Tro PWE E Ky. **AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH ”” Issued pr eoktsr- Bye Subser gtton $2 .50 per year. Hntered as Second Class Matter at the N. ¥. - Post Office by STREET & SMITH, No. 107. NEW YORK, APRIL “30, 1898. **t00K !’’ GASPED HODGR. ‘ THAT RING——THAT HAND! IT IS FRANK MERRIWELL’S HAND !?? a — yo TR, TP LE er ee Tra age ie ae % an as he faced his four _at Green’s Landing, _ spoken made the usually polite Virginian “AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH.” Tie Tore WEEKLY. Issued Weekly — By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class \iatter at the N, Y. Post Office. SrReEKY & SMITH, 238 William St., N. VY. Entered Aceording to Act of Congress, in the Year 1898, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. No, 107 NEW YORK, April 30, 1898. Price Five Cents. Contents of This Number. FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE; ONE HUNDRED PRIZES TALKS WITH TIP TOP READERS : ‘ THE PEARL DIVER’'S FOE . : . % STRAY ITEMS - - - : z SERPENT-EATING BIRD - - - - - ITIS TO LAUGH - - . - 4 ‘ Page. The Secret of the Island -« « + = I. - - : 29. Frank Merriwell’s Disappearance: OR, THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND. By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL. CHAPTER‘: I. SETTLING A POINT. said Frank Merriwell, co ‘“Now, fellows, ”’ shipmates’’ in the cabi of his yacht, White Wings, which was riding at anchor in the harbor ‘‘T have called you together for a council of war.’’ “Tin tired,” grunted Bruce Browning. ~ “Can’t I rest in my bunk while the pow- - wow is going on?”? “*No,’’? came firmly from Frank, ‘‘this is a matter of business, and it won’t hurt you to sit up a while.”’ 2Oh, get a brace on,’’ exclaimed Dia- _mond, flinging the word at the nig Yale man. ‘‘Act asif you had some life in you, old fellow.’’ The manner in which the words were seen quite unlike himself, but Bruce simply grinned, observing: ‘‘VYou shouldn’t hold a grudge because I flirted a little with Miss Benjamin, Diamond; you got a lead on me while Merriwell and I were investigating the wiystery of Devil Island, and won her back all right. Don’t be sour over t¥ The Southerner sprang up, his eyes flashing: ‘*Mr. Browning,’’? he said, hotly. ‘I warn you not to speak lightly of Miss 3enjamin! You seem to take del ight in- mentioning her in connection with: every little occurrence, and it is getting tire 2% some, There is a limit!” ee eet ; ‘‘Huah!” grunted the gi aan “Touchy, mighty touchy. First ‘ag I know he’ ie be challenging me to a duel,’ : “It would be useless to challenge. : 2 FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE. you!’’ flashed Jack. ‘‘You Northerners are too cold blooded to fight.”? “Well, this Merry, promptly rising to his feet. ‘“‘I } now, will do!’ cut in won’t have it on board my yacht.’’ ‘Then I suppose we can go on shore and fight it out,’’ said Jack, sourly. “Tf you want to make fools of your- selves—yes.”’ “Vou are Merriwell.’’ } ‘*More of his plan to scare us away.”’ ‘“The grave is there.’ ‘“What?”’ sure.” ‘*You—you——”’ “Round it. Bruce was with me. We -came out into a disinal glade in the heart of the black woods, and there was the grave and the headstone with the words upon it.”? ‘*Jingoes !”’ - Hodge stared at Frank a few mo- — ments, and then asked: ‘*Perhaps so; “Do you really believe the Boston man was murdered and buried in that grave?”? “Rawson Denning was the name he _ gave, and the grave was found on the island after his strange disappearance. It “Seems probable enough that he is planted there. i, — “By Chorch!? exclaimed the ‘Dutch boy, turning pale; ‘I don’d vant to monkey aroundt dot island all alone by yourself.’ ‘Do you have any idea what the mys- tery of the island can be, Merriwell?’’ asked Hodge, eagerly. 7 ‘‘Of course I do not know any better than yourself, but I have a suspicion.’ ‘What do you think ?”’ Ut ‘‘vat dol think ?”’ busi- that using every “Yaw !’’ cried Haus, ea is carried on elieve some kind of unlawful ness there, and for reason the ‘criminals are wieans to frighten away anybody — might prove troublesome or inquisitive.’ ‘“Then will it pay us to be troublesome and inquisitive ?’’? said Diamond. ‘That is the very matter we are here to discuss. The girls and Miss Gale are comfortably located Green’s Landing, and they will be able to amuse themselves for a day gr two. If we. wish, we can down to Devil Island @very morning and return here every night. I am willing to confess that my curiosity is aroused, and I would give something to solve the mystery of that place; but I do not wish to drag any of my friends into danger where they do not wish to go.’’ . *‘T hardly think there is one in. this party who will not stand by you wherever you go, Merriwell,’’ said Bart, quickly. ‘Vou may count on me.’’ ‘*T knew it.”? ‘‘And me,’ grunted Browning. ‘‘T thought so.”? . ‘‘Und I vos anodder!’’ exclaimed Hans. ‘“That is good.”’ “Don’t think for a moment that I will go back on said Diamond. ‘‘I started on this cruise with the intention of staying with you, and I shall.”’ ‘‘Good. That part of it is settled. I have said that the mystery of that island belongs to me, and I ae solve it. I mean to keep my word.’ 7 “Vale,” said Hans, Cy never knowed aiciat ven you didn’d keep your vord, Vrankie. But maype you don’d — hete_ at run you, ) FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE. vant to took some more chances uf peing runned ofer a railroat on?’ ‘“Hardly. we run We have a fair breeze. Shall down to the island this fore- noon ?”? ‘Come on, “Tf we said Diamond, suddenly. have a mystery to solve, the sooner we get after it the better.’? There wa against the side of called: board there! 3a thump the yacht, and a voice ‘*Ahoy on the captain of this craft.”’ I want to see CHAPTER: IT. THE MAN IN GRAY. When Frank reached the deck he sai a jolly-looking little inan in gray clothes over the rail. Beside the lay a dory, in which sat a fisherman who had rowed the old anan off to the White Wings. ~ 9) GC), neers Dang a dory! coming yacht the little may exclaimed nan in gray, with achuckle. ‘‘She be all right to row round in on a troubled sea, but she’ll tip quicker’n scat if you This one ‘ I was along- step up on the side of her. spilt me into the drink after side here. What I want is a flat-bottomed scow or a raft. I hope this and steady, for I’m going to take a cruise near yacht is good “ in her.’ ‘You are?’ gasped Frank, smiling. ‘Well, thafis cool!’ *‘Of course,’’ nodded the little brightly. ‘‘Everything around me is cool, even to my name, and that is Cooler— Caleb Cooler,’’ “fT like your nerve !’’ “TI thought you would, though I have man, een people who didn’t like it. Sone folks are fussy—here, my man,’’ turning to the boatinan, ‘‘here is the fifty cents I promised you if you would set me on board here. I shan’t want you any more. You may go.”’ » “Hold on,°’ who also spoke to the man in the dory. caine firmly from Frank, ES think © vi will Cooler is mistaken. He want you—to take him again,’? | chuckled Mr, ‘*Vou are quite wrong, ‘Oh, no-no, indeed,’’ Cooler, pleasantly. young man. with you.’ fp ickens are’?’* “ex=2 Frank. He another word in the place of ‘‘dickens,”’ for now he was literally he—the—d you claimed caine near using astounded. ‘*Oh, yes,’’? nodded the queer old man, stil bit of | bother. In fact you will find me mighty: jolly am inore fun than a variety show. paid with folks just to amuse them. laughing. “‘I won’t be a company. ‘Tickle me gently, and I I have been in my day to travel around l’in sure death to the blues, and I am better than all the doctor’s medicine you ever took.”? ‘*Well, not in need of medicine.’’ I haven’t the blues, and I am ‘“Say you so? You’re in luck. You do | look cheerful and healthy, that’s a fact.” — ‘*But I have some aes ! ‘*Glad to something.”? SCY és; know you are troubled by \ . Iam curious to know how you happened to come aboard this yacht in — order to get to Devil Island. “Why, **Perhaps so, but how d ‘*Feller told me so.”’ “When?” ‘Little while ago.’ ‘*Where ?”’ Jp at Jobbins’ store.’? ‘*What kind of a fellow? look ?”” 3 “Looked as if some chap had swatted him with a brick right on the bridge o his proboscis, for it had a strong list to starboard, and one of his eyes was keep watch aren’t you going there ?”’ o you know it? How did he_ 11g more haan were coming in that direc tion. 7 ashore — Iam going to Devil Island __ at the end of it, while thes. old man, FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE. 5 ‘“The man with the cock-eye!”’ claimed Merriwell. exX- ‘*Sure as you live!”? had followed Frank to the deck. ‘‘It’s Hicks.’ ‘*So that scoundrel has dared venture Green’s Landing so soon,’’ said i1ito Frank, grimly. ‘‘And he knows he did not succeed in his foul attempt to murder niet’? ‘Rh? exclaimed the little man, in surprise. ‘‘What’s that? Murder? Did he——”’ “‘Never mind,’’ interrupted Frank, the man in gray as if seeking to read his thoughts. | ‘‘I havea little affair to settle with Mr..Hicks, and the worst eyeing recommendation you could have is the fact that he sent you here. He simply surmised “that I contemplated returning to Devil Island.’ ‘*But don’t you ?’’ ‘That is my affair, Mr. Cooler. case do I propose to carry passengers. ‘Tam not passengers; Jam simply a passenger. bit. Even if you are not going to the island, I’]1l pay you to land me there.”’ “Vou seem very anxious to reach the In no ,) I won’t bother you a place.’ ‘ he cried. to had as you can! ‘Uf dot peen a vace Id peen der a brison oudt vos goin’ new shust as soon only thing vot vill kept me uf. I shall murder der next man dot caldt. me Irish !’’ ‘Well, you can have your face~ built over when you get back to New York, so don’t take it so much to heart.’?’ and dragged Frank replaced which the Hans got up after a while himself to a seat, while the gun in the strap from Dutch lad had taken it. Browning came loafing down into the cabin, followed by Hodge. ‘“‘What do you make of that queer little Metriwell?’? asked Bruce, flinging himself down lazily. ‘“‘T sized him upasa spy,’’ said Frank. ‘‘He was sent off to find out if we in- tended to return to Devil Island. He found out.”’ ‘*He certainly is an odd character.’ ‘fAs queer as anything I have seen down this way. Somehow he did seem like a native.’ ‘‘No native to him,’’ said Bart, as if” that point was settled in his mind. ““He did have a crust,’’ said Bruce: ‘SA crust!’ cried Frank, laughing as he remembered what had taken place. “Why, never saw anything like it? Caine on board and calmly informed me he was going to Devil Island with us, and he would not think of leaving when I told him we did not want him.’’ man, not nt FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARA ‘Ard he was not even ruffled when I dropped him over into the dory. He is well named, for.a cooler customer I never saw.’’ ‘‘And he said he would see you again, Merry.’ ‘*T noticed that.’ “‘But he didn’t seem perado,”’ ‘**‘ Appearances are **Vaw!’’? muttered Hans. much of a des- yawned Bruce. deceptive. ’’ ‘‘Dot peen a vact somepody took me an Irishman vor! Dot vos der plow dot gif’me der lifer gomblaint mit my heart in!” ‘‘T don’t suppose, Merry,’’ said Bart, -“that you will defer your visit to Devil Island. because of what lately happened ?”’ **T should say not!’ exclaimed Frank. ‘Tam beginning to get warmed up. If they but knew it, somebody is doing the very things to spur me on to solve the mystery.’’ . ‘‘Hadn’t we better leave Diamond here at the landing to look after the girls,”’ said Bruce. ‘‘It’s plain he does not wish to waste the time to go down to Devil Island.”’ “It is plain you do not know anything about it, sir!’? said Jack, stepped into the cabin. _ go, and the sooner we start the better I shall like it. If we are to investigate, I am in favor of getting at the investiga- tion without delay.”’ ‘We will get away ble,’’ said Frank. ‘‘AI] hands on deck.’’ ‘*In a very short time the White Wings was running out of the harbor, headed for Devil Island. From the shore more than one pair of eyes were watching. her with looks that boded no good to her inquisitive and daring owner, ay sharply, as he ‘‘T am ready to aS soon as possi- cefer got ofer dot.” " NCE CHAPTHR. IV. THE CLhLAMBAKE. was sheltered As Bold Island aud the yacht could harbor Jay close in shote of Devil Island and be so hidden that she would escape observation to a large extent, Frank ran in there, choosing — that anchorage in preference to one in the cover on the other side of the island of niystery. It was near low tide when Merry ran in there; and he did not stop till the keel of the White Wings stuck fast in the- niud at the bottom. “Tl thought you were getting in too near,’’ said Hodge. ‘Not getting in near enough to suit declared Frank. ‘‘The bottom is soft here, and the yacht would sit up straight in the that she was left high and dry. me, ’? mud if the tide ran out so It is low. At high water she will float have any amount of water water now. all right and under her keel.’