars in this package!” + </p><p> + “But it isn’t ours!” + </p><p> + “Not ours?” + </p><p> + “No.” + </p><p> + “Why not?” + </p><p> + “I didn’t leave a dollar in the vault last + night.” + </p><p> + “No, it is not yours. Give it to me!” cried + Nick. + </p><p> + But Loucks held him in a strong grasp. + </p><p> + “Boy,” he said fiercely, “how came you in that + vault?” + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> + </p><p> + Nick was desperate now. + </p><p> + “To prevent your wicked plans to rob Admiral + Semmes,” he replied audaciously. + </p><p> + “He knows all!” cried Vail, in dismay. + </p><p> + “Where did you get that money?” + </p><p> + “It belongs to Admiral Semmes. Let me go. + Give me that money or I will go to the police and + expose you.” + </p><p> + “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.” + </p><p> + “No, you won’t!” + </p><p> + 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. + </p><p> + To the dismayed plotters the newcomer was + only a bronzed, rough-looking sailor. To Nick + he was his strange acquaintance of Parkdale—Captain + Eccles! + </p><p> + He bore in his hand a heavy cane. His homely + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span> + face fairly bristled with indignation as he strode + boldly to the desk. + </p><p> + With one swift swoop he seized the two packages + lying there. + </p><p> + The broker sprang to his feet. Loucks made + a movement to tear the money and paper from + his grasp. + </p><p> + Whack! The heavy cane came down on + Loucks’ pate with a sounding blow. + </p><p> + “Stand back!” roared the captain. “I am not + to be trifled with!” + </p><p> + “You murderous scoundrel! I’ll call the police!” + cried Loucks. + </p><p> + The whirling cudgel again drove him back. + </p><p> + “Who are you?” gasped Vail, in amazement. + </p><p> + “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.” + </p><p> + 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: + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span> + </p><p> + “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!” + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. + <br><br><span class="small"> + NEW PLOTS. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>But neither of them spoke. There was a difference +between dealing with a helpless, friendless +boy and a big, powerful, self-possessed man.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>you have injured my friend, Admiral Semmes, +I’ll have you locked up before night.”</p> + +<p>There was no reply yet. The plotters saw the +uselessness of argument with their visitor.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Captain Eccles darted a last menacing glance +at Vail and Loucks and strode from the room.</p> + +<p>As the door slammed after him the eyes of the +plotters met.</p> + +<p>One furious, desperate ejaculation alone left +the lips of Vail, the broker.</p> + +<p>It was——</p> + +<p>“Ruined!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, the boy and his friend have beaten us!”</p> + +<p>“Follow him!”</p> + +<p>“That man?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Loucks rubbed his bruised head ruefully and +shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p> + +<p>“Not I,” he said.</p> + +<p>“We must know where he goes—we must defeat +his plans.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll try it.”</p> + +<p>Loucks caught up his hat and hurried from +the room.</p> + +<p>On the steps outside the building he paused.</p> + +<p>Just across the road stood Captain Eccles. He +saw Loucks, waved his cane warningly, and +strode on.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Uncle!”</p> + +<p>The boy who spoke the word was ragged and +an unpleasant grin was on his face.</p> + +<p>Loucks only stared at him.</p> + +<p>“Uncle!” repeated the boy. “Don’t you know +me?”</p> + +<p>“Know you!” said the man, in a tone of disgust. +“I should say I did. Jack Benson.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, uncle. Ain’t you glad to see me?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> + +<p>“What the dickens are you doing in New +York?” demanded Loucks, with a frown.</p> + +<p>“The folks sent me here.”</p> + +<p>“Sent you <i>here</i>! In Heaven’s name, what +for?”</p> + +<p>“To see you. They said you’d find something +for me to do.”</p> + +<p>“Who said so?”</p> + +<p>“The folks, uncle.”</p> + +<p>“Confound the folks! They’ve sent you here +to sponge on me. You look half starved.”</p> + +<p>“I am,” Jack said quickly. “But say, uncle, +what is that man doing here?”</p> + +<p>“What man?”</p> + +<p>“The one that shook the club at you.”</p> + +<p>Loucks started, and an eager look came into his +eyes.</p> + +<p>“Do you know that man, Jack?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Sure I do.”</p> + +<p>“Who is he?”</p> + +<p>“Captain Eccles.”</p> + +<p>“Yes. He told us that. But where’s he from?”</p> + +<p>“Parkdale.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know Nick Collins, too?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p> + +<p>“You bet I do.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you say it that way?” asked Loucks.</p> + +<p>“I had a row with him in Parkdale, and I got +into trouble through getting even with him.”</p> + +<p>Loucks’ crafty face worked with excitement.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I want something to eat first,” put in Benson.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’ll get all you want to eat. Do you +see this?”</p> + +<p>Loucks held up a ten-dollar gold piece that he +had taken from his pocket.</p> + +<p>Jack’s eyes glittered.</p> + +<p>“Do I see it?” he said. “I should say so! What +about it?”</p> + +<p>“It’s yours if you do what I tell you.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, do what I tell you and you can have all +you want to eat.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>“I want you to follow that man.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span></p> + +<p>He pointed across the street, where Captain +Eccles, his back to them now, stood looking in a +shop window.</p> + +<p>“Follow Captain Eccles?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and find out where he is staying.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll do it.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack started to go.</p> + +<p>“Wait a second,” said Loucks. “He’s standing +there yet. Now, this man probably will meet +Nick Collins.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you think so?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll do it.”</p> + +<p>“And, Jack—if you succeed I’ll make it twenty +dollars. Quick! He’s going!”</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Cheer up, Vail,” said Loucks. “All is not lost +yet.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>Loucks told of his meeting with his nephew, +and how he had sent him to shadow Captain +Eccles.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how that is going to help us,” said +Vail despondently.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you?”</p> + +<p>“I certainly do not.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p> + +<p>“Suppose we locate the captain?”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“And the boy?”</p> + +<p>“What of it?”</p> + +<p>“Suppose by that means we recover the paper +and the money?”</p> + +<p>“But we won’t.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be so sure of that. But even if we +don’t recover them there is still a chance in our +favor.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to know what it is.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you would? Evidently you haven’t much +faith in my judgment. Look here, Vail; suppose +you stop thinking I’m a fool.”</p> + +<p>“What are you driving at?” growled the +broker.</p> + +<p>“Just this,” answered the other triumphantly. +“I made a duplicate key to your private box not +long ago.”</p> + +<p>Vail only frowned at this evidence of his associate’s +duplicity and craft.</p> + +<p>“You don’t seem to like that little precaution I +took,” remarked Loucks.</p> + +<p>“Precaution! Rascality, I call it,” Vail said.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p> + +<p>“No,” returned Loucks quietly, “it was only a +very wise move on my part, for which you have +to thank me.”</p> + +<p>“Explain yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Well, last night I went to your box.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!”</p> + +<p>“Yes; and I took out that blessed yellow +package.”</p> + +<p>“Pity you didn’t keep it out. Then the boy +wouldn’t have got it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I did better than keeping out.”</p> + +<p>“Come, come,” said Vail impatiently. “Stop +talking in riddles. What did you do?”</p> + +<p>“I made a copy of the paper. There!”</p> + +<p>Vail’s eyes lighted up with pleasure.</p> + +<p>“You made a copy of it?” he said eagerly.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I did.”</p> + +<p>“Then—you—know—the location of the treasure?”</p> + +<p>“Just as well as they do.”</p> + +<p>“And it’s only a question of who gets to the +island where it is first?”</p> + +<p>“Precisely.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Loucks! Splendid work!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p> + +<p>“I thought you’d say so.”</p> + +<p>“Then we needn’t worry about the captain and +the boy. Let them go.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a good idea. I’ll take up the matter +to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Now you’re talking.”</p> + +<p>“I know of a ship, the <i>Diamond</i>, a fast sailer, +that can be chartered at once.”</p> + +<p>“Take her.”</p> + +<p>“I will. And the money?”</p> + +<p>“I will have it by night.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Jack!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“It’s me, uncle.”</p> + +<p>“By Jingo! I didn’t know you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span></p> + +<p>“No? Well, I’m disguised,” said Jack, grinning.</p> + +<p>“I should say you were!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a terrible toothache,” the young +scamp said, with a wink.</p> + +<p>“I see. What did you put that thing on for?”</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t I doing detective work?” asked Jack +smartly. “This disguise helped me to watch +those people you sent me after.”</p> + +<p>“Without being recognized.”</p> + +<p>“Bet your life, uncle.”</p> + +<p>Jack was feeling good. He had just put away +a large “feed” of corned beef and cabbage.</p> + +<p>“Did you follow them?”</p> + +<p>“Eccles—yes.”</p> + +<p>“Where did he go?”</p> + +<p>“To an old house near the river.”</p> + +<p>“Was Nick Collins there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and two other boys.”</p> + +<p>“Who are they?”</p> + +<p>“Frank and Will Alden.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> + +<p>“You know them?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! They are from Parkdale.”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“The house is not occupied, except by them. +I managed to sneak upstairs and listen to what +they said.”</p> + +<p>“They didn’t see you?”</p> + +<p>“Trust me for that. I’m a natural-born detective!” +said Jack proudly.</p> + +<p>“Well, what did they say?”</p> + +<p>“They seemed to have some paper about a +treasure.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!” cried Loucks eagerly.</p> + +<p>“They talked about it for a long time. Then +they decided to go after it.”</p> + +<p>“What, at once?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, to-day. They said that others might be +on the same track.”</p> + +<p>“I understand,” commented Loucks impatiently.</p> + +<p>“And hurry was the thing.”</p> + +<p>“I see.”</p> + +<p>“So the captain said they would go to Pan—Pan——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p> + +<p>“Panama?”</p> + +<p>“That’s it—Panama—first.”</p> + +<p>Loucks looked puzzled, but asked:</p> + +<p>“And then?”</p> + +<p>“He said that he had seen a friend, a ship captain, +who sails for there to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Did he speak this captain’s name?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Captain Dare.”</p> + +<p>“Say that again!” cried Loucks sharply.</p> + +<p>“Captain Dare.”</p> + +<p>“You are sure?”</p> + +<p>“Surest thing you know.”</p> + +<p>“Did he name the ship?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What was it?”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Vista</i>.”</p> + +<p>An ejaculation of delight came from Loucks.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Vista!</i>” he cried. “Our ship. Jack, can I +trust you?”</p> + +<p>“You bet.”</p> + +<p>“Here is a hundred dollars.”</p> + +<p>In blank amazement Jack Benson stared at the +bills Loucks placed in his hand. He had never +seen so much money in his life.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span></p> + +<p>“Mine?” he gasped.</p> + +<p>“All yours, and double it if you obey.”</p> + +<p>“I will.”</p> + +<p>“Then come back here in an hour. Don’t let +the captain or Nick Collins see you.”</p> + +<p>“Not on your life.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Success!” he cried. “They sail on our leaky +old scow, the <i>Vista</i>. 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!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI. + <br><br><span class="small"> + AFLOAT ON THE OCEAN. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“Is everything ready, Nick?”</p> + +<p>It was Captain Eccles who spoke. In the room +were many evidences that preparations for departure +had been under way.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” the boy answered; “I guess we’ve got +everything packed.”</p> + +<p>“Good.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then Captain Eccles went out in search of his +friend, the skipper of the <i>Vista</i>, to arrange for +carrying out a plan he had formed. Eccles, of +course, had no idea that the <i>Vista</i> was a ship over +which Vail had any control. But such was the +case. The vessel had come into the part ownership +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I have decided to act at once,” he said.</p> + +<p>“How, sir?”</p> + +<p>“By starting for the treasure island just as +quickly as we can get away.”</p> + +<p>“That sounds good to me,” said Nick; “but +how about Admiral Semmes?”</p> + +<p>“I have visited him,” the other replied.</p> + +<p>“At the hospital?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I managed after a good deal of trouble +to find the place.”</p> + +<p>“How is he?” asked Nick eagerly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span></p> + +<p>“Then there is hope for him?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. The hospital people thought he would +be all right in a few weeks.”