TIIUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION! STORIES FOUNDED 0N FACT!

 

 

 

2.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class Mall Minter. Copyrighted in 1882 by 13mm um ADAMS. November 1.  -

 

 

s1 1 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. l —
V01. II. Numr. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. Fixaréiffits. NO. 4:7.

THE BOY GORAL-FISHERS; or, THE SEA-CAVERN SBUURGE.

BY ROGER STARBUCK,

AUTHOR OF "OLD TAR KNUCKLE AND HIS BOY CEUMS,” ETC, ETC.

 

 

 

 

DRAWING THEIR LONG KNIVES, THEY CROUCH‘ED, WATCHING THE SERPENT. IT FL .‘NG ITS SCALY TAIL FROM SIDE T0
SIDE AS IT DARTEI) :V.’IFTLY TOWARD THEM.

 

A,

'su porting life

2

The Boy Coral-Fishers.

 

ihe Buy Coral-Fishers:

THE SEA - OAVBBN SGOURGE.
A ‘Story of  Indian, Isles.

. BY noose STARBUCK,
AUTHOR or “one TAR moans AND me nor
CEUMS,” 1:10., mo.‘

CHAPTER I.
mu. UNDER THE SEA.

“Hoomr! here we go—down under the
sea!"

“Just so—bound for the ‘Coral Cit 1’ Hey
there! see what at _ looking do are all
around ’usl What a. noble light the lantern
throw” s k ' bright h lth be

.They w o 8 were , as y s,
aged nge‘ly sixteen and seventeen. he
was Frank Wentworth, and the other his chum,
Will Warner.

The had come all the way from America to
visit ill’s uncle, John Thomas, who lived in
Calcutta, and who was master of the Petrol, a
sloo engaged in the coral fishery.

T e craft—a small one of thirteen tons—had
sailed from Calcutta, with the boys aboard a
few weeks previously, and now lay oi! the north-
east coast of the island of Sumatra, between it
and Malacca. -

Having. as he thought, found a “coral bank,"
the captain had permitted the lads to go down
to explore the bottom of the sea, in a curious
submarine contrivance he had brought with
him, and which had lately been invented by an
Italian named Foseli. It was about ei ht feet
square, was made of iron plates, wit glass
windows, had a lantern attached to shed light
under water, and was provided with works for
moving the vessel in angr direction. Above the
chamber occupied by be boys was another,
containing compressed air, said to be capable of

or fifty hours.

e captain had previously tested the
machine, and found it to work well for the time
he had remained beneath the sea; but he had
cautioned the ladsto be careful in navigating
it, lest they should get it out of order.

Now as they descended, they looked curiously
at the uncouth creatures they saw dartin'r
about them. Some of the fish seemed “all
head” and no tail, others appeared to have but
one eye. Many glittered as if sheathed in
silver armor, and a few were of large size.

Among the monsters they saw was an enor-
moussperm whale, which, as it went plun 'ng
slantineg over them, cast a shadow like a rk
cloud, and struck with its flakes the slender
chain, which, hanging from the sloop shove,
was attached to the machine. . l ,  e v'

The violence or the’ blowcaused thebostri—
vance to oscillate for some mom ‘1?! 3 fa pen-
dulum. At last it sunk nearly to '   m'in'
a hollow among what seemed to be  “a, es
of trees, but which wore in reality the  kc
and stems of beautiful coral. From what, be
boys had heard the captain say, theynknew that

 

the coral the saw was the best of i kind.
“Uncle is luck l” said Will. f
n“ H,es, I reckon this will bring him in 'his
e. '
p “ How will he get it up?”

“By means of this machine. Knotted lines
like swabs will be fastened to the bottom of it'
it will then be steered over the coral, and
will be worked to and fro until the swab
catches in thebranches, Then the a paratus
will be hoistedr‘by men , ' the ed a and
the coral will be torn up i brought with "

“Yes, I see; but don"tvlet’s yet,” ed
the s her, in Will wssiabout pull the life.
line as asignal to hiaunclsto for his
gomigg up- "Let us: among these coral

ran . 4. - '

“Do ouknowwhy I am a‘hurry to
upP’sadWill, seriously. ‘ ‘ in! I . go

“lll‘o‘yhat’s the matter?” ' . r ‘

Hide m' pointed to the iron chain by which
the submarinecraft waste be helped to the sur-

0?}?01thellnke'9lfi“ , ybrokenl I ,
“* , that gives we   he id, “om-,craft
can’tbgéotnp, forI‘ , slrai we have g‘o’tthe
w h ofcrder.” ' v ‘

.  = must have been an ' flaw in that
ling; said Frank, and  _ from the
W _ Wm ' ,
ill  idioms, and them-began
850811 . ‘

,form. Unlike most of the

 

Suddenly the damaged link arted, and the
gfie snapped asunder wit the duel-eased

“Jerusalem! we are in for it new!” cried
Frank, as Will vainly strove to work the craft
upward. “ How are we ever to get back to our
friends?"

“I can think of no way!”

“ We will go further down again."

His companiOn, however, prevented this by
moving the lever attached to the machinery,.
otherwise the vessel must have settled" among
some cars] branches in which it would have
been caught fast. ,

“ If we could only kee the thing stationary,”
said Will, “we would all right. A diver
could come down to us and attach a rope to the
top. But as it is, we are being carried alonlg by
the current, in spite of the works, which be-
lieve are v much out of order.”
th“ I don’t. t ink we understood how to handle

em. -

Both in s looked at each other in dismay. v

Under t e sea, cut ofl from the upper world,
their situation was certainly perilous.

Frank laughed, but his mirth was evidently
forced.

“ No use,” said Will.
but you can’t deceive me.
nation as well as I do."

“I don’t deny it, Will, and I say God help us,
although I tried to laugh it ofl! just now.”

He assisted his friend at the lever, but the
submarine craft could not be made to head
against the current, which was very strong.

Uncouth‘looking see-monsters still darted
about, the lurid lglare of the lantern giving
to them an uneart ly aspect.

At last the machine struck a rock.

“ Look out l" cried Frank, “ or we will be
drawn into that hollow. ”

He pointed to a black yawning opening inlthe
ru ged mass.

oth boys endeavored to steer clear of it, but
the current drew the vessel into the dark hol-
low, where it was caught fast between two
masses of rock. Its occupants vainly endeav-
ored to work it out.

Will looked at his watch.

“An hour since we at adrift,” he said.

“How long can we ive here?” asked Frank.

“ Fifty hours, it is said; but I doubt if we
have more than half that time before us, for,
not knowing what was going to happen, we
have wasted our air.” '

The boys were hungry, thirstfi7 and faint, but
there was neither food nor drin in the vessel.

They both made a solemn vow that if thei
were rescued, they would never go down in sue
a craft again.

At last ten dreary hovt‘irrs passed.

“ More air!” gasped ill.

Frank open the stop-cock above his head,
but only a little air came out!

The two looked at each other aghast.

They had neariy exhausted their supply.
il‘his air would not last them half an our
anger. . ,. . V ‘

Soon they began to feel as if suflocating. 'A
deathly faintness came over them. A ll ht
mist seemed to float~ before their vision. -T ay.
knew that the end manner. , . ' ,

All at once Frank; upward, and look-
ing that way throng “:the'glsss'window, Will
egw ai Malay gir   bani; find

cam ng eyes, on 1.  r ’ rng a im
find his companidn. . Wished as be gazed,

“ You’ve pluck enough,
You feel our sit-

  
  

but a. minute later a’ _, e-looking native,
with “enormous head, . : hero ,
which thfastened tote; " ~ the top of he

machine. .’ ‘
“ we areseved l” inan Frank.
“ I hope soirbut don’tbe too sure.”

'The vessele to shake and reel.
Strung hands‘wers sv‘l sntly pulling on the rope
attached to it. At last t ascended. Frank
and Will were nearl unconscious until it
reached the surface, w j Whey revived. They
mliledppen the “extend crawled out lnto‘the

air. ,
A Malay girl and three men stood before
them, ' . ,

 

' CW3 II.

, Ma seamen Vision. ‘ ,
Tammie girl was very etty, with black
eyes. lone: h of the sameco or, and a graceful
-.of her race,
who file ’cnd blacken- their t ,hers were as
white as the pearls of her native sea. She
wore a mantle of scarlet- cloth, fulLtrowssu-s,
reachingnearlyto
ha ' hen-restroom re. -

e ankles sashesd‘astraw r

 

t .
The men were dusky-looking fellows, armed

with bosses—knives with'blades nearly fourteen
inches lon , having.  ed ivory-handles, and
contained sheath! I beautiful'rwood. I

The party'stooddna shelf of rocks that pro-
jected into the sea. ‘ . .

“ Heyol" cried the man, .who had booked the
rope to the machine under water. “ Come
boat from—No?” ' a ' .

He pointed toward the sloop, hall—‘yailed by a
light mistuin the distance.

“_ Yes,” answered Frank, as he'anjdrhis chum

surveyed the er who was ce y a sin—
gular rson. is head, on which he had a red
erc of was much too large for his slender,

agile body, and the skin between his hands and
toes was 5 read out so far as to remind the lads
of the Web d claws of a duck. He wore a yest
and loose trowsers, the latter reaching a little
below the knee. ‘ '
“How did you find us? how did you know
we Were under the water here?” inquired Will.
“ Girl—niece—Amone her name-dive for
marl See you—dat’s how come to know. Take
ck to sloo ; me want to go to sloop, anyway."
He pull a canoe from a cove among the
rocks, and with the lads he soon reanhe the

sloogv -
“ ell—well,” said Captain Thomas. “ is it
your ghosts, boys, or yourselves that 1 sp ?”

“ As ghosts are never hungry, uncle, it must
be ourselves,” replied Will. -

“ Where did you come from? How on earth
were on saved?” continued the captain, as he
shook th youths warmly by the hand and his
little crew of seven men came near.

The story was briefly told. Down in the cabin
the boys were soon after enjoying a good meal.
“Your name?” said Thomas, to the native.

“ Moco," was the reply.

“ Well, Moco,Imust now go after my machine,
so as to get it back here. You will please to
pilot me to the place.”

“ All right, but you not stay long about here.
Pirates not lar ofl—np-coast."

“ Pirates?”

“ Ay, Malay—bery bad hims—dem cha ."

“You don’t belong to that gang—eh ’ said
the captain, suspiciously.

“ Me—no!” answered Moco, drawing himself
up. “ Me Acbeenese—me fodder good him-—
me mooder 00d she! Me fish—me dive for

arl—sometimes me pilot—dat’s way get living

or me and niece. Niece Malay. She got twin
brudder, who is wid pirates. She try get him
'way from dem, but no can.”

As soon as the captain had his submarine con-
trivance safely aboard, he was again standing
toward the coral bank: He had retained Moco,
whose services he wanted.

Pirates or no pirates, and although he had
only a seven-pound gun aboard for defense, he
was bound to make a haul from that coral.
Next morning he had his engine prepared for
he could not now use the new machine, which
was out of order. The as was a piece of
wood shaped like a cross, low which was at

termed a great stone, bearin the swab-lines in
knotted meshes, intended to

fastened to the

co

As Moco, who was an experienced coral and
pearl diver was preps for the plunge, Will
requested his uncle to a low  I go down,

.too. r
“I’d like to go with him," said Frank.
“ I should think you two boys had had enough
of hammer-lied the ca tam.
“ e want to try t ose thi ," said Will,
pointing to a couple of diver’s he meta on deck.
Will’s uncle finally givin his consent, the
helmets were adjusted with t e hose to provide
fresh air and the life-line attached to the waist
of each lad. v
The si _ was given, and down the Went,
the weig tof lead stoned to the shou ders of
the boys carrying them straight toward the

ithad been. But the coral found here was of
the finest kind. It was of a delicate color,
and some of the branches seemed terlaced,
forming little hollows and caverns, from which
now and then emer ed swarms of beautiful

den flsln Protrud ng from thalittle res of

a coral, were hundreds of mil , star—
shafied objects resembling flatware, but which in
tea ty were live animals.

Carrying the swabs they held to some of the
branches, the boys made them fast. As they
did so they fancied they saw a pair of strange,
bright eyes peerln att‘nem from an opening
between some co stems a few testament,

Theyloanod forward to take a better View,
and beheld an objectthat ainanea them.

It was . apparently a veritable mermaid I

r sloop now was not quite in the same spot ‘

Yes, there she was, gently swa ing up and
down, the lower part 0 her body ‘ e that of a
fish covered with scales of silver and gold her
long hair of a sea-green color floating out ram
her head, her e es shining like diamonds among
the pink coral ranches!

The lads advanced still nearer. There could be
no mistake. The form was there—a mermaid
and nothing else! '

As they still watched it, it seemed to them
the creature moved ib'arm, beckonin to them.

Starth and alarmed, the pulle the life-
lines to be drawn up a few in nutes later.

When they took of! their helmets, the captain
was surprised at the paleness of their faces.

“ You been under too long,” said Moco.

“Moco, I have seen a mermaid!" said Will,
pmifitly.

“ l What! You see dat she ? Dat’s way
wid dem wonderfuls—dey come to dem dat not
believe."

“ Posh l” cried the captain, “are you crazy?”

“ We both saw it plainly,” was the firm re-

pl .

The captain laughed.

Then he had the diver’s armor arranged upon
him, and went down under water. He was
hauled up a minute later.

“ I saw nothin ," was his report.

“ Dore," said oco, “ dat make us safe.
girl not stay to harm us. ”

The boys were sure they had not been de-
ceived about the strange form, down under
water.

All the rest of the day they could think of
little else besides the wonderful vision they had
seen.

Sea-

 

CHAPTER III.
A uranium
Mace—superstitious as are all the Acheenese
-—refused to go after coral in this particular

t.

The sloop was headed off to a point some
fathoms distant from it, and there the fishing
was continued for several days.

Black pink. white, and red coral were here
obtained. One afternoon a small sloop or tar-
tan was visible, heading along in the distance.

Mcco pointing to it, said to the captain:

“Pirate come!”

“ So those rascals have come?”

“ T’ink so—too far off. Dat’s why no tell
sure.”

“I must know. This coral bank is too pre-
cious to leave unless I am obliged to go.”

“ Me go and look if pirate.” ‘

“2130 they know you? Would they harm
you. ‘

“ Kim‘s know dis him. No like, but no hurt.
Me fadderwas priest. No dare hurt son of
priest.” - '

“Well, you can go, Moco.”

The two boys, ta ing their revolvers, nest
ed permission to accompany him. _ Both one
and Will’s uncle tried to persuade the lads to
remain aboard, but they pleaded so strongly
that the captain finall’l‘y consented. ‘

The three entered oco’s canoe, and away it
went. Through intricate channels betwoeu
shoal rocks they proceeded. Mono paddled to
the beach. . '

“Must stay here, be till me come back.
Whyndat? because dem p ate him keep pris-
oner.

The boys got out on the beach, and, soon
gftelig, they saw the canoe disappear in a fog

an .

They waited long for Moco, but he didnot
come. They saw acocoanut tree and climbed
it to get the fruit. No sooner were they mating
the branches than they beheld a long canoe f
of armed Malays emerge from the mist and ap—
proach the spot where they had stood.

“ I believe those are the pirates I" said Frank.

“They look like it. M000 is not with them,”
he added, as the canoe drew nearer.

The canoe was directed to the beach, and the
men disembarked. They had fierce, dark faces,
and they wore round their heads closely-fitting
ker‘chiefs of red silk. One, the taller ,of the

rig, who was evidently theirleader, ensconced

imself behind the tree, while the others moved
lower dowa and crouched among masses of
rocks.

All seemed to be on the watch.

At last the sound of a paddle was heard and
a small canoe, containing a girl, was seen mov-
ing alo close to the shore. The girl was
Moco’s n cos, Amone,

The canoe was "passin close to the beach,
when the man be ind the tree apron forth,
seizing the prow with one hand and s ving to
drag the girl out by the arm with the other.

 

The Boy Coral-Fishers.

She resisted, utteri wild cries of entreaty,
when the man raised is knits threateningly.

In an instant Frank and Will, who had‘whis-
pared together, and each of whom had then
plucked ‘a oocoanut from a bunchesent the mis«
siles straight toward the head of the Malay. The
heavy nuts with the husks on struck the irate
—tor such he evidently was—on the head, ying
him out senseless. , .

As quick as thought the two boys sliding down
the tree, sprung in the larger canoe.

“Quick!” cried the girl. “Much t’ank! you
save me from irate! Him want to carry ofl.‘
——make wife. 0 like.” '

There was no time to lose. Yelling and
brandishin their kreeses, the gang that had
lain ooncea ed among the rocks, were now seen
approaching.

‘ Me pilot!" continued Amone, as she entered
her canoe. ‘

Each of the boys picking up a paddle in the
lar or one, kept in her wake.

one looked round her with keen eyes.
Suddenly she pointed to the dark heads of the
Malays, as they swam out from a part of the
shore below, toward the rocks through whose
channels the two canoes must pass.
PSITémy are going to try tovhead us 0!!!” cried

n .

“Yes,” answered Will. “The rocks arose
near each other that they can leap from one to
the other.”

“If hurry, may get through before pirate
reach dem rock we must pass.’

The boys strained every nerve. Anions
passed through in time to esca e the Malays,

ut several of the latter gaine the rocklbor-
derlng the edge of the narrow channel just as
the lads reached it.

Like tigers the three made a spring for the

t

a .

“Fire!” shouted Frank. “Remember, Will,
we shoot for our lives.”

Crack! crack! crack! went the two revolvers.

Two of the Malays, with the blood streaming
from their jaws, came crashing into the boat.

The third native, just missing the craft, tum-
bled into the water wounded in the shoulder,
his kreese drop ing from his benumbed hand.

One of those 11 the boat savagely sprungugon
Frank, and was about to drive his long, croo ed
blade between his ribs, when Will struck the
weapon from his hand with a blow of his d-
dle. He had rid himself of the other Ma ay,
who was more severely hurt than his- compan-
ion, by a vigorous kick in the chest, sending
him headlong over the gunwale into the water.
With the paddle he now urged the canoe for-
ward, away from the two nalives inthe sea,
who had made a clutch at the stern.

Meanwhile Frank was struggling with the
disarmed pirate in the craft. The man fought,
tooth and nail like some wild beast. ' '

“ We will take him risoner. He will do tom
:lhottagel” cried Wil , as he sprung to. assist

a c u . v . - '

But the wit native, «when nearlly overpow-
ered, contriv by a sudden twist 0 his supple
form, to roll over into the sea.

He swam like a fish toward the rocks on
which stood his late companions.

The mist had now nearly  away.

The lads parted with ‘Amone Just before they
reached their craft. r

“ Hulloa! what’s happened?” cried Will.

His uncle’s boat was alongside, broken ' and
half filled with water. There were signs as of
a struggle. The freshwater keg was august, one
of the ours was snap short 01!, a ‘ of rope
was disarran , an the paint was scraped as
if With boot- eels. Makin the canoe fast to
the chains, they boarded t e sloop, surprised
that no one came to greet them. Not a soul
did they see on deck as they moved toward the

cabin.
“ Uncle i” called Will.
No response. 1
“Jerusalem! what can be the matter!” said

rank. .

Both looked into the cabin.

No one there!

They ran forward and searched the forecastle.
The crew were gone!

All articles in cabin and forecastle were ‘ust
as they had left them, but captain and crew d
disappeared in the most mysterious manner.

CHAPTER IV. V
CAUGHT IN A sounds
Tm: two boys looked at each other in surprise
and dismay. '
Suddenly everything grew dark. A hum-
ming noise filled the air. A forked lightning
flash crossed wind-driven storm clouds.

F

 

 

3.

One of those sudden squalls common to this
region was at hand. '

‘ Here it comes!” cried Will.

With a whish and a shriek, roaring and howl-

, the storm burst u the sloop.

ortunately all had been taken in. As
the vessel heeled over with the water pourin
in u 11 her, the cable snapm in twain. Fran
and ill sprung tothew 1. Over went the
vessel about to ca ’ze!

“ rim: DOWN, Alt-RD!” shouted‘Will.

The boys tg'axnmed the helm a-port: the sloop
righted, an away she went, spinnin along
under bare poles, through storm and rac , with
only these two souls aboard.

“ What in the deuce will become of us?”
yelled Frank, in his com ion’s ear.

“God on] knows. e must do the best we
can. Run orward, Frank, and keep a lookout
while I steer!” ’

The white, boiling sea roared like a thousand
thunders.

Forward, Frank sprung on the bow, clutching
the fore—stay. The mast bent and swayed like
a whip-stalk. The air was full of electricity.
Now and then lurid balls of fire seemed to chase
each other alon the edlgle: of the seas.

“ Land ’0!" s outed nk, suddenly.

“ Whereaway !" yelled Will.

“ Right ahead—nooks AND mama!”

“ It’s all up with us, then!” cried Will.

With lightning speed the sloop was headed
strai ht toward the breakers, the white spray
of w 'ch could be seen flying high in air.

“ Can’t you lufl?” shouted Frank.

H  !”

“If you could, it would save us."

“ No use; I can't do it.”

Just then there was a noise like a cannon
shot. A portion of the gafl topsail had blown
clear, and was flapping wildly1 about.

“ That may be made to elp us,” shouted
Frank.

With his knife between his teeth, he swung
himself up into the rigging).J

The wind almost blow ‘in 01!, but he clung
with his knees and one hand to the stay, while,
reaching over, he severed the remaining reef—
points. The whiskin sheet gave an upward
slat, catching him un er the ear, and for an ir~
stunt almost stunning him. But he recovered,
atnd finally grasping the sheet, took a turn with

i .