? As soon as everything was attended to ~~ yacht, Frank cried: fellows, let’s row over to Bold Island’ and see if we can find some 4 of her famous clams. We may not get another opportunity like this.”? a “Oh, what's the use,’? yawned Brown- © ing, sleepily. ‘‘Too much trouble. I’m going below and turn in.”’ ‘*T will stay to look after the while Browning gets his nap,” Hodge. Diamond was ready to go with Frank, and Merry asked Hans to come along. They had purchased a clam-hoe at the Landing, so they were prepared to hunt the shy and retiring clam, ele: “Vale,” sadly, “‘I vill go” mit you, poys, but I don’d peen aple ‘to took no bleasure mit der shob since T vos caldt an Irishman. I don’d oe you vill on the “Come on, yacht | said | said Hans, to the is - ~ “What's the FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE. g he .were nearly heart-broken, causing Merry to laugh softly. The three got into the boat and pulled over to Bold Island, where they began searching for the clams that have made the island famous throughout Penobscot Bay. It was some time before they could find any clams, for the beach had been dug over and over till it did not seem At last Frank turned over a large flat rock, and there was a place left untouched. down iti the sand beneath it they struck their first clam. That clam, measured in its shell, was exactly seven inches long and a little more than five inches wide, while the shell itself was almost as white as the shell of an egg. When Merry turned up this clan, Hans staggered and sat down on the sand with great violence and there he sat, staring and muttering: *“Vot der tyriul vos dot? Uf dot don’d - peen der varter uf all glams, you vos a «liar! like dot pefore in all your porn tays!”’ ‘“Aurrah!’’? cried Merry. ‘‘Here’s proof the fishermén down this way are not all liars, or do not lie about everything. They told me this was the kind of game we should find here.”’ “But this must’ be unusual,’’ said Diamond. ‘‘Can’t all of them be like this.”? ~ “They say so.?? "Well, they cannot be very good to eat. They must be too tough.”’ I don’d pelief I efer seen anyding “On the contrary, I have heard they are splendid eating. Here is another! By Jove, it’s fullas large as the first!” _ Hans sat still on the sand and stared ‘straight at the first clam turned out. ‘Frank looked at him and saw the Dutch boy appeared on the verge of bursting into tears, matter, Dunnerwust ?’’ he asked. eS « S Maa”. « z . ; t “I vos peginnin’ to seen things queer,’’ replied Hans. ‘‘Vot do I think? Vale, uf dot glam don’d look like der mug an Uf I kept on seein’ things like dot to remindt me Irishman of, you vos a liar! vot dot man in gray said, id vill drife me to trink ur to sluicide!”’ They had brought along a bucket, and it did not take long to fill it with there large clams. Then they emptied it into the bottom of the boat and found another bucketful before stopping. With those they rettirned to the boat. ‘We will go Devi Island, : where there are plenty of rocks of all ashore on kinds and seaweed, and there we’ll have a clambake,’’ said Merry. ‘‘There is wood enough on Devil Island, too, and it is nearer to-the yacht.”’ The sound of their oars brought Hodge on deck. ‘ “What luck?’’ he asked, as théy ap- proached. | . ‘“Great luck,’’ answered Frank. ‘‘Get in, and we will take you ashore over yonder, where we are going to havea clam roast.”’ The clam-hoe was “passed up to Bart, and then he swung down into the boat, aud soon all were ashore on the islaud of mystery. Frank began constructing an oven amid the rocks, sending the others for fuel and It did not take long to make preparations for the bake, and soon a seaweed. roaring fire was blazing, as a lot of dry wood had found near the deserted camps on that side of the island. ; Frank took to the water washed. them carefully,” a bucketful at a time, turning them all into the hollow of a large rock near the fire. As the fire grew hotter, Merry threw stones into it and kept it roaring. of the stones were smaller than a man’s fist, and some were. larger than a man’s head. “Why are you doing that??? asked— Hodge. Pers . eS been the clams down and None 10 FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE ‘You will see when the time comes,”’ smiled Frank. Hans sat on a rock and stared into tl 1 1€ being extremely fire, his air of dejection ludicrous to behold. “*Come, Merry. “‘T can nefer peen like yourseluf again as I sighed Hans, it!’ exclaimed sheer up and be like yourself.”’ coine, forget so long had this face onto me,’’ “Td peen a vrightful thing to think dot I might peen misdooken any Dunder und dine an Irishmans vor! blitzens! I vos all proken ub-in peesness ofer dot!”’ It was useless to try to cheer him up. The more they talked to him the sadder and more downcast he looked. After a while had nearly all the wood, and nothing was left He did not wait for it but raked away everything of the Then he the wet seaweed and threw it into the fireplace, where it began to sizzle and Frank burned out but a dying fire. to die down, but the red-hot coals stones in the fireplace of stone. took and some steam. “In with the clams, boys!’’ he cried, to toss the upon the seaweed, They helped him, and soon all the clams were scattered on the Then he covered them with more seaweed, and, aided by the others, piled had drawn out of the fireplace on top of this mass of seaweed. What a sizzling and steaming there avas, and what a delightful odor came.to their nostrilst Quickly Frank had an- other fire going, and by this he kept hot a mass of rocks he had heated in the first fire but had not piled upon the seaweed. In this way, by the time the rocks on the weed were cooled off, more rocks were ready to take their place, and the clams were kept steaming. After a time, Merriwell announced that the clams must be nearly done. He sent ~ Hans off to the yacht to bring Browning as he began big fellows in steaming sea- weed. the hot rocks he The Dutch to arouse the ashore. boy found it difficult big YaJe man, but Brown- ing was fond of clams, and he came along quickly enough once he was fully awake and understood what awaited him. As the boat reached shore, Merriwell began to rake the rocks off tlie seaweed. ‘‘Ye gods!’ grunted Bruce, sniffing the air as he approached, ‘‘What heavenly aroma is this that greets my nostrils ?”’ When the clams were uncovered and he saw them yawning with their and the meat within looking © white and tempting, he declared he was very happy to be living. et fellows,’’ ‘Capture your clams, and oie said Frank, devour ne will = no ceremony in this case. ‘*Gather round, and fk it anor 1antly aloft, a mai came whistling softly down the bank joined the group without a word, ra: out a clam and extracted it from ies Frank had Shale It was. the man in Cooler ! gray, v Mr. ee CHAPTER §V. COOLER AND COOLER. “CVum !?’ “That ‘‘Well, you are cool enough!’ sa Frank Merriwell. exclaimed the man in gray, clam is hot!’ old fellow. ‘‘’Iold you so some time ag Howdy, boys. Fine day, isn’t it? ie st you know we He not ?’’ 4 Bruce Bowes arose to ai feet an removed his coat. ‘That’s one way to keep cool at clambake,’’? grinned the man in gray, ‘‘What are you going to Go tye | ‘“Mop up the beach with you,” é Syeather huge shells | © FRANK MERRIWELL’S DIS swered Browning, quietly. ‘‘I am going to teach you a lesson.’’ ‘Teach said Mr. peopl how bad it would is corzect as you applied it,”’ Cooler. e say ‘learn’ ‘Down this way I find Just think sounded had you for ‘teach have said you were going to learn me a lesson.’ He but dropped it, shaking his hand and blow- raked out another clam, ing on his fingers. ‘*Hven though I Cooler, some things are warm enough,’’ he I find mur- ain mured. ‘‘That clam must have been near a fire. I dote on clams, baked, boiled, fried or frizzled, it don’t make a dern bit of difference. tunity I go gunning for clams myself. I think it is great sport to shoot a clam on With a good bird gun and a Whenever I get an oppor- the wing. dog, I presume it is an easy thing to bag ~ clams around here?” He was not paying‘the least attention ‘to the Yale threat to ‘‘wipe up the beach Browning’s ” with him big man, and seemed forgotten. ~ Hans was glaring while strange gurgling ‘from his throat. - yell, rolled over to dirs feet. “Don’d touch the Dutch boy. ‘‘I peen goin’ to smash dot veller myseluf!”’ “Ah there, Irish,’’ chirped Mr. Cooler. “Vou will catch cold in your liver if you at the man in gtay, sounds came All at once he gavea backward and scrambled warned him, Pruce!”’ Jet the wind blow down your throat that way. Haveaclam and let it stop that ‘orifice in your coyintenance.’’ This made Hans so wild that he danced wildly and began to choke and gurgle in _ his endeavor to shriek forth something, ~ but the man in oray did not even look at | } him. There was something - crous about it all, and Frank was forced extremely ludi- to laugh. When he saw Merry laughing, .Hans seemed to lose all his strength, and APPEARANCE, Ii he dropped down ona rock, completely knocked out, even though he had not been touched. Browning for he g was grinning of the could not help adinirin now, saw the huimor situation, and 9 the nerve of the eS queer old fellow. *‘Look here, Mr. Cooler,’ said Frank, ‘‘who invited you to help yourself?”’ “Eh? tation to join old friends like you ohaye Qh, why, I didn’t need aninvi- I knew you would be glad to see me, ‘We to death. ‘Then sit are,’’ grunted Browning, ‘tickled and take hold, Cooler. ‘Catch We'll have a right up 2 chuckled Mr. your clam and peel him. real jolly time.’’ He raked another one off the seaweed. ‘“How did you get here?’ asked Merry. boys, ‘“‘T didn’t walk, because I couldn’t. Had to hire then he a feilow to bring me down, didn’t want to to the island to- set me ashore. Charged me five Never mind; to pay it.”’ and get near enough Wanted dollars, too. Willehave ‘*What company?’ ‘‘Why, the company I represent.’’ = « “But sent ?’’ ‘The greatest land. improvement and You for it is the me to swim the company what company do you repre- development company on earth. must know the one I méan, only one. It is Islands Land Company. ‘The Eastern Bay Land Com- pany has sprouted in competition to us the Bay but we propose to mip the pewling con- cern in the bud. I am here to investi- gate such islands as may eventually be- come summer resorts and obtain options on them when I can That’s one great difficulty—to find the real owners. ‘Some of them do not seem to have any owners, and yet sheep are pastured on them summer and winter. Some of them are owned by the Government. Down -at Vinal Haven I~ get at the real owners. ea eae 12) FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE, heard about Devil | Island. there was some sort of a mystery here. They said An island with a mystery is certain to be a great attraction for summer visitors. I made a skip for Devil Island to see if it had any attractions beside the mystery. Nobody at feel Had hard work getting here. Green’s Landing seemed to dropping me here, you refused to do so, ~Icouldn’t walk. But Ididn’t get excited. The more difficulties beset my path the cooler I became. Iam here, gentlemen, and I’m glad I came. I admire clams. They are fine. I think these clams are the finest I ever tasted. Have some, like boys.”? Mr. Cooler seemed to regret the time he had spent in talk, for he made a fierce dive at the clams and raked out two of them. Merriwell’s friends all looked at him to see what he would do under the circum- stances. Frank was smiling, but there was a look of doubt on his face. For once in his life, he seemed in a quandary. “There was something about this little, chuckling, jolly old man that seemedeto forbid any one to do him personal vio- lence. Bruce Browning felt that. He realized. that he would feel ashamed of himself if he should give the old fellow a shaking. Andit was plain that Cooler could not be frightened away in any ordi- nary manner. Nothing seemed to alarm him. ‘¢Sit up and eat some clains, fellows,’’ said Frank, quietly. ‘‘Let him fill up, and then we’ll tie a big bowlder to his neck and sink him out here in the harbor.”