</p> + +<p>“Bully!” cried Nick.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“By gracious, I hope you are right, captain!” +exclaimed Nick.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What about Vail and Loucks?”</p> + +<p>“We will cook their bacon when we get back +and the admiral is well again.”</p> + +<p>“What will you do?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> + +<p>“They have a copy of the treasure clue, captain.”</p> + +<p>“What of that?”</p> + +<p>“They may sail for the island first.”</p> + +<p>“Let them!” cried Eccles. “We’ll outwit them, +my boy. Don’t bother your head about those fellows.”</p> + +<p>“But so much depends upon our getting ahead +of them, captain.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t it take a lot of money?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve no doubt you are right, captain.”</p> + +<p>“It is a sure thing. I had a talk with an old +friend to-day—captain of a West Indian merchantman +called the <i>Vista</i>. His ship touches at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>the Isthmus of Panama on its southern course. +She sails to-morrow morning. Will you go?”</p> + +<p>“Will I go?” exclaimed Nick. “Captain, you +know that I’d give anything to go to sea.”</p> + +<p>“How about your friends?”</p> + +<p>“Frank and Will?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I don’t know just what to do about +them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, they’ll go, too; never fear.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But they haven’t any home, and they say +they’ll go to sea, anyway.”</p> + +<p>After thinking a moment, the captain said:</p> + +<p>“Well, let them come.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I made a very lucky discovery yesterday,” said +Eccles. “It gives us a great start over Vail if he, +too, goes after the treasure.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span></p> + +<p>“We shan’t go round the Horn at all.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“The <i>Vista</i> will drop us at the Isthmus.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; you told me that. And from the Isthmus +how do we go?”</p> + +<p>“Overland to the Pacific coast. There we can +find a steamer or a sailing vessel to make the voyage +south.”</p> + +<p>“And after that?”</p> + +<p>“At Buenaventura or some Peruvian port we +shall find a ship in the coast trade called the +<i>Regent</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Then what?” asked Nick, his eyes glowing at +the prospect of all this voyaging.</p> + +<p>“Then, Nick, for the island and the treasure.”</p> + +<p>“Hooray! You know the captain of the <i>Regent</i>?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How long will it all take?”</p> + +<p>“Well, let me see. If we meet with no accidents, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>we ought to be well on the track of the +treasure before Vail rounds the Horn.”</p> + +<p>You may be sure that it was a trio of very happy +boys who the next day went aboard the <i>Vista</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>Captain Dare, skipper of the <i>Vista</i>, had greeted +the boys in a friendly manner, and they soon felt +at home aboard the ship.</p> + +<p>Nick found the <i>Vista</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Vista</i> passed out of sight of land.</p> + +<p>It was about an hour after dusk, and only a +faint moonlight relieved the darkness, when +something fell overboard, and a boat was sent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Vista’s</i> wake.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The rope that had held it had been cut or cast +off, and the yawl was drifting, while the <i>Vista</i> +steamed on, leaving the boy tossing in her wake!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span></p> + +<p>“Help! Help! Man overboard!” Nick cried +wildly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boy at the rail was Jack Benson!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + A TERROR AT SEA. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>Two hours went by before any one noted Nick’s +absence from the deck of the <i>Vista</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“He must have seen something drop overboard +and started off in the yawl for it,” he said to the +skipper of the <i>Vista</i>.</p> + +<p>“More likely he got sick of the sea and ran +away in the yawl.”</p> + +<p>“No, he would not do that. Perhaps he went +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“There’s some mystery about it,” said Frank +Alden to his brother Will that night.</p> + +<p>Jack Benson could have told them what a simple +thing it had been to dispose of Nick Collins.</p> + +<p>Money had induced Jack to agree to the plots +of his uncle, Loucks, and the morning the <i>Vista</i> +sailed he was sent to its captain with a note from +Loucks stating that he was to give him a free +passage to Cuba.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Vista</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go there when I get ready,” Jack replied.</p> + +<p>“What’s that, you young scamp?” exclaimed +the officer.</p> + +<p>“Oh, mind your own business.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span></p> + +<p>Hardly had the last word left Benson’s lips +when the angry officer had him in an iron grasp.</p> + +<p>“Let go of me!” cried Jack. “If you don’t, +I’ll——”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What’s all this about?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>“An unruly passenger, sir,” replied the officer, +“and I had to take him in hand.”</p> + +<p>“I see. What has he done, Mr. Gallup?”</p> + +<p>“Been meddling with things, sir, and when I +ordered him to go below, he was insolent.”</p> + +<p>“He hit me!” cried Jack.</p> + +<p>“Is that so, Mr. Gallup?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. I struck him because he told me to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>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.”</p> + +<p>“You did your duty,” said Captain Dare. Then +turning to Benson: “Go below, boy, and don’t +bother my men.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t,” returned Jack.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p>“I won’t go below till I get ready.”</p> + +<p>The captain regarded him a moment with +flashing eyes. Then he said to the officer:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Gallup, have the young mutineer put in +irons. Perhaps that will bring him to his senses.”</p> + +<p>“You’d better not lock me up,” said Jack. “If +you do you’ll get the worst of it.”</p> + +<p>The captain smiled.</p> + +<p>“Get the worst of it, eh?” he said. “How’s +that?”</p> + +<p>“My uncle, Mr. Loucks, owns some of this ship, +and I’ll have him discharge all of you.”</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>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.</p> + +<p>Frank and Will Alden had witnessed the whole +affair.</p> + +<p>“What do you think of that, Will?” said Frank. +“Think of it. Jack Benson on this ship!”</p> + +<p>“How did he ever get here?”</p> + +<p>“Search me. Let’s tell Captain Eccles.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>if I catch that Jack Benson playing any dirty +tricks, it will go hard with him.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He set the excelsior carefully about the boxes, +and then, to make certain that his kindlings +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Fire! Fire! Fire!”</p> + +<p>This, the most terrible cry that can be heard +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>on shipboard, began to ring, and quickly was +taken up on all sides.</p> + +<p>A quiver of horror went through the <i>Vista</i> +from stem to stern.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Lower the boats!”</p> + +<p>Above the tumult of frightened voices, this +order of the captain, delivered in clear, ringing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Vista</i>.</p> + +<p>“All right,” returned Frank to the threat; “you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>can do anything you like, but you don’t get into a +boat until your turn comes. Now, stand back!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“But if you don’t stop playing the hog,” said +the officer in charge of it to him, “I’ll throw you +overboard.”</p> + +<p>The last boat to leave the ship contained Captain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>Dare, Eccles, Frank, Will, and several of +the crew.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Vista</i> was abandoned.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Vista</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>What had become of Jack Benson they did not +know. Having finished the work for which he +had been put aboard the <i>Vista</i> by Loucks and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>their quest for the treasure, and hope for the +best.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Will it be wide and deep enough for big ships +to go through?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>From Colon they took a train across the Isthmus, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Regent</i>, +commanded by his friend Dartmoor. Again they +were in good luck. They learned that the <i>Regent</i> +was due, on a return voyage from Peru, at Valencia, +two hundred miles down the coast, in a week.</p> + +<p>For Valencia the three took the first steamer +that sailed.</p> + +<p>“A little while, boys,” said the captain, elated +over the prospect, “and we shall be on our way +toward the treasure island.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span></p> + +<p>They reached Valencia, and found much to interest +them in that quaint old place while they +waited for the <i>Regent</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Did Captain Dartmoor give him a warm welcome?</p> + +<p>He fairly danced with delight at sight of his +old shipmate.</p> + +<p>“By jingo, Eck!” he exclaimed, “you don’t look +a day older.”</p> + +<p>“And you,” returned his friend—“why, Jack, +you’re the same young fellow of fifteen years +ago!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“By jingo!” he exclaimed, “it takes me back +to the days when we used to read yarns of the +sea.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span></p> + +<p>“But this is going to be no yarn, captain.”</p> + +<p>“I sincerely hope not, Eck. I hope it will prove +to be what you think—the biggest kind of a reality.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you believe it?” asked Eccles.</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute,” the other answered evasively. +“Give me time to think about it. Let me +see that chart.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Why, first point to reach, according to this, +is Mountain Island.”</p> + +<p>“Yes. What of it?”</p> + +<p>“What of it? Man, I know the place.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” exclaimed Eccles. “You’ve been +there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. It is little more than a barren reef +twelve hundred miles due southwest.”</p> + +<p>“Then the letter is right. That’s what it says.”</p> + +<p>“That much is right, surely,” chimed in Dartmoor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span></p> + +<p>“From there we follow the course described in +the letter. Now, what do you think of the +project?”</p> + +<p>“I think very well of it,” drawled Dartmoor, +which was a good deal for him to say, as his +friend well knew.</p> + +<p>“Then you believe in it?” cried Eccles eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, old shipmate, I do.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” again burst out Captain Eccles. +“Just how much confidence have you in it?”</p> + +<p>“A great deal.”</p> + +<p>“Enough to come along and help me find it?”</p> + +<p>“I have, Eccles,” replied the other earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Shake on it.”</p> + +<p>And the old-time friends and fellow mariners +clasped hands.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What do you want of a ship?” asked Captain +Dartmoor after a moment of silence.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span></p> + +<p>“Can we get along without one?” returned the +other, smiling.</p> + +<p>“You cannot, of course. But I guess one will +be enough.”</p> + +<p>“It sure will.”</p> + +<p>“Well, isn’t my ship good enough?”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean,” said the overjoyed Eccles—“do +you mean that you’ll use the <i>Regent</i> for our +expedition?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>Again the old friends’ hands met in a cordial +grasp.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind that part of it. We’ll fix things +up satisfactorily to both. I guess we won’t +quarrel.”</p> + +<p>“But I’d rather have it fixed. I want to do +what is right by you and everybody connected +with you in this matter.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span></p> + +<p>“All right. We’ll settle about the money later +on. Come on deck.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Griggs,” he called to his mate when they +had reached the deck.</p> + +<p>The mate touched his hat and drew near.</p> + +<p>“What’s our cargo to be?”</p> + +<p>“Wool.”</p> + +<p>“Where for?”</p> + +<p>“Buenaventura.”</p> + +<p>“I want you to make arrangements to have +some other ship carry it.”</p> + +<p>The mate looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir,” he said. “Do you +mean that we’re not to take it aboard?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p>“But we are under contract to deliver it at +Buenaventura.”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>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 <i>Regent</i>. This must be done in justice to the +persons concerned.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll do the best I can, sir,” said the mate.</p> + +<p>“See here, captain,” put in Eccles. “I don’t +want you to take this risk for me. Suppose——”</p> + +<p>“Suppose nothing,” interrupted Dartmoor, his +eyes sparkling. “There lies treasure island, +doesn’t it?”</p> + +<p>He pointed southwest.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Eccles answered.</p> + +<p>“That’s our destination, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Of course, Jack, but——”</p> + +<p>“But me no buts, shipmate,” broke in the skipper +of the <i>Regent</i>. “You are my life-long friend, +aren’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“You’ve said, ‘Help me,’ haven’t you?”</p> + +<p>“That’s right.”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>cargo, we provision, and we sail just as quickly +as we can.”</p> + +<p>“When will that be?”