Will was now able to lui! a little. The
sloop’s bow pointed diagonally toward the
breakers.

“We may clear them 1” cried Frank.

“Nothing sure,” was the reply.

011 went the sloop, humming like a top. She
was soon close to the breakers. If there were
sunken rocks near them, she must strike; it not,
she would pass within a foot of them!

Breathlessly the boys awaited the trying
m‘i‘ifi‘.‘ p... h

once a ‘ 'ng cry esca t am.

An electric mowed them high black
rocks beyond, which, in their situation, no
human power apparently could escape!

In a few seconds the sloop sater ¢mead the
bhrmkmdem, Mid now there were those th rocks
a

The little you made a plunge. The water
came surging over her. In a tro h of the sen,
her speed was for a moment dimin Peer-
ing into the white, boilin foam and » 37,
Frank saw the outline o something 1' e a.
black ball, lighted by two es of fine. The
next moment he reco ind oco’s enormous
head, as the native sat doubled up in his half-
capsiaed canoe. With a mam like a wild—
ca ’s, be bounded upward, helped by a wave,
and caught the mainstay clinging to it withvhis
teeth and hands, as the sloop rolled him under. »

An instant later he was on deck.

“'Moco! it is Moon!” yelled Frank.

“ Yes—him blown out toseanbeen drown if ‘
slo not come—t’ank much—where capitan?”

“ ‘ only knowsl”answered Frank, and he
quickly ex lained.

Moco loo ed .

“ This is no time to talk it over; don’t you s. e
where wears  to?” cried Fran . ' »

r:  "Pi. seams .

e s oop wi a pieces w en she
strikes the rocks 1” continued Frank.
Um—um—rock more hard dan sloop. Dat’s
Why 5100 break!” \

“ An i 'ot would know that."

“Call nameifrlike. Don’t care. Save life;
t’ank much?

“Your lite is saved; but it will be lost in
another minute!” said Frank, poin ' toward
the dark outline of the rocks, now not more
than a hundred tact distant.

4

resections—sisters.

 

A grim smile lighted Moco’s visage. He
walked uietly toward the wheel.

“ Bar on up l" he shouted. -

“I should think we were ‘ hard up] "said Will.

“ No; me mean hardee up w ‘1”

” What’s that for 7”

“ Nebber mind, you see.”

He seized the spokes, and the wheel was
quickly raised.

The vessel fell off. -

“ Stead-eel you little pinganinny! . Dat’s wa
you mus’ go!” cried Mooo, talking to the era t
as if it was alive. . ,

Then, as the vessel spun along, the native
bummed a wild refrain.

“Moco, have you gone crazy?” cried Will.
“ Don’t you see where we are goingl—toward
the worst rock of all J”

“Dis vessel good: she behave berry well!”
was Moco’s only response.

, The boys shuddered. As pale as death they
clung to the rigging, awaiting the dreaded
shoc .

A sea hurled the sloop toward the rock. The
lads closed their eyes and gave themselves up
for lost.

Instead of striking the rock, the craft, guided
by Moon’s skillful hand, passed through a wide
channel that separated it, but which, being
hidden by the spray and. the storm-rack, the
boys had not dreamed was therel

“She all safe now, little pinganinny. Got
open sea to cuddle in. See how glad toss head
and show heels! Dat’s de way w1d dem littles.”

gin? as he spoke Moco caressineg stroked the
w ee .

 

CHAPTER V.
A sua-snarnnr.

THE squall soon passed away to leeward.

The boys now headed the sloop toward the
coral ground the had left.

On the wage, oco stated that after quitting
them on the ach he had boarded a suspicious
looking craft and discovered her to be a peace-
able fisher. 6 saw a proa in the distance, but
on his way toit the squall had come 11 and
blown him out toward the sea, as y
shown.

“Mono.” said Will, “ we must find my uncle
and his crew. It is a mystery what has become
of them. I am afraid they have been carried
03 hv the pirates.”

“No: if pirate take, we hear noise. Besides,
no flnd sloop all right. If pirate take uncle
and crew, better believ‘e dem hims take pin—
ganinny craft, too.”

“ What on earth has happened, then? Where
have they ions to?”

Moon loo ed thoughtful.

” ybe green cowgirl—how you cam—mew
maid-ahead: take ofl.’ ‘

The boys looked to see if Moco was in earn-
est. There could be no doubt of it. With the
sufierstition of his race. the Malay implicitly
be and in sea-demons, mermaids and other
ghoulish creatures.

“ Yes,” he continued, solemnly. “ Dem green
sea-girl live-’way down under sea. Dem are do
shes dat like coral cave to lib in; dem are do
shes dot sing away life of him when moon
play wid silver finger on do sea. Dat’s way
wl dem funnies!” '

“ Nonsense, Moco. You will help us, look for
our missing people?"

“Yes, but ’fraid nebber find if sea-girl take.
rfiyhe sea-girl not take,"_ he added, thought-

u y.

The ll finally reached the coral ground
when, lee. ngmMoco on watch, the boys retire
to their bert , where, after talking over the
strange disappearance of their trieuds, they at
last fell aslofip.

Early ne morning, before breakfast, the
were on deck, scanning sea and shore in all d -
reotions. .

Still no sign of the captain and crew!

The boys, with Moco, went ashore and made
inquiries but they could learn nothing about
the mi rig party.

“ There as been violence," said Will. “ The
condition in which we found my uncle’s boat
--broken and in confusion—omen that. Can
it be there has been mutiny?”

Frank did not think so; neither did ,it seem
possible that pirates were concarned in the a!-
Iair. Altogether, itwas a strange myste .

“Well,” said Will,‘“ I tell you what we’ I do.
We’ll continue the coral-fishing, and meanwhile
keep a watch. The captain and his men may
return hetero long.” I

A crew of Acheensse were provided by M000.

Next morning they went towork. The swab
was fastened under water to valuable stems of

v see all around them. The

 

coral, which were drawn up by means of the
capstan, four men turning it, and the others
keeping the sails trimme and full, that the
headway made by the craft might, assist in
hauling up the precious material. As- soon as
the coral was brought on deck it was collected,
and the crew cleansed it, of shells and parasites
adhering to it, after which it was stowed.

Late in the afteran the two boys, wearing
the diving armor, went down to the bottom for
more. . .

Through the glass in their helmets they could
were about ten
fathoms below the sloop, an they could descry
her copper bottom above them.

They found the under-current so strong here
that they were obliged to cling to a coral
branch to keep up‘right. .

Suddenly Fran saw Will
and looking that way, he held somethin
long and dark swaying against the bottomo
the sloop. The light was too indistinct for the
boys to make out the object perfectly. At first
it seemed to resemble a cable. But, droppin
from the vessel’s bottom, it settled lower, an
then the spectators caught the golden gleam of
its hundreds of little scales. A moment it thus
hung suspended over the heads of those below;
then, with one supple motion, it coiled its whole
length, about twenty feet, into a ring and a
broad, flat head, containing two round, bul 'ng
eyes, Was turned toward the divers, whi e a
short, sharp fln just back of it was moved slowly
from side to side.

“ A Stokesi sea-serpent!" was Will’s mental
exclamation.

He had heard his uncle speak of this creature,
peculiar to these waters, and dreaded by the
natiVe swimmers.

The monster, glaring down a few seconds at
the lads, approached them with a slow, easy
motion, as if to attack them. '

An icy thrill went to their very hearts. The

gradual manner in which the serpent came '

was, perhaps, more appalling than a swifter
movement would have been.

What should they do? To pull the life-line
would result in their being hauled up straight
toward the creature. They looked round them.
There was a hollow among the coral branches.
Simultaneously they drew themselves along
toward it, and crept in.

Will pointed among the branches, and they
both (:11de up between the intricate stems.

Here, drawing their long knives, they
crouched, watching the serpent. It flun its

scaly tail from side to side as it darted aw ftly‘

toward them. ‘

The water around the coral stems was tinted
of a rose color. This gave to the creature’s eyes
a lurid, We a pearauce. It did not attempt
to insert its y between the coral, whose
sh lute would have wounded it, and bin-
der to movements, but it coiled round and
round the boys’ retreat, like a ring of fire. Now
and then itwonld thnmt its head through an
opening near them, but on} to draw it back
again as the lads endeav to strike it with
their knives. At last it settled itself in con
near the mouth of the hollow, u if to make sure
of its intended victims when they should leave
their uartors. Nearly an hour .
since ey dove: unused to the helmet and the
heavy Weight hanging from their shoulders,
they were nearly exhausted. They felt unable
to stay below longer. They must leave their
retrea and pull the lifeline.

And there was the at in wait for them!
A terrible death seem in store for them.
They could imagine the cold, slimy coils about
their forms, crushing out their breath.

But there was no alternative. Clutch
their knives firmly. they clambsred down ‘
moved toward the mouth of the hollow.

The monster saw them oomin . It raised its
head. Like an arrow it dart toward them,
and they hadgiven themselves up tor-lost, when
abright luri flash shot athwart the serpent’s
Vision. . .

Instantly it glided ofl’, and the boys beheld
their deliverer‘ none other than Mooo, still hold-
ing in his right hand the lantern he had made
use of. '

Under water, his big head and staring eyes
gave him a goblin-like apgamce.

The boys pulled the Hine and they were
drawn up to the deck of the sloop, Moco appear-
ing a moment later.

CHAPTER VI.
» - ' ‘ some rain cam.
“ Warm. how you” like it under dare?” ques-
tioned Moco, as soon as the ohumshad
ered iron: their exhaustion.

/'

inting upward, ,

WV"

 

“ Not at all,” said Frank.

“ No no.” echoed Will. “ We don’t like such
kind ,0 eels as are down there.”

For some time the he s talked over their sin-
gular encounter. Then hey spoke of the broken
boat; that);J had found it on the day they missed
the capta and his crew. There had been signs
of a struggle in that boat. Was there any con-
nection between the hideous serpent monster/v
thgy had seen, and the loss of the party?

hey shuddered at the thought which long
haunted them.

The coral fishing was continued a part of the
next day. In the afternoon Moco went ashore
with the Acheenese crew. Hours passed and
the party did not return.

The boys looking toward the island of Poolo
Lingen, saw several'dark proas and a sloop, or -
tartan, in the distance. Inspecting them
through a. telesco e, they perceived that these
craft were crowds with dusk fellows, “ armed
to the teeth.” The proas with] their lateen sails
looked like ugly bats. The gloom of night soon
hid them from view.

“ I believe they are pirates!” said Will.

“ So do I. but we are not sure.”

“ We had better make sail.”

“Yes; I wish M000 and his people were here.”

“ We cannot wait. The pirates are coming

swiftly.”

The mainsail, to i1 and jib were set. Will
manned the whee and awe}:, went the sloop,
heading along parallel with t e shore.

“Sail ’0!” cried Frank, who was on the looks
out: “ ri ht ahead!”

There, ike a black snake, a long sloop, or tar—
tan, was seen stealing toward the coral craft.
Alurid gleam streamed from several lanterns
which were suddenl lighted.

Tigerish~lookin ellows, with handkerchiefs
tied about their eads, and spears and kreeses
gleaming in their hands, crowded the decks,

rin at the sloop. A simultaneous yellbroke
rom t ese fellows, when they saw their intend-
ed prize so near them.

“ Slack up the main and jib sheets I” shouted
Will. "Square in the topsoil! We’ll run be-
fore it!”

In an instant the crash of musketry was heard.
The air was full of forked flashes and fl ‘ng
bullets—the latter whistling and humming a ut-
the boys’ ears.

Seaward flew the little Petrol before the wind,
the tartan cloéel following in her wake.
FrWiIlKIIIafilézdt 1:; e wheel atgidlhips.d bHe mild

an ea c seven-poun an roug t
it to bear on the Male . gun

“ Fire l” shouted W 1.

Frank ulled the lock-string—the gun roared,

A ratt ng, crackling sound was heard.

“Good for us! Hoprayl" shouted Frank, as,
the lateen sail fell over the tartau’s side.

‘f Give them some more of the lead!” cried

The boys reloaded. .

Bang! went the gun again.

“Hoo— ahl Hi-yahl ynhl ahl boo-00!”
screamed the Malays, inturin , as their bow-
sprit, with half a dozen wild fellows clinging to
it, crashed into the sea.

“Hoorayl ve it to them! ve them Hail
Columbia! s outed Will, as 11 boys now
rolled their sleeves to the shoulder.

é time’theigugvxlas load‘e-d. he‘d, .

0 up! so , pom mg a as
Frank was about to fire.

Another vessel, a proa, was now visible in
that direction.

“We are done for!” cried Frank, as he

minted out a third craft closing up ofl the star-
rd quarter! .

“ Never say die!" answered Will. “ Round
with gun Frank. We’ll ve thefellowe ahead
a taste of our Yankee lea 1”

Meanwhile, the Malay bullets were cutting
the air all about the lads.

The gun was pointed for the head pros.

Bang again.

The shot missed. Exulting yells came from
the Malay fiends.

“Never mind. you devils! We have some
more for on!” cried Will. “ Load again,
Frank, but on’t fire till I give the word 1’?

He ran to the wheel, for the sails were shah»
gig. Having got them full, he returned to his

end‘s side. v

The two vessels drew nearer eve moment.
Soon the head proa was soclose that e glaring
eyeballs oi! the Malays could be seenhy their
lantern’s glare. .

“New, Frank, now rum!” ,

A flash—a thunderous peali

The shot swept the pros le thwa s. Several
men were killed and woundgs. ith a mob

The Boy Coral-Fishegs.

' 5

 

 

the mast went by the board. At the same mo-,

ment Will sprung. to the wheel, while Frank
gave, a pull on the lee braces. Lumng, Will
sent the craft spinning along past the proa’s
larboard bow.

The Malays are very active in repairing
damages. In a few minutes the mph-ates were
again making swift headway. hey got to

windward of the sloop and then bore down to
‘ head her off.

This compelled the boys to veer round. The
Malay craft made almost two knots to their
0110.
starboard—that is on each side—and another
astern. The irates had put out their lights.

The boys wou d not riskwasting their ammuni- I

tion in the dark.

“We are heading shoreward. Reefs ahead!”
sung out Frank.

“ How far off?”

“ Not half a mile.

water.” . ,

A mist had been gradually gathering. Soon
thefvessel’s occupants could not see the other’s

are. t.

The reef now was not three ship’s lengths

ahead. .

“ It’s all up with us i” said Frank. “ We must
either heave to or run on the reef !"

“Don’t you believe it! I’ll throw pepper in
those rascals' eyes i”

The canoe in which the boys had esca ed
from the pirates a few days before was still set
alongside.

Sui-rendering the wheel to Frank, with orders
to keep off a little, Will is rung into the canoe
and made fast to the midd e thwarta boat must
with its sail, which had been taken out of the
broken boat and put in this craft on the day
before. Loosening the sail and securing the
sheet, he set the rudder so ,the vessel would
head for the reef; then he sprung aboard the
sloop, and let go the warp of the canoe.

‘ The latter soon after struck the reef. As Will
headed the sloop parallel with the line of rocks,
he could hear the shouts of the Malays, indica-

' ting that they saw the white sail of the canos,
and were deceived, as Will had intended.

In the dim light they mistook it for thatof
the sloop, and supposed that the latter was fast

on the reef.
05 their heaving to and lowering

I can see the white

The sound
boats was hear . .

“Good again!” said Frank, as he slapped his
chum’s shoulder. , I

“They’ll soon find out the trick,” said Will,
“ but we’ve .gained lime, and are leavmg
them}7

“ They’ll be up with us before long.”

“That’s so, and thev’ll pass us I"

“ How’s that, Will?”

“Ri ht ahead of us beyond the end of the
reef, t ere is a small boy between two rocks
and the land. I am going to run in there.”

“Ho! ho! Will, you are: trump.”

“ Well, I believe I know a thing or two, and
we are both used to the water."

“ Better yet, you’re an American boy.”

“I believe yo and you’re a ‘chip of the
same block,’ so I t ink we’ll do.”

Will soon ran the sloop into the little boy, and
took in his sails. But he did not lettgo his
anchor until he saw the faint outlines of the

roas as they passed the mouth of the'bay not

we ship’s lengths distant. , ,

It was an anxious moment for the boys, and
they did not breathe freely until they beheld
the last at thethres pirate, craft disappear.
The deep Shadows of the high land under which

they lay outed the irates from 5991"8
*hem,and, , aking'th ’ ha kept on, the savage
l'eWS had ccntmu their course, believing

;..ilfby were in obese of the sloop. ,
o prevent their vessel from drifting on the
rocks, the chums now let go then-gm anchor,

essence ‘vn.
A Marlow cedars.

AFTER supper, Will took the first watch,
While Frphnk lay drown and file
“ An in up , inquire
friendgwokeg him, a few hours later,to me his

turn on the lookout. .
“ No. It is still itch dark, and there 15 gm]
P .
a ‘05 I have seen nothing of the pirates,"
“ 001-50 for.” '

“There is a, me out Of' this  between ,

the rocks, lbelieve. If those rascals should ap-
pear at the larger entrance, we might give them
the slip by running throu h that channel.”

“ Yes, if one of them s ould not be posted at,

the other end of i..."
Will had the morning watch. It was near-

They soon had an enemy to larboard and.

t.
Trunk, when. his 1

. pron. statibned. there,

 

1y daylight when he fancied he heard the slight
creaking of' yards, not far off.-

He p‘eere'd through the‘mist ahead, but he
could not et see any craft.

To’ oh ,3. better view, he crawled out on
the boom. ' , , '

Again he heard that creaking noise, which
warned him that the pirates were approaching
the entrance of» the bay.

He turned intending to awaken Frank, and
get up anchor, When to his surprise, he beheld,
at the other end, of the boom, crouching on his
knees, the figure of a Malay!

The fellow had evident ycontrived to steal
alon side unperceived in the mist, and had
clim d aboard, just as Will went out on the

boom.

Bending forward, with glittering eyes, he held
along spear pointed toward the boy.

The latter thus found himself at the mercy of
the pirate. His pistol was in his belt, but be—
fore he could draw it, his enemy would dart.

“Got now,” said the Malay. “ Me son of
pirate chief! Quick kill you young lubee (lub-
ber. No?” ’

“ Why?” inquired Will.
prefer to take me alive?”

He said this to gain time. Even as he spoke,
he swung himself quickly under the boom cling—
in to it, with his legs and left arm, while he
pu led his istol from his belt.

The hur in of the spear had followed Will‘s
movement. he weapon grazed the boy’s tem—
ple. A yell in the distance betokened that the
pirates in their press were coming. Will has-

“ Would ‘ you not

,tened to fire ere the man before"hiin could

dodge behind the bow rail. But his shot missed.
He glided inboard along the foot-rope. The
Malay sprung at him like a hyena, his knife
drawn. The boy dodged the wea n, the pirate
fell forward, the point of his bis 6 03.170ng in
the links of the cable, and snawn ofl short.
“ Up,,Frank! u I” shouted  “ Up, and
we’ll take this is] ow Eisner for a hostage l"
d Akn instant later nk came running, on
80 .
Will and the Malay had clinched and fallen.
They were rolling over and over in a desperate

struggle.
The native was a en is young fellow, but
Frank, placing the m e 0 his istol at his

 threatened to shoot him dead i be resisted
u or. ‘ ',

Punting, the man then lay quiet, laring up
at the two. ‘ ’ ‘ -

r “r What shall we do with him?” said Frank.

Will considered a moment.

“ The proas are coming. We will fasten him
to the bow, and threaten to kill him if they do
not 0 away from us.” '

“ . But will they care for that?”

‘ “I should think so, as this fellow lawn of the
pirate chief." , ,

,“ That’s luolay for‘us.”

“ How woul itdotolashhim toourguni”

“ Just so- on tall"

H Get upil’ so. a Frank to the Malay.

“N0!” *

“Get Isay. ortake a dose of cold lead!”
continu Frank.

“Fire if like—no stir! Son of chief not
’fraid to die I”

Will drew the un along to the Open gan -
way near which t e man lay. Then he broug t
some stron lashings.

The mo boys Seized the Malay, and after a
sligzhtstruggle, succeeded in tyin his hands and
fee. Then they raised him an secured him

.with ropes over the muzzle of the gun, in' a

bent, pesition— cords passed round under his
arms, being made fast to the barrel of the
piece. Other cords were wound about his he s
and hitched to wagon—carriage, so that be cc d
not get loose. , ',

The man Writhed and strii glad in vain.

“There you are!” said Will, “The’guu is
loaded, and we have only to pull the lock-
string to blow'this fellow to pieces l"‘

“ Now .we can (get up anchor.”

“ That’s so, an the sooner the better.”

The chums worked with" a will at the wind-
lass; and they medium the little anchor up, and
were makln s’aik _

At the sauie moment the black masts _of two
prong were seen‘ looming‘throug'h the mist be-
yond the entrance of theba . , 

“ Here they comel?’ " Will. “We will
have to take he channel between the rocks I”

‘” You are right.” '

“ Not ulte. See there!” cried Will, pointing
toward t e extremity of the passage. ,

v 1 Frank looked. to deer the dim outline of _e.
, evidently to cut off their
retreat in that directlonl

' the broken window and drop

 

“ Outwittedl” he cried. _

In fact they were hemmed in b their foes!

“ What can we do?" inquired ill.

“ Lie to and wait for their coming. We have
our Malay tied to the gun.”

They looked toward the pirate, and a simul-
taneous cry of dismay escaped them.

