The Mountains

such it could be called. Captain Selover at first faile

"But you look shipshape. Come

mate took rank with the men rather than the afterguard. Cabin accommodations were of c

nk here, or you can go in the foc'sle with the men. They's mo

lf. My chest would have to be left outside. I strongly suspected that my lungs would have to be left outside also; for the life of me

the rake of her masts, a little forward of the plumb, bore out this impression, which a comparatively new suit of canvas, well stopped down, brass stanchions forward, and two little guns under tarpaulins, almost confirmed. One th

e a boat apiece," I tho

voice singularly rich in quality. The words and the quaintness of the minor

o'-war or a priv

blow low, w

pirate, and I'm sa

ast of the hig

nion. The voice at onc

r, you were to discover yourself on the floor of Madison Square Garden. A fresh sweet breeze of evening sucked down the hatch. I immediately decided on the forecastle. Already it was being borne in on me that I was little more than a glorified bo's'n's mate. The situation suited me, however. It enabled me to watch the course of events more safely, less exposed to the danger of recognition. I stood for a moment at the foot of the companion accustoming my eyes to the gloom. After a moment, with a shock of surprise, I made out a shining pair of bead-points gazing at me unblinkin

e, he was destined to have much to do with my life, the fate of D

s I was mistaken. His sheer physical power was second only to that of Captain Selover. One of his forearms ended in a steel hook. At the moment I could not understand this; could not see how a man so maimed could be useful aboard a ship. Later I wished we had more as handy. He knew a jam hitch which he caught over and under his hook quicker than most men can grasp a line w

o explain to myself--nor even describe. It was a mystery, a portent, a premonition such as overtakes a man

n beings with unwavering gaze. They seemed to the sense of mystic apprehension that for the moment held possession of me, to be

n view of all that happened subsequently. Almost can I look back and see, in that moment of occultism, a warning, an enlightenment----But the poi

them States; and we hear of gold mines in Mexico and Australia, too, but did you ever hear tell of gold mines in Europe? Tell me that! And where did the gold

phir, I read about?" ask

glance thither fro

the mines of Ophir, Thrackle

red the man addre

nothing, and you can kiss the Book on that too! There ain't any gold output, b

ly other copy I had ever laid my eyes on is in the Astor Library. It is somewhat of a rarity, called The Secret of Alchemy, or the Grand Doctrin

was a bullet-headed squat negro with a broken nose. I believe he had a name,--Robinson, or something of

ed youth named Pulz, and a villainous-looking Mexi

direction of our voyage. Each discovered that the others knew nothi

d; and that's enough," concl

good," growle

k at the 'clipse of the moon

heem, den?" q

course," said Han

aughed the negr

with you, Doctor?"

er. "You see dat box he done

ebody scratched a m

"I sabe how a man goes after treasure with a box; but why should he take tr

y investigation of

the look of the stores we're due for more than Honolulu; a

rassed p

bluntly demanded the

; "I've the berth of mate. Wh

hip's officer quartered on them,--the forec'stle they considered as their only liberty when at sea, and my presence as

n. Already the outlines of the wharf houses were growing indistinct, and the lights of the city were beginning to twin

he squeaked. "And here

eated the canvas on her, even to the flying jib and a huge club topsail she sometimes carried at the

the wheel. Otherwise the deck was empty. The man's fantastic headgear, the fringe of his curling oily locks, the hawk outline of his face momentarily silhouetted against the phosphor

f the forec'stle with its eighteen bunks, enough for a passenger ship,--what did it mean? And this wild, unkempt, villainous crew with its master and his alm

e adventure. The notion was utterly illogical; that I knew well. In sober thought, I, a reporter, was shadowing a respectable and venerable scientist, who in turn was probably about to investigate at length some little-known deep-sea