</p> + +<p>“To-night. This very hour,” was Captain +Dartmoor’s resolute and hearty answer.</p> + +<p>And so it fell out. At nightfall the stately +<i>Regent</i>, with Eccles, Frank, and Will aboard, +sailed into the hazy crimson of the western sky, +a trailer on the ill-fated course of the <i>Star of +Hope</i>, gone down in tropic waters ten years +before with all the treasure it had on board.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + OUTWARD BOUND. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>What of Nick Collins?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The <i>Vista</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He was rejoiced at last by the first faint glow +of dawn, and in time the welcome warmth of the +sun’s rays.</p> + +<p>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——</p> + +<p>The ship passed on!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>This time his frantic signals were seen!</p> + +<p>A yawl was launched, and soon he heard the +welcome sound of the rowers.</p> + +<p>An hour later Nick Collins was seated in the +cabin of the brig <i>Pawtucket</i>, 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.</p> + +<p>The captain of the <i>Pawtucket</i> was considerate +enough not to bother Nick for his story until he +had stowed away all the food he could hold.</p> + +<p>In due time the brig sailed into port, and Nick +went ashore, thankful for his escape, but with a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>heart none too happy at the thought that he was +alone and friendless in the noisy, cruel vastness +of New York.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He found his way to the hospital, a great +building on the east side of the city.</p> + +<p>“What can we do for you?” asked a pleasant-faced +man at a desk in the office.</p> + +<p>“I want to know something about Admiral +Semmes,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“Is he a friend of yours?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know that we can tell you anything +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>about him, except that he is a very fine +old gentleman.”</p> + +<p>“Is he better?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Has he gone?” gasped Nick.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes—left two days ago.”</p> + +<p>“Where has he gone?”</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t tell you that. But wait a minute. +Perhaps the people in the ward where he was may +know.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Nick thanked the man and left the hospital.</p> + +<p>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, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>and Frank, and Will would go on to Panama in +pursuance of their purpose to hunt for the sunken +treasure.</p> + +<p>“The thing for me to do, first of all,” Nick +told himself, “is to find Admiral Semmes.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Has Admiral Semmes been here?” Nick asked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>somewhat innocently, as if everybody must know +the old mariner.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Nick was all attention, you may be sure.</p> + +<p>“What sort of a looking man is your friend?” +the clerk inquired. “Tall and thin?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Gray hair and beard?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. And he had on, the last time I saw +him, a suit of gray clothes.”</p> + +<p>“So had this man. I guess you’re on the right +track, my lad.”</p> + +<p>“Where did he go?” asked Nick.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>days, I directed him to the Mexican-Costa Rica +Line.”</p> + +<p>“Where is that?”</p> + +<p>“Just around the corner.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, thank you, sir; thank you!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Admiral Semmes!” he cried, in his delight.</p> + +<p>The old mariner started and stared at the boy. +Then, in a kindly tone, he said:</p> + +<p>“Who are you, lad?”</p> + +<p>“I am Nick Collins, sir. I am your friend. I—I—Captain +Eccles—Panama—Loucks—Vail—the +treasure!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He called Nick aside, and said to him:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span></p> + +<p>“I see you know me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, and I know Captain Eccles; and I +know, too, that you are looking for a ship to +Panama.”</p> + +<p>Semmes started anew.</p> + +<p>“The dickens!” he exclaimed. “How did you +know that?”</p> + +<p>“They told me at the steamship office around +the corner—the one you just left; and I heard it +also at the hospital.”</p> + +<p>“Well, well,” said the admiral, looking Nick +over in amazement. “You’re a pretty bright boy. +But what of it, if I <i>am</i> going to Panama?”</p> + +<p>“I am going, too,” Nick answered simply.</p> + +<p>“You?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; and we shall overtake Captain Eccles +if we can only get a ship that sails at once.”</p> + +<p>“We?” gasped Semmes.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. I know all his plans.”</p> + +<p>“All whose plans?” asked the other.</p> + +<p>“Captain Eccles’.”</p> + +<p>“What in the name of goodness are you driving +at?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span></p> + +<p>“Didn’t you get the letter that Captain Eccles +left for you at the hospital?”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Heaven bless you, lad! Tell me all about it.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The admiral listened like one in a dream.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>him to follow the captain. A friend had loaned +him $1,000.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, sir?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I have learned something. It is that +Vail has left suddenly on a mysterious cruise.”</p> + +<p>“In what direction, admiral?”</p> + +<p>“As near as my informant could say, he is +bound for the South Pacific Ocean.”</p> + +<p>“The treasure island is in that region,” said +Nick.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But he won’t succeed, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Not if Eccles beats him to it.”</p> + +<p>“When did Vail set out?”</p> + +<p>“Yesterday, I am told.”</p> + +<p>“Then Captain Eccles will get there first!” +cried Nick joyously. “See what a start he has.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span></p> + +<p>“But we must be with Eccles when he gets +there, Nick.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I wish we could.”</p> + +<p>“But I have a new plan, Nick,” the admiral +said.</p> + +<p>“What is that, sir?”</p> + +<p>“I have given up the idea of sailing to Panama. +I have decided that it would be less risky to take +another course.”</p> + +<p>“What course?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Captain Dartmoor, of the <i>Regent</i>!” exclaimed +Nick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span></p> + +<p>“Right you are, my boy. What do you think +of my plan?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just how I figure it out. All right, +then, Nick, we start for the Golden Gate to-night.”</p> + +<p>And the midnight train bore them out of New +York. In five days they reached the Pacific coast.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Despite this auspicious beginning of their journey +by sea, trouble began to brew not many hours +after they had got beyond sight of land.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>so unmanageable that the outlook for finishing +the voyage on her was not very hopeful.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We’ve had a lot of delay, Nick,” said the admiral, +“but we’ll catch them, after all.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” was Nick’s earnest response.</p> + +<p>“It’s a sure thing. They are only a few days +ahead of us.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span></p> + +<p>“Where have they gone?”</p> + +<p>“To Valencia.”</p> + +<p>“And Captain Dartmoor—have you heard anything +of him?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes.”</p> + +<p>“Is he at Valencia?”</p> + +<p>“No, but he soon will be, I am told.”</p> + +<p>“When can we sail for Valencia?”</p> + +<p>“In two days.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“They are not here,” he guessed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span></p> + +<p>“No,” said the admiral sadly. “They have +gone.”</p> + +<p>“Sailed?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“On the <i>Regent</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. They met Captain Dartmoor, and went +away at once.”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p>“Last night.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“Do, lad?” exclaimed the admiral. “What else +but follow them?”</p> + +<p>The firm tone in which the admiral spoke made +Nick’s hope glow again.</p> + +<p>“Come ashore,” said his companion. “We have +one chance yet, and it is a good one.”</p> + +<p>“What is that, sir?”</p> + +<p>“To overtake them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, sir, can we do it?”</p> + +<p>“I think we can. At any rate, we can make a +good try for it.”</p> + +<p>“And we will, sir,” said Nick, catching the admiral’s +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>With the boy accompanying him, Semmes went +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>back to the shipping office. The proprietor, a +Spaniard, greeted them courteously.</p> + +<p>“Ah, the admiral has returned!” he said.</p> + +<p>“I have. Look here.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Semmes took from his pocket a +big roll of bills.</p> + +<p>“Do you see that?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, señor.”</p> + +<p>“Would you like to have it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think I should mind having it; but +what does the admiral mean?”</p> + +<p>“It is yours.”</p> + +<p>“Mine?”</p> + +<p>“Yours. But you’ll have to do something +for it.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, it is an American joke!” exclaimed the +Spaniard, with a grin. “Well, what is the admiral’s +pleasure?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Yes, señor.”</p> + +<p>“Is she a fast sailer?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span></p> + +<p>“None faster on the coast.”</p> + +<p>“Is she idle?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; for a while.”</p> + +<p>“How long?”</p> + +<p>“Two days.”</p> + +<p>“Good! Give me a good captain and crew, +with orders to pursue the <i>Regent</i> for two days, +and the money is yours.”</p> + +<p>“Agreed.”</p> + +<p>“You know which course the <i>Regent</i> took?”</p> + +<p>“Northwest.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX. + <br><br><span class="small"> + YARNING BY THE WAY. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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!</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>pine trees we came across the legend, ‘Beware of +the dry patch!’</p> + +<p>“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.’</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span></p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“The morning of our fifth day’s stampede +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Beyond the Landing, and when we had recovered +from the buffeting we had received in the +crossing, we struck into beautiful meadowlands, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>where flowers bloomed and mosses carpeted the +earth.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span>outside a circus; and even in my own pain +I could scarcely help laughing at the agonized +expressions on my companions’ faces.</p> + +<p>“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!</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Nothing more of interest happened till we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>I got up and showed them how a hungry Australian +could eat!</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX. + <br><br><span class="small"> + THE ADMIRAL’S YARN. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>There was silence for a while, then Nick, who +knew that Admiral Eccles was a storehouse of +good stories, ventured to say:</p> + +<p>“Won’t you tell us one, admiral?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; give us a yarn,” urged the other lads.</p> + +<p>For a moment the old sailor did not answer, +but at length, cocking an eye upward, he began:</p> + +<p>“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.’</p> + +<p>“Aye, strange enough I did think it at the time, +too. As you must know, my boys, it was only my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“My father called me a fool, and bade me at +once make my mind up for business.</p> + +<p>“‘For into business you go, my lad,’ he said.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“I did. I ran away to sea.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Thus it came about that I sailed again on +board the <i>Vanthy</i>, a merchantman, bound for the +cod fisheries of Newfoundland.</p> + +<p>“As we neared the Newfoundland Banks, +heavy fogs again and again overtook us, and the +morning of the twenty-fourth of December found +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span>the <i>Vanthy</i> enveloped in one, if possible, denser +and thicker than before.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“It was not to be.</p> + +<p>“Hardly had I tossed myself into my hammock +when a terrific shock dashed me out again with +much violence upon the boards beneath.</p> + +<p>“My experience was limited, and the first thing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span>that struck my mind was that we had run on +shore.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Upon that iceberg it seemed we had struck +with irretrievable damage to the <i>Vanthy</i>, stout +and thoroughly seaworthy though the good ship +was—no mere cockleshell or refurbished coffin +ship, I can tell you.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“‘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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“If Captain Beach did not despair, why need I?</p> + +<p>“‘Aye, aye! Try, sir,’ gruffly responded the +men.</p> + +<p>“They were willing, and more than willing, +eager, as the captain well knew, to embrace this +chance of at least temporary safety.</p> + +<p>“So we set to work as men only can work when +life or death is the issue.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span></p> + +<p>“They were gone, however, and it was of no +use crying over spilt milk; we worked instead.