While they were getting up anchor the man
had writhed, twisted his supple limbs and
tugged with all his strength to free himself.
The result had been diflerent from what he had
expected. He had caused the piece to be drawn
so near the gangway that the carriage had
tipped across the edge, and he was now making
frantic efforts to keep it from going over. But
a wave suddenly gave the sloop a lee roll, the
gun tipped up further, and it was now sliding
down toward the sea, in spite of the struggles
of the Malay to event itl

Frank and ill sprung, but ere they could
grasp it, away went the gun, plunging into the
sea with the prisoner lashed to it.

One long, wild, despairing cry escaped the
wretch; then he was jerked out of sight by the
weighty metal as it descended to the bottom.

Through the mist the boys could see the ap-
proaching proas.

“We are cornered now; we have no guns,
neither have we ammunition left for our pis-
tols!” said Will. “ We must leave .ue sloop.”

Tying their shoes to their barks, the two lads
swam to the beach. ‘ " V

As they stole along cautiously, half a dozen
Malays suddetély :Erung u from behind a rock
and surround em. hey flourished their
kreeses, as if about to cut the prisoners to
pieces, when one, who seemed to have authority,
said: “Not now! Carry to chief!”

They forced the boys into a. canoe and took
them to the isle of Poolo Lingen. They were
led into a long, low but full of fierce Mala s.
At one end was seated a tall, dark fellow, w 0
was the head chief of all the pirate bands of the
island. The captives were brou ht before him.
He scowled upon them, said a ew words, and
they were then confined in a small cellar be-

neath the hut. 0n the following ' t they
were led  the cellar, taken to beach,
and made est with ropes to the fore channels

of a wrecked schooner there. with their faces
turned to their foes. About fifty of the latter
their dark visages lighted by lanterns carried
by some of the gang, confronted them at the
d of thirty paces. The lanterns ware
held so as to shed an indistinct gleam upon the
boys. This was done to render more exciting
the fearful game which was aboat to be prac-
tised. The fpirate chief, who was present, called
the name 0 one of the men. He ate for-
ward a few feet, and drew his kreese. ' nc-
ing it carefully holding the handle with his
righth, an the end of the blade’with his
le t, he suddenly sent it spinning throu
thecirtoward thetwolads. Itstruek e
wookwork between them, passing within a
hair‘s breadth of Frank’s temple. The young
pgsonsrs shuddered. They now know that this
barons s rt was to be continued until they

should be acksd to'death with the knives,
which all the pirates—each in his turn+was to
throw at them! Assoon as them-st thrower
had secured his kreese,‘ the chief pronounced a
second name, another man stepped forth and
drew his weapon. ‘ ‘ ' ' »

Frank uttered a cry of so rise,“ thalam-
tern’s light fell mm 11 n the ills: *3 visage.

“ Wil , whispered 'egjo’yfully, “do you not
r inc thatrfaoe?” - ~ .

“ es, it is like Amone’sl"

“ So much so that it is hersl—only she wears
a man’ garb. e are saved 1”
‘ “You forget what Moco‘ told us,” answered
Will, sadly—“ that Amone had a twin brother
who was with the pirates.”

The young Malay was a long time balancing
his kreese

At last it flew whining from his hand, but so
awkward was his aim that the knife struck the
deck of the wreck.

The thrower ran to secure the weapon. As
he passed close to the boys, he contrived, with
another knife, hidden under his sleeve, to out
the rope that held sac to the bulk.

“Felice me , ' —quick I” he whispered,
“and run down in cabin. Canoe tow astern-

,Me jump in—you jump in), Night very dark.

Me saveel”

The ladsohe ed these directions. There was
a yell’from t e pirates as they disap ared.
Running into the cabin, the lad crawled tfiough
a‘ped into the canoe
which the young Mala h now drawn u
close under the stern. e warp was severe ,

and the next moment, passing round a rock,

 

 

.N‘J

 

"6

'The Boy Coral-Fishers.

 

the light vessel was pladdled swiftly alongin
the deep shadows whic concealed it.

Meanwhile the shouts of the baffled pirates
were heard as they searched the wreck in
which—not having been able to see the boys
leave it, on account of the jutting rock—they
sup need the trio were hidden.

eir rescuer said not a word as the canoe
glided on. In about an hour the boys were
surprised to find the craft enterin a dark cav~
em in a loftg rock, which evident y stood near
one end of t e very bay in which they had been
cornered by the prone.

Suddenly a man’s voice was heard, a lantern
flashed, and, to the surprise of the lads they
beheld their own sloop ying snugly anchored
in the cave!

It was Moco who, standing on deck with some
of his Acheenese crew, held the lantern.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
ran CORAL csvn.

Tim boys were soon aboard the sloop with
their rescuer, looking wonderineg about them

. as they shook hands with Moco. Then, gazing

at the person who had saved them, they were
gum they could not now be mistaken in the
ace.

“You are not Amone’s brother, but Amone
herself i” cried Will.

“Yes. Brudder come to see me yesterda —
meet on beach. At last he say he leave ira s.
No like pirate try to take me ofl—ma 6 him
mad. Brudder den ut on odder clothes and
sail away aboard fishing vessel. Not long after
me hear noise on beach. Me see pirates get
you. Me make up mind save. Put on brudder’s
clothes, get in canoe to go to pirate lace. We
look so much like dey t’mk me bru der. Dat’s
how‘mp do all for you.”

“ lad niece save,” said Moco. “Now tell
how me get sloo here. After me leave ou,
me find a frien sick and have tostay as ore
longer than want to. Burialsr hear noise of gun
you fire, and know pirate ter you. Me run
alongrlgeach and keep shag watch. At last me
seep to comic tc'take oop in bay. ‘Me‘not
know you left cop. Me paddle canoe Quick
and get aboard before pirate can see three h
mist, and me steer do also into dis cabe. ,'-
rate no see sloop and t’in been scuttle. Den
dey go away. After dat, me go ashore—see
niece. She tell me pirate been take you off and
dat she going to try to save.” ' I

He now entered the canoe with some of his
men, and goinguto an alcove near the entrance,
the natives pu ed upon a rope, which caused
the broken mast'of a wreck,to swing across
Elie-d water beneath the archway, thus forming a

or.

“Ajgood ccntrivanoe,” said Will, when the
native returned. ‘ ,

“Yes. Good cabe here. Bad hims not come.
Only me and niece and a few odder Acheenese
know ’bout diptplace. Keep secret so as to bob
place tohide hab trouble wid Mala . Once
we find mast of wreck. Me and men so can
put across entrance hf cube, or move away
when like. If Malay see, t’ink accidentalum
Em in dare. Shad‘OWs from wall hide sloop.

rry dark here all time. If pirate look in. no
see. Dat'l how put wool over'dem fellows’

eyel’fl
“Capital!” cried Will. “ Here is our sloop,

which we thought captured before this, all snug
and safe.” ' .

Meanwhile the boys looked around , them
curiously at the cavern walls, which were of
reddish granite. ‘ ,

Th; _saw a small opening over the water at
one e.

“ Where does that lead to!” inquired Frank.

“ Come me show,” said Moco.

In the latter’s canoe the lad passed through
the opening.

B the l &ht of the lantern Moco had brought
wilt him ey then behold a beautiful specta-
c e.
They were in a coral cave about fifteen by
twenty feet uare and nearly twelve feet high!
White and r coral—here rising like the trunks
of trees with pruned branches—there forming
clusters like tulips—in other laces stretchin
out into innumerable‘bush-ll e twi , ca h
the rays of the lantern and glittered with be
hundreds of little parasites that clung to it.
Wé‘nlll’hy, Mooo, here’sa fortune for us!” said
“No; dis coral not berry
Jewelim no cars make eur-
white hello to shake in ear. ”

He ided the canoe to a lon , slanting shelf
of roc . At the end of it, int e cavern wall,

—-too coarse.
g wid him for

  

 

there was an opening that 310 d downward as
if leading into a deep pit. 9 boys heard a
roaring noise coming up through the hole.

“ Be careful not ever fall in ere,” said Moco,
“ ’fraid if do, never come out again, alive.”

“ What is it? A pit?"

" T’ink so; nebber been down dere. Once a
da‘}r water come rush out berry fast 1”
‘Where does it come from? ’
“ Don’t know. T’ink bad spirit dere. Him

t’row water out.”

The curiosity of the lads was aroused, and,
after they returned to the sloop, they frequently
spoke about the mysterious pit. . .

Several days passed. The vessel was still in
the cave. 0n the morning of the fourth day,
Will and his chum had entered the coral cave
be end, when a strange thing happened.

curing the flapping of wings, the boys looked
up, to see an ugly-looking bat circling about
their heads.

With a blow of the canoe paddle, Will brought
the creature down.

“'Hulloa! what is thief” he cried, taking a
small piece of paper, which had been fastened
with a string under the wing.

There was writing in pencil upon this paper,
but the latter was so soxled that the words
could not be made out.

“How came the‘Ipaper bore!” wonderingly
inquired Frank. ‘ may have come from your
uncle.”

“God only knows I" .

“It looks as if the captain had been in this
cave.” said Frank.

“ He ma be where the but came from,” re-
marlyr’ed ill. “We do not know where that
was.

They returned to the sloop, and told Moco
about their. discovery.

The Acheenese loo ed pe lexed.

“Often ' bat dere. W ere come from can
no tell. t’s where puzzleum comes in.”

“ Could it not have flow: from the pit at the
end of the coral cave?” inquired Frank.

Moco started.

“Mi ht come from dere but not sure.’

Plenty at all over island. Once find one in
bed, sitting on nose, tr ing berry hard pick out
eye. Dat’s worse of em fellows.”

Frank and Will consulted by themselves.

They knew that Moco, with his 811 rstitious
notions about the pit wouldo poset eir oing
down into it. No the less di they reso ve to
e lore it.

‘ but very day, while the native and his
niece were ashore they put a small rope in the
canoe, and entere the coral cave.

They were soon at the month of the gt 0 n-
ing, rope in hand, Tying an end of eir his
to a spur of rock, they descended, one after the
other. To their surprise they touched . the

round after going down eleven feet. It was
damp and we , smooth sand. as the boys could
see b the li ht of the camp lantern fastened to
Fran ’s shou der. The looked around them in
surprise. The place hey were now in was
about fifteen feet wide and twelve feet high.
Masses of beautiful coral, some of it very fine,
were on every side. The roof, however, was
cracked, and looked as if it might come down at
any moment. _

We could load the sloop from this cavern!"
cried Will.

The boys moved on. The sandy passage be-
tween the coral masses was not six feet wide.
It described a gradual ascent, and the cave nar-
rowed as they proceeded.

All at once a whirrin sound was heard. The
air became dark with ,ts. Around the lads
they flew, striking their faces, arms and hands,
an many of them, clinging to their clothes.
The two adventurers fought and struggled to
rid themselvos of these pests. At last, by a
free use of their knives, hey drove them off,
the creatures flying away among the coral
branches.

Will movad on ahead of Frank. He had
walked a few yards when he found himself
sinking. ' .

He looked around for his chum, but the latter
having observed some oyster shells adherin to
the base of a rock at one side, had crawl in
among the coral branches to examine them. In
doing so he had dialed a large mass of coral,
that was fastened by s ender t read—like stems
to one of the rocks. The mass to led over
and blocked upthe pangs throng which he
had come.

“ Help! Frank, help!” shouted Will, who now
was in almost total darkness.

His feet were beneath the sand. Be With
grew one, only to feel the other go still further

Own. ,

 

Both legs now went under up to the knees.

A cold shudder chilled his blood.

He knew he was in quicksands! He threw
out his hands, striving to grasp arock on one.
side of him.

It was beyond his reach—only about two
inches beyond. .

He was now u to his breast in the sand.
The sight of the Iiine of rocks, with its coral
branches, which he could almost touch with the
ti of his fingers, was maddening.

ank was making (1 rate efforts to reach
him, but his clothes, his egs and arms got en-
tangled among the coral stems, and he made
but slow pro ess.

Will’s s o ders and arms went under.

The sand was up to his chin.

“ Oh, Frank! for God’s sake, hurry l" he cried.

Frank contrived at last to climb over the co-
ral mass. Drawinghhimself along the rocks, he
arrived opposite to is friend just as the latter’l
mouth was nearl under the sand.

He seized the Imperiled lad by the hands and
thus kept him from goin down further. Tug
and strain as he might, owever, he could not
draw him out.

And now, with a rush, the bats came to tor-
ment the two struggling boys. .

They fastened in their hair, in their clothes,
and on their necks. Whining and whirring,
hundreds of them circled about their heads.

Now and then Frank had to pause to pluck
them all and fling them away from him.

As for Will, his head was so thickly covered
with them that it could hard]

In vain Frank pulled.
glued down in the sand.

And now a strange noise was heard—a ter-
rible sound.

It was the humming and roaring of advancing
waters. -

“God hel us!” cried Frank. “The torrent
is comin ! on remember what Moco said 2"

“Yes,’ answered Will—“that at times the
water came rushing out of the pit. Leave me,
Fggk, and save yourself. You can do me no
3 Frank made one tremendous effort and got
Will’s shoulders clear of the sand.

, Will, can you not grasp the rock?”
"Yes, ’ andhe seized it as e ke.

“ Quick, for God’s sake i” said nk.

The imperiled boy made desperate efforts.

“Here comes the torrent!” shrieked' Frank,
as the white foam became visible in the dis-
tance; 1 . -

'“ Leave me, Frank !”‘ said Will again.

1 But the brave boy resolved to remain to the
ast. '

He fastened his teeth in Will’s jacket as he:
continued to haul.

But it was in vain. ‘

At that critical instant a stran 9 figure ap—

ared from among the hollows of t e coral. A
glf-naked form it was—a air of trowsers con-
fined about the waist, wit a belt hanging in
tatters, the hair unkempt, the eyes large and
flaming in their h0110w sockets, the cheeks.
sunken, the frame like that of a skeleton.

The creature evidently a native of the island,
rapidly uttered some strange gibberishnwbich
the boy: could not understand, and showmg his
white eth, grinned horribly.

He came swift] toward them, drawing his
lon aunt form a on over the rocks, and now
andgt en, with his s ny arms, striking at the
hats that disputed his passage. '

“ Whoever you are, come and help me l" cried
Frank. ' '

But there was a wild, unmean expression
in his eyes which convinced the 1 that he was
amaniac. All at once he caught Will by one
of his arms, and exerting a stren h, which
seemed superhuman, he slowly drew in, with
the help 0 Frank, from the sand!

Not a moment too soon. With a deafening
roar, tumbling. rushing and foaming. the torrent.
came dashing down toward the trio!

CHAPTER IX.
a ITABTLING DrscomY.

Tn maniac now darted off and disappeared.

“ Quick, Will!” cried Frank‘ “ if we climb.
this coral tree, we may eeca 6 torrent I”

The two boys hurried to c nib the branches.

Up they went, but before they had ascended
half-way, the water was upon them! I

Half-sodomized, and nearly dashed from their
hold, they continued to climb, and at last gained
the summit of the coral tree, where they were
out of reach of the flood. .

“ Safe for the present I” said Frank. panting.

“ Yes; I don’t thinkthe water ever rises as
high as this.”

beseen.
ill seemed fairly

 

 

The Boy coral-Fishers.

7

 

 

“No, it} flows through the hole of the pit, as
58]

oco .
“It would not be a bad plan to throw our-
selves into it, and allow it to carry us through.
I have had enough of this place.” .
“ I can believe you, after your being down in

the quicksand.”

“ It was horrible! If I‘m to be drowned, let
it be in water—not in sand: What do you say
to our drifting out of this With the torrent?”

“And leave all these treasures—coral and
pearls?”

“ We can come again for them—but what did
you sayl—pearls l'”

“ Yes, there are pearls here as well as coral.
I was looking at some pearl oysters when you
called me.”

“ Is that so?” cried Will, with tglistenin eyes.
“Why, what a precious cave is is! t is a

{yonder Moco could be kept from coming
ere. ‘
“Superstition! His idea of a fiend being

here must have come from the presence of that
madman in the cave. He has probably heard
his stran e laugh at some time coming up from
the mout of the pit, and—”

He suddenly paused—then uttered a cry. of
astonishment as he pointed down at the gliding
water.

This was dimly Ii hted b the lantern, which
Frank (still had las ed to is back, and now,
sailing along, her person half above the surface,
her long bright hair glittering in the gleam, was
the form of the mermaid I

On she went, so swiftly in the dim light that
the boy had but a transient view of her ere she
disappeared in the obscurity beyond! .

The lads looked at each other wondenngly.

“ Come, I am for getting out of this while we
have a chance,” said Will, shrugging his shoul-
ders.

“It is not easy to get out—see!” .

Again Frank inted downward, and Will
perceived that t e surface of the water was
nearly black with the fins of sharks!

Now and then as it was swept along with the
current, one of these monsters was seen leaping

upward.

“ Hallool What are they doing here?”

“They have probably been sucked in with
the current wherever it enters.”

The boys moved along the coral masses, and
finally arrived within a few yards of the pit
tbrmcilgh which the waters rushed with a hollow
soun . -

The mouth of the fpit was now nearly choked
up With fra menu 0 wood and old roots which
the current ad carried there.

Zldany small fish, were leaping up wildly, in
vain efforts to sees the swarms of sharks,
which had attacked em. 

The monsters would sprin after their}! ,
and catch them in their arp fangs. I{File
snappggg of their jaws, and the _
their ice mingled with the sound of the rush-
ing waters. The boys counted as many as
twenty, some of them nearl six feet lon .

“ No use, we can't run gantlet 0 those
fellows l” said Frank. . .

“That’s so. We will lhave, to wait until the
water subsides ere we try to get out.” _

“And now about the bat we saw with the
piece of pazper tied to it. Do you think it came

rp‘iniher:

“ But it is plain your uncle is not here.”
ba‘g’EVho then could have tied the paper I” the

“ That madman we saw.”

" True,” said Frank, thoughtfully.

In a con is of hours utterthe'watu began to
nude, finallv it disappeared.

Then a cry of dismay else the lads.

The ro b which they descended into
the moat of he pit was bitten in two.

“ The sharks!” c , “ they have done
the mischief.”

it After all,” said Will, smiling “ we have
only to shout. Moco will probablylieu- us, and
bring another rope.”

Again and again they called in vain.

some one began to mimic them. The turned
m “9th,, mad name perched on a core branch.
He waved his arms as he strove to imitate their
Volm. . .

Then he dmd onto: sight among some of
the hollows. ,

“ StrangeMocodoes not hear us i” said Frank.

“ He cannot on account of that continuous
hollow roaring noise, which I believe drowns
our voices.”

“ I wonder wherethat noise comes 1mm 3”

“That remains to be found out.”

_ “ Well, as we cannot make ourselves heard,

as of .

 

we may as well go and look at those pearls I

saw.

The c stern were found here and there ad-

hering the base of a rock. Frank opened

one with his knife. _ '
He cleaned it out.
“Where are your pearls?” said Will, laugh-

ing, for nothing was visible on the inside of the

8 .

“This fellow is too old. Here is a smaller
one.

He picked up the o ster and opened it. On
carefully removing tile inside two round, dazv
zling white pearls, each nearly the size of a pea,
were disclosed.

“Helical” cried Will, “ those are the best of
pearls. How I wish uncle was here 1”

Oyster after oyster was opened. Some were
found to contain the coveted treames, others
not. The boys obtained about ten beautiful
pearls, one of them nearly as large as a cherry.

“There’s one we must have oppedl“ cried
Will, pointing to something glistening near the
roc .

Frank picked it up.

fl‘i-It is not a pearl, but a pearl button,” he
an

Will examined it, and gave a cry of surprise.

“,That looks like one of my uncle’s buttons.”

“Are you sure?”

“ It is one of the kind he wore on his shirt.”

“After all. it may have belonged to some one
elseé—nmay have been brought here by the cur-
ren .

Just then the boys heard the unearthly gib-
bering of the madman behind them.

.“Perhaps we may find out something from
him ” said Frank.

Will showed the button and endeavored to
make the native understand the questions he put.
The man stared at him a moment, then from his
pocket he pulled the waist-band of a shirt,

mm which the button was missing. “See
here l” he cried.

“ Where did you get this! When did you see
the man who wore it?" inquired Will. .

The maniac «glared at him, then, with a hol-
low, rattling sort of laugh, he glided of! and
disappeared. .. .-

 

ICHAPTEB. X.

A PERILOUB comer. r
“ W]: are not sure it was your uncle’s butto
you know,” said Frank. .“ At any rate, Moon
and the rest should be brought here to help us
search the place. But how are we to see them?

how are we to at out?” .

“I have a p an,” said Frank. 3‘ Inoticed a
couple of broad lanks nailed together,l ing
jammed among t c rocks. The will do or a
raft. We will et on it when t 9 water comes
back, and run t e gantlet of the sharks l”

“It will be risky work.” ’ .

“ We haveour nives. I have also a hatchet;
besides, we will be borne alon so ra id! that
we ma through the t ope g fore

they at us."
‘ Eoldl” cried Will. “ How do we know they
will come at all, next time?”
“ You are right,” said Frank, ioyfully.
The lads continued to hunt or pearls, and
found a few more. They also broke off a piece
of coral to show to Moco..
Long hours passed ere they heard . again the
roar o the advancln waters.
They had posted hemselves on a rock and
had the raft ready. Boon along came the rush-
ing tide, and, launching the raft, the boys got
upon it, one behind the other. As yet they had
seen no sharks, and they began to think they
would not. ' ,

iaway they went tode the mouth of the

“Here we go! Hooray! isn’t this a gay
ride?” cried Frank.

“ Just sol” answered Will.

Ker~boongl went the forward end of the
raft, strikin a crevice in a projecting rock,
where it stu fast.

0! course both boys lwhed forward-—
Frank, who was ahead, at ' ng his nose against
a seaweed—covered surface of the rock, and
Will landing on top of him.