? —“Wum!’? coughed the man in gray. “That’s right, young man—let me fill my sack with these clams before you put -metosoak. Perhaps you had better let me rest awhile after that, too, for I never So, with the exception of Hans, they again gathered around the clams and started to enjoy the feast. Haus retired by himself and sat on a flat rock, mutter- ing and looking savage. At times he would shake his fist at the back of the man in gray. Mr. Cooler seemed to have a remark- able ability to talk and devour clams at the same time. As Browning afterward expressed it; he ‘‘talked a blue streak.”’ He told them he was a great traveler, he had been all over the United States, all over the world. ““Why,’’. he® said, ‘‘in peared at court.”’ 5 “How un the fine?” asked ~ Frank, with a twinkle in his eye. : ‘‘Young man,’’ exclaimed Cooler, ‘‘you astonish me. To look at you, I would | not suppose you could be frivolous, I~ Can’t help | it; born that way. Always see something humorous in anything. It’s better than medicine; it keeps the liver in a healthy condition. Now, clams are hard to digest, | but taken in connection with laughter ~ and jollity they digest much better. — There is enough sadness in the world if we do not go around with our faces drawn down. Be jolly. That's my motto. ”’ : ne ae There was something infectious‘in his light spirits and careless air. Despite themselves the boys found they were growing interested in this queer old fel- low. ¥ Frank studied Mr. Cooler. carefully. Had he not felt certain that the man wa playing a part, he would have enjoyed the old fellow’s chatter. But Frank could see beneath the surface, and he was abso- lutely satisfied that Mr. Cooler was not what he represented himself to be. ‘Frank PY had never-heard of the Bay Islands Land - 4 Berlin I ap- much was am slightly that way myself. like to take a bath after a full meal. It isn’t healthy. The best physicians con- " demn the practice.” - Company; he did not believe there was such a company in existence. | | If Cooler was lying, why was he doin } FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE, 13 so? What was his object in attempting to force himself Why had he ‘come to the island in such a manner? Frank had spy and he had been set upon them by upon them ? decided that Cooler was a the very ones who were so determined to In that case, this light-hearted, careless old drive them away from that island. fellow was connected with .a of criminals oan Oo Lang who did not hesitate to do murder in order to conceal their crimes. Merriwell was satisfied that there was such a gang, and that it made the island His curiosity in regard had its headquarters. to anything mysterious led him to the the first heard wonderful stories monster with fiery face black holes for eyes. These stories were in circulation among the fishermen and the island in place for he had about a human and hands and lobster-catchers, . and superstitious people of the island region shunned the spot that was said to be haunted. Once before the White Wings. anchored in Bold Island harbor, and then Merri- -well and Browning had started to explore the island and see what they could find. In an old building that had once been used as a boarding house to shelter and lodge a gang of men who had worked in a granite quarry on the island Merry , struck down. Alone he had descended into the darkness of the base- ment, and barely had he opened the door “at the foot of the tottering stairs when a dreadful yell rang through the building, and before him he saw a hideous human face and hands that were waving in the ait. ‘he face and hands did not seem to be attached to a human body, and they gave out a soft, fiery glow. As Merry stood there, astounded and had been hesitating for the moment, he was struck down. Browning heard the cry, rushed to the basement, and found Frank. The big fellow carried his friend to the open air, where Frank soon revived. the creature with the fiery face and hands, Bruce reported at the yacht and Then Merry decided to watel for while brought Hodge and some more weapons. had Frank decided that some person was try- Thinking what he o Over seen, ing to frighten visitors away from the island by covering his hands with phos- phorus and .doding other things to terrify the simple fisher folk. While he hideous face peering from the bushes— had ment of the big building. the.owner of the face and captured him. He proved to be a.hunchback named Put was watching, he saw a the same face he seett in the base- Frank pursued Wiley, whom -Merry had seen at Green’s Landing. , would have made the hunch- back captive, but another person, Dan Hicks, Wiley’s aid, and the two overcame the owner of the White Wings. Frank the cock-eyed mian, came to Then Frank was tied to the old rail- road, as Frank himself has explained. This adventure, instead of frightening Frank Merriwell, was a spur to urge lim on to solve the full mystery of the island and punish the criminals. Mr. Cooler did not stop eating clams . till the last one was devoured, and he disposed of that himself. ‘Ah!’ he sighed, drawing back and finding a comfortable position, where he could sit with his back resting against a bowlder. .‘‘Now I do feel good! Young gentlemen, I am glad you came. Accept my congratulations on this remarkably successful clambake. You have done a good* job; I have done another. My stomach has not been in the best possible condition lately. I’ve been living at home. My wife cooks. Six months ago she was a magnificent, a celestial cook! Oh, how beautifully she could broil a beefsteak! But alas! Also alack! Shie got the bicycle craze; she bought a 14 Now she. is an inveterate scorcher.’’ wheel. He took a pipe out of his pocket and began to fill it, chattering away in a jolly manner as he did so. He seemed inclined to do all the talking. **Doesn’t your jaw get tired at times ?”’ inquired Frank. ‘ ‘‘Hh?’? caine in surprise froin the little man. ‘“‘Why?”