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Well, we were not long, I need scarcely say, +when the raft was once made, in setting about +our departure from the doomed <i>Vanthy</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>“Then began the task of filing off the crew.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Vanthy</i> 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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span>to swim close enough to be picked up and +rescued—thus far—by the skiff.</p> + +<p>“The one proved to be the captain.</p> + +<p>“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?</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Night came slowly on. The cold was simply +intense.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“We talked, we told stories—grim ones they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>were—we even tried to sing; and thus the long, +dreary hours of the night paced on.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“In what direction the iceberg was drifting, or +if, indeed, it moved at all, was very hard to say.</p> + +<p>“We waited, and well-nigh despaired.</p> + +<p>“However, the next morning, as we were trying +to gulp down the sorrowful meal that did +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span>duty for breakfast, a joyful shout rang from the +man on the chief watch:</p> + +<p>“‘A sail! a sail!’</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Flying Dutchman</i>, a messenger +of death, and not of life.</p> + +<p>“But, no; she approached nearer and yet +nearer.</p> + +<p>“Would those on board note the tragedy that +lay before them? That was for us now the all-important +question.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span>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!</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“But what cared we for that?</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“The vessel that had effected so opportune a +rescue was the <i>General Washington</i>—her destination +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span>New York, at which port she did not take +long in arriving.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>After this yarn the boys turned in for the +night, and had a good sound sleep.</p> + +<p>At noon of the next day the watch aloft called +out:</p> + +<p>“Bear south by west!”</p> + +<p>“Helm true! What is it?”</p> + +<p>“A sail!”</p> + +<p>The admiral paced the deck in a fever of excitement. +Nick’s heart beat faster.</p> + +<p>The man aloft kept his eye glued to the glass. +A few minutes more and he called out again:</p> + +<p>“Double-rigged—a schooner!”</p> + +<p>A flutter went the rounds of the crew. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>admiral uttered an exclamation of delight. Nick +could not repress a hearty “Hooray!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Two pennants flying!” came the next report +from the forearm.</p> + +<p>“Can you make them out?” shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>“Ay, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What are they?”</p> + +<p>“The red, white, and blue of America!”</p> + +<p>A cheer interrupted him.</p> + +<p>“And a heart and—it looks like a wreath!”</p> + +<p>A wild yell of delight rent the air.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Regent</i>!” cried Admiral Semmes and +Nick Collins as they clasped hands in their outburst +of joy.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI. + <br><br><span class="small"> + ADRIFT. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>“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——”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>He was on board the <i>Regent</i> 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 <i>Regent</i> had been +successful. Within an hour after it was a certainty +that the schooner in the distance was the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span>one they sought, the admiral and Nick were welcomed +on board the Yankee craft.</p> + +<p>Nick was received on the <i>Regent</i> like one come +back from the dead.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I have never seen it, but I’ve been near it, and +I’ve noticed it on the chart,” said Captain Eccles.</p> + +<p>“Well, then comes the Archipelago,” went on +Semmes. “We can’t very well miss that.”</p> + +<p>“No; it’s not likely.”</p> + +<p>“Then Second Mountain Island.” Semmes put +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span>on his glasses and referred again to the letter. +“‘A barren stretch of island,’ it says.”</p> + +<p>“Thirty miles south,” put in Eccles from +memory.</p> + +<p>“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——”</p> + +<p>Dartmoor paused, and a serious look came into +his face.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Jack?” asked Eccles anxiously.</p> + +<p>“The charts give a blank beyond it for many +leagues.”</p> + +<p>“Why is that?”</p> + +<p>“It means that the waters there are not navigable.”</p> + +<p>“Not navigable!” exclaimed the admiral. +“Nonsense!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there’s water, and you can sail there; but +it is a dangerous region.”</p> + +<p>“In what way dangerous?”</p> + +<p>“It may be full of breakers.”</p> + +<p>“We can manage them.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span></p> + +<p>“It may be a region that is subject to sudden +and severe storms.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll get ready for them,” replied the admiral, +dauntlessly.</p> + +<p>“It may be ridden with pestilence.”</p> + +<p>“You have a medicine chest aboard, captain, +haven’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we won’t worry about the pestilence.”</p> + +<p>“But there may be other grave obstacles,” contended +Captain Dartmoor.</p> + +<p>“Go on, my lad. Name them,” said the doughty +admiral.</p> + +<p>“Well, what if we should encounter a grassy +sea that clogs progress and makes the ship unmanageable?”</p> + +<p>“We’ll cut our way through the grass!” cried +Semmes.</p> + +<p>Dartmoor smiled. “You’re determined to surmount +all obstacles, I see, admiral,” he said.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span>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?”</p> + +<p>“It’s quite possible, admiral,” acquiesced Dartmoor. +“At any rate, when we sail from Second +Mountain Island we go south by west.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“About forty leagues.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what the letter says.”</p> + +<p>“There are several islands in our course. And +the one that we must find is very appropriately +named. It is called Treasure Island.”</p> + +<p>“And the directions, I believe, say that it is +easily distinguishable?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; by a forest of palm trees on its western +coast.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a mark we can’t miss.”</p> + +<p>“No; and once we reach the island the treasure +is ours!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span></p> + +<p>And so, hopefully, buoyantly, the confident +mariners discussed their plans.</p> + +<p>For the three boys life was a golden dream +under those sunny skies. The crew of the <i>Regent</i> +were devoted to their captain, and the entire +ship’s company was on the best of terms. They +were a happy family.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Twice heavy storms drove the <i>Regent</i> out of +her course, but she weathered the tempest bravely +on both occasions, and in time regained her +proper bearings.</p> + +<p>One morning, just as the big, red sun came out +of the eastern rim of the horizon, the <i>Regent</i> +stood abeam of Second Mountain Island.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span>miles of them now, everybody believed, lay +the much-hunted and wished-for sunken treasure.</p> + +<p>The three principals in the expedition—Admiral +Semmes, Captain Eccles, and Captain Dartmoor—held +a council of navigation.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The first evening after leaving Second Mountain +Island they came to a rounding reef that +afforded a fine harborage.</p> + +<p>“Safe in a calm, but bad in a storm,” said Captain +Dartmoor.</p> + +<p>“Right you are,” agreed the admiral.</p> + +<p>“We’ll keep to the outer edge of those rocks +there, and watch well, for a storm seems to be +brewing.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think it will reach us to-night,” put in +Captain Eccles, after giving the sky a weatherwise +survey.</p> + +<p>“I don’t, either, Eck, but we’d better be on the +safe side.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“That’s a coral reef yonder.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and those trees are palms.”</p> + +<p>“How would you like to go to them?”</p> + +<p>“I’d like it, you bet!”</p> + +<p>“And you, Will?”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to, of course, but what’s the use? +They won’t let us go ashore.”</p> + +<p>“Let us ask Captain Dartmoor,” suggested +Will.</p> + +<p>“No; I’ll ask Captain Eccles,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>And he did so. But Eccles shook his head +firmly when Nick, with the other boys at his side, +presented their request.</p> + +<p>“You’re safe here, Nick,” he said. “I lost you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span>once, you know, and I don’t want to take a chance +of repeating the experience.”</p> + +<p>“But we’re not to be in danger, captain,” +pleaded Nick.</p> + +<p>“Not in danger?” repeated Eccles. “How do +you happen to know that?”</p> + +<p>“I mean that we shall only go just inside the +reef.”</p> + +<p>But Captain Eccles shook his head.</p> + +<p>The boys looked sadly disappointed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, let them go, captain,” said the admiral.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think you’d better,” put in Dartmoor. +“There really isn’t any danger if they go inside +the reef.”</p> + +<p>“Well, all right,” Eccles consented. “But mind, +boys, you’re not to be gone more than half an +hour.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They approached cautiously, found a place to +moor their boat, and landed on the widest part of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span>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.</p> + +<p>The half hour granted them went by, grew into +an hour, and then they remembered that they had +a promise to keep.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure we’ve been gone more than half an +hour,” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“So am I.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry. We gave our word, you know, to +Captain Eccles.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let us row back just as fast as we can.”</p> + +<p>“We’d better,” said Nick, “for more reasons +than one. Do you feel this wind?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Frank. “I thought it had +grown stronger.”</p> + +<p>They were still some distance from their boat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span></p> + +<p>“Hurry up, boys!” cried Nick, starting into +a run.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Heavens! It’s gone!” he cried.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“After it, boys, quick!” cried Nick, as he took +the lead in an effort to recover the boat.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Climb aboard!” shouted Nick.</p> + +<p>They all did so. By the time they got at the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span>oars the yawl had swung through the outlet and +was in open water.</p> + +<p>“Now, then, a steady pull for the <i>Regent</i>!” +cried Frank.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“An oar is gone!” he cried out.</p> + +<p>“And we are drifting out to sea!” exclaimed +Will, in terror.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>With one oar Nick could do nothing. He +looked into the pale faces of his companions.</p> + +<p>“Boys,” he said, “we’re in for it. But keep +cool. They may see us from the <i>Regent</i>, and send +out a boat to get us.”</p> + +<p>It was just a forlorn hope, as Nick knew, but +he gave voice to it for the sake of keeping up his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span>companions’ courage. On account of the intervening +reef the yawl could not be seen from the +deck of the <i>Regent</i>.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Regent</i>, hoping +against hope that their danger might have become +known to those on board.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + STRANGE ADVENTURES. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> + +<p>“I suppose we have drifted far away from the +reef,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Very likely,” Nick had to admit.</p> + +<p>“We’ll never see the ship again,” groaned Will.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What?” wailed Will.</p> + +<p>“That we are alive this morning,” replied Nick.</p> + +<p>“But the storm isn’t over,” Will moaned.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But we’re nowhere near land.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not so sure of that,” said Nick. “But +whether we are near land or far from it, one +thing we must do.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right, Nick,” put in Frank. “You +mean we must keep our spirits up.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s <i>just</i> 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.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span></p> + +<p>“I’ll try, Nick.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk. We may be found by +the <i>Regent</i> in an hour. We may sight land any +moment. Now, there’s another thing that is certain.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that, Nick?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“We must be in the region of Treasure Island.”</p> + +<p>“What of it?”</p> + +<p>“It means that we are in a part of the ocean +where islands are numerous.”</p> + +<p>“And we may be able to reach one?”</p> + +<p>“That’s it. So, you see, it isn’t so bad as it +may look.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think the <i>Regent</i> will hunt for us?” +asked Will.</p> + +<p>“I do.”</p> + +<p>As Nick spoke he had been busy fishing out a +piece of tarpaulin that had been crumpled up in a +ball in the bow.</p> + +<p>“Here, Frank,” he said. “Catch hold of this.”</p> + +<p>“What for?”</p> + +<p>“Spread out your two corners of it—so.” Nick +did the same with the two corners that he held. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span>“We’d better catch some of this rain. I don’t +see any other way of getting a drink.