“Thunderl.” cried Frank—“no more such
rides for me! My nose feels like a door-knob!”

They now exerted themselves to free the
raft. ' '

They
went age 11.

As they drew near the pit, they perceived
that it was partly choked up as be ore with old
mots, drift-wood, etc.

They also noticed soniething still worse—-
swarms of sharks at their former game of

it clear at lashand away they

 

catching fish. The monsters had passed, escap—
in ttheir attention while they were freeing the
ra .

“We are in for itl" cried Will, whipping out
his knife.

Frank drew his hatchet and both boys pre-
pared for a desperate wor .

The raft was swept into the midst of the
voracious monsters. It could not pass through
the opening on account of the impediments in
the way, and its occupants found themselves in a
truly perilous situation. On both sides of them l
the sharks were leaping up.

At first they did not appear to notice the
lads, but all at once a huge fellow darted at
Frank’s leg.

Instantly the boy struck it with his hatchet.
The creature flung up its tail, but did not other—
wise seem to heed the wound. Frank drew his
leg away and again used his wen n. His
figeud’s knife also sunk to the haft in t e shark’s
si e.

The water was stained with the animal’s
blood, but be sprun out his full length and his
fangs were fastene in the lad’s jacket. Frank
must thus have been pulled into the Water but
for his chum, who, with a sweep of his knife,
nearly cut of! the monster’s head.

It splashed back into the stream, and now all
the other sharks darted upon it as if maddened
by the scent of blood.

It was a horrible sight. The wounded crea-
ture was torn piecemeal, its ferocious assailants
fighting with each other for the possession of
the fragments.

Meanwhile the boys endeavored to clear
away the obstructions about the mouth of the
pit. A big root was jammed in so tightly that
they could not move it.

“ We must give it u i” said Frank.

With an iron-we pole he had (picked up,
Will tried to shove the raft to one si e, against
the nearest coral tree, about ten feet distant.

But many of the sharks getting round be-
tween him and the coral2 opposed his progress,
throwing themselves against the raft and biting
it in their rage. Frank with his knife and
hatchet still kept at bay those which sprung up
at him and his friend. _

The chums had near] gained the coral trce,
when, massing themse ves, some of the sharks
made a final leap, springing so far that it
seemed as if the; mast catch the boys" clothing
with their horri fangs. . 4 ’

Frank saw them coming.

“Jump, Will! jump for the coral, or we are
lost!” he yelled. , _

As he spoke he gave 9.? bound that carried
him to the coral tree, to which ha‘c'lun . Will
endeavored to follow, but..he fell 3110 of the
landing place into the water.

In an instant the water around him was fairly
black with the ferocious creatures. Turning
over, belly up, according to their custom, to
dive and seize him, they went under.

“ Goodby, hank, I’m gone I" he cried, as he
vainly endeavored to grasp the coral. ,

A stream of blood gushed upward near him ‘
to the surface of the water, and Frank uttered

a of horror " ,
Mm)” he We

“ y God! they‘ve got .
lam far over, he succeeded in clutching
his ' by the collar. Pulling. v j l\ .
he drew him up. As Will scramb ed, hall'-
a—douen sharks ' rung out of the water, and
one, catching the eel of his shoe tore it oi.
“ You are safel" cried Frank. joyfully, as he
looked at his chum from head to hot. “ I ex-
to haul up only a part of you—to find a
ifigiece mkeg‘o‘nled Will “i th 15 the
emulem sax . ouch.
had me. I can't i ' e what saved me." y
” It Was the curren When the sharks dove
that carried them a little away from you, and
so they lost time.”
“ Good for that current.”
“ Yes, indeed! I thought the stream of blood
I saw was yours, but it must have come from
one of the wounded sharks.”

CHAPTER XI.
s. max. ma AN new.

Ar last the stream again began to reccde~ in
a short time it had left the cave, taking With it
sharks driftwood and all.

“ I should like to know where that water goes
to.” said Will.

“ So should 1. Of course it must have some
outlet, and we must find it. We may be able
to leave the place that way.” ,

The lads had been many hours in this strange
retreat. They were both hungry and thirsty.

They also felt very drowsy. It was ten
o’clock at night by Will’s watch.

 

8

The 50,; coral—Fishers.

 

 

 

 

They looked for a sleeping place. A flat
rock was found and, some dry weeds having
also been discovered, a tolerable coach was
made.

But for a long time they could not also , on
account of the bats. These creatures woul get
in their hair or nestle against their necks. At
last it was arranged that one of the boys
should kee awake for awhile to drive away the
pests, whi e the other slept. In this manner,
each taking his turn, they contrived to obtain
re one. ’

n the morning they were both awake, feelin
much rested, but, of course, more hungry an
thirsty than before. The waters had again re-
turned to the cave. -

“Could we not catch some fish?” said Frank.
“By the way, we forgot the bivalves—the
oysters!”

“They are too old to be good, but we may
catch fish.”

To the end of the ironwood pole which he had
brought with him, Will fastened his knife with
some pieces of twine he had in his pocket.

The boys then went to the stream, and
watched for fish.

Ere long, they saw some, but all their efforts
to spear them with Will’s clumsy contrivance
were useless. _

“ What’s that coming down with the cur-
rent?" said Will, pointing up-stream.

Frank held up his lantern.

“A turtle by all that’s good!” he shouted.

“ Hooray for turtle soup !’ cried Will.

“You forget we have no water to cook it in."

“ We’ll have the turtle, anyhow.”

“How will we ‘ fetch’ him?”

” Easily; he’ll catch at anything to save him-
self from being carried on by the current. He
doesn‘t like that, and possib y his instinct tells
him there are sharks ahead.”

As Will spoke he drove one end of the iron.
wood pole into a crevice in the rock. The other
and projected over the stream, nearly touching
the sur ace. ,

Then'the two boys got behind the rock, and
mid on to the pole.

0n came the turtle, wiggling and stru gling

,vainly to resist the current. It was a m crate-
sized animal, weighing about thirteen pounds.

All at once it caught si ht of the le. As it
was we t inst it, it c utched the end, and
bun on m y. .

“ ow, then, pull,” said Will.
Gradually the lads drew the turtle toward the

flat rock on which they had previous] stood.
Soon the creature was enabled to on the
rock. which was nearly level with the water.
“ Quick, Frank—over with him i" cried Will.
The hog $111113 at the turtle and seizing
himhsgkt do, turned him suddenly over on
s . . v ‘
Thus the creative was rendered powerless to

soon
“ EL green turtle—the best kind to eat,” said

rank. . .

With his hatchet he econ killed the animal.
There, was enough d drift-wood caught
em hollows of t 9 me for sure. . The boys
ligh the wood, when
their lantern. and the weresoon r ting tur-
tle-steaks over the mes. When boy had
cooked enough for a meal, they spread it on a
platter made of a iece of the animal‘s shell,
while each ,rovlded 'imself with a plate of the
same material. _ '

“ better meal was never eaten,” said Frank,
when he had finished. ,

“ No, I feel like an alderman I” said Will.

The juice had served in a slight degree to al-
la their thirst; still the lads longed or a drink
0 wafer. '

The native was now seated on' a rock not far
off grinning and chattering.

The boys endeavored to make him understand
they wanted fresh water, but he only shook his
head andlaughed unmeau y.

Then he crawled of! and disappeared.

Another day passed. The chumshad'aplenty
to eat from the remains of their‘ turtle; but
1311;)! were nearly parched with thirst. ‘

lie-{Jay down on their couch, and, as on the
hi ht fore, took turns atysieepmg. ,

oward morning the lantern ickered and
showed signs of going out. The oil it be con-
tained was nearly used up. ,

Frank, who was now on watch, awoke his
friend to inform him of this fact.

Will reflec d. All at once he started up.

! “What fee 3 we are!” he cried. “We have
forgotten the fat of our turtle, which will yield
at: plenty of oil I” ,

“ How fortunate ,we did not throw the fat
away,” cried Frank.

pilod'on the rock, from i

,»“It isa m steiaato

 

“Yes, indeed; there is no better oil to burn
than that of the turtle.”

They made a fire, and tried out the fat, allow-
ing the ‘oil to drip‘ into one of the pieces of shell,
of which they had a good supply.

The lantern was thus replenished, and the
means of light for a long time afforded.

The return current was again on its way.
Will sprung to the water’s ed 9, and leaning
over, caught a round, dark obgect which was
being home past.

The two lads fished out half a dozen more,
for they had disCovered that these Were cocoa-
nuts.

“Good again for that current!” cried Will,
joyfully. ” It has now broughtus the means of
quencinn g our thirst.” »

The boys refreshed themselves with the cocoa-
nuts, and then made a. breakfast of some of the
cooked turtle remaining. That which was raw
they carefully stowed away in a hollow space
among the coral for future use.

They then set out to explore the stream. It
was hard work, as they were obliged to keep
along the rocks that bordered the current.

They had proceeded about a doZen yards,
when they came to a large, flat rock.

Both paused, uttering an exclamation of sur-
prise.

It was caused by the unmistakable signs of a
fire having at some time been made here.
There were pieces of charred wood and also a
few bones,’showlng that something had been
cooked for a meal. *

“ Pooh!” said Will, smiling,” after all the
fire they have been made by our mad friend

ere.
“ No," said Frank, pointing to the remains of
a clcwgn'pe f , r

“ y should not the native smoke a pipe as
well as other pee 1e?" said Will.
to“; have not ye seen him smoke. Look there,

a.

The boy the ashes
with his knife, and he now showed his friend
a small object hehad picked up.

It was a pistol—cap!

“Hey? there!" cried Will. “Now on may
talkl his is a ood find. ’l’m sure t e native
has neither pisto nor caps!" ‘

“This proves that some person besides the
maniac has been here before us, and not long
since, either,” cried Frank. .

CHAPTER XII. V
_ m mum‘s noon.

Tun two'lads talked over their discovery.

.“Let us keeH on. We may-dud something
more,” said W1 . V p , _ .

Th proceeded. The rocks became more
dlm‘cu t each moment. Now and then a frag-
ment fell from the roof.

Most of the rocks were of a reddish granite,
and they described agradual ascent. It was
its downward course that gave such velocity to

had been poking amon

. the stream.

At length the boys found their further pro-
gress blocked by a granite wall, which rose to
the roof of the cave. Here the'latter Wasnot
ten feet wide. In the granite barrier ,there was
an archway through which the water flowed.
The lads must wait for it to recedech they
could keep on their course.  ” 
me where the water re-
treats to,” sa d W “‘ We have seen that the
cavo seems to describe an ascent all the way—#—
prohazlil‘y’ its whole length. ‘Water cannot run
a z ‘ ‘

“The ascent is very slight,” said Frank.E
“Perhaps the water is soaked up by the sand.
That, perhaps,'is what makes the sand so‘soft—
causes the gulcksands.” , . _ . ' ‘ ‘ ” " I

“Part 0 the water is soaked} up, I don’t
doubthut so much of it would not vanish so;
quickly‘iri that way.”  ‘ ff , ‘

“Just so. There is a mystery about that.
There seems to be plenty of mystery in this

stran e cavern.” .

“ es, indeed. Jerusalem! what was thatl’f‘

A. sudden sharp reportj had 'reverbernted
through the cavernl It seemed to come home
distum-c—phead of the boys. '

“ True as I‘m‘ alive, it was
to! 1" cried Frank, ‘ g V I, ‘

" So’it'sou'nded. Who could have fired it?”

“ Can it be that themaniac has a piston”

“ No4se‘el’ there'he is, now." ’ ' ‘

A few feet from. them they saw the crazed
native'perched' on a coral branch'ygrinmng at
them foolishly. ,' , . . ,

A moment later, he disappeared in the usual
manner.

“Frank,” said Will, solemnly, “the person
who fired may be my uncle."

4

the report of a  ’

” Yes, if we are sure it was a pistol shot.”

All the more eager now were the boys to ob—
tain the aesistance of Moco and his men to
search the cavern.

As soon as the water had reoeedod, they made
their way to the base of the pit, and called.

For some time there was no response. At
last the lads fancied they heard, a faint reply.

A moment later the head of a native was
thrust through the pit opening.

He saw them, and his head was immediately
withdrawn. ' ‘

“ Did you recognize him, Frank?”

“ No; the light was too faint, but I doubt
not he is one of Moco's men.”

“ At last, then, we’ll be taken from this
hole.”

“ To comeback again and search for my uncle. ’7

As Will spoke the legs of a man were thrust
through the mouth of the pit. A moment. they
dangled through, and then their owner dropped
li htly down on the sand. *

5 turned, and‘ the boys found themselves
confronted by one of the pirates! .

He held in each hand a pistol, which he pointed
at the boys.

” Come! , Me gr tnowi Come you here, while
me call odder men! You pris’ner!”

“Put out the lantern and drop!” whispered
Will to his chum. ’

The latter blew out the light, and the three
were in total darkness.

The boys crouched, just as the Malay fired.
As if in answer to the report, another was new
board in the distant recesses of the cave.

It was the mysterious pistol again?

“ Come, Frank.” whispered Will, “let us
pounce upon the Malay." f j ‘

The boys did So. although they could see but
the dim outline of the man’s figure.

He eluded them by a nimble twist of his
body, and at the same time shouted for assis-

muce.

“ Shall we light our lantern?" inquired
Frank. ’ ' ,

“Not‘yet.” ’ »’ ' "

They could not see 'throu'gh‘the gloom the
course the Malay had taken. -' >

They listened if they could hear any one also
come to the pit o ning.

Hating wai some minutes without hearing
any one, Frank relighted the lantern with a
match takenme his pocket.

“The man’s shi ates are probably out of
earshot,” said Wi . “They may never know
this fellow was here.”

“Good for us. ' But where is be?”

Just then the lads saw the pirate spring down
from a rock. n . n the ver spot which had
proved so ‘neary fatal to ill—upon the soft
quicksands!

[He sunk at once nearly to his hips. Aflyen
escaped him, By the tune the lads or ved
near him his’crics had become indistinct, His
mouth was under the sand! ‘A fearful spectacle
he resented, ’his eivjleballa bulging from his
hen , his lon hail-f 1y bristling with terror.

Before the dye could seize him his face went
under. The to of‘his’head remained a moment
visible—then t_ at also sunkl
‘ One hand 'was still above‘the sand. Will
endeavored ti) asp it, but it disappeared as he
reached tower it. ' - '

The chums shuddered. I

“A terrible death,” said Frank.

“ ItVis evident now that the pirates have dis-
covered"tlie retreegv'wmch our sloop was an-

' ’choi‘éd,”fa&erte’ d

“Yes; but I wonder if the sloop was there
then? Mocomay, hate‘contrived somehow to
eludet em. '3‘ ~ ~. -

i - “an ‘now’fam' more than ever convinced
there insomeon'e'besides ourselves and the ma-
niacin this cave.“ ' The pistol in the distance was
fired a second time.” ‘ * '

fers. ' Wherever or whoever the person is.

"ltis‘ plain he‘ca'nnot get to us. Otherwise‘the
report 0 the pira 8 weapons would have
brought ini' here.” ’ '
“f‘Proh’ably we can get near enough to see
him—to discover ifhe is or is not my lost’uncle.”

’ h Let “Spry.” " ~

A aid the ades’tarted forward. As they pro-
cee ed‘the'strange roaring noise which has
alread' been described‘became louder.

The~ ya at last found themselves opposite to
the - rocky' mneriwhioh ‘bad‘prevlously prep
vented their progress. The light ofthe' lantern
scarcely ipenetrated the 00m of the archway.
from wh ch now pr “ ed with almost deaf-
ening noise, therro'arin" spoken of. ,

The cause of the iu,evir:ently was to be
foundhere. It was a gurgling, making noise,
seemingly that of water.

 

"The Boy CoralrEishors.

9

 

 

CHAPTER XIII. ,
a DEATH-TRAP.

FRANK, advancing close to the mouth of the
archway, held up the lantern.

The he s lookin in saw a wide, dark hole,
into whic sheets 0 water were lpouring. This
opening was in a rock, of whic a portion of
the floor of the archway was com ed. The
water that entered it came from t 6 direction
opposite to where the stood.

“That hole must very deep,” said Will,
“judging by the noise the water makes. I do
not believe the outlet through which the stream
enters can be far 01! The opening must face to
the south, for the direction of the sea~current
that runs pa'st Sumatra is to the north.”

“Yes!” cried Frank, “and at high tide so
much water comes in that it fills and overflows
the hole, deluging the cavern as we have seen.”

“And again, when it is low tide, the super-
fluous water recedes from the outlet. and a great
part of what has entered the cavern pours into
the hole. The rest is sucked down into the many
little pits and hollows we have noticed at the
base of the rocks. "

“Yes; there’s one mystery cleared u . And
now Let us see if we can pass through t e arch—
way.

As Frank he he put one foot upon the space
of sand whic it would be necessary to cross to
reach the rock in which was the water—hole.

His foot sunk, and he hastily withdrew it.

“ Quicksands again!” he cried.

“ Then there seems to be no way for us to get
through the archway.”

J ust then the lads heard the gibbering of the
maniac.

He assed them, leaping to a flat rock near
'the go of the archway. They saw him crawl
along the side of the latter, and this showed
them a. ledge was there wide enough for them
to walk on. ‘ I

They were soon on the ledge. They followed
the madman, hoping to thus reach the outlet of
the cavern.

On passing through the archway, they
emerged upon masses of rock, smooth and steep
where they bordered the stream, but very
jagged and pointed eve where else. Among
these rugged projections t 8 moved with dim—
culfiy, bu they contrived to cop the native in
s t.

uddenly turning, he seemed aware that they
were following him and s . The cave at
this place was not ten feet wide, but the roof
was about eleven in hight. In front of the native
rose a wall of red granite, which appeared to
bar all further progress. Looking down at
the base of it, however, the lads sawan openin
through which flowed the stream that enter
the, deep hat k and.

e largeon h forustoorawl
through by doubling upg’agaid Will, “but the
question is, is the stream shallow enou h for us
to wade, for we could not swim such a
current, it Would whirl us 05.”

Frank fearlessly allowed himself to drop into
the stream. is found it very deep, and be
mainly stru led to head against the tide.

It swept iui rapidly along!

Will uttered a cry of dismay as he moved
along the rock, trying to keep up with his
friend New and then he threw himself down
flat and endeavored to reach him with his hand;
but the rock was too high for that.

T113219 was no projection the imperiled boy
con . ‘

He was being carried straight toward the
deep water-hole in the archway beyond.

“Good God! he is lostl" cried Will, in agony.
“Oh, if I only had a ropal”

Meanwhile, there was the mad native dancing
about and laughing as if- in high lee.

Faster every moment was Fran borne along;
his “‘1’”; lfimfif‘m‘m'c m be

Wil e 123 ‘ _m o 3 1t. He took it
OE, and reéchmg down, swung it; toward his
chum.. The latter grasped it, but it was 100
short to enable him to secure a ood hold. as
could only seine it near the en ,, and it soon
slipped from him. '

And now he was close to the water dpit, info,
1

which poured the stream with a
thunder.

He was whirled rapidly toward the month of
the Fit, and Will uttered a cry (f honor. ex.
pect ng to see him disappear in the hole!

But Just as he reached the edge, of it, Frank
contrived to seize a jag ed rock that projected
near it. Around this Ea flung both arms and
clung to it with a frantic'grasp.
hung in the pit, and the force of the descending
sheet of water waodrawing him from his hold.

At last, by a desperate effort, he drew him-

n like.

But his legs H

 

, .
self up sideways, and contrived to throw his
legs across the rocky projection. By the lam
of the lantern, held up by Will, he could 'mly
see into the pit. The long, gliding sheet of wa-
ter was lost far down in foam and spray, and
the opposite side of the cavity was of smooth
shining rock, covered with a green slime.

“ Savedl” shouted Will. ‘ Thank God!”

“Yes, but here I am stuck fast I"

“ You must be got out of that before the wa-
ter floods the cavern again I"

“Yes, indeed, or I am a ‘ one ooon,’ but
how I am to get out I don’t see! ’

Just then there was another burst of laughter
from the maniac.

Taming round, Will was surprised to see the
native in a canoe on the stream. He had tied!
the warp, which was a very long one, to a rock,
so that the vessel had drifted within a few feet
of the s ot where the boy stood.

“ Hal oal where on earth did you get that
outlines? That is just what I wantl" shouted

He ran and unfastened the warp and walked
along with it to a point nearer the archway,
where be secured it to a jutting spur leaving
just length enough for the li ht vessel to drift
near the rock upon which his riend lay.

Frank got into the canoe, the maniac quietly
watching him as he entered it.

Then Will with some difliculty, drew the
vessel against the current, walking along the
edge of the rocky wall that bordered the stream.
Near the rugged barrier, through which the
stream flowed, a landing-place was discovered.
This was a sort of cove in which were a few
low rocks, and beyond which was a small hol-
ow.

“ What a godsend that canoe was!” said
Frank, as he joined his chum. “ Where did
Eon get it?” he added, turning to the native.

ut the boys could elicit no reply from the
Insulin). He only shook his head, and laughed
in his usual unmeaning way.

“ We me find the ittle vessel very service—
able,” said ill. “ In fact, by means of it we
mply yet escape from this cavern.” .

be boys drew the canoe into the hollow and
carefull secured it.

“ Hal oal" cried Will, suddenly, as they were
about to turn awgm

“ What now? ething new?” said Frank.

Will had picked up one of those small ivory
flds or marlineepikes—suoh as seamen carry
about in their pockets, and which they are wont
toterm “ toothpicks.” He had found it jammed
in a crevice of the :wood near the stern.

“ Another clew to the captain! I have seen
him use just such a fid.”

“ Don’t ’most all sailors use them i!”