? ‘Tl should think it would, you talk so much. ”’ ‘‘Hel-he! Ho! ho! Wait a minute. Ha! ha! (Knew there was another way to laugh if I could think of it.) Jaw get tired? My dear young gentleman, if you had a wife like mine, you would consider I do not get an opportunity when I am at it a privilege to talk occasionally. home. When I get away from home, J inake up for lost time. Haw! haw! (Came near forgetting that method of laughing.) Don’t mind me. I know I am something of a chinning machine, but I am Why, I wouldn’t harm a—a—a lion.’ harmless. He lighted the pipe and puffed away a few moments, talking a streak while he smoked. Frank was considering the ad- visibility of pinning him down and de- manding to know his real reason for being there, when, of a sudden, the little fellow jumped up spryly as a boy, ex- claiming: “This won’t do. I inust complete my tour of investigation. I must attend to business. I must look the entire island over and be ready to leave when that man comes back for me. Young gentle- men, I thank you for your hospitality. I wish I might stop longer, but, unfortu- long, so ling, so nately, I cannot. So lung.’’ Browning made a move, as if to stop the man, but Frank gave a sign ‘to let him go. Mr. Cooler scrambled nimbly up the bank, turned and waved his hand ' peeks SS ot i FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE, ite with a flirting motion, and then vanished into the bushes. aide yea i spoke Frank, quickly, I must do it). ~ ‘Fellows, ’”’ “Tm going to follow him. I’m armed. Ican take care of o But if Ido not return in an ~ alone. myself. hour, look for me.”’ Then he sprang up the bank after the — vit mysterious man in gray. CHAPTER VI. THE WHISPERING GLADE. Frank had learned the art of trailing from Indian guides in the West, and, for a white person, he was an expert. Asa shadower, he had the skill of one who had been all his life in the business. Fs He did not let the ean in gray get far — away before approaching near enough so | Mr. Cooler could be seen occasionally as he slipped through the bushes. 3ut it was not difficult to follow the queer old man, for Cooler did not seem — to imagine for a° moment that he was shadowed. He walked swiftly, puffing | away at the pipe, and the smell of burn- ing tobacco came back to the nostrils of - the pursuing lad. 4 After a little time the man struck the — path that round the island and | ry through the old granite quarry. Then he walked still more swiftly, but Frank also found less trouble in following. : Soon the quarry was reached. Cooler passed straight through this and struc the incline to Tuns the track which led down the sheds near the wharf. oe Now Frank was not able to pursue him +5 so closely; he was forced to linger far behind, for to keep close meant certain discovery should the man look back. | Still he followed’ he track ran through a cut and wound slowly along a bank, to one, side of which lay the water Frank reached the cut and saw the man in gray disappear beyond some bowlders. A moment later, Merry was. at FRANK MERRIW down the track form of the the bowlders, peering toward the still over whose shoulder at regular retreating little man, e puffs of smoke. that the would look intervals curled blu Frank had would be suspicious He t look round at all. expected man and round freque ae was astonished when the man did not tae act Frank decided. ‘‘H He walks along as if he not a care in all the have all his actions watched. doesn’t like a criminal, the air of a had e hasn’t criminal. wide world and did not fear to It is strange—very strange. Already Merry had learned that +9 men who coimit crimes betray themselves by certain The thief unconsciously assumes the pose of a man peculiar movements. picking a pocket, or taking what does not The burglar crouches in catlike. ‘The backward belong to him. his walk and steals along often casts sly his shoulder... It is rare for guilty man glances over hii to have the air and manner of inno- cence. But this Without doubt, alone, was still less old fellow. s He disappeared into one of the sheds at the of the Frank had ‘slipped yet a little nearer and watched from a place of hiding. when, to be little he believed himself man in ‘gray, the saine care free, care- railroad. end Five minutes passed, and then the man -in gray and another man caine out of that shed and took the path that led toward “the old boarding house. : Frank uttered aNow exclamation. “Ts it possible??? he muttered. ‘‘T be- lieve I know that fellow with him.” He watched the companion of the man in gray. As they passed from view, he again muttered: . “FY do know him! He is Dan Hicks, the cock-eyed man! That settles it! Mr. Caleb Cooler is just what I thought—he is one of the gang, and he came here to e y , $9? 5 } spy upon us! | LLL’S DISAPPEARANCE. / 15 hid- yond which the men Frank ran lightly down the track, bank .be He stooped as he tan. den by the had disappeared. Ahead of him he, saw the Browning had pried up the rails and sent ith granite, into the life. He ‘ht of his sensations point where a flat car, | water, thus shuddered as 4 ee : moments of peril and toward him. at last he could not keep hidden behind it if he ran farther down the track. ‘Then he flung himself flaton the till he could peer over. ‘he two men were walking toward the distant boarding house. Hicks was talk- while Cooler still smoked. but the did not turn his head. 1 4 1 aquring those while he bound to the track could hear the car rumbling The bank grew lower till Was bank and crawled up ing excitedly, Hicks looked man in gray They passed the house where the over- back suspiciously, seer had lived when he was on the island with the crew of men who worked in the quarry—they were again hiddea froin view. Over the Keeping the , he ran swiftly forward. bank scrambied Frank. house between him and. the men | In a short time he reached the house. He paused to listen, his heart thumping loudly. He could hear nothing. Then he slipped round the house. He carefully peered round each corner before. At the corner he could see the men he advancing. second halted, was shadowing. They were near the which for again he old building in The man in gray seemed to. be asking ques-. tions. Frank had been struck down. He was surveying the surroundings as if he had never inspected them before, For fifteen minutes they stood there talking, dnd then they went into the building. Frank decided to return to his isends He quickly darted up an incline toward — co. i6 yo FRANK MERI saw grew thicker Soon he some cedars, which he and thicker higher up the