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They were all feeling pretty hungry, you may +be sure. They had not tasted food since supper +the evening before, on the <i>Regent</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Frank. “A sail?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Land?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“What, then?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span></p> + +<p>“Look!”</p> + +<p>Nick pointed into the distance, but high above +the waves.</p> + +<p>The others looked in the direction he indicated.</p> + +<p>“Oh, only a bird!” said Frank, disappointed.</p> + +<p>“<i>Only</i> a bird!” repeated Nick. “That means +land.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“Because, if I am not mistaken, it is a tree or +swamp bird.”</p> + +<p>“How can you tell that?”</p> + +<p>“See how short its wings are.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so.”</p> + +<p>They were all country-bred boys, and knew +something about the points of birds.</p> + +<p>“And its short bill!” cried Nick. “You can see +it plainer now.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes. I guess you’re right, Nick. And—isn’t +there something white on one foot?”</p> + +<p>“Sure there is, Will! Good for you!”</p> + +<p>They watched the bird as it flew in another +direction, and passed out of sight.</p> + +<p>For two or three hours there was no other +incident to revive their hopes or break the monotony +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span>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.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Frank cried out:</p> + +<p>“Look! There’s another bird!”</p> + +<p>Nick and Will cast their eyes upward.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” said Frank. “In the water. Quick! +Give me the oar!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was a dead bird.</p> + +<p>“It’s a pigeon, isn’t it?” said Nick.</p> + +<p>“I think so. And see! There’s something +white on its foot!”</p> + +<p>“By jiminy! You’re right.”</p> + +<p>Attached to one of its legs was a substance of +light color.</p> + +<p>“It’s a piece of bark!” exclaimed Nick when he +had examined it. “It’s tied on with the fiber of +some plant.”</p> + +<p>“So it is.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span></p> + +<p>“It must have been something like this the +other bird had tied to it.”</p> + +<p>“I think so.”</p> + +<p>“This means something, boys. The thing +didn’t get on this bird by accident.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a sure thing, Nick.”</p> + +<p>“Some one must have tied it on. Why, look +here, boys!”</p> + +<p>They looked, and saw what had caught Nick’s +eye.</p> + +<p>“Writing!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p>“That’s what it is, as sure as we’re alive. +Now, let’s see if we can make it out.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What does it say?” asked Will impatiently.</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute,” said Nick, still studying the +scrawl. At length he said: “Boys, it’s a message.”</p> + +<p>“A message?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span></p> + +<p>“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: ‘<i>Sta—f—ope</i>.’ Hooray! +That means <i>Star of Hope</i>!”</p> + +<p>The other boys bent over the writing eagerly.</p> + +<p>“That’s <i>Star of Hope</i>, 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.”</p> + +<p>And they did so, with the result that they had +a message reading thus:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“On an island, over ten years a castaway. If +this is found send a ship. <i>Star of Hope.</i>”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It’s a puzzle, sure,” said Frank.</p> + +<p>“Of one thing I feel certain, though,” Nick announced.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span></p> + +<p>“The person who wrote this knows something +of the lost ship, the <i>Star of Hope</i>.”</p> + +<p>“It looks so.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It seems likely.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” the others answered, in chorus.</p> + +<p>“Well, it was ten years ago that the <i>Star of +Hope</i> was reported lost at sea.”</p> + +<p>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. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“A light! A light!”</p> + +<p>He pointed straight ahead, where a somewhat +feeble gleam appeared and disappeared, then +showed again:</p> + +<p>“What does it mean?” asked Frank feebly.</p> + +<p>“We must be nearing land,” murmured Nick.</p> + +<p>Oh, yes; they were nearing land.</p> + +<p>Crash!</p> + +<p>The yawl had struck a rock amid the breakers +of an island beach!</p> + +<p>The timbers of the small boat parted; the boys +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span>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.</p> + +<p>For a while he battled with the waves and +rocks, and then, unable to continue the unequal +fight, he surrendered to the inevitable.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But he was not alone.</p> + +<p>There was a human face near his own. It was +not the face of Frank or Will.</p> + +<p>It was that of an aged, careworn man. Its +eyes were riveted upon his with an expression +of great tenderness and anxiety.</p> + +<p>The man supported Nick in his arms. And +when the boy opened his eyes he heard the words:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span></p> + +<p>“Saved! Thank Heaven!”</p> + +<p>“Who—who are you?” asked the wondering +lad.</p> + +<p>“Your father, Nick. The castaway of the <i>Star +of Hope</i>!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + CHAPTER XXIII. + <br><br><span class="small"> + WRECKED AT THE DOOR OF HOPE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>What of the <i>Regent</i> and the little company of +mariners who had set sail with such glowing +hopes from the port of Valencia?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Oh, why did I not stick to my own judgment,” +he raved, “and never let them go ashore?”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Regent</i> from her moorings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>That night the <i>Regent</i>—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 <i>Regent</i> 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.</p> + +<p>Eccles and Semmes scanned the sea continuously +in the hope of discerning some trace of the +yawl, but the quest proved a fruitless one.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if it is possible that the boys managed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span>to get back inside the reef,” said Captain +Eccles, clutching at the only straw of hope.</p> + +<p>Admiral Semmes shook his head.</p> + +<p>“You don’t think so, I see,” Eccles said sadly.</p> + +<p>“No, my dear friend; I fear the boys are lost.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Thus the <i>Regent</i> 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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span></p> + +<p>“Breakers ahead!” was the first alarm that +came from the lookout stationed aloft.</p> + +<p>“Where away?”</p> + +<p>“On the windward quarter.”</p> + +<p>Scarcely had his words died out when the +watcher saw something to make him sound a second +alarm:</p> + +<p>“A light!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A second or two and the great steel prow was +crashing into the <i>Regent</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then the destroyer, whirled on by the tempest, +disappeared in the darkness.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to realize how quickly this and +subsequent events occurred. In ten minutes from +the moment the <i>Regent</i> was struck she had sunk, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span>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.</p> + +<p>And they were successful in making a landing. +But upon what a shore, and amid what +surroundings!</p> + +<p>The morning light told them the completeness +of their disaster. They were on a desert island, +without food, and all their belongings lost.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Beyond the island, at the south, stretched what +seemed to be an interminable swamp.</p> + +<p>There was no sign of the <i>Regent</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>The storm had subsided.</p> + +<p>Of the three leaders in the enterprise, Captain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span>Eccles seemed most distressed by the disastrous +turn of events.</p> + +<p>“By Heaven, mates!” he exclaimed. “It is the +doom of all our hopes.”</p> + +<p>“We are alive, aren’t we?” said Captain Dartmoor, +in an effort to cheer him up.</p> + +<p>“Yes; but our chance of getting the treasure—that +is dead, Jack. And it seemed almost in +our hands two days ago.”</p> + +<p>“It’s hard luck, Eck,” agreed Dartmoor; “but +so long as there is life there is hope.”</p> + +<p>“It’s fine of you to speak so, especially to me,” +returned Eccles gratefully.</p> + +<p>“Why not to you as well as anybody else, Eck?”</p> + +<p>“Have I not lured you into losing your ship?”</p> + +<p>Dartmoor laughed.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right, and good of you; but——”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Suiting the action to the word, he went over +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span>to where the crew were sitting and told them to +man the boats.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” asked Admiral +Semmes.</p> + +<p>“To explore the island.”</p> + +<p>“A good idea. It all can’t be like this.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I think.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Admiral, admiral! Look!” cried Captain Eccles, +pointing toward the charming scene.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span></p> + +<p>“Ah, yes; it is beautiful,” said the admiral.</p> + +<p>“But it is more than beautiful!” exclaimed +Eccles, in excitement. “It is success!”</p> + +<p>“Success! What do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“This is our destination.”</p> + +<p>The admiral looked at him, fearful that disaster +had robbed poor Eccles of his reason.</p> + +<p>“Our destination?” the admiral repeated.</p> + +<p>“Yes. See the line of palms over there. That—that +is Treasure Island.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + CHAPTER XXIV. + <br><br><span class="small"> + THREE BOY CRUSOES. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>The fate that washed Nick Collins ashore alive +was equally kind to Frank and Will Arden.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The boys’ impulse was to run, and they would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span>have yielded to it but for these words, called out +in a hoarse voice:</p> + +<p>“Don’t be afraid! I won’t harm you!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span>came to the part where they said they had parted +from Nick and supposed him to be lost.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Star of Hope</i> in +that storm that sent her to the bottom ten years +before.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The place where the treasure is hidden?” +asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“And it is here?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. This is Treasure Island.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span></p> + +<p>“And the treasure,” put in Will. “Where is +it?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Father,” said Nick, “how long have you been +sending out messages tied to birds’ legs?”</p> + +<p>Captain Collins looked at him in wonder.</p> + +<p>“You got one of them, then?” he asked.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span></p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And the treasure, father. You haven’t told +us of that.”</p> + +<p>Captain Collins’ face assumed a sad expression.</p> + +<p>“Ah, my boy,” he said mournfully, “I found it.”</p> + +<p>“And wasn’t there much?” asked Frank, misunderstanding +the man’s manner.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The boys were puzzled.</p> + +<p>“You did find it, then, father?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span>had lost to gain this fortune. It was as if I +found so many shells on the beach.”</p> + +<p>The boys were silent, seeing now what he +meant, and impressed with his words.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What did you do with it?”</p> + +<p>“I moved it here.”</p> + +<p>“In the hut?” asked Nick, he and the other +boys glancing about the place.</p> + +<p>“No; I put it in a cave.”</p> + +<p>“And it is there now?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; at least I suppose so.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you ever go to see?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span>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?”</p> + +<p>Nick told him what he knew about it.</p> + +<p>“They were on the right track,” said Captain +Collins, “and if they weathered the storm are +sure to find the island.”</p> + +<p>“Is there any chance that they will come here?” +asked Nick.</p> + +<p>“If they keep on the course they laid out they +must pass here.”</p> + +<p>“Then let us make some kind of a signal.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I was thinking of doing, +Nick. We will make a new beacon light.”</p> + +<p>“Where shall we put it?”</p> + +<p>“Not on this side of the island, for they are +not likely to look here.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because the treasure is on the other side.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span></p> + +<p>“Then we’d better put our light over there.”</p> + +<p>“By all means.”</p> + +<p>“How can we get there?”</p> + +<p>“Not by land.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“There is an impassable swamp between.”</p> + +<p>“Then we must sail there. Have you got a +boat?”</p> + +<p>“No, Nick,” answered the captain, smiling; +“but I’ve got you and the other boys to help me +build one.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“To-morrow we set sail,” announced Captain +Collins.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span></p> + +<p>“And the treasure?” asked Frank. “Do we +leave it here?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, for the present. We shall return, you +know.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Look!” he cried.</p> + +<p>A stately ship was in full sight.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + CHAPTER XXV. + <br><br><span class="small"> + THE TREASURE. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure of it?” asked Admiral Semmes.</p> + +<p>“As sure as one can be of anything.”</p> + +<p>“I must say,” put in Dartmoor, “that it answers +perfectly the description in the letter.