“ Yes, but this in connection with the pearl
button, the pistol-cap, etchlooks very much as
if mv uncle as been here.

“ You are rl ht. And now, as it seems we
can go on no urther, an we shout.
your uncle is near, he me

The boys called with 9. their mi ht, but the
din of the water ng into the be e drowned
their voices. so ‘t at no one could have heard
tinieni even if close to the barrier on the other
3 e. r

“ How are we to as that confounded rock?”
i;qu Frank. “ am wild with curiosity to

o i

“ Boom I.”

As he spoke Will pointed upward.

About eight feet above them, the lads beheld
themaniao, standing on a rocky shelf that pro-
jected from the anite wall, and was reached
by an ascending edge. He was capering about,
grinning and wovin his arms.

“What a miserabe wretchl I cannot hear
to see him,” said Frank. ” r

“ Nor I; but he seems to be harmless.”

Both bogs turned away their gene. The next
moment t ey looked up’ again, but the madman
had disappeared! '

“Where has he gone to so suddenly 1” cried
Frank. -

“ That's a m steryl He has not had tithe to
descend the le ge. Sup so we gou and take
a look at that shelf on wxh‘ich he stoo .”

They ascended to it. There was over it a
small alcove, .but on inspecting this the two
could see nothing Of the native!

CHAPTER XIV.
A TERRIBLE VISITOR.
Wosnnmso how the maniac had disapgeared
F0 suddenly, the boys now descended the edge.
ours went by. At last the roaring of the tor-
rent, again rushing in to deluge the cavern, was
heard. A strange, hissing noise suddenly fell

oar us.”

 

upon the lad’s ears.

“What’s up now, I wonder .1” cried Frank.

Even as the words escaped him, there emerged
into the space lighted by the rays of the lantern,
an ob‘ect that startled both boys. It was the
terrib sea-serpent—evidently the same one
they had encountered, some days before, in the
de tbs of the ocean! ‘

ith its great flat head elevated, its eyes
glowing like coals of fire, the fin 0n the back
of its neck bristling, and its horrid mouth wide
open, disclosing its fangs. the creamre twisted
its coils, fighting madly against the current
which was bearing it along!

Crouching against the rock, the boys watched
it, hoping it would be carried on out of sight;
but, Just as it reached the bass of the elevation
they occupied, it flun the lower part of its
body around a ragga projection, and there
clung as if to prevent the tide from taking it
further. Thus clinging to the rock, the upper
part of its scaly coil swayed from side to side,
its flat head meanwhile turning in all direc-
tions.

The lads glided cautiously from the rock on
the side opposite to the serpent, and swung-
themselves to the top of another. There_was a
dark hollow here large enough to contain one
person.

“ You go 'there, Will, and I’ll find another,"
said Frank, surrendering the lantern to his
friend.

Will entered the hollow, and Frank moved on
a few feet further.

He scrambled along quick]
of the ledge, which be hope
reach of the animal.

But, suddenly rising up before him, be be-
held the maniac, who stood waving his skinny
arms as if to dispute with him a position on the
rocky shelf 1 '

Frank, however, kept on, for the head of the
serpent now almost touched him. ‘

He reached the ledge, but the madman seized
him in a stron clasp. and with wild shouts en-
deavored to hur him back.

A desperate struggle ensued. The native
seemed to the vigor of ademon, while
the peril 0 his situation inspired Frank with
almost superhuman strep th.

Hearing the noise of t 6 mafia Will left the
hollow, intending to go to the aid of his friend.
But before he could reach him, Frank had con-
trived to partly disengage himself. As the
native sprun forward to recover his hold, he
lost his footing, and went sliding down the
stag: ledge.

e serpent saw him, and in an instant, the
upper t of his scaly coils was twisted about
the y of the madman! :
Such a spectacle as the boys then witnessed
mi ht never, theyh , again beseen by them!

ising the form of the native in its cold,
slimy‘clasp’ , the mon‘ sterheld it for some mo-
men suspended onhigh. v

In this position the aspect of the maniac was
horrible to behold. Squirming and writhing,
he vainly endeavored to diseggagie himself,
while his screams of agony thrill t rough the
cavern. The rays of the lantern revealed the
contortions of his face. It was livid and swol-
len, and his eyeballs rotrnded. His arms were
thrust outward, an his long. skinny flpgers
quivered. Soon his struggles and cries became
more feeble; a dreadful crunching sound be-
tokened that the tight clasp of the serpent was
crushing his bones _ . '

And now dashing him at one of the
rocks, the huge reptile finis ed what little life
remained in its victim. Then, evidently find—
ing it nee r to return to its native element,
out of whfiat is species of serpent cannot long
remain, it plunged into the torrent and was
soon borne outof sight with its prey, lathe
shadows beyond.

“By the eternal mischief!” cried Frank, “I
hone we never see that thing again.”

a It will probably return with the ebbing cur-
rentl” said Will. '

“ I felt sorry for that madman,” said Frank
“ and could I have reached the serpent in time
to do any good, I would have given itafew
cracks with the hatchet.”

“ The monster did ’ its work too suddenly for
that. Before you oodld have reached it throu h
those jagged rocks, it Would have been in t e
water.”

“I never before knew that sea-snakes were so
harmful,” said Will. ' ,

“Some of them are—especially the large ones.
This creature which I have read about, is a
species of the stokesi. I have heard of these
animals at times attacking a boat’s crew.”

Fr“ Clpme, now, that’s a ,little too heavy,” said

an .

to gain the t«
would be out o};

O

IO

“ I had it from an old sailor.”

“ They are always spinning yarns.”

“At any rate, we know they will, under cer-
tain circumstances, attack human beings! That
I read, and we both have had proof of the fact.”

“Yes, indeed; and now let’s examine this
ledge again. The question is where did that
maniac come from the last time We saw him?
There must be some cave or opening in the
granite rock.”

As he spoke, the sharp, unmistakable report
of the pistol was a. ai’n heard right ahead—ap-
parently coming rem the other side of the
me

The boys looked at each other significantly.
Then Wil joined Frank on the led e, and they
proceeded to make a longer searc than they

ad done before.

“ Here you are i” cried Frank, suddenly hold-
ing up the lantern.

etween the top of the granite rock and the
roof the boys beheld a cavity.

With some dimculty they climbed to it.

, Then they got down flat on their bellies, and
crawled alon to finally emerge on the other
side of the we .

The rags of the lantern flashed upon a. mass
of jagge rocks, similar to those on the side
the b0 5 had left. Directly ahead of them
they be eld what up ared to be the terminus
of the passage—a hig , rugged wall, that seemed
to prevent further progress.

‘ “Who could

No one here!” cried Will.
have fired the pistol?”

Amen the rocks were numerous dark hol-
lows, w ich the light of the lantern did not
penetrate.

Will, leaving his chum, commenced to search
in the cavities.

Suddenly his foot slipped, and he slid into
one of the dark, slimy hollows. . As he struck
the bottom, his arm came in contact with a
human hand !

“ Quick, Frank, this way!” he shouted.

Frank came. He held the lantern down into
the hollow, and saw his chum a few feet below

m.

Both boys saw something else—the form of a.
man, evidently a sailor, seated on a rocky shelf,
with his is jammed tightly down in a crevice
of rock. is hat was off, and about his head,
which was turned own from the lads, was
twined a fantastic wreat of yveeds and sticks.

One of his arms hung downward; in the
hand of the other a pistol was tightly clinched.

“Balloal” cried Frank. “It was you, then,
who fired the pistol?”

There was no reply. ' V

Will laid his hand on the man’s shoulder.

" Who are you!” he inquired.

Still no response.

Will took the lantern, and bending over,
looked round at the man’s face.

Then a cry, of horror escaped him.

“ He is dead I” the boy exclaimed.

Frank t down into the hollow.

“Yes, 0 is dead,” he said. “ But it must
have been he who discharged the pistol. He
must have fired a last shot for assistance just
before he died.”

“ But why did he put that strange wreath
about his head i”

“ He would not have done it. The maniac
must have placed it there after the man died.”

Will started and stared at his chum.

“ That would make it that the pistol-shot came
from Modeadl You' know it was only a few
minutes ago that we heard the report~since
the, maniac came from here.”

“ You ,are right. It is mysterious. I don’t
understand it!” -

The two looked more close] at the face.

Then there was a cry from ill.

“ 1 race ize the face new. It is that of one
of in one e’s crew—Hans, the German!”

“ here!” cried Frank. “ I thought he looked
familiar to me. But what does it mean? He
has a pistol, and must have tired. it a few min-
utes a 0; yet it is evident he has been dead for
some t mel”

Both boys shuddered.

“ God only knows the meaning of it!” said
WilL “Again, where are my uncle and the
rest? It seems as if the must have all perishedl
We may find their ice, too—if, indeed, they
have been here at all!”

The lads got out of the hollow, and searched
about them carefully; but they looked in vain.

Just then there was a crash.

Alarge rock had become detached and had
fallen from the roof which, as in the other part
of the cave, was full of fishers.

Keeping along, out of reach of the water, the
boys moved cauti' usly, fearing every moment

 

, The Boy GoraléFishers.

that another fragment of rock might fall and
strike them.

At length they gained the second rocky bar-
rier. Frank he d up the lante .

“ Halloa!” he cried.
opening at the top. ”

With dimculty they climbed to it, but there
was not room between the roof and the top of
the rock for them to crawl through.

Suddenly they looked at each other, and held
their heads in a listenin attitude.

Above the roaring of t e torrent they thought
the could hear the murmur of voices!

till the were not sure; it might only be the

noise whic is sometimes made by water.

“ Let us shout i” said Will.

They did so, and then they listened attentively.

“ Helical halloal” was borne to their ears.

“ Helios!" returned Will. “Who is there?”

“ Ir Is I—Cmam Tnonsel” was the re-
spouse.

“ There is another small

 

CHAPTER XV.
A MYSTERY CLEARED.

FOR a moment the two bo s fairly held their
breath. Then they clasped ands.

“At last!” cried Will, joyfully—“at last we
have found my uncle l”

“Jerusalem! it makes me feel like a. new
man I” cried Frank. -

“Halloai” came the voice again, “is that
you, Will?”

“Yes; Frank and I come to look for you.
Where are you? how can we reach you?"

“Is Moco with you? Have you toolsf—a
crp‘vgml", or something of that kind?”

0

“Then 1 don’t see how you can get to me.
You will have to go back for tools.”

Will then explained why he and his friend

could not leave the cave, etc.
“Thank fortune we have a hatchet.” he con—
tinued. “ With this we may succeed in getting

to gou.”

e at once went to work, knocking away
ieces of the rock. It was a slow task; but,
naily, the opening was enlarged so that the

b0 3 could crawl through.

he rays of the lantern now flashed upon the

forms of the captain and his crew.

“We meet at last, uncle," said Will, as he
and his relative grasped hands.

“ But how came you to be shut up in this part
of the cave?” inquired the boy as he glanced
around him. The space occupied by the coral-
fisher and his men was not more’than nine feet
wide. They stood upon a rugged led e out of
reach of the water flowing in below, t rough as
small opening in a rocky wall, which was evi-
dent] the end of the cavern.

“ e have been in this place for days,” an-
swered the captain, “livin principally on the
cocoanuts which were was ed in ere by the
constant current that sweeps through that hole.
We have made man attem ts to get through
the o ning at low 'de. bu the current has
been strong for us. Our being‘shut in from
the other part of the cave was owingr to the fall
of that rock over which you have just entered.
It was previously near t e side of the cavern,
supported by a slender column. I discharged
my pistol, which seemed to cause it to become
dislodged. It broke off and rolled down. It is
my 0 mion that all the rocks in this cave—es-

ecin ly those of the roof—are very weak and
'able to come crashing down at any moment.”

The captain then explained how he came to
enter the cavern in the first place. .

“My crew and I had lowered our boat along-
side the sloop,” he said, “ to pick up a barrel of
fresh water which we had hoisted from the
hold and which had fallen overboard b the

iving away of thetackle. As we pulled t in,
tslipped from our creep and broke the boat.
At last we succeed in ifting it and in putting
it on deck. Just then we saw a canoe coming
containin one occupant. He was a strange-
looking fe low; in fact, we perceived, when e
reached us, that he was a madman. He, how-
ever, held up a fine piece of coral, and said
there was plenty more where that came from——
that he would show us the place. To be pre-
pared for treachery from pirates, I took with
me pistols and ammunition and also six men of
my crew who were armed with long knives.
The seventh man, Hans, the German, I left
aboard as a lookout in charge of the sloop while
we were gone.”

The two boys uttered a cry of astonishment.

“ You say you left the German Hans aboard?
There was not a. soul aboard on the day we
first missed you. and yet you state that you did
not gkenhim with you?” said Will.

es.

 

“Then how, in Heaven’s name, came he to be
in this cave?”

“ Who—Hans? Hans in this cave?” cried the
captain. “He is not here; he has not been
here I”

“ He is on the other side of that wall, dead I”
replid Will. “ Frank and I saw him."

“You saw Hans—dead!” repeated the cap-
tain. staring at his nephew in amazement.

“Yes; we can show him to you.”

All were soon on the other side of the rocky
wall, and the boys conducted the captain to the
hollow in which was the dead man.

“Yes, it is Hans, and no mistake I” cried John
Thomas, in the utmost surprise. “How on earth
he came here is a mystery.”

“We thou ht it was he who had fired the
pisto ,” said rank; “but we now know we
were mistaken. It was yourself.”

“ Yes, but how came that pistol in his hand l"
said the captain.

At last the truth seemed to burst upon him.

“I think I understand,” he said. “ Hans was
fond of liquor, and I have heard him say he
could not swim. Taking advantage of my ab-
sence, he must have helped himself too freely
to my grog and have fallen overboard and been
drowned. Subset'fiiently the current must have
carried him into t is cave. It might have done
so without my seeing the body, as the lantern I
brought with me has been burned out for sev-
eral days. The maniac must have Seen the
body, pulled it out of the water, placed it here,
and put this wreath about the head. When
Hans was on the lookout he had a pistol in his
belt, and it is evident the madman took it out
and ut it in his hand, as it is now.”

“ hat explains the whole thing,” said Will.
The party then left the hollow, and the cap—
tain roceeded with his story. -

“ he broken boat alongside the sloop, not
being fit for use, we all entered the canoe. The
madman paddled to a cave, across the entrance
of which was a broken mast. 'We got out on a
ledge, he pulled the canoe intothe cave, we
re-embarked, and were finallyitaken to a long,
sloping rock, at the end of w ich was an open-
ing. he maniac had lighted a lamp, which
revealed to us masses of coarse coral around us.
He told us we would have to descend through
the hole to reach the fine coral. I went first
and discovered that. he had told the truth.
Subsequently I called rang men down. The
maniachad a rude rope-l der. He placed the
end against the mouth of therpit, and, by this
means, contrived to get his. canoe down into
the subterranean retreat. He said he could
take us out another way, but we found after
ward that he had lied. . ' v I

“While we were hunting for arls and good
coral, the fellow disappeared. 9 called him,
as we wanted to return to the vessel, but we
never saw him again. It was a regular mad-
plan’s freak, for he had secreted the ladder
where we could not find it, so that we had no
means of leaving the retreat We tried to
make use of. the canoe for that purpose by
placing it on end, but it was too short. The
warp was also too short: besides, we had no
means of fastening it above, had it been long
enough. We explored the cave, but, as you are
aware, we could discover no way of leaving it.
Finally, the rock falling down, as I have shown,
shutus in the space where you found us. I
fired my pistol many tigms, hoping the noise
might beheard and migh bring pe is to our
rescue. -I. also caught a bat and astened a
piece of written gaper to it, thinking the crea-
ture mi ht possi ly fly outside, and that it
might a tract the attention of some one who
would thusbe enabled to come to our assist-
ance. I also wrote on blocks of wood and set
them adrift with the current, but I am afraid
none of those things were found.”

“Yes; I found one of them,” said Will. and
he then went on to explain. He also detailed
his chum’s and his adventures since they missed
his uncle and his crew.

“ Then it seems evident that those devils have
got our sloop ” said the captain.

“ I am afaid so.”

At low tide the , crawlin through the
enlarged opening over be top of t e fallen rock,
made their way toward the entrance at the

other end.
They saw nothing of the se t until they
reached the deep water-hole, w a they heard

a loud, hissing noise coming up from the

depths.
‘The «suture is dawn in that hole!" cried
Will. “ Let us in the canoe and look.”
e warp o a canoe g o a
Th f t bein flattened r
spur, the part entered it and allowed the
light vessel to rift near the edge of the cavity.

'ES‘Q‘Q‘: 5H!" o-u a: n

HHI—mmn

f9 Quill “alvwivwmmvunvu‘vvuiw‘-—

u‘ow 9; oil-‘4 0-."0

The Boy Coral-Fishers.

11

 

 

Looking down, they dimly descried the flat
head and gleaming eyes of the creature, as it
floundered about in vain eflorts to t out of
the hole. Now and then it woul open its
jaws, uplifted toward the upper part of the pit,
and its fangs were seen gleaming in the light of
the lantern.

The captain took aim at the creature’s head
and fired, but his shot missed.

The next moment the serpent plunged into
the turbulent, foaming waters.

With finger on trigger, the coral-fisher
watched for its reappearance, but it kept out of

si ht. v

5The party left the edge of the water-hole and
continued on their wa .

Finally they arrive near the entrance of the
cave:

They listened, but they could hear no noise
above to indicate that pirates were there.

“If we could only find that maniac’s lad—
der, we might go and reconnoiter,” said the

€8¥MID.
hey looked a long time in vain. _

Suddenly there was a cry of mingled surprise
and dismay from Will, who had crawled into
one of the recesses of the coral hollows, which
W_as but dimly lighted by the lantern held by
his chum some paces behind him.

“What is it?” cried Frank, as Will came
hastily out. .

“ The HERlKAID again !” was the reply.

The captain, takin the lantern, and followed
by the boys, enter the hollow. At the en-
trance of a second little cavern they beheld,
sure enough, the FORM on THE nnnnsm, up-
right and apparently watching theml

At first Will’s uncle was startled.

l-Ie recovered himself and looked keenly at
the vision, holding up the lantern, so that the
li ht would fall full upon it.

. an he laughed. and sprung at the form,
laying his hand on its shoulder.

“It is a wooden image,” he said. “It has

811 some vessel’s figureheadl"

. “What fools we have been!” said Will, turn-
mg Very red.

“You are about right, and I feel rather
small I” cried Frank.

“ so do I l"

“Wiser people than you might have been
astonished at seeing this thing down under the
398,“ said Captain Thomas. “Here is green
Sea-weed sticking to the head. In an imperfect
hght it would resemble hair, while the move-
ment of the water might even give to the form
the appearance of motion.”

“But how came it down under the sea, and
afterward in this cavern l“ inquired Frank.

The captain had turned the image over. In
the lower part was fastened a round, pointed
Paojection of iron, which had evidently broken
0

‘1 That tells the secret,” he said. “ This figure:
he id, which dropped from some wrecked craft,

’ . Was fastened to an iron or bronze pedestal

Which caused it to sink down among the cor
hollows. At last, a few days ago, the iron
lug broken. slipped out, then the image rose
150 the surface, and b the current was borne
slang into this cava. robably the maniac saw
it, and fishing it out, brought it to this secret
gaggw, which appears to have been his-usual
e. ’ h
The captain showed some dry sea-weed, which
had evident] served for the native’s couch. In
another of the little cave the rope ladder
was disooVei-ed.
In“; 150w,” said dthe coraldsher, “ tine hoft us
Bgofirsgan seehowth' arentewo
caverns above. I will go.” W

CHAPTER XVI.
run ATTACK.

Tin ladder was. placed, and the ca tain
ascended. 0n passing through the men h of
the pit he noticed a faint light shed through the
glaenmg leading from the coral cave to the out-

8 one. -

This light enabled him tosee his way alon
the slopin shelf of rock n n which e h
emerged. lieaching the on of it, he tried the
depth of the water, and found that it was
shallow enough here to be waded. He moved
to the opening, and peered through it into the
outer cave in which be boys lied said the sloop
had been anchored.

A sloop was there now, but it was not his
own. He knew by the rig which he could
dimly descry by the light of the lantern aboard,

 

that she was one of those vemls shaped some-
thing like a “tartan,” which are used by the
Malays in addition to their press.

At first, everything being so still aboard, he
fancied that the craft was deserted, but sud-
denly he noticed the dusky face and glittering
black eyes of a. native, who was peering at him
over the stern-rain

Before he could draw back, a canoe, full of
firmed pirates, shot from round the bow toward

1m.

As he retreated, their yells rent the air. and
so rapid were their movements, that he had
barely time to reach the pit opening are they
were on the sloping rock which led to it.

“They are coming,” he said, as he quickly
descended the ladder.

Scarcely had the captain spoken, when the
yells of the pirates were again heard above.

Soon after the gleam of lanterns flashed down
through the o ning.

The ladder ad been withdrawn from it, and
ghe septam had placed a pistol in his nephew’s

8D .

“Be ready,” he said. “Only one can drop
down here at a time, and if we load and fire
rapidly, for, fortunately, I have a good uantity
of ammunition with me, we may keep em all
at bay!”

A .few minutes later the head of a pirate was
cautiously thrust through the pit openin .
Frank had darkened the lantern he had wit
him, and. had laced it in a hollow among the
rocks, so that t 8 man could see nothing.

The captain fired; his shot passed through the
brain of the pirate, who fell into the cavern,
stone dead.

There was a cry of rage from the others. A
volley was discharged through the pit, but the
bullets whistled past the ears of the coral-
fishers.

“I don’t think they will try to come down
here,” said the captain, “at least not at
present.” .

He wasright. The Malays, perceiving that,
owmg to the smallness of the entrance, their
enemies had the advantage, kept away from the
opening.

“I wish we could only run the gantlet of
those fellows,” said Will. '

“ We cannot do that. Were we better armed
I would make a dash I”

“Meanwhile I be we may continue to have
enou h to eat and ri ,” said Will.

“ och as it is, I think we may. Thusfar my
men have been able to catch a plenty of fish, and
we have had plenty of cocoanuts.”

f‘ I wonder where the cocoanuts come from?”

said Frank.
_ “ Many trees, as u know, were blown down
in the gale we be the other day,” said Will.
‘,‘ As they lay over from the beach in the water,
the cocoanuta are probably washed from the
branches and’are drawn in here.”

“ But how: do you catch the fish, captain?”

The ea tam took from his coatpocket a small
net ma e of pieces of rope. which he had
brought with im when be accompanied the
maniac to the retreat.

As the stream is narrow when it enters here,
the fish have not much room to mu. They are
swept,» six or seven at a time, into my net.”

T e vmces of the pirates were heard a few
minutes near the opening; then they receded.

“ They are trying tooontrive some plan to t
down here, I sup ,"said the captain. “ a
will leave a coup e of men 0n watch, while the
rest of us go to sleep.”

This, plan was adopted. '

Next morning the slumberers were awakened
be; the rush of the returning waters of the
8 am.

They rose, some fish were caught, and with
these and the remains of the boys turtle a good
breakfast was psi-taken of.

A moment later all were startled by the SP-
pearance of the sea-serpent.

It was swept against the pit-opening, but by
means of its lengthy coils it kept itself from
gom through.

“ 8 must kill that fellow ” said Captain
Thomas. “ He Will make trouble for us if we
allow him to remain in our quarters. ”

Pistol in hand he glided from rock to rock.
Will with the other pistol, and Frank with the
hatchet, followed.

Egvmgtieachegai what lie thougtii; 1150 be a good
ion, ecap u too aima emonaters
sad and fined.

But even as he pulled trigger it chanced that
the serpent dove under water.

next moment it was having a furious
combat_w1th the sharks. These creatures at-
tacked it on every side. Over and over the ser-

 

pent rolled, thrashing the foaming waters and
striking at its enemies with head and body. As
fast as their fungiesunk into it the huge sea rep-
tile would fling t in awe from it.

But it was evident the s arks must finally get
the better. of their enemy. The attack was
constantly renewed; they clung to the serpent
at times for several minutes.

All at once, goaded to madness, uprose the
len thy monster, fairly flinging itself, bleeding
an mangled, on the rocks.

Frank rushed at it with the hatchet and
struck at its body, when, with a movement as
quick as a flash, it coiled about the arm that.
held the weapon. .

The boy was buried over on his back, and the
fangs of the creature were thrust toward him.
He could see the horrid eyes luring upon him,
and the sharp white teeth in t e open jaws.

An instant later he must have perished but
for Will and the captain, who. rushing up, sent
two shots crashing through the flat head.

The serpent’s hold upon Frank’s arm relaxed,
and the reptile fell back into the torrent, where
it was pounced upon by the sharks.

“There’s an end to that pest,” said the cap-
tain. “ Are you hurt, Frank?” ‘

“ Not much,” answered the boy.

The dying struggles of the serpent were soon
at an end. All around it, the voracious sharks
blackened the stream fighting over the re-
mains.

The party were glad when at last, the re-
ceding waters carried off these creatures and
their prey.

Leavin two men on watch under the pit
opening, [an ptain Thomas now gave directions
for the collecting of coral and pearls. Be-
fore night a considerable quantity had been
gathered

Several days passed, which were occupied in
this manner. A valuable quantity of coral and
of pearls had been obtained, and these the cap-
tain had placed in a large hollow near the roof
of the cavern, where they would be sure not to
be reached by the incoming torrent.

“ We have now, with what is aboard, almost
coral enough for a cargo,” he remarked.

“ What good will it do us,” said Will, “if we
cannot escape from this place!”

“ That’s true. But I do not expect to live here
always, of course. In my opinion, Mono and his
niece will do something for us.”

“ They might if they knew we were here."

“ Ay, there’s the question—do they know it,
or do they not?”

The men on the watch now were seen point—
in up at the entrance.

twas soon discovered that the irates had
rolled a fra ment of rock against 9 month of
the it to b ock it upl

“ ey would drown us in that way like rats
in a hole,” said the captain. “The water, pre-
venfted from passnig through, wouldrrise to the
rec .

“ Then we are lost,” said Will.

. “No, I am going to get rid of thatrockby
blasting it I” ,

The pointed iron by which the mermaid had

been attached to the metal pedestal, was in his

possession.

He draw it forth, the ladder was placed and
provided with Frank’s hetna man was at
once set to work drillinga hole in the rock bar~
ner.

As the rock was of granite—not very hard-—
the, hole was soon made. The captain filled it:
with powgfir from 1118me haviugéprepn reg
a w‘ wr a piece 0 a newspaper, hiserte
it an]? lighted the end.

He then descended the ladder, and standing
ed, the party saw the rock explode, leaving the
openin again nearly clear.

“ ere have the pirates gone to?” said
Frank. “They would have inte our
work had they been up there. Pei-ha think-
ing we were drowned, they cleared .”

‘I don’t think they would have done that
until they made sure, and—”

He was interrupted by a loud crash. Not far
from them they perceived that a large rocky
mass had fallen from thereof. It was heavy
enough to have killed the whoztparty had they
been under it! Even asthay ga another large
fragment came tumbling down, crushing a
beautiful coral tree beneath it.

"I don’t like this at all,” said the captain.
“ The fall of those masses was probably mainly
caused by the shock of the explosion, but we
haveall noticed, from the first, that a piece
comes down now and then. The root is badly
cracked, and it bulges. In my opinion, it will
all come tumbling upon us, it we are here
much longer I”

12

The Boy Coral-Fishers.

 

 

CHAPTER XVII.
WILL’S vnurunn.

House passed, but as yet nothing had been
heard above to indicate the presence there of
'the iratee. .

A at once somethin rolled down through
the pit into the cavern, right among the party.
It was apparently a large heavy stonej gall.

., “ HaIIOal What’s u , now i” said ank,
steeping to look at the fug, which had fallen at
his feet. “ Do these fellows think we are fools

/enough to taste of an liquor they send us?”

The- captain seize the boy’s arm, with an
iron gr and drew him quickly away.

“Back. for your life i” he shouted “ there is a
lighted fuse attached to that jug! it is a stink-

In an instant all screened themselves amon
the nearest coral hollows, which they ha
scarcely done, when, with a. tremendous re rt,
vthe ju exploded, sending grenades an old
slugs ying in every direction, while a. most
offensive odor filled the cavernl

The shock of the explosion had its effect upon
the already weakened masses of projecting
rock upon the roof.

On all sides fragments were heard crashing
down—a sound which was greeted with yells of
exultation from the pirates. The coral captain

.and his companions were obliged to be con-
stantly on their guard to avoid the falling
masses.
“If this keeps on, we will be buried,” said
Frank.

A ain all was silence above. But the party
keen y watched the opening. expectin every
moment to see another stone jug come own.

Meanwhile, on many sides of them, fragments
of rock continued to fall.

“ I would like to know what those rascals are
now up to,” said the captain.

“I will go and see,” said Will.

" You would be speared or shot down," said
hiu uncle. .

The gaze of the lad fell upon the image of the
mermaid, which had been previously drawn
out of the maniac’s little cave.

He walked u to it, and, turnin it over ex-
amined it care lly. There was a large hollow
inside of it, extendin allthe way up to the
head. 'A further investigation showed him that
the bead and shoulders were merely fastened
on with wooden plugs, so that theevl could be
lifted 08 in one piece—the plu flt ng in hol-
low sockets. Figureheads are 0 u made that
wageso that when they become soiled they can
he more easily cleaned and pain .

“ I am small enough to at inside this wooden
image,” said Will. “'1‘ a' Malays are an r-
stitioae. They will. not venture to attac a
moving mermaid I"

, " Capital i" cried his uncle.
.“r.....*-hl..°°ut:°...vw°* sea: was
’ e no along 0 us
said Frank. , ’

Mil was soon inside of the mermaid. The
head and shoulders were fastened on over him.
Both arms were now broken ofl, sons to enable
them-to get his throu h the opening. When he

’stood I: right the tail of the flgurehead was a
little ow his knees. He was surprised at the
lightness of the  ,His mo‘venien how-
ever, thus incasedeae ewes, were so aw ward
that Frank could not he laughing.
be“ It: as bad as a New or]: gir s pull-back!”

sax .

The rope-ladder was laced, and he ascended
gay Allmwasldarknessed :1 theme“: sauna Eh:

on our y new a on e o a 0
rock. 0n reachin out hfi arm a tfie lower
end, he felt, as be ad expected he would, the
bow of a canoe.

Thro h holes, which had been unched in
the pain eyeballs of the mermai , he could
perceive, despite [the darkness, that the vessel
was empty. He entered it, and sent it through
into the outer cave, where, sure enough, lay a
pirate tartan or sleep, lighted by a lantern,
aboard.

Two men lay asleep near her how. Not far
from them reclined a dusky fellow, keeping a
careless lookout.

Will should now have endeavored to return
'to his friends, but he was curious to take a look
Mickie of the cava, and see if there'were any
pirate craft there. ‘

/ The man on the watch bud his face turned

awsyflom him. The boy picked up a paddle,
and cautiously urged the canoe onward.

He passed the tartan, almost touching her,
and so on out of the entrance of the cavern into
the bay’heyond.

It was nearly night, and seen at that hour,

 

Will looked like a veritable mermaid seated in
the canoe.

Ahead of him he beheld a pron full of armed
Malays approaching.
d At sight of him they raised a about of won-

er. .

The head of the pros was turned, and she re-
ceded. The snpernatural vision had excited
the terror of the occupants.

“What if I can frighten the other pirates,
tool” thought Will. “I may, in that way,
drive them all off, and so enable our party to
escape from the subterranean retreat 1”

But now the head of the roe. was again
turned toward the vision. ’ he Malays had
evidently determined to take a nearer view of
the strange object. Perhaps their all icions
were excited, at the fact of the mermai being
in a canoe l -

The pros. drew nearer.
plainly seen.

There was a yell of derision, and a couple of
shots were fired. One of these passed through
{She head of the image, grazing the boy’s eye-

TOW.

The “mermaid” concluded to beat a retreat.
Pl ing his paddle, Will re-entered the cavern,
su denly appearing before the startled lookout,
who, hearing the noise outside, was now on the
alert. On seeing the strange object in the. dim
light of the cave, the man gave a yell of terror,
which awoke his companions.

But as Will passed close to the vessel, his
suspicions were aroused, and he reached over,
aiming with a hatchet a blow at the head of the
lam 9. Had the weapon struck the hollow
woo , it would have been broken to fragments
about the boy’s ears; but he contrived to dodge
it, and, backing away from the craft, he again
emerged outside into the bay.

He was soon between his enemies. A canoe
containing three Malays was in pursuit from
the tartan, and there was the proa coming up
not far off!

Keeping in the shadow of the rock, Will plied
his paddle vigorously and was soon among the
shoal near the beach.

Close behind him come the three Malays.
The bottom of the canoe struck a. sharp rib of
rock, and was etoven.

The boy scrambled out, rather clumsily for a
mermaid, and wading along in the gloom among
the intricate rocks, tried to find his way to the

beach.

One of the Malays searched for the lad.

He dimly saw the mermaid crouched near a
rock and pointed him out to his cogpnion.

“dome out or quick kill 1” he cr' , raising a
spear he had 11 ht in the canoe.

But Will did no move.

Will’s arms were

The pirate buried the . The poht struck
the wood of the menus '
The canoe was propelled toward the boy. . He

endeavored to crawl round to the other side of
the rock, which was ver slippery. His foot
slipped, and he fell into t water. The near-
est man raised the hatchet he carried to cleave
his head in twain. when Will quickly throwing
italiumeelf under water, turned up his wooden

I.

This caught the edge of the weapon, and the
mermaid was a little damagedl

And new that he was down, the boy found
it im .ible to raise himself, as he could not
suffic- ently bend his joints for thai‘iqui-pose.
The pirates savagel felt for him th heir

are, which they t rust under the water, and
t e half-suffocated lad had thought he was lost
when he felt himself seized by tin: arms an
dragged vigdrously into the hollow ,of a rock
near in).

In the loom he could not distinguish his
rescuer, w o arranging a screen of long, droop—
ing weeds over him, now eto d an looked
about him as if also searching or the fugitive.
A canoe from the pros. had previouslv come up,
and its late econ}; nts were wading a at to as-
sist in the scare . He who had saved Will’s
life and who now contrived to keep near him,
was one of the crew of that canoe.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
'rnn name’s PERIL. ‘

“Now,” whispered Moco, (for it was he) as
the searching party moved OR a few yards,
“crawl you to beach. Keep on till high
rock at end of bay. Den you see lie or boat.
You wait for me. Be careful not let pirate see.
Kee in shadow.”

“ at how came you with the 1pirates, Moco?"

“No stop talk, now. Go quic , or lost."

 

“ All right. I’m ofl like an elephant,” re-
plied the mermaid.

Wading to the beach, Will obeyed directions.
He passed the high rock at the end of the bay.
and beheld, near the base of the wooded ascent,
upon which he now stood, the dim outline of
some kind of a boat. It was a few fathom
from the shore, as well as the boy could make
out iln the gloom, and it was about the size of a
yaw .

Believing that the water was shallow enough
to enable him to wade-out to it, he thought it
bestto go aboard; but he was not within ten
fathoms of it when he found himself in deep
water.

To swim with his wooden case upon him was
hard work, although not so much so as he had
expected it would be as the wood helped to keep
him  '

Pu ng and blowing with his exertions, he
was close to the boat, when a corpulent native
who had been reclining in it, rese suddenly,
on hearing the noise, and looked toward him.

On seeing this strange object, the native held
up a lantern to obtain a better View.

At the same moment Will came alongside.

The light showed the proportions of what ap-
peared to bee veritable mermaid, and with a
cry of dismay, the man dropped his lantern,
which was shivered ~to fragments, pulled aft
his sheet, and away went the boat, plunging
seaward before a good breeze.

“ Let up there, won’t you?” shouted the mer.
maid, “ and give us a show!”

In the hollow wood the voice had a sepulchral
sound. The islander again uttered a cry of
an erstitious terror. ,

he mermaid was hanging on to the gunwale,
wildly flappin the water with its tail in its
efforts to clim into the boat.

“ Come, luff up i” it continued. “ Don’t keep
a fellow here all ni htl” .

As he s ke, the d contrived to roll himself
into the at in the bottom of which he fell
with a sort of dull clamp.

The native did not wait to see more. Over
he went with a cry of horror, springing into the
sea and striking out for a projecting beach, not
man yards distant.

Will instantly tried to seize the tiller to bring
the craft up into the wind, for the purpose of
lying to in wait for Mono. But the late occu-
pant of the boat having fallen over the steering
apgaratus, had broken it off, so that the boy
b no control of the vessel. Away it went,
before the onshore breeze, out to sea.

Finally, with lgreat difloulty, when more than
a league from and, Will succeeded in rollin
up the maineail. The craft etilldrified seawar ,
and the lad inwardl chafed at his helpless sit—
nation. He anxio y reflected on the perilous

light of his friends, down in the cave, with

a broken roof almost ready total] upon them!

At length the moon rose showing him that
he was alon wayfrom Ian .

Far ahead esaw a vessel 0! some kind ap-
proaching. .

Was it a pirate, or would it to be a
friend by means of which he d bring assis-
tance to thre‘pearty in the cavern? '

As the c drew nearer be perceived that
the was a sloop.

A closer view showed him that itwas his own
vesse .

He endeavored to free himself from his
wooden incumbrance, but he found that this
could not be done without assistance.

He waved his am i and shouted.

In she hollow image his voice had a singular
noun . .I

There was an Acheenese at the wheel, and
another was on the bow, keeping a lookout.

The latter uttered a yell of terror on seeing
the mermaid, and the man at the wheel, per-
ceiving it at the same time, lost his resence of
mind. Instead of putting down the elm as he
should have done, e put it u ‘, and the bow of
the sloop crashed against the at, cepsizing and
breaking it at once! .

By stepping forward, Will had avoided bein
struck by the bows of the sleep. As she ‘ see
on, he clung to the fragment of the boat ft.

Again and again he shouted but it seemed as
if no attention was paid to his cries, and the
aim disappeared in a fog-bank ahead.

“ emsaleml” cried the mermaid. “ I’m in a
pretty situation now i” '

His arms ached with their retracted hold of
the fragment of the boat, wh ch was not large
enough for him to lie ugh. ' '

Finally the wind chi d,,and to his dismay,
hep perceived that he was gradual] drifting
down toward the bay in which he ha encount—
ered the pirates.

.i.

1 ,

as

 Coral-fishers.

 

 

As he gained toward it, he saw the proae eggs
from it and head toward.Poolo 14mm: ch
‘la to windward of him. ‘ '
ould they passnear enough to see him? . He
dendeavored to work the fragment of wreck into
the flog-bank, which was between him 'and the
beac . '

The pres. kept steadily on. All at once her
course was chan ed, she-was now not more
than a hundre fathom distant, he believed
that her keen-eyed crew had 8 ied him. He
was sure of this when, as they rew nearer, he
heard their shouts a‘nd the report of a istol, the
bullet from which fell a little short of in!

Will redoubled his exertions to reach the fog-
bank.

He arrived there at last, and was screened

,from the gazeof his toes. But there could be
no doubt that they would discover him. ,

He heard their shouts drawing nearer: then
he heard another sound—the dip of a paddle.

A moment later a canoe emer ed to view. It
contained a single occupant—a emale. And as
she drew nearer Will, to his intense joy, recog-
nized Amone!

“Thank fortune !” he exclaimed; “but can
you save me? The pirates are near.”

The hollow, se‘pulchral voice seemed to startle
the irl. She looked a little frightened.

“ ome on! don’t be afraid i" shouted the lad.
“ I am Will Warner, and this thing on me is
only a wooden image I”

Amone now urged her canoe swiftly. She
helped the boy in.

"The first thing to do is to take of! this con-
founded thing. I am tired of playing mermaid,”
said Will.

He showed the irl how to take OR the head
and shoulders. T a moment he was freed from
his incumbrance he shook hands With his
rescuer whose black e es beamed tenderly u n
him. in the dim lig n he could perceive t at
her whole face was lighted With joy.

“Me so glad come in time,” she said, softly.
“ T’ink you safe now.”

“ I’m not sure. The pirates are coming
straight for us. Hark! they cannot be twenty
fathoms DE!” 4

The girl looked thoughtful a moment. All at
once her gaze fell on the mermaid.

Replacing the head and shoulders, she fast-
ened the wooden image with a iece of re to
the fragment of boat to which ill had 0 ung,
and which was still alongside.

“There! Pirate see! Not find boy inside!
Go back—no look more!"

“ Capital i” said WilL

_Amone seized her paddle, and the canoe was
directed away from the quarter the proa was
approaching being kept meanwhile in the fog-
bank, so that the irate: could not see it.

A few minutes ater their cries of disappoint-
ment were heard, indicating that the had
fichgdithe floating image, to‘flnd no 113 in-

e o i .

The girlhad stopped dling. tomake sure the
natives might not catc the sound, and the two
occupants of the canoelheardaoon after the re-
ceding voicas of the pirates. '

CHAPTER XIX.
ooncnusxox.

“Winn did you come to reach me

just at the right time?” inquired ill.
:: mm sloop.” was the reply.
“Yang! from my uncle 5‘ cap?”

Amone the: ex lained that she was aboard.
but be ow w on e Veme ran down the boat
in which Will sat. She heard the cries on deck,
and hurried u toascortain the cause. At first,
although a 11 1e terrified at what she heard, she
reflected that there was some in stery about the
strange figure being seen on oco’s boat and
she resolved to 30 Pnd IDVSEW it. But her
Acheenese companions detained her—would not,
let her go for some time.. .At last she succeeded
in allaying their superstitious terrors enough to
permit her to enter a canoe and paddle oi! in
search of the singular object.

Will then also made explanations. ‘

“You and 11000 did not know of our being
downinthere in the subterranean retreat, I sup-

8 .

“ No, but we t’ink so, for Acheenese see on and

Frank getm canoe, leave sloop and o n coral

cave. When Moco and I come to 51

they tell us. and we oing to look for ou when, be

we hear noise of rates coming. ink bed
A anhore u tell about cave. We
know by what we hear dat dey know sloop

 

dare. We get V161: ankum quick and sail away.
Dark night. e creep alonfiarock and get out
of bay widout piraws see. 17 way save sloop.
We keep on and go away 01! to odor of
island. We go look for Mexican or glish
man—of-war. No find—all sail away; but war-
sloop come in bumby—in few days—perhap’.
We wait. Him war-sloop no come. I sa we
must go and try find out what become of . Es.
Moco say yes. Moco et in fishing-boat. e
o and make believe -oin irate. Pirate not
now he been aboard’coral s oop.” ‘
‘ “I‘see! That’s how he came to be with the
pirates!” cried Will. “And now we must con-
trive to bring assistance, and that speedily, to
my friends.”

“Yes. Mo have been leave incommand of
sloop. Me see to-day ’Merican war-vessel pass
island. Dat’s why come out in sloop to look for

1111.

“ God ant we may fall in with that man—of-
war!” said Will. '

Amone finally guided her canoe to the coral
sloop. Both occupants were glad] hailed by
the Acheenese. to whom the mys of the
mermaid was soon explained.