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>All that day and the following one they devoted +to building a rude house and getting a supply of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span>such fruit and fish as they could. The third day +it was decided to go in quest of the treasure.</p> + +<p>“It will take some time even to locate it,” said +Admiral Semmes.</p> + +<p>And so it turned out, although the letter gave +explicit directions. Every day they followed its +instructions, returning to camp at night.</p> + +<p>“To-morrow we visit that hill yonder,” said +Semmes one evening. “That is the last point of +location.”</p> + +<p>“And the treasure?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But how did the treasure ever get out of the +galleon, do you suppose?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And we must dig to get it?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Eccles!” he cried. “The name on it is <i>Diamond</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Vail’s ship!” exclaimed Eccles. “Heavens! +He has got here ahead of us!”</p> + +<p>“Yes; the ship he sailed in from New York +was called the <i>Diamond</i>. It is not likely there +are two ships of that name.”</p> + +<p>“No; it isn’t likely.”</p> + +<p>“Then Vail has baffled us.”</p> + +<p>“Possibly; but it is not certain. Let us press +on, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>They went on, and rounded the base of the +hill, the others following Eccles and the admiral.</p> + +<p>“This is the spot!” cried Eccles.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span></p> + +<p>“What does it mean?” asked the admiral, in +wonder. “Some one has been digging here?”</p> + +<p>Eccles passed a hand across his eyes. “Too +late!” he gasped.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid so,” agreed Semmes more coolly. +“Some one has been here.”</p> + +<p>“And the treasure is gone!”</p> + +<p>“Vail has secured it!”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Regent</i>.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” demanded their leader of Captain +Dartmoor.</p> + +<p>Before the latter could answer another of the +newcomers spoke up. Eccles and Semmes recognized +him. He was James Vail.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span></p> + +<p>“You scoundrel!” burst out Admiral Semmes. +“It’s not your fault that you did not murder me.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now, you fellows clear out!” Vail cried to +the seamen of the <i>Regent</i>. The sailors looked defiant, +and stood their ground until the captain of +the <i>Diamond</i> and his crew raised their revolvers; +then there was nothing for them to do but go +away.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Diamond</i> at anchor.</p> + +<p>“Now, then,” said Vail, facing Admiral +Semmes, “where is that treasure?”</p> + +<p>Semmes answered him with a puzzled look.</p> + +<p>“The treasure?” he said at length. “Why do +you ask <i>me</i> for it, you dog?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span>question truthfully it will go hard with you. Now, +what have you done with that gold and the rest +of the treasure?”</p> + +<p>“What treasure are you talking about?”</p> + +<p>“You know well enough. What you got from +the cove down there.”</p> + +<p>“The treasure <i>we</i> got?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Come, out with it!”</p> + +<p>“We didn’t get any treasure,” answered the admiral.</p> + +<p>“You lie, confound you!” cried Vail furiously.</p> + +<p>The captain of the <i>Diamond</i> drew him aside.</p> + +<p>“I told you they would deny it,” he said. “We’ll +have to put the screws on them and make them +tell.”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Diamond</i> was the ship that +had struck the <i>Regent</i> and sent her to the bottom. +That explained why the larger vessel had +not attempted to stand by and offer assistance +to the <i>Regent’s</i> company. Vail had arrived at +the island after Eccles and his party, and found +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span>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.</p> + +<p>Vail put several questions to the prisoners, +which they answered; thus he learned of the +loss of the <i>Regent</i>, and all that they had done +since their arrival on Treasure Island.</p> + +<p>Still Vail was not satisfied. He believed that +his rivals had secured the boxes and bags of +wealth. Turning to the captain of the <i>Diamond</i>, +whose name was Smith, he said:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I guess their story about the <i>Regent</i> is true,” +said the other.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps; but if they didn’t take the gold who +else could have done so?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll have to give that up, Vail.”</p> + +<p>“Well, watch those sailors we let go. Be sure +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span>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.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Vail.”</p> + +<p>Several days passed. Then something occurred +that turned the tide of events. The crew of the +<i>Diamond</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Regent</i> +were encamped, about a mile away. A plan was +quickly formed to rescue Semmes and Dartmoor.</p> + +<p>Owing to the drunken state of the <i>Diamond’s</i> +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.</p> + +<p>At nightfall the <i>Regent’s</i> party captured two +of the <i>Diamond’s</i> boats, and in them stole silently +to the side of the anchored ship. All was still. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span>No one seemed to be awake. Evidently there had +been a spree on board as well as ashore.</p> + +<p>In a very few minutes Eccles and his party +shook the sleepers awake, piled them all into a +boat, and sent them ashore.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It may be some of the <i>Diamond</i> gang,” suggested +Semmes.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>A yawl was put off from the <i>Diamond</i>, and +before an hour had passed Captain Collins’ +friends welcomed him back to life, as did the +boys they had given up for lost.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"> + CHAPTER XXVI. + <br><br><span class="small"> + ALL ENDS WELL. + </span></h2> +</div> + + +<p>One beautiful September night the <i>Diamond</i> +passed the Golden Gate and sailed into the harbor +of San Francisco.</p> + +<p>Below decks was a million in gold and silver, +in the cabin a party of happy friends.</p> + +<p>The voyage from Treasure Island had been +without incident. Favorable winds, sunny skies, +and calm waters had been with them all the way.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Are you agent for MacMillan & Lloyd, of +New York?” he asked of the gentleman who presented +himself.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Authorized to make sales and transfers for +them?”</p> + +<p>“Under instructions, yes.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span></p> + +<p>“The firm own a ship named the <i>Diamond</i>?”</p> + +<p>“They do, sir.”</p> + +<p>“It is in port, here. We are ready to settle +with the captain and crew, and buy the ship. +What is the price?”</p> + +<p>“How would you pay?” asked the agent.</p> + +<p>“Cash, every cent.”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Diamond</i>. +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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span>“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.</p> + + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + + +<p>“Who was Milton Marr?” by Frederick Gibson, +is the mystery title of No. 200 of the <span class="smcap">Alger +Series</span>.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="BOOKS_FOR_YOUNG_MEN"> + BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN + <br> + <br> + <span class="large">MERRIWELL SERIES</span> + <br> + <br> + ALL BY BURT L. STANDISH + <br> + <br> + Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell + <br> + <br> + Fascinating Stories of Athletics + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<p> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">1—Frank Merriwell’s School Days</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">2—Frank Merriwell’s Chums</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">3—Frank Merriwell’s Foes</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">4—Frank Merriwell’s Trip West</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">5—Frank Merriwell Down South</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">6—Frank Merriwell’s Bravery</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">7—Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">8—Frank Merriwell in Europe</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">9—Frank Merriwell at Yale</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">10—Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">11—Frank Merriwell’s Races</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">12—Frank Merriwell’s Party</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">13—Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">14—Frank Merriwell’s Courage</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">15—Frank Merriwell’s Daring</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">16—Frank Merriwell’s Alarm</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">17—Frank Merriwell’s Athletes</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">18—Frank Merriwell’s Skill</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">19—Frank Merriwell’s Champions</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">20—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">21—Frank Merriwell’s Secret</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">22—Frank Merriwell’s Danger</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">23—Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">24—Frank Merriwell in Camp</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">25—Frank Merriwell’s Vacation</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">26—Frank Merriwell’s Cruise</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">27—Frank Merriwell’s Chase</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">28—Frank Merriwell in Maine</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">29—Frank Merriwell’s Struggle</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">30—Frank Merriwell’s First Job</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">31—Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">32—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">33—Frank Merriwell’s Protégé</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">34—Frank Merriwell on the Road</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">35—Frank Merriwell’s Own Company</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">36—Frank Merriwell’s Fame</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">37—Frank Merriwell’s College Chums</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">38—Frank Merriwell’s Problem</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">39—Frank Merriwell’s Fortune</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">40—Frank Merriwell’s New Comedian</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">41—Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">42—Frank Merriwell’s Stage Hit</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">43—Frank Merriwell’s Great Scheme</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">44—Frank Merriwell in England</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">45—Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">46—Frank Merriwell’s Duel</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">47—Frank Merriwell’s Double Shot</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">48—Frank Merriwell’s Baseball Victories</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">49—Frank Merriwell’s Confidence</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">50—Frank Merriwell’s Auto</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">51—Frank Merriwell’s Fun</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">52—Frank Merriwell’s Generosity</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">53—Frank Merriwell’s Tricks</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">54—Frank Merriwell’s Temptation</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">55—Frank Merriwell on Top</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">56—Frank Merriwell’s Luck</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">57—Frank Merriwell’s Mascot</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">58—Frank Merriwell’s Reward</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">59—Frank Merriwell’s Phantom</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">60—Frank Merriwell’s Faith</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">61—Frank Merriwell’s Victories</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">62—Frank Merriwell’s Iron Nerve</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">63—Frank Merriwell in Kentucky</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">64—Frank Merriwell’s Power</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">65—Frank Merriwell’s Shrewdness</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">66—Frank Merriwell’s Setback</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">67—Frank Merriwell’s Search</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">68—Frank Merriwell’s Club</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">69—Frank Merriwell’s Trust</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">70—Frank Merriwell’s False Friend</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">71—Frank Merriwell’s Strong Arm</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">72—Frank Merriwell as Coach</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">73—Frank Merriwell’s Brother</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">74—Frank Merriwell’s Marvel</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">75—Frank Merriwell’s Support</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">76—Dick Merriwell at Fardale</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">77—Dick Merriwell’s Glory</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">78—Dick Merriwell’s Promise</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">79—Dick Merriwell’s Rescue</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">80—Dick Merriwell’s Narrow Escape</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">81—Dick Merriwell’s Racket</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">82—Dick Merriwell’s