Bidding the crew keep a careful lookout for
the war-vessel, Will now went below to seek
that repose which was necessary to one in his
condition.

Amone, who had been accustomed to small
craft and to water from her childhood, had the
slo'o‘p kept on her seaward course.

hen lel came up in the morning, he
looked eagerly for a sail.

_ he gazed he saw a speck upon the water,
in the dis ance.

Through the telescope he soon made it out to
be a canoe containing a single occupant. ‘

“ Mocol” said the keen-eyed Mala girl.

Such roved to be the case. be native,
when ta en aboard, uttered a cry of joy on
seein Will.

“ ad got aboard pinganinny craft!” he said.
“Me escape from pirate in canoe last night.
Dat’s ,how come here. Not could find fishing-
boat. How datl”

Will explained ; then he anxiously asked
Moco if he could give him any news of his
friends in the subterranean retreat.

Moco looked grave.

" ’Fraz’d all lost I" he said.

“ You are not sure?”

“Don’t know! Hear rock fallin’ down berry
fast in dem cave. Me look in. See plenty big
rock and plenty keep fallin’, but no see captain
and adders !”

A. cry of despair escaped Will.
You did not go down there and search?” be
331 .
“No. Me ’fraid; but me would go, only
pirate not let.”
“sll’m afraid it’s all up with them!” said Will,
yo ‘

Just then the of “Sail ’0!" camefrom a
may; i1vxrho was shalom aloft. F
_ as u riggln . ar awa
where :plimgof liniat had clegred, he saw’a’.
vessel, which he thought might be a war-

craft.

The little sloop was headed for it, with sig-
nals of diets-es hoisted at her mast-head.

The stran r bore down for ‘her.

When spo en, she proved to be the Canton
bri rot-war, an American craft of twelve guns.

0 her ca tain Will explained matters, and
the brig oted by the 5100 , was at once
headed or the bay, in which a pirate craft
were stationed.

Long befOre she reached it, however, the
Malay tartan and also a proa were seen putting
od' out of the ba toward Poolo Ling-en. The
pirates havin oVered the approach of the
war vessel h hastened to make 08. .

“Now, Heaven hel my friends! If they are
not alread buried. t
save them!’ cried Will.

It was full two hours ere the brig came to
anchor oi! t 9 bay. The sloop was anchored
near her. and a cutter manned by a lieutenant
and thirty sailors, with Will and Moco also in
it, was sent toward the cave.

This was soon reached.

M000 and Will, accompanied by the lien-
tenant lided into the coral cavern, and were
soon at t o it opening, provided with a lantern.
As they loo ed throu h, Will held up the Ian-
tern, and the light flas ed on the broken musics,
some of them now piled nearly to the roof!

“ Uncle! Frank! Where are you?" called the
y.
There was no response. '

“ They are lost—all have been crushed!” cried
the lad, in agony,

re is a chance we may ‘

 

As he spoke the whole rocky reef, as far as
he could see it, came thundering down, blocking
up the cavern passage beneath, and closing the
mouth of the pit, so that it would now be
impossible for any one to emerge through it.’

“ Dem are los’ now sure! Too bad! too had!"
said M000. v ~

Will bowed his face on his breast. r

“ My friend! My uncle !” walled the lad, ,

At that moment he felt a hand on his shout
der, and as he turned round, there was a ring-
ing‘laugh. ' .

0 his unbounded astonishment, he beheld his
chum, Frank, who had crept up the sloping
rock behind him, followed by the captain and
his men! r

“Hulloa! Why Frank! Wh uncle and his
men, too! Hooray! hooray!” s outed the over-
joyed la’d. “But what does it mean! -Where
did on come “from?”

“ rom there,” replied Frank, pointing to the
masses of coral in this cavern.

“ Yes,” said the captain. “ And glad enough
we are, nephew, to find you safe and well! T e
fact was, when a long time had passed, and you
did not come back, we concluded that the pir—
ates had ca tured you. Meanwhile the rocks
were tumb 'ng all around us, and We knew the
whole roof must soon go. Of course to remain
where we were must result in our perishing, so
I resolved to soc if we could not get out and
hide ourselves in the upper cave. I ascended
the ladder, and went to seebow things were. To
my surprise I found both caves deserted, but I
could hear the pirates outside in the bay. My
mind was made up in a moment. I had the
canoe brought up, and set my men to tting
in it the coral and pearls we bad so le’cted.
These made three loads, which we conveyed to
a snug hollow yonder among the coarse coral
branches and rocks. There we bid ourselves,
and waited for a. chance to 11 after,
the pirates came in from the y, and peered
into the pit o ning. I think they believed we
were lost, an it was natural the should for we
certainly would have been, h we remained
down in that retreat so long. At last we heard
the pirates go awa , but for some time, we did
not think it safe 0 venture from our hiding—
place. Just as we were going to, we heard the
the sound of voices, and thought the Malays
were coming again. it was not until we saw,
by the lantern’s light, your forms as you cropt
up the slqfing rocks, that we discovered our
mistake. e then agreed to cree up unper-
ceived, as You were looking throng the pit, in
order to surprise you."

, “ A narrow eeca !” said the lieutenant. “ I
am glad we came time. It was the sight of
our craft that made the pirates leave.”

" You been see no of madman’s body—
eh?” said M000 to the coral-fishers.

“ No—not since the serpent (arried it ofl.” re-
plied Frank. “ Probably he took it wid him
into the d water hole.

“ Me t’in know who dat him was,” said
loco. “Berry eer rson. Once on a finio
him kill odder h . 'me like dat Acheenese
fiuuish wid cutting of! handsand feet and some—

mas wand nose. After dat day drown him.
Well die him ’scape. Nobody nebber know

cave. Acheeneselrobber go
downlwt'ink Bellybub dcre! Dat's way him
see

"Em astrange creature,” remarked the

captain.

‘Hi! dare you hit nailem on head! Berry
neon—but mo been see queerer him dan dab!
way in dis island—’way ofl—but not monks '.

Him person all covered wid hair—skin like
monks —but him man for all dat! Oh. dis-m
true! e been see—dat’s fac’, anyhow !”
“ Come now, Moco, you don’t expect us to
swallow that,” said .

“Moco not lie!” said the native, drawin
himself :1 , much offended. “loco son 0
jos’ti t's why can dependum on d's

“ I have heard something of this before," said
the lieutenant. " The man spoken of must
belon to arace called Gl-oogons, who inhabit
this is and.”

“ Hki]! ’nIi‘i; said!”  I “But dat one

u- em me a 0 try my Googon,
or him difler r335: odder Mme—Mm not a

tad!

Thebo lcu ed, but Mace so solemn! as—
seer of his statement that it zing—
gered his hearers. ,

Soon after the captain and his were
aboard the little sloop. which the mel‘ dis-

covered had been ke t in perfect order—thanks
totheexertionsof oceandhisnieco.

14

The Boy Coral-Fishers.

 

0n inspectin the cabin locker, he discovered
that a bottle 0 rum he had left there when he
went 03 with the maniac in the canoe had been
emptied. A meerschaum pipe which was found
near it, indicated the thief. The pipe had be—
longed to Hans, the German, and thus was
proved that the captain’s con ectures about the
man had been ri ht. He ha got drunk while
left aboard, and in that state had fallen into the

-; Sea and been drowned, to be afterward carried,

.' s shown, into the cave by the current.

v 11: was found that the coral and pearls ob-

‘ ained from the subterranean retreat were sum-
cient to complete the sloop’s cargo.

“ I might possibly have found room for a
little more in my ea in," said the captain, “ but
of course we can get no more from that cave,
which, in fact. is a cave no longer, being new
forever choked up with fallen rocks. "

Be rewarded Moco handsomely for his ser-
vices. His niece, however, would take nothing.

Tears came to her eyes when she grasped
Will’s hand at partin , and for the first time,
the boy realized that t e island girl had more
than a friendly feelin for him.

On the next day, w on the sloop sailed away
bound for Calcutta, whence the two chums
would depart for home, the girl stood on a rock
sadly watching the craft until it was out of

si ht.

it is only necessary to add that the vessel
safely reached her estination and that the
lads, a few months later, arrived, at their native
city, Boston, in old Massachusetts.

THE END.

Waverley Library.

1 THE MAalIEn BRIDE. B Mrs. Mary R. Crowell.
2 WAs ITILOVEI By Wm. ason Turner.
3 THE GIRL WIFE. B Bartley T. Campbell.
4 A BRAVE HEART. y Arabella Southworth.
BEssIE RAYNOB. By Wm. Mason Turner, M. D.
6 THE SWEET MARRIAGE. By Sara Claxton.
7 A DAUGHTER OE EVE. By Mrs. Crowell.
8 HEART To HEART. By Arabella Southworth.
9 ALONE IN THE WonLD. B author of “ Clifton."
10 A PAIR or GRAY Eras. y Kennedy.
11 ENTANGLED. Henrietta Thackeray.
1% Hrs LAWUL Isa. Mrs. Stephens.
8 shman.
I MAnRIED HIM. By Sara Clinton.
15 A FAIR FACE. By Bartley T. Cam bell.
16 TRUsT HER NOT. By Margaret Le caster.
17 A YAL LOVER. B Arabella Southworth.
18 HI IDOL. By Mrs. ary Reed Crowell.
19 TEE Baum BETROTEAL. By Mary G. Ealpine.
20 ORPEAN NELL. By 1e Penne.
21 New AND Formula. H. Thackeray.
22 THE BRIDE or AN ACTOR. By the author of
“ Alone in the World,“ etc., etc.
23 Lur YEAR. {I axton.
24 HER FACE WAs ER FORTUNE. B E. Blaine.
25 ONLY A ScaoomsTnEss. By A. outhworth.
96 WITHOUT A HEART. By Col. P. Ingraham.
27 WAs SEE A UETTE? By H. Thackeray.
28 Sun CnAsE. glass. Ann S. Ste hen?"
29 FOR HER DEAR Au. By Sara. D.
30 T BOU UET GIRL. BfiAgile Penne.
81 A aaIAGE. B ary A.Denison.
82 A, m PRIMA oNNA. B A. Southworth‘.
88 Ten THREE Swans. By Alice eming.’
B4 A MARRIAGE OE CONVENIENCE By Sara. Claxton.
35 ALL AoAmaT Han. 'By ClamAufizats.
all Sm. Anom's BEIDE. ? Arabe Southworth.
87 THE COUNTRY COUSIN. Rose Kennegyl.
88 His OwN AGAIN. Ara lla Southwo .
89 FLIRTATIois. By Ra ph Royal. '
40 PLEDGED To MARRY. B Sara Claxton.
4i BLIND DEVOTION. By cememing.
42 BEATIuCE, TEE BEAUTIEUL. By A. Southworth.
43 Tran BmNET‘s SECRET. Sara Claxton.
44 Tim ONLY DAUGHTER. By ice Fleming.
45 HER HIDDEN FOE. By Arabella Southworth.
46 THE LITTLE EEmEss. By M. A. Denlson,
-v47 BECAUsE SEE LOVED Hm. Bfiauce Fleming.
. 48 In SP1“ or Banana. 8. Sherwood.
~ . 49 His HnAnT’s MIsTREss. yArabella Southworth.
50 Ten CUDAN HEIREss. B Mrs. Mary A. Denison.
51 Two YOUNG Gram. .By 06 Flemlfi. ,
52 TEE Wmoan MassEona. By Ma ed meell
53 AoNEs Horn. By W. M. Turner, . D. ,
54 ONE WOIIAN‘s HEART. Bv George S. Kaime.
55 SEE DID NOT LOVE HIE. By Arabella Southworth.
56 LOVE-MAD. y Wm. M. Turner M. D.
57 A BRAVE Gm. By Alice Fleming.
58 THE Enos MAsx. BgMary Reed Crowell.
50 A Wmow's WILEs. yRachel Bernhardt.
60 CECIL’s DECEIT. By Jennie Davis Burton.
61 A WICKED HEART. B Sal-a Claxton.
62 Tim MANIAC BaIDE. fiMargaret Blount.
68 Ten CREOLE Sienna. yAnna E. Porter.
64 WHAT Jumusv DID. By Alice Fleming.
65 THE WIEE‘s SECRET. By Col. Juan Lewis.
2; A Baornna’s Sm. By Rachel Bernhardt.
F namDEN BANS. By Arabella Southworth.
EAVEas AND Wm. By Mrs. M. E. Braddon.
69 Cm LE. By Alexander Dumas.
70 Tau Owns.

D'Ennew. .
71 Ms YOUNG Win. BE Yo ife's Husband.
72 Ta): Two WIDows. y nie came.

1

 

 

 

73 Roan MICHEL. By Maude Hilton.
'24 CECIL CAsTLEuAINE’s GAGE. By Guide.
75 THE BLACK LADY os- DUNA. By J. S. Le Fanu‘.
16 CHARLOTTE TEMPLE. Mrs. Rowson.
77 Onmsrus Onmfs MIsTAn. B Miss Mulock.
78 Mr YOUNG HUSBAND. By Myse .
70 A QUEEN AMONGST WONEN. By the author of
“ Dora Thorn."
80 HER Loan AND MAs'l-En. By Florence Marryat.
81 LUCY TEMPLE.
82 A LoNG Trim Aoo. By Meta On'ed.
83 PLAYING For; Eran Suns. By Annie Thomas
84 THE LAImEL Buss. By Miss Mulock.
85 LED ASTRAY. By Octave Feuiilet.
86 J ANET‘s REPBNTANCI. By George Eliot.
87 Ramon or A Pooa YOUNG MAN. By 0. Feuiilet.
88 A TERRIELE DEED. By Emma G. Jones.
89 A GILDED SIN.
90 THE AUTaOR‘s DAUGHTER. By Mary Hewitt.
91 THE JILT. By Charles Reade.
02 EILEEN ALANNA. By Dennis O'Sullivan.
93 Lovs’s VICTORY. By B. L. F eon.
94 Tim QUIET HEART. B Mrs. lighant.
05 Lamas ARNOLD. By rs. Mars .
96 HAUNTED HEARTs. B Rachel Bernhardt.
9? HUGE MELTON. By atharine Kin .
98 ALICE LEARMONT. By Miss Mul . _
99 MARJORIE BRUcE‘s LOVER By MaryPatnck.
100 THROUGH Fins: AND WATER. By Fred. Talbot.
101 HANNAII. By Miss Mulock.
102 Pm WormoToN. By Charles Reade.
103 A DESPERATE DEED. ByErskine Boyd.
104 SnADows on THE Snow. By B. L. Fa eon.
105 THE GREAT HDGGARTY DIAMOND. y W. M.
Thackeray.
106 Fuel! DREAMS To WAKING. . By E. Lynn Linton.
10? Poor: ZEPE. By F. W. Robinson.
108 THE SAD Foamas on THE REV. AMOS BARTON.
By George Eliot.
109 BREAD-AND-CHEESE AND KIssEs. By B. L. Farjeon
110 THE WANDERING HEIR. BY C. Reade.
111 THE Bao'rmcn's BET. By . F. Carien.
112 A HERO. By Miss Mulock.
118 PAUL AND VIRGINIA. From the French of Bar
nardin de St. Pierre.
114 ‘TWAs IN TEAEAIAIAR‘s BAY. By Walter Besant
and James Rice.
115 THE MAID OE KILLEE'NA. By William Black.
116 Hm. By Henry Kin ley.
117 THE WArsIDE Cnoss. y Capt. E. A. Milman.
118 TIIE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. By Oliver Goldsmith
119 MAUD MORAN. By Annie Thomas.
120 THADDEUS 0E WARSAW. By Miss Jane Porter.
121 THE KING OF No-LAND. B B. L. Fa eon.
122 LOan THE WIDOWER. By . M. Thac eray.
123 As ISLAND PEARL. By B. L. Farjeon.
124 COUSI‘N PHILLIS.
125 LEILA; or THE Swan or GRENADA. By Edward
Bulwer, (Lord Lytton.)
126 WHEN THE SnIr COMES HOME. By Walter
Besant and James Rice.
127 ONE or THE FAMILY. By James Payn.
128 THE Bmmrorm By Mrs. Gore.
129 MOTEERLESB; or, The Farmer‘s Sweetheart. By
Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
130 HOMELESS; or, The Two Orphan Girls in New
York. By Albert W. Aiken.
131 SIsTEn AGAINST SIsTER: or, The Rivalry of
Hearts. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.

132 SOLD EOR GOLD; or, Almost Lost. By Mrs. M.
V. Victor.

183 Loan ROTn’s Sm: or Betrothed at the Cradle.
By Mrs. Georgiana Dickens.

134 DID HE LOVE Hun? By Bartl'ey T. Campbell.

135 SINNED AoAINsT; or, Almost in His Power. By
Lillian Lovejoy.

186 WAs SEE His WIFE, By Mary Reed Crowell.

187 TEE VILLAGE on THE CLIEE. By Miss Thackeray.

188 Poon VALERIA;
Margaret Blount.

189 MARGARET GRAHAM. By G. P. R. James.

140 WrrnouT MERCY. By Bartley T. Campbell.

141 HONOR. BOUND. By Lillian Lovejoy.

142 FLEEINO men LOVE. Mrs. Harriet Irving.

143 ADDUCTED. By Rett Winwood.

144 A STRANGE MARRIAGE. By Lillian Lovejoy.

145 Two GIRIs‘ LIVEs. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.
146 A DEernATE VENTURE. By Arabella Southworth
147 THE WAR or HEARTs. By Corinne Cushman.
148 WHICH WAs THE WOMAN? By Sara Claxtoa.
149 AN AnDITIous‘ GmL. By Frances H. Davenport.
150 LOVE LORD or ALL. By Alice May Fleming.

151 A WILD GIRL. By Corinne Cushman.

152 A MAN’S SACRIFICE. By Harriet Irving.

158 DID SHE SIN? By Mrs. MaryReed Crowell.

154 HE Lovns ME NOT. By Lillian Lovejoy.

155 WINNING WAYS. By Margaret Blount.

156 WHAT SEE CosT Hm. By Arabella Southworth.
157 A GiaL’s HEART. By Rett Winwood.

158 A BITTER MIsTARE. By Agnes Mary Shelton.
159 LADY Ham's Vow. By the late Mrs. E. F. Ellet.

A new issue every melt.

For sale by all Newsdealers, price five cents each,
or sent, postage paid, on receipt of six cents.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishe
98 William street, , Y.

or, The Broken Troth. By.

 

“ABLE AND ADAMS’

STANDARD DIE PUBUEMIUNS.

Speakers.

BEADLE AND Anus ave now on their lists the fol-
lowing highly desirable und attractive text-books,
prepared expressl for schools, families, etc. Each
volume contains 1 large myrian from clear,

open t , comprisin t e . collection of Dia<
logues arms and fiecitatlons. (burles ue, comic
and otherwise.) The Dime S akers for he season

of 1882—“ faras now issu

—embrece twenty-four
volumes, Vlz.:

1. American Speaker. 18. School Speaker.
2. National Speaker. 14. Ludicrous Speaker.
3. Patriotic Speaker. 15. Kamikal Speaker.
4. Comic Speaker. 16. Yonth’s S or.
:. glocutionisg  Elc léelit alikser.
. amorous peaker. . oum peak-
7. Standard Speaker. ' . er. v
8. Stump S aker. 19. SerieOomic Speaker.
13. gavenéle 1 Ser.  Select 
. rea -Eage peaer . F‘unn p er.
11. nge Debater. 22. Jon yS er.
12. Exhibition Speaker. 28. D ect peaker.

 

24. Dime Book of Reel ations and Readmgs' .
These books are ErigllOte with choice pieces or the
School-room, the 'bition. for Homes, etc. They
are drawn from mass! sources, contain some of
the choicest oratory of the times. 75 to 100 Declama-
tions and Recitations in each book.

Di.” as.

The Dime Dialo es, one volume 100 pages, em-

brace twent -nine .
y sDialogues NO. Fifteen.

Dialogues No. One.
Dialogues No. Two. lDialogues No. Sixteen.
Dialogues No. Three. lDiangues NO. Seventeen.
Dialogues No. Four. Dialogues No. Eighteen
Dialogues No. Five. Dialogues No. N ineteen.
Dialogues No. Six. Dialogues N o. Twenty.
Dialogues No. Seven. Dialogues No. Twentybne.
Dialogues No. Eight. Dialogues No. Twenty-two.
Dialogues No. Nine. EDialogues No. Twenty-three.
Dialogues No. Ten. Dialogues No. Twenty-four.
Dialogues No. Eleven. Dialogues No. Twenty-five.
Dialogues No. Twelve. Dialogues No. Twenty-six.
Dialogues No. irteen. DialoguesNo.Twenty-seven.
Dialogues Non ourteen Dialogues N o. Twenty—eight.
Dialogues No. Twenty-nine.
15 to 25 Dialo es and Dramas in each book.
These volumes ave been pro ared with especial

reference to their availability 11 all school-rooms,
They are adapted to schools with Or without the fur-
niture of a stage, and.‘ introduce a ran e of charac-
ters suited to scholars of every grade, 0th male and
female. It is fair to assume that no volumes yet
oflered to schools, at any price, contain so many
available and useful dialogues and dramas, serious
and comic. ,
Dramas and Reading-I.

164 J2me Pages. 20 Cents.

For Schools, Parlo‘ s, Entertainments and the Am-
ateur Stage, comprismgl Original Minor Dramas,
Comedy, Farce, Doss 'eces Humorous Dialogue
and Burlesque, by Ioted writers; and Recitatibns
and Readl new ind standard of the.
celebrityan interest. Edited by Brof. A. M.

,DIME HAND-BOOKS.
Young Pam’s Series.