Revenge</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">83—Dick Merriwell’s Ruse</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">84—Dick Merriwell’s Delivery</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">85—Dick Merriwell’s Wonders</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">86—Frank Merriwell’s Honor</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">87—Dick Merriwell’s Diamond</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">88—Frank Merriwell’s Winners</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">89—Dick Merriwell’s Dash</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">90—Dick Merriwell’s Ability</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">91—Dick Merriwell’s Trap</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">92—Dick Merriwell’s Defense</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">93—Dick Merriwell’s Model</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">94—Dick Merriwell’s Mystery</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">95—Frank Merriwell’s Backers</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">96—Dick Merriwell’s Backstop</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">97—Dick Merriwell’s Western Mission</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">98—Frank Merriwell’s Rescue</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">99—Frank Merriwell’s Encounter</span><br> + 100—Dick Merriwell’s Marked Money<br> + 101—Frank Merriwell’s Nomads<br> + 102—Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron<br> + 103—Dick Merriwell’s Disguise<br> + 104—Dick Merriwell’s Test<br> + 105—Frank Merriwell’s Trump Card<br> + 106—Frank Merriwell’s Strategy<br> + 107—Frank Merriwell’s Triumph<br> + 108—Dick Merriwell’s Grit<br> + 109—Dick Merriwell’s Assurance<br> + 110—Dick Merriwell’s Long Slide<br> + 111—Frank Merriwell’s Rough Deal<br> + 112—Dick Merriwell’s Threat<br> + 113—Dick Merriwell’s Persistence<br> + 114—Dick Merriwell’s Day<br> + 115—Frank Merriwell’s Peril<br> + 116—Dick Merriwell’s Downfall<br> + 117—Frank Merriwell’s Pursuit<br> + 118—Dick Merriwell Abroad<br> + 119—Frank Merriwell in the Rockies<br> + 120—Dick Merriwell’s Pranks<br> + 121—Frank Merriwell’s Pride<br> + 122—Frank Merriwell’s Challengers<br> + 123—Frank Merriwell’s Endurance<br> + 124—Dick Merriwell’s Cleverness<br> + 125—Frank Merriwell’s Marriage<br> + 126—Dick Merriwell, the Wizard<br> + 127—Dick Merriwell’s Stroke<br> + 128—Dick Merriwell’s Return<br> + 129—Dick Merriwell’s Resource<br> + 130—Dick Merriwell’s Five<br> + 131—Frank Merriwell’s Tigers<br> + 132—Dick Merriwell’s Polo Team<br> + 133—Frank Merriwell’s Pupils<br> + 134—Frank Merriwell’s New Boy<br> + 135—Dick Merriwell’s Home Run<br> + 136—Dick Merriwell’s Dare<br> + 137—Frank Merriwell’s Son<br> + 138—Dick Merriwell’s Team Mate<br> + 139—Frank Merriwell’s Leaguers<br> + 140—Frank Merriwell’s Happy Camp<br> + 141—Dick Merriwell’s Influence<br> + 142—Dick Merriwell, Freshman<br> + 143—Dick Merriwell’s Staying Power<br> + 144—Dick Merriwell’s Joke<br> + 145—Frank Merriwell’s Talisman<br> + 146—Frank Merriwell’s Horse<br> + 147—Dick Merriwell’s Regret<br> + 148—Dick Merriwell’s Magnetism<br> + 149—Dick Merriwell’s Backers<br> + 150—Dick Merriwell’s Best Work<br> + 151—Dick Merriwell’s Distrust<br> + 152—Dick Merriwell’s Debt<br> + 153—Dick Merriwell’s Mastery<br> + 154—Dick Merriwell Adrift<br> + 155—Frank Merriwell’s Worst Boy<br> + 156—Dick Merriwell’s Close Call<br> + 157—Frank Merriwell’s Air Voyage<br> + 158—Dick Merriwell’s Black Star<br> + 159—Frank Merriwell in Wall Street<br> + 160—Frank Merriwell Facing His Foes<br> + 161—Dick Merriwell’s Stanchness<br> + 162—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Case<br> + 163—Dick Merriwell’s Stand<br> + 164—Dick Merriwell Doubted<br> + 165—Frank Merriwell’s Steadying Hand<br> + 166—Dick Merriwell’s Example<br> + 167—Dick Merriwell in the Wilds<br> + 168—Frank Merriwell’s Ranch<br> + 169—Dick Merriwell’s Way +</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in July, 1927.</p> + +<p> + 170—Frank Merriwell’s Lesson<br> + 171—Dick Merriwell’s Reputation +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Aug., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 172—Frank Merriwell’s Encouragement<br> + 173—Dick Merriwell’s Honors +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Sept., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 174—Frank Merriwell’s Wizard<br> + 175—Dick Merriwell’s Race +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Oct., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 176—Dick Merriwell’s Star Play<br> + 178—Dick Merriwell a Winner<br> + 177—Frank Merriwell at Phantom Lake +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Nov., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 179—Dick Merriwell at the County Fair<br> + 180—Frank Merriwell’s Grit +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Dec., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 181—Dick Merriwell’s Power<br> + 182—Frank Merriwell in Peru +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="RATTLING_GOOD_ADVENTURE"> + RATTLING GOOD ADVENTURE + <br> + <br> + <span class="large">SPORT STORIES</span> + <br> + <br> + <i>Stories of the Big Outdoors</i> + </h2> +</div> + <p> + 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. + </p><p> + These stories are not, strictly speaking, stories for boys, but boys + everywhere will find a great deal in them to interest them. +</p> + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<p> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1—Jack Lightfoot, the Athlete</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2—Jack Lightfoot’s Crack Nine</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3—Jack Lightfoot Trapped</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4—Jack Lightfoot’s Rival</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5—Jack Lightfoot in Camp</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6—Jack Lightfoot’s Canoe Trip</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7—Jack Lightfoot’s Iron Arm</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8—Jack Lightfoot’s Hoodoo</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9—Jack Lightfoot’s Decision</span><br> + 10—Jack Lightfoot’s Gun Club<br> + 11—Jack Lightfoot’s Blind<br> + 12—Jack Lightfoot’s Capture<br> + 13—Jack Lightfoot’s Head Work<br> + 14—Jack Lightfoot’s Wisdom +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="NICK_CARTER_STORIES"> + NICK CARTER STORIES + <br> + <br> + <span class="large">New Magnet Library</span> + <br> + <br> + <i>Not a Dull Book in This List</i> + <br> + <br> + ALL BY NICHOLAS CARTER + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The author of these stories knew more about writing detective stories +than any other single person.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<p> + 850—Wanted: A Clew<br> + 851—A Tangled Skein<br> + 852—The Bullion Mystery<br> + 853—The Man of Riddles<br> + 854—A Miscarriage of Justice<br> + 855—The Gloved Hand<br> + 856—Spoilers and the Spoils<br> + 857—The Deeper Game<br> + 858—Bolts from Blue Skies<br> + 859—Unseen Foes<br> + 860—Knaves in High Places<br> + 861—The Microbe of Crime<br> + 862—In the Toils of Fear<br> + 863—A Heritage of Trouble<br> + 864—Called to Account<br> + 865—The Just and the Unjust<br> + 866—Instinct at Fault<br> + 867—A Rogue Worth Trapping<br> + 868—A Rope of Slender Threads<br> + 869—The Last Call<br> + 870—The Spoils of Chance<br> + 871—A Struggle with Destiny<br> + 872—The Slave of Crime<br> + 873—The Crook’s Blind<br> + 874—A Rascal of Quality<br> + 875—With Shackles of Fire<br> + 876—The Man Who Changed Faces<br> + 877—The Fixed Alibi<br> + 878—Out with the Tide<br> + 879—The Soul Destroyers<br> + 880—The Wages of Rascality<br> + 881—Birds of Prey<br> + 882—When Destruction Threatens<br> + 883—The Keeper of Black Hounds<br> + 884—The Door of Doubt<br> + 885—The Wolf Within<br> + 886—A Perilous Parole<br> + 887—The Trail of the Finger Prints<br> + 888—Dodging the Law<br> + 889—A Crime in Paradise<br> + 890—On the Ragged Edge<br> + 891—The Red God of Tragedy<br> + 892—The Man Who Paid<br> + 893—The Blind Man’s Daughter<br> + 894—One Object in Life<br> + 895—As a Crook Sows<br> + 896—In Record Time<br> + 897—Held in Suspense<br> + 898—The $100,000 Kiss<br> + 899—Just One Slip<br> + 900—On a Million-dollar Trail<br> + 901—A Weird Treasure<br> + 902—The Middle Link<br> + 903—To the Ends of the Earth<br> + 904—When Honors Pall<br> + 905—The Yellow Brand<br> + 906—A New Serpent in Eden<br> + 907—When Brave Men Tremble<br> + 908—A Test of Courage<br> + 909—Where Peril Beckons<br> + 910—The Gargoni Girdle<br> + 911—Rascals & Co.<br> + 912—Too Late to Talk<br> + 913—Satan’s Apt Pupil<br> + 914—The Girl Prisoner<br> + 915—The Danger of Folly<br> + 916—One Shipwreck Too Many<br> + 917—Scourged by Fear<br> + 918—The Red Plague<br> + 919—Scoundrels Rampant<br> + 920—From Clew to Clew<br> + 921—When Rogues Conspire<br> + 922—Twelve in a Grave<br> + 923—The Great Opium Case<br> + 924—A Conspiracy of Rumors<br> + 925—A Klondike Claim<br> + 926—The Evil Formula<br> + 927—The Man of Many Faces<br> + 928—The Great Enigma<br> + 929—The Burden of Proof<br> + 930—The Stolen Brain<br> + 931—A Titled Counterfeiter<br> + 932—The Magic Necklace<br> + 933—’Round the World for a Quarter<br> + 934—Over the Edge of the World<br> + 935—In the Grip of Fate<br> + 936—The Case of Many Clews<br> + 937—The Sealed Door<br> + 938—Nick Carter and the Green Goods Men<br> + 939—The Man Without a Will<br> + 940—Tracked Across the Atlantic<br> + 941—A Clew from the Unknown<br> + 942—The Crime of a Countess<br> + 943—A Mixed-up Mess<br> + 944—The Great Money-order Swindle<br> + 945—The Adder’s Brood<br> + 946—A Wall Street Haul<br> + 947—For a Pawned Crown<br> + 948—Sealed Orders<br> + 949—The Hate that Kills<br> + 950—The American Marquis<br> + 951—The Needy Nine<br> + 952—Fighting Against Millions<br> + 953—Outlaws of the Blue<br> + 954—The Old Detective’s Pupil<br> + 955—Found in the Jungle<br> + 956—The Mysterious Mail Robbery<br> + 957—Broken Bars<br> + 958—A Fair Criminal<br> + 959—Won by Magic<br> + 960—The Piano Box Mystery<br> + 961—The Man They Held Back<br> + 962—A Millionaire Partner<br> + 963—A Pressing Peril<br> + 964—An Australian Klondike<br> + 965—The Sultan’s Pearls<br> + 966—The Double Shuffle Club<br> + 967—Paying the Price<br> + 968—A Woman’s Hand<br> + 969—A Network of Crime<br> + 970—At Thompson’s Ranch<br> + 971—The Crossed Needles<br> + 972—The Diamond Mine Case<br> + 973—Blood Will Tell<br> + 974—An Accidental Password<br> + 975—The Crook’s Double<br> + 976—Two Plus Two<br> + 977—The Yellow Label<br> + 978—The Clever Celestial<br> + 979—The Amphitheater Plot<br> + 980—Gideon Drexel’s Millions<br> + 981—Death in Life<br> + 982—A Stolen Identity<br> + 983—Evidence by Telephone<br> + 984—The Twelve Tin Boxes<br> + 985—Clew Against Clew<br> + 986—Lady Velvet<br> + 987—Playing a Bold Game<br> + 988—A Dead Man’s Grip<br> + 989—Snarled Identities<br> + 990—A Deposit Vault Puzzle<br> + 991—The Crescent Brotherhood<br> + 992—The Stolen Pay Train<br> + 993—The Sea Fox<br> + 994—Wanted by Two Clients<br> + 995—The Van Alstine Case<br> + 996—Check No. 777<br> + 997—Partners in Peril<br> + 998—Nick Carter’s Clever Protégé<br> + 999—The Sign of the Crossed Knives<br> + 1000—The Man Who Vanished<br> + 1001—A Battle for the Right<br> + 1002—A Game of Craft<br> + 1003—Nick Carter’s Retainer<br> + 1004—Caught in the Toils<br> + 1005—A Broken Bond<br> + 1006—The Crime of the French Café<br> + 1007—The Man Who Stole Millions<br> + 1008—The Twelve Wise Men<br> + 1009—Hidden Foes<br> + 1010—A Gamblers’ Syndicate<br> + 1011—A Chance Discovery<br> + 1012—Among the Counterfeiters<br> + 1013—A Threefold Disappearance<br> + 1014—At Odds with Scotland Yard<br> + 1015—A Princess of Crime<br> + 1016—Found on the Beach<br> + 1017—A Spinner of Death<br> + 1018—The Detective’s Pretty Neighbor<br> + 1019—A Bogus Clew<br> + 1020—The Puzzle of Five Pistols<br> + 1021—The Secret of the Marble Mantel<br> + 1022—A Bite of an Apple<br> + 1023—A Triple Crime<br> + 1024—The Stolen Race Horse<br> + 1025—Wildfire<br> + 1026—A <i>Herald</i> Personal<br> + 1027—The Finger of Suspicion<br> + 1028—The Crimson Clew<br> + 1029—Nick Carter Down East<br> + 1030—The Chain of Clews<br> + 1031—A Victim of Circumstances<br> + 1032—Brought to Bay<br> + 1033—The Dynamite Trap<br> + 1034—A Scrap of Black Lace<br> + 1035—The Woman of Evil<br> + 1036—A Legacy of Hate<br> + 1037—A Trusted Rogue<br> + 1038—Man Against Man<br> + 1039—The Demons of the Night<br> + 1040—The Brotherhood of Death<br> + 1041—At the Knife’s Point<br> + 1042—A Cry for Help<br> + 1043—A Stroke of Policy<br> + 1044—Hounded to Death<br> + 1045—A Bargain in Crime<br> + 1046—The Fatal Prescription<br> + 1047—The Man of Iron<br> + 1048—An Amazing Scoundrel<br> + 1049—The Chain of Evidence<br> + 1050—Paid with Death<br> + 1051—A Fight for a Throne<br> + 1052—The Woman of Steel<br> + 1053—The Seal of Death<br> + 1054—The Human Fiend<br> + 1055—A Desperate Chance<br> + 1056—A Chase in the Dark<br> + 1057—The Snare and the Game<br> + 1058—The Murray Hill Mystery<br> + 1059—Nick Carter’s Close Call<br> + 1060—The Missing Cotton King<br> + 1061—A Game of Plots<br> + 1062—The Prince of Liars<br> + 1063—The Man at the Window<br> + 1064—The Red League<br> + 1065—The Price of a Secret<br> + 1066—The Worst Case on Record<br> + 1067—From Peril to Peril<br> + 1068—The Seal of Silence<br> + 1069—Nick Carter’s Chinese Puzzle<br> + 1070—A Blackmailer’s Bluff<br> + 1071—Heard in the Dark<br> + 1072—A Checkmated Scoundrel<br> + 1073—The Cashier’s Secret<br> + 1074—Behind a Mask<br> + 1075—The Cloak of Guilt<br> + 1076—Two Villains in One<br> + 1077—The Hot Air Clew<br> + 1078—Run to Earth<br> + 1079—The Certified Check<br> + 1080—Weaving the Web<br> + 1081—Beyond Pursuit<br> + 1082—The Claws of the Tiger<br> + 1083—Driven from Cover<br> + 1084—A Deal in Diamonds<br> + 1085—The Wizard of the Cue<br> + 1086—A Race for Ten Thousand<br> + 1087—The Criminal Link<br> + 1088—The Red Signal<br> + 1089—The Secret Panel<br> + 1090—A Bonded Villain<br> + 1091—A Move in the Dark<br> + 1092—Against Desperate Odds<br> + 1093—The Telltale Photographs<br> + 1094—The Ruby Pin<br> + 1095—The Queen of Diamonds<br> + 1096—A Broken Trail<br> + 1097—An Ingenious Stratagem<br> + 1098—A Sharper’s Downfall<br> + 1099—A Race Track Gamble<br> + 1100—Without a Clew<br> + 1101—The Council of Death<br> + 1102—The Hole in the Vault<br> + 1103—In Death’s Grip<br> + 1104—A Great Conspiracy<br> + 1105—The Guilty Governor<br> + 1106—A Ring of Rascals<br> + 1107—A Masterpiece of Crime<br> + 1108—A Blow for Vengeance<br> + 1109—Tangled Threads<br> + 1110—The Crime of the Camera<br> + 1111—The Sign of the Dagger<br> + 1112—Nick Carter’s Promise<br> + 1113—Marked for Death<br> + 1114—The Limited Holdup<br> + 1115—When the Trap Was