BEADLE’s DIME BAND- ooxs son YOUNG PEOPu
cover a wide range of subjects, and are especially
adapted to their end; They constitute at once the
cheapest and most useful works yet put into the
market tow ular circulation.

Ladies'Le - riter. 13001: of Games.

Gents” Letter-Writer. Fortune-Teller.

Book of Etiquette. Lovers‘ Casket.

Book of Verses. Ball-room Companion.

Book 01! Dreams. Book of Beauty.
Hand-Books of Games.

BEADLE‘s DmE HAND-BOOKS or Guns AND Porous
HAND-BOOKS cover a variety of subjects, and are 95.

utest
ussell.

pecially  totheir end.

dbock of Summer Sports.
Book of Croquet. . Yachting and Rowing
Chess Instructor. Riding and Driving.
Cricket and Football. Book of Pedestrianism.
Guide to Swimming?
Handbook of inter Sports—Skating, etc.
Manuals for Housewives.

BEADLE’s Dnm FAIIILY SERIEs aims to supply a
class of text-books and manuals fitted for everv per-
son’s Ilse—the old and the youngi the learned and

the unlearned. They are of cone ed value.

gigggik Bglg‘ik. 4' ’13“‘“"§il" i ‘ Ml]
ressm and ‘-

3. Hougkeeper‘s Guide. linery n8

Lives of Great Americans
Are presented complete and authentic biographies

of man of the men who have added lust. to th
Eepuhlivc by their lives and deeds. The stiles on:
races: ' ’

I.-—George Washington. VII—David rock tt.
II.—-John Paul Jones. VIII—Israel gutnagl.
Ill—MadAnthonyWayne X.-Tecumseh.
IV.—Ethan Alien. XL—Abraham Lincoln.
V.—-Marquls de Lafay- XII—Pontiac.

ette. .-Ul G
VI.-Daniei Boone. l ym & mm
The above publications for sale by all newsdealers
orwili be sent, ost- aid on recei t of ti
BEADLE & AD s, is Wm STE N. Y? “3' b,

   

ii?!‘
.3!

l

 

eerie Bibs 

American Copyright Novels and the cream of Foreign Novelists, Unabridged, son FIVE‘ CENTS!
The Cheapest Library Ever Published! '

 

 

 

1 The Masked Bride; or, Will She Kerry

2 “Mimi IByllilrs. Reed Crowell. d s t

as t ove ’3. ‘or, eg'ians an wee -
hearts. By’ ‘ M final-.111. D.

3 The Girl fife yer, The True and the False.

By Bartley '1’: Callaghan.

4 A Brave

5 Bay-sic Inor, the Work Girl or,
‘The QuicksadsotLife. By Wi'lism ason

Turner. M. D.
6 The Secret Marriage; or, A Duchess in
3 its of Herself. Sara Claxton.
7 A aughter of ve; or, Blinded by Love.
I By Mrs. Reed Crowell.
8 Heart to cart; or, Fair Phyllis' Love.
By Arabella Bouthworth.
9 Alone in the World; orz The Young Men‘s
Ward. By 'the author of ‘Clitton," “I’rlde
and Passion,” etc.
10 A Pair 0 Gray layer or, The Emerald
Necklace. By Rose Kennedy.

11 Entangled; or, A Dangerous Game. By
Henrietta Thackeray.

12 His Lawful Wife; or, Myra, the Child of
Adoption. By Mrs. Ann 8. Stephens.

, the Little uakeress' or, The
adet’s Wooillli. y Corinne dushman.
Why I Married im; or, The Woman in

Gray. By Sara Claxton.

15 A Fair Face; or, Out in the World. By

Bartley T. Cam bell.
16 Trust Her 0t; or. A True Knight. By
Margaret Leicester.

1 7 A Loyal Lover ' or, The Last of the Grims-

peths. B ArabelaSouthworth.
18 His Ido ' or, The Ill-Starred Marriage. By
Mrs. Mary heed Ci'owell.

19 The Broken Betrothai; or, Love versus
Hate. By Mary Grace Halpine.

20 Orphan Nell, the Orange Girl; or, The
Lost Heir. By Agile Penne.

21 Noav and Forever; or. Why Did She Mar-
r'y Him? By Henrietta Thackeray.

22 ’ 1e Bride 01‘ an Actor; or. Driven from
Home. By the author of “Alone in the World,"
“ Clifton, ' etc.

23 Leap Year; or, Why She Proposed. By Sara

Claxton.

24 Her Face ‘Vas Her Fortune. By Elea-

nor Blaine.

25 Only a. Schoolmistress; or, Her Untold

Secret. By Arabella Southworth.
26 Without a Heart; or, Walking on the
27 Was She a Coquette ’! or, A Strange
Courtship. By Henrietta Thackeray.

28 S bil Chase; or, The Gambler’s Wife. By

rs. Ann 6. Stephens.

30 I‘slelf.BBy Sara Clnxti)

' 1e ouquct Gir ' or, AMillion 0! Mon .

By Agile l’enne. ’ . ey

Brink. By Colonel Prentiss Ingrahain.
29 For Her Dear. Sake; or. Saved From Him-
n.

31 A Mad Marriage; or. The Iron Will. By
IValery A. Denisoni, i  - .

32 or anal 1e r ma nna' or Roses
and Lilies’. By Arabella southworf'h. ’ ’

33 The Three Sisters; or. The Mystery of
Lord Chalfout. By Alice Fleming.

34 A Marriage of Convenience; or, Was
He 9. Count. By Sara Claxton.

35 All Against Her; or, The Winthrop Pride.

By Clare. Augusta.

36 Sir Archer’s Bride; or, The Queen oins
Heart. By Arabella Southworth.

37 The Country Cousin; or, All is not Gold
that Glitters. B Rose Kennedy;

38 His Own Aga n‘ or, Trust Her Not. By
Arabella Southwort .

39 Flirts! a or, A Youn Girl’sG’oodName.
By Jaco Abarbanell, (R pk R al.)

40 Pledged to Marry; or, Inaiove’s Bonds.
By Sara Claxton,

4] Bl I

Id ‘Devotioni o ' t the
World. By Alice mémi firms “am

42 Beatrice the Beaut in 0nd
4? TIiEvek By, Artisan: southweight»; His Sec
. e aroue s. ecrct- or - .

isomer“  “mm”

4-] T e an ter or

t lgmveiiI ‘ (1y! AliceFleminé. IIOBmme' 38m

‘ 5 er en 06 or ve
By Arabella Southwer‘th. ' At An Odds'

46 The Little Heiress; or, Under a Cloud.
By Mrs. Mar A. Denison.

47 Because S 10’ Loved Him; or, new Wm
It End? By Alice Fleming.

48 In Spite of Herself; or, Jeannette‘s Rem.
ration. By S. R. Sherwood.

49 H“ Heart’s Mistress; or Love at First
Sight. By Arabella Southworth.

50 The Cuban Heiress' or. The Prisoner of
La: M’iiry

intresse. B Mrs. A. Denison
51 TWO Young (ynrls; or, The Bride '0: an

Earl. By Alice ii'lemi v.
52 The Winged Muslim"; or, Risking All
for a Beat. By Mm Mary Crowell.
3 Agnes lflopa. tlie ActrEIS‘flfff-Tifiaglo-
malice o a ll!) . am on
Turner, M. D. y Ring y

 

54 One Woman’s Heart; or.Seved iron: the
Street. B ' George s. Kaime.
65 She Did ot Love Him; or, Stoopingto
Conquer. By Arnhem southworth. .
56 LOVe-Mad ; or Betrothed . Divorced
- and—. 'B W .MaaonTurner, .D.
57 A Brave irl; or, Sunshine at Last. By
Alice Fleming. '
58 The Eben Mask; or. The Mysteflous
uni-diam Bwrs. Reed Crowell.
59 A WIdOW’S iles; or,ABitter Vengeance.
y Rachel Bernhardt. .
60 Cecil’s Deceit; or The Diamond Legacy.
Byline Jennie Davis Burton.
61 A icked Heart; or, The False and the
True. By Sara Claxton
62 The Maniac Bride; or. The Dead Secret
of Hollow Ash Hall. By Margaret Blount.
83 The Creole Sisters; or The Mysteryot the
Penys. By Mrs. Anna E. l’orter.
64 What Jealous Did; or, The Heir of
Worsle Grange. y Alice Fleming.
65 The ife’s ecret; or, 'Twixt Cup and
Li By 001. Juan Lewis.
66 A rother’s Sin' or, Flora‘s Forgiveness.
By Rachel Bernhardt.
87 Forbidden Bans; or, Alma's Disguised
Prince. By Arabella Southworth.
68 Weavers and Weft; or. “Love That Hath
Us In His Net.” By Miss M. E. Braddon.
69 Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette. By
Alexandre Dumas.
70 The Two Orphans. By D'Enery.
71 MI! Young \Vife. By My Young Wife's
usband.
72 The T\vo Widoxvs. By Annie Thomas.
73 Rose Michel; or, The Trials of a Factory
Girl. By Maud Hilton.
74 Cecil Castiemaine’s Gage ' or, The Story
of a Broidered Shield. By uirla.
75 Tll‘le Black Lady of Dunn. By J. S. Le
sun

76 Charlotte Tem 1e.
77 Christian Oak e ’s intake. By the
author of “ John Ha fax, Gentleman,” etc.
78 My Young Husband; or, A Confusionin
the Family. By Myself.
uecn Amongst Women. By the
aut or of “The Cost of Her Love," “A Gilded
Sin," “Dore, Thorne." etc, etc.
80 IIer Lord and Mater.
Marryat.
8 1 Lucy Temple, Sister of Charlotte.
82 A Long Time Ago. By Meta Orred.

83 Playing for High Stakes. By Annie
homes.

84 The Laurel Bush. By the author of
“John Halifax, Gentlemen."

85 Led Astray. By Octave Feuillet.
86 Janet’s Repentance. By George Eliot.

87 The Hornance ofa Poor Young Man.
By Octave Feuillet.

88 A Terrible Deed;
~. Emma GarrisonJones.

89.21 Gilded Sin. By the author of “Dore.
Thorn," etc.

90“ The Author’s Daughter. By Mary
Hewitt.

91 The Jilt. By Charles Reade. ‘

92 Eileen Alanna; or, the Dawning at the Day.
By Dennis O’Sullivan.

98 Love’s Victory. By B. L. Farjeon.
94' The Quiet Heart. ‘By Mrs. Oliphant.
95 Lettlce Arnold. By Mrs. Marsh.

98 Haunted Hearts' or. The Broken Be-
trothal. By Rachel Bernhardt.

97 Hugh Melton. By Katharine King.

98 Alice Leannont. ByMissMulock.

99 Marjorie Bruce’s Lovers. By Mary
Patrick.

Mrs. Rowson.

By Florence

or, All for Gold. By

100 Throu 11 F1 d W .
erlck Talfiot‘. re an “er

101 Hannah. By Miss Mulock.

102 P83 Wofling'ton. By Charles Reade.

103 A Desperate Deed. By Erskine Boyd.

104 SlingWl on the Snow. By B. L. Far-
Jeo .

105 The Great Ho art Diamond. B
W. M Thackeray. gg y y

ByFred-

106 From Dreams to Waking. By E.
Lynn Linton.

107 Poor Zeph! By F. W. Robinson.

108 The Sad Fortunes ofthe Rev. Amos
Barton. By George Eliot.

109 Bread-and-Cheese and Kisses. By
B. L. FarJeon.

110 The Wandering Heir. By Charles
Reade

.111 Thelnrother’s Bet; or Within Six
. Weeks. By Emilie Fiygare Csrlen.

 

112 A Hero. ,ByMiss Mulock.

11 3 Paul and Vir inla.‘ From the French or
Berherclin De 8t. 'erre. .

114 ’Twas In mug". my .- By Wal-
ter Besant <2 James 09.
115 gawk Maid or Killeena. By William
:3 .

116 Hetty. By Henry Kingsley. Th 0‘
h Wa side» Cross' or. e Raid
1 1 7 'Gronrez. Captain E. A'mlipm
118 The Vicar 'of Wakefield. 81 Oliver
Goldsmith.

119 Maud-Molina. By Annie Thomas.
120 gmdeus of Warsaw. By Miss June
a .

121 fine King or'No-Land. ByB.L. Far-
9011. .

122 Lovel, the Widower. By W. M.Thack-
eray.

123 An Island Pearl.
124 Cousin Phillis.

125 Leila; or, The Si
ward Bulwer (Lord L

126 When the Sh! Comes Home. By
Walter Besant and ames Rice.

127 One of the Family. By James Psyn.
128 The Birthright. By Mrs. Gore.

129 Motherless; or, The Farmer's Sweetheart.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

130 Homeless; or, Two Orphan Girls in New
York. By Albert W. Aiken.

l 31 Sister against Sister" or, The Rivalry c1
Hearts. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell.

132 Sold for Gold; or, Almost Lost. By Mrs.
M, V. Victor.

133 Lord Roth’s Sin; or. Betrothed at the
Cradle. By Mrs, Georgiana Dickens.

134 Did He Love Her ? By Bartley T. Camp-
be .

By B. L. Fsrjeou.

of Grenada. By Ed.
ton).

l 35 Slnned Against; or, Almost in His Power.
By Lillian Lovejoy.

136 Was She His “'ife? By Mrs. Mary Reed
Crowell.

137 The Village on the Clifl‘. By Miss
Thackeray.

138 Poor Valeria! or, The Broken Troth.
By Margaret Blount.

139 Margaret Graham. By G. P. R. James.

140 “'ithout Mercy. ByBartleyT.Campbell.

141 Honor Bound; 01-, Sealed to Secmy. By
Lillian Lovejoy.

142 Fleeing from Love. By Mrs. Harriet
Irving. r

143 Abducted; or. A Wicked Woman’s Work.
By Rett Winwood.

144 A Strange Marriage; 'or, John Foster's
Heiress. By Lillian Lovejoy. '

145 Two Girl’s Lives. By Mrs. Mary Reed
Crowell.

146 A Desperate Venture
Own Sake. By Arabella Sou

147 The “’31- of Hearts.
man. -

148 Which “ias the Woman '9 ensuinger
misjudged. By Sara Claxton. ,

149 An Ambitious Girl' or, SheWould Be
An Actress. By Frances elen Davenport.

150 Love Lord of All' or In Her Own at
Last. By Alice May Fleining’. '

151 A “'ild Girl; or, Love‘s Glamour. By
Corinne Cushman. _

152 A Man’s Sacrifice;
Himself. By Harriet Irving.

153 Did She sin? or. A Man’s Desperate
Game. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowle

154 He Loves Me Not! or, A Cruel False-
hood. By Lillian Lovejoy.

155 Winning Ways; or, Kitty Athenton‘s
Double Troth. By Margaret Blount.

1 56 What She Cost Him; or, Crooked Paths.
By Arabella Soutllworth.

157 A Girl’s Heart. By Bett Winwood.

158 A Bitter Mistake' or, A Young Girl’s
Folly. By Agnes Mary Shelton.

159 Lady Helen’s Vow' or, The Mother's
Secret. By the Late Mrs. B. F. Eliot.

A new ism every week.

Tin WAW LIBRARY is for sale byali New
dealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on re-
ceipt of six cents each.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers,
98 William street, New York.

or, For Love‘s
worth.
By Corinne Cush-

or, At War With

 

  

STRANaER ,{QEAN' FICTION!

 

no
.004 .

 

 

’ 0

4.

NOW READY AND IN PRESS.

; l Adventures of Buflalo Bill. From Boyhood to Man
ti hood. Deeds of Daring, and Romantic Incidents in the early
life of William F. Cody. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

2 The Ocean Hunters; or, The Chase of the Leviathan. A
Romance of Perilous Adventure. By Captain Mayne Reid.
grin extra. large number. “fl

3 Adventures of Wild Bill, the Pistol Prince. Remarkable
career of J. B. Hikok, (kn0wn to the world as “Wild Bill”), giving
the true story of his adventures and acts. By Prentiss Ingraham.

4 The Prairie Ranch; or, The Young Cattle Herders.
E. Badger, Jr.

5 Texas Jack. the Mustang King. Thrilling Adventures in
the Life of J. B. Omohundro, “ Texas J ack.” By Col. P. Ingraham.

By C.

By Joe.

3 Cruise of the Flyaway; or, Yankee Boys in Ceylon.
Dunning Clark.

'3' Roving- Joe: The History of a Young “ Border Ruffian.” Brief
Scenes from the Life of Joseph E. Badger, Jr. By A. H. Post.

8 The Plyaway Afloat; or, Yankee Boys ’Round the World.
By C. Dunning Clark. '

9 Bruin Adams, Old Grizzly Adans’ Boy Pard. Scenes
of Wild Adventure in the Life of the Boy Ranger of the Rocky
Mountains. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.

The Snow Trail ; or, The Boy Hunters ot Fur-Land. A Narra—
tive of Sport and Life around Lake Winnipeg. By T. C. Harbaugh.

Old Grizzly Adams, the Bear Tamer; or, The Monarch of
the Mountain. By Dr. Frank Powell.

Woods and Waters; or, The Exploits oi the Littleton Gun
Club. By Capt. erderick Whittaker.

13 A Rolling Stone : Incidents in the Career on Sea and Land as
Boy and Man, of Col. Prentiss Ingraham. By Prof.Wm. R. Eyster.

Adrift on the Prairie, and Amateur Hunters on the
Bull'an Range. By 011 Coomes.

Kit Carson. of Guides; or, Mountain Paths and
Prairie Trails. By Al rt W. Aiken.

Red River Rovers ; or, Life and Adventures in the Northwest.
By C. Dunning Clark. '

Plaza and Plain; or, Wild Adventures of “Buckskin Sam,”
(Major Sam 8. Hall.) By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

Rifle and Revolver; or, The Littleton Gun Club on the
Buffalo Range. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

Wide-Awake George. the Boy Pioneer; or, Life in 9. Log;
Cabin. Incidents and Adventures in the Backwoods. By Ed. Willett.

The Dashin Dragoon; or, The Story of General George A.
Custer, from est Point to the Big Horn. By Capt. F. Whittaker.

Deadwood Dick as a Boy; or, Why Wild Ned Harris, the New
England Farm-Ind, became the Western Prince of .the Road. By
Edward L. Wheeler.
The Boy Exiles of Siberia; or, The Watch-Dog of Russia.
By T. C. Harbaugh. ‘

Paul De Licy. the French Beast Charmer; or, New
York Boys in the Jungles. By C. Dunning Clark.

The Sword Prince: The Romantic Life of Colonel Monstery,
(American Champion-at-arms.) By Captain Fred. Whittaker.

35 Round the Cam Fire 3 or. Snow-Bound at “Freeze-out Camp."
A Tale of Roving on and his Hunter Paras. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

10
11

18

14
15
is
17
18
19
so

21

28

24

 

26 Snow-Shoe Tom; or, New York Boys in the Wilderness. A
Narrative of Sport and Peril in Maine. By T. C. Harbaugh.

27 Yellow Hair, the Boy Chief of the Pawnees. The Ad-
venturous Career of Eddie Burgess of Nebraska. By Co]. Ingraham.

28 The Chase of the Great White Stagand Camp and
Canoe. By C. Dunning Clark.

The Fortune-Hunter; or, Roving Joe as Miner, Cow-Boy,
Trapper and Hunter. By A. H. Post.

Walt Ferguson’s Cruise. A Tale of the Antarctic Sea.
C. Dunning Clark.

31 The Boy Crusader; or, How a Page and a Fool Saved a King.
By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

32 White Beaver, the Indian Medicine Chief: or, The Rn»
mantic and Adventurous Life of Dr. D. Frank Powell, known on the
Border as “ Fancy Frank,” “ Iron Face," etc. By Col. P. Ingraham.

Captain Ralph, the Young Explorer; or, The Centipede
Among the Flees. By C. Dunning Clark.

The Young Bear Hunters. A Story of the flaps and Mishsps
of a Party of Boys in the Wilds of Michigan. By Morris Redwing.

35 The Lost Boy Whalers; or, In the Shadow of the North Pole.
By T. C. Harbaugh.

36 Smart Sim, the Lad with a Level Head; or, Two Boys
who were “Bounced.” By Edward Willett.

Old Tar Knuckle and His Boy Chums ; or, The Monsters
of the Esquimaux Border. By Roger Stu-buck.

38 The Settler’s Son; or, Adventures in Wilderness and Clear-
ing. By Edward 8. Ellis.

39 Night-Hawk George, and His Daring Deeds and Adventures

in the Wilds of the South and West. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

The Ice hant: or, The Castaways ot the Lone Coast. By
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

The Pampas Hunters: or, New York Boys in Buenos Ayrcs.
By T. C. Harbaugh.

The Young Lad-Lubber; or, Prince Porter’s First Cruise.
By C. Dunning Clark. '

43 Bronco Billy, the Saddle Prince.
Ingrnham.

The Snow Hunters; or, Winter in the Woods.
De Forrest.

45 Jack, Harry and Tom. The Three Champion Brothers; 97',
Adventures of Three Brave Boys with the Tattooed Pirate. F3
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

46 The Condor Killers; or, Wild Adventures at the Equatu,
By T. C. Harbaugh.

47 The Boy Coral Fishers; or, The Sea-Cavern Scourge.
Roger Starbuck. ,

48 Dick. the Stowaway; or, A Yankee Boy's Strange Cruise.
By Charles Morris.

29

30 By

33

34

37

40
41
42
By colonel Prentiss

44 By Barr}:

By

A New Issue Every Week.
BEADLE’S Bor’s mer is for sale by all Newedealers, five cents
per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each.

BEADLE AND ADAMS, 
98 William Street, New York.