Sprung<br> + 1116—Through the Cellar Wall<br> + 1117—Under the Tiger’s Claws<br> + 1118—The Girl in the Case<br> + 1119—Behind a Throne<br> + 1120—The Lure of Gold<br> + 1121—Hand to Hand<br> + 1122—From a Prison Cell<br> + 1123—Dr. Quartz, Magician<br> + 1124—Into Nick Carter’s Web<br> + 1125—The Mystic Diagram<br> + 1126—The Hand that Won<br> + 1127—Playing a Lone Hand<br> + 1128—The Master Villain<br> + 1129—The False Claimant<br> + 1130—The Living Mask<br> + 1131—The Crime and the Motive<br> + 1132—A Mysterious Foe<br> + 1133—A Missing Man<br> + 1134—A Game Well Played<br> + 1135—A Cigarette Clew<br> + 1136—The Diamond Trail<br> + 1137—The Silent Guardian<br> + 1138—The Dead Stranger<br> + 1140—The Doctor’s Stratagem<br> + 1141—Following a Chance Clew<br> + 1142—The Bank Draft Puzzle<br> + 1143—The Price of Treachery<br> + 1144—The Silent Partner<br> + 1145—Ahead of the Game<br> + 1146—A Trap of Tangled Wire<br> + 1147—In the Gloom of Night<br> + 1148—The Unaccountable Crook<br> + 1149—A Bundle of Clews<br> + 1150—The Great Diamond Syndicate<br> + 1151—The Death Circle<br> + 1152—The Toss of a Penny<br> + 1153—One Step Too Far<br> + 1154—The Terrible Thirteen<br> + 1155—A Detective’s Theory<br> + 1156—Nick Carter’s Auto Trail<br> + 1157—A Triple Identity<br> + 1158—A Mysterious Graft<br> + 1159—A Carnival of Crime<br> + 1160—The Bloodstone Terror<br> + 1161—Trapped in His Own Net<br> + 1162—The Last Move in the Game<br> + 1163—A Victim of Deceit<br> + 1164—With Links of Steel<br> + 1165—A Plaything of Fate<br> + 1166—The Key Ring Clew<br> + 1167—Playing for a Fortune<br> + 1168—At Mystery’s Threshold<br> + 1169—Trapped by a Woman<br> + 1170—The Four Fingered Glove<br> + 1171—Nabob and Knave<br> + 1172—The Broadway Cross<br> + 1173—The Man Without a Conscience<br> + 1174—A Master of Deviltry<br> + 1175—Nick Carter’s Double Catch<br> + 1176—Doctor Quartz’s Quick Move<br> + 1177—The Vial of Death<br> + 1178—Nick Carter’s Star Pupils<br> + 1179—Nick Carter’s Girl Detective<br> + 1180—A Baffled Oath<br> + 1181—A Royal Thief<br> + 1182—Down and Out<br> + 1183—A Syndicate of Rascals<br> + 1184—Played to a Finish<br> + 1185—A Tangled Case<br> + 1186—In Letters of Fire<br> + 1187—Crossed Wires<br> + 1188—A Plot Uncovered<br> + 1189—The Cab Driver’s Secret<br> + 1190—Nick Carter’s Death Warrant<br> + 1191—The Plot that Failed<br> + 1192—Nick Carter’s Masterpiece<br> + 1193—A Prince of Rogues<br> + 1194—In the Lap of Danger<br> + 1195—The Man from London<br> + 1196—Circumstantial Evidence<br> + 1197—The Pretty Stenographer Mystery<br> + 1198—A Villainous Scheme<br> + 1199—A Plot Within a Plot<br> + 1200—The Elevated Railroad Mystery<br> + 1201—The Blow of a Hammer<br> + 1202—The Twin Mystery<br> + 1203—The Bottle with the Black Label<br> + 1204—Under False Colors<br> + 1205—A Ring of Dust<br> + 1206—The Crown Diamond<br> + 1207—The Blood-red Badge<br> + 1208—The Barrel Mystery<br> + 1209—The Photographer’s Evidence<br> + 1210—Millions at Stake<br> + 1211—The Man and His Price<br> + 1212—A Double-Handed Game +</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in July, 1927.</p> + +<p> + 1213—A Strike for Freedom<br> + 1214—A Disciple of Satan +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Aug., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 1215—The Marked Hand<br> + 1216—A Fight with a Fiend<br> + 1217—When the Wicked Prosper +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Sept., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 1218—A Plunge into Crime<br> + 1219—An Artful Schemer +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Oct., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 1220—Reaping the Whirlwind<br> + 1221—Out of Crime’s Depths +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Nov., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 1222—A Woman at Bay<br> + 1223—The Temple of Vice +</p> + + +<p class="center">To be published in Dec., 1927.</p> + +<p> + 1224—Death at the Feast<br> + 1225—A Double Plot +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<table><tr><td> +<p class="tdc"><b> + Western Stories<br> + About</b> +</p> +</td><td> </td><td> +<p class="huge"><b>BUFFALO BILL</b></p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b>ALL BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Red-blooded Adventure Stories for Men</b></p> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<p class="center"><i>ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</i></p> + +<p> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">51—Buffalo Bill, Dead Shot</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">52—Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Bravos</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">53—Buffalo Bill’s Big Four</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">54—Buffalo Bill’s One-armed Pard</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">55—Buffalo Bill’s Race for Life</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">56—Buffalo Bill’s Return</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">57—Buffalo Bill’s Conquest</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">58—Buffalo Bill to the Rescue</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">59—Buffalo Bill’s Beautiful Foe</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">60—Buffalo Bill’s Perilous Task</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">61—Buffalo Bill’s Queer Find</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">62—Buffalo Bill’s Blind Lead</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">63—Buffalo Bill’s Resolution</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">64—Buffalo Bill, the Avenger</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">65—Buffalo Bill’s Pledged Pard</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">66—Buffalo Bill’s Weird Warning</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">67—Buffalo Bill’s Wild Ride</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">68—Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Stampede</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">69—Buffalo Bill’s Mine Mystery</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">70—Buffalo Bill’s Gold Hunt</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">71—Buffalo Bill’s Daring Dash</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">72—Buffalo Bill on Hand</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">73—Buffalo Bill’s Alliance</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">74—Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Foe</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">75—Buffalo Bill’s Midnight Ride</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">76—Buffalo Bill’s Chivalry</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">77—Buffalo Bill’s Girl Pard</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">78—Buffalo Bill’s Private War</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">79—Buffalo Bill’s Diamond Mine</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">80—Buffalo Bill’s Big Contract</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">81—Buffalo Bill’s Woman Foe</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">82—Buffalo Bill’s Ruse</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">83—Buffalo Bill’s Pursuit</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">84—Buffalo Bill’s Hidden Gold</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">85—Buffalo Bill in Mid-air</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">86—Buffalo Bill’s Queer Mission</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">87—Buffalo Bill’s Verdict</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">88—Buffalo Bill’s Ordeal</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">89—Buffalo Bill’s Camp Fires</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">90—Buffalo Bill’s Iron Nerve</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">91—Buffalo Bill’s Rival</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">92—Buffalo Bill’s Lone Hand</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">93—Buffalo Bill’s Sacrifice</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">94—Buffalo Bill’s Thunderbolt</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">95—Buffalo Bill’s Black Fortune</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">96—Buffalo Bill’s Wild Work</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">97—Buffalo Bill’s Yellow Trail</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">98—Buffalo Bill’s Treasure Train</span><br> + <span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">99—Buffalo Bill’s Bowie Duel</span><br> + 100—Buffalo Bill’s Mystery Man<br> + 101—Buffalo Bill’s Bold Play<br> + 102—Buffalo Bill: Peacemaker<br> + 103—Buffalo Bill’s Big Surprise<br> + 104—Buffalo Bill’s Barricade<br> + 105—Buffalo Bill’s Test<br> + 106—Buffalo Bill’s Powwow<br> + 107—Buffalo Bill’s Stern Justice<br> + 108—Buffalo Bill’s Mysterious Friend<br> + 109—Buffalo Bill and the Boomers<br> + 110—Buffalo Bill’s Panther Fight<br> + 111—Buffalo Bill and the Overland Mail<br> + 112—Buffalo Bill on the Deadwood Trail<br> + 113—Buffalo Bill in Apache Land<br> + 114—Buffalo Bill’s Blindfold Duel<br> + 115—Buffalo Bill and the Lone Camper<br> + 116—Buffalo Bill’s Merry War<br> + 117—Buffalo Bill’s Star Play<br> + 118—Buffalo Bill’s War Cry<br> + 119—Buffalo Bill on Black Panther’s Trail<br> + 120—Buffalo Bill’s Slim Chance<br> + 121—Buffalo Bill Besieged<br> + 122—Buffalo Bill’s Bandit Round-up<br> + 123—Buffalo Bill’s Surprise Party<br> + 124—Buffalo Bill’s Lightning Raid<br> + 125—Buffalo Bill in Mexico<br> + 126—Buffalo Bill’s Traitor Foe<br> + 127—Buffalo Bill’s Tireless Chase<br> + 128—Buffalo Bill’s Boy Bugler<br> + 129—Buffalo Bill’s Sure Guess<br> + 130—Buffalo Bill’s Record Jump<br> + 131—Buffalo Bill in the Land of Dread<br> + 132—Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Clew<br> + 133—Buffalo Bill’s Wolf Skin<br> + 134—Buffalo Bill’s Twice Four Puzzle<br> + 135—Buffalo Bill and the Devil Bird<br> + 136—Buffalo Bill and the Indian’s Mascot<br> + 137—Buffalo Bill Entrapped<br> + 138—Buffalo Bill’s Totem Trail<br> + 139—Buffalo Bill at Fort Challis<br> + 140—Buffalo Bill’s Determination<br> + 141—Buffalo Bill’s Battle Axe<br> + 142—Buffalo Bill’s Game with Fate<br> + 143—Buffalo Bill’s Comanche Raid<br> + 144—Buffalo Bill’s Aerial Island<br> + 145—Buffalo Bill’s Lucky Shot<br> + 146—Buffalo Bill’s Sioux Friends<br> + 147—Buffalo Bill’s Supreme Test<br> + 148—Buffalo Bill’s Boldest Strike<br> + 149—Buffalo Bill and the Red Hand<br> + 150—Buffalo Bill’s Dance with Death<br> + 151—Buffalo Bill’s Running Fight<br> + 152—Buffalo Bill in Harness<br> + 153—Buffalo Bill Corralled<br> + 154—Buffalo Bill’s Waif of the West<br> + 155—Buffalo Bill’s Wizard Pard<br> + 156—Buffalo Bill and Hawkeye<br> + 157—Buffalo Bill and Grizzly Dan<br> + 158—Buffalo Bill’s Ghost Play<br> + 159—Buffalo Bill’s Lost Prisoner<br> + 160—Buffalo Bill and The Klan of Kau<br> + 161—Buffalo Bill’s Crow Scouts<br> + 162—Buffalo Bill’s Lassoed Spectre<br> + 163—Buffalo Bill and the Wanderers<br> + 164—Buffalo Bill and the White Queen<br> + 165—Buffalo Bill’s Yellow Guardian<br> + 166—Buffalo Bill’s Double “B” Brand<br> + 167—Buffalo Bill’s Dangerous Duty<br> + 168—Buffalo Bill and the Talking Statue<br> + 169—Buffalo Bill Between Two Fires<br> + 170—Buffalo Bill and the Giant Apache<br> + 171—Buffalo Bill’s Best Bet<br> + 172—Buffalo Bill’s Blockhouse Siege<br> + 173—Buffalo Bill’s Fight for Right<br> + 174—Buffalo Bill’s Sad Tidings<br> + 175—Buffalo Bill and “Lucky” Benson<br> + 176—Buffalo Bill Among the Sioux<br> + 177—Buffalo Bill’s Mystery Box<br> + 178—Buffalo Bill’s Worst Tangle<br> + 179—Buffalo Bill’s Clean Sweep<br> + 180—Buffalo Bill’s Texas Tangle<br> + 181—Buffalo Bill and the Nihilists<br> + 182—Buffalo Bill’s Emigrant Trail<br> + 183—Buffalo Bill at Close Quarters<br> + 184—Buffalo Bill and the Cattle Thieves<br> + 185—Buffalo Bill at Cimaroon Bar<br> + 186—Buffalo Bill’s Ingenuity<br> + 187—Buffalo Bill on a Cold Trail<br> + 188—Buffalo Bill’s Red Hot Totem<br> + 189—Buffalo Bill Under a War Cloud<br> + 190—Buffalo Bill and the Prophet<br> + 191—Buffalo Bill and the Red Renegade<br> + 192—Buffalo Bill’s Mailed Fist<br> + 193—Buffalo Bill’s Round-up<br> + 194—Buffalo Bill’s Death Message<br> + 195—Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Disguise<br> + 196—Buffalo Bill, the Whirlwind<br> + 197—Buffalo Bill in Death Valley<br> + 198—Buffalo Bill and the Magic Button<br> + 199—Buffalo Bill’s Friend in Need<br> + 200—Buffalo Bill with General Custer<br> + 201—Buffalo Bill’s Timely Meeting<br> + 202—Buffalo Bill and the Skeleton Scout<br> + 203—Buffalo Bill’s Flag of Truce<br> + 204—Buffalo Bill’s Pacific Power<br> + 205—Buffalo Bill’s Impersonator<br> + 206—Buffalo Bill and the Red Marauders<br> + 207—Buffalo Bill’s Long Run<br> + 208—Buffalo Bill and Red Dove<br> + 209—Buffalo Bill on the Box<br> + 210—Buffalo Bill’s Bravo Partner<br> + 211—Buffalo Bill’s Strange Task +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="bbox"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="VALUE"> + VALUE + </h2> +</div> +<p> + 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. +</p><p> + 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. +</p><p> + 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. +</p><p> + 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. +</p><p> + 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. +</p> +<hr> +<p class="center medium"> + STREET & SMITH CORPORATION<br> + 79 Seventh Avenue :: New York City +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="bbox"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="The_Dealer"> + The Dealer + </h2> +</div> +<p> + 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. +</p><p> + 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. +</p><p> + 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. +</p><p> + Deal with the STREET & SMITH NOVEL + dealer. +</p> + +<p class="center medium"> + STREET & SMITH CORPORATION<br> + 79 Seventh Avenue New York City +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="transnote"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes"> + Transcriber’s Notes: + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</p> + +<p>Table of contents has been added and placed into the public domain by +the transcriber.</p> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77365 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77365-h/images/cover.jpg b/77365-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3decbf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/77365-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/77365-h/images/i1.jpg b/77365-h/images/i1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6ef4a96 --- /dev/null +++ b/77365-h/images/i1.jpg |