slope. was hidden by the bushies. slowly, Up above was a ledgy height. He came to it after a time. He found a position where he could look From that position he could see the over- and the granite which lay in the water at the foot of the bank down it had jumped. He island-dotted bay. Then Frank went forward more taking pains to keep in the bushes. down into the old quarry. turned car which could also look far out over the He coulc he could see white sails, he could see reflected on the blue water. midst of this mass of water Island, shreuded by desolate, shunned by see small boats in the distance, the sunshine In the islands lay .Devil and mystery, lonely and mai. Once before he had strongly felt the air of desolation that seemed to hang about the place, and now the same un- ‘anny sensation was creeping him again. Somehow, it seemed that he was far from men, far life, lost in a lonely waste of water, cast on an uncanny over from island. He shook himself, trying to throw off the feeling. He wondered why it should come upon him at that time, and then he began to remember how he had first felt ‘it once before when near that very spot. ‘The glade—the grave in the woods!”’ the words, realizing that the woods were close at hand. They lay there dark and gloomy. He must pass through thein in order to reach the White Wings, or. he must retrace lris steps and take the path. ‘To do the latter would be sure to EXPOSE him to the men he had wa tehec is He muttered a aut about the woods. Down there .At the head of the grave On that stone was chiseled : Nt ee OnEe.. ‘rank did not wish to turn back. ag . something facts Sic as well tIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE, ‘Sacred ‘to the of Rawson Denning.’ ‘ Denning, like Frank Merriwell, had been inquisitive. He had attempted to solve the mystery of the island, and he Afterward the had dared open that grave to see if the — Wlellory haa disappeared. the grave had been found on island. body of the inissing man from within. felt a desire to look grave again. He went down’ toward ita the thick step advanced Frank entering woods. Every that he feeling to grow stronger upon Jim. deserted. seemed. to The It did could be a’ woods were silent and not seem possible that there thing of life other than Frank anywhere | within them. 2 All at once, with astonishing sudden-.. ness, he came out into the opening, and there before him was the grave, the head- stone gleaming gray in the dim light. Frank paused... Involuntarily — he listened. He had not forgotten how, on the ; his other visit to ous whisper in the air, had seemed to hear a rustle down in that grave, as if the murdered man turned restlessly. | Without knowing why he did so, Fraghy : listened again. **Look !? He started, for it seemed that he had heard that whisper. He glanced al around, Silence in rustle of a leaf. Howvlonely it was! “Look! the woods. not where. At what should he look.? mean? Then he told himself that it was all hi imagination—he had heard no whispered word. He advanced toward the grave he stood beside it. “Took !? No onesie Boston lay = at thattemess cause the — Not even the ~~ i ree - CPTI ae: zaps TET ate. FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE, 17 This tine the alazingly Was it imagination ? whisper sounded clear and distinct. “Look at what?’ In spite of himself, he spoke the words aloud. He did not expect an answer, and ~ he gasped for breath when it came: - glade in the woods was the greatest. chiseled out. ; **The stone!” -, A quiver ran over Frank Merriwell’s ody. Of all the mysteries on this island, the mystery of this black whispering He bent torward and looked at the stone. There were fresh chips on the “mound, and ata glance he saw that the ‘Rawson Denning’? had _ been Below it another name had yame been cut into the stone, so that the in- ‘scription now read: *‘Sacred to the Memory of Frank Merriwell. re CHAPTER VII. SEARCHING FOR FRANK. As time passed and Frank did not re- turn, the boys began to grow restless and ai1xious, ‘*T don’t like it,’’? declared Diamond, “pacing the beach, upon which the tide was washing higher and higher as it came ‘J did not think much of letting him go away alone. We all know what ‘happened to him once when he was alone “He knows it himself,’’? said Hodge; “and it is mighty hard work atcl and it 1s mighty hard work to catch - he grunted. be overpowered by numbers. diim twice in the same trap.’’ ‘‘Oh, he’s shrewd enough, but he can What do su think about it, Browning ?”’ Bruce was stretched on the sand, his “Pm not going to think’ for an hour,” ‘Too much trouble.”’ laziness makes me “Oh, dis- your | gusted !? snapped Diamond. may go. ““Huah!’’ came ina puff from the big fellow. ‘Something seems to be gnawing you still.” ‘*Poys,’’ broke in Hans, who still looked sad and weary of living, ‘‘I made der big- [tet Vrankie go avay aloue all py himseluf to gest mistook uf your life ven chase dot liddle defil mit der saucy mouth —you heard me vawble!”’ “Tf he had fallen into trouble, he would have done some. shooting to let us know.’’ ‘*But should we have heard it, Hodge ?”’ asked Diamond. ‘“The island is not very large.’ “IT think it 1s pretty large, and I do not believe we could hear a gun fred on the under favorable circum- not other side even stances, and the circumstances are favorable now.”’ ‘Why not?” , *‘Wind is blowing the wrong way.”’ **Didn’t think of that.’’ concluded that the shooting on the farther side of the island The boys soon would not be heard by them, and straight- way their anxiety increased. Diamond was for starting out at once to look for Frank. He did not believe in waiting till the hour was up; but Hodge, . who in his heart was the most anxious man of the party, objected to disobeying Merry’s plain command. ‘*He told us to stay here an hour, and I shall stay here,’’ said Bart. og a “T suppose you would stay if you heard him shouting for help?’ said the Virgin- ian, hotly. Bart flushed, for: he did not fancy being spoken to in that tone of voice. ‘‘T have always found it best to do just as Merriwell directs,’’ said Hodge, stiffly. “Tf you wish to go search for him, you I remain here twenty minutes longer.”’ Browning grunted his approval of the stand taken by Bart, and Jack gave them both a savage look. 18 FRANK MERRIWELL’S Hans, who ‘had refused to partake of the clams while the man in gray was pres- ent, was feeling very hungry, and that made him still more miserable. ‘‘Oxcuse ine, poys,’’ hesaid. ‘“‘I must made a I vill pefore.”’ raid der ship’s brovisions ubon. pack britty soon, if nod peen Then he took the boat and rowed off to the yacht, where he lost no time in satisfying the ctavings of his ‘inner mau.’’ As the Dutch lad appeared on deck to row ashore again, Browning. suddenly straightened up froin his recuinbent posi- tion. the Dutch lad heard him say: ECL. He had his watch in his hand, and Che hour is up, Hodge.”’ Immediately Bart turned toward the yacht and shouted to Hans: ‘(Bring two of ‘those guns ashore, and plenty of cartridges for them. Be lively about it! We are in a howling hurry.” , “All righd!?? shouted Hans in return, as he plunged down the companionway. He was not long in getting the guns ayd placing them in ‘the boat, but when he reached the that he had brought the wrong cartridges. Then Hodge leaped into the boat and yacht, for what was shore it was discovered out to the needed, returning in a few moments. rowed _ Browning, however, usually cateless and lazy, was fretting at the delay, for the big fellow remembered how, but a short time before, he had saved Frank’s life by a hair’s breadth. A delay of one minute in that case would have been fatal.’ . Bruce had some imagination, and he was beginning to picture Frank in all sorts of peril. . “Took here!’’ came fiercely from Dia- mond; ‘‘what are you chaps upto? Do not think for a moment that you. are going to leave me behind! I’m going with you! Tam going to help find Merri- well!”? * DISAPPEARANCE. ‘‘Of course you can come if you in- sist——’?’ began Bruce. “I do!’ cut in Jack. 2a think gut I scarcely it advisable,” the big fellow continued. At least two of our party should remain and watch the yacht. ”’ **Hans is enough for that.”’ ‘Don’t you pelief I vos goin’ to stayed 2 | here alone!’’ squawked the Dutch boy. ‘You don’d plaid dot tricks on zne!”’ Jack tried to argue with him—tried to convince him that there could be no dan- ger in remaining on board the yacht; but Hans was obstinate, and the effort failed. ‘You fiercely exclaimed. ‘‘I don’d stayed alone ” he don’d fool me dot. vay,’ here, dot vos all.” It became plain that one of the boys vould have to reinain with him. Hodge had returned with the proper ammuni- tion, and Jack was not supplied with a gun. ‘“Well,’’ he said, fiercely, ‘I was the first one who wanted to-go after Merri- well, but I seem to be left out of it. . All Perhaps you right! I may come later. will need me.’? 7 ‘‘Perhaps so,’’ confessed Bart, grimly. “Give us plenty of time to make a cir- ‘cuit of the island and return here, Then, if we have not appeared, you will havea reason for coming.”’ . “Und I vill come mit him,’’ put in. Hans. . Don’t leave the White Wings un- guarded unless you feel it is for the best. We are going prepared for trouble, and it will be a warm crowd that gets the best of us. Come on.” Away went Bart and the big Yale man, scrambling up the bank-with their guns and quickly disappearing into the bushes. Bart took the lead, but Browning was at his heels, swinging along with a stride that covered ground swiftly. There was a look of intense anxiety on the face of the giant. OS alee FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE. 19 ~ * Round the island to the quarry they “went, down the railroad they hurried, and goon they were in sight of’the spot where mot many hours before Frank had nearly _. lost his life. ; Browning drew a breath of relief when “they did not find the mangled body of : ~ Merriwell stretchec on the track. Soime- : how he had felt it was possible the » wretches had captured Frank and com- pleted their work at last, and he dteading to walk down that railroad, fear- was . - ing he should find the friend he loved and admired dead upon thie rails. ‘*He is not here ?”’ The words came froin Hodge, and they .¥ xactly what Bruce was thinking. PRS “Noo? - “T didn’t know—— **T thought of it myself. ‘““Where shall we go now?’ 13 2% “To the old boarding house.’’ Away they went toward the building. It looked before them, the sunshine glinting on its ‘windows, apparently utterly deserted. There was something forbidding in its ‘We shall not find him there!’’ Hodge spoke the words in full convic- on that time would be wasted in look- ig through the building. >. ‘Perhaps not,’’ admitted Bruce; ‘but _. 1 know of no other place to look.”’ btained when Frank and Bruce visited it 1e first time, and there they hesitated. The door was standing open. ‘*Just exaactly as we jeft it!’ exclaimed ‘‘No one has closed thie Hodge Bruce fol- ‘not go The empty rooms echoed to-their steps. Everywhere were cobwebs, dust, decay. Some of the windows were broken, some were boarded up. From room to room they went, they ascended the stairs, they spoke in whiis- pers. The sun shone in the floor, but it brought nothing of cheer to the de- upon It seemed like a niock- the pleasant, an attempt that served to show serted building. ing attempt to make place luok its dreary desolation all the more plainly. ‘*He is not here,’’? whispered Bart, ‘“The basement,’’ came from Bruce. “It was there that I found him when he disappeared the other time.”’ Down the creaking stairs they went, Browning taking the lead now. The door at the head of the stairs leading into the dark basement was open. ‘‘Just as we left ut,’’? declared the big fellow. ‘‘It was fastened in the first place, ) so Merry said. He had to force it open.’ They lighted matches as they wen nr The enough, filled with old down the stairs into the basement. place was dismal boxes and barrels. *'Frank!? Hodge to Then they Browning called, causing start and drop: his match, stood-still and listened. Squeak! squeak ! A’ rat ‘scampered across the. ground beneath their feet/ That was all. There was no answer to Browning’s call. ‘He is not- here.’ “to? They lost little time in hastening up and out of the old As soon as they were in the the stairs building, open air, they drew deep breaths, for they getting had been stifled and oppressed. ‘Where next?’ asked Bart. ‘The lhouse,’’? said Bruce... -AVe niust 4 away without looking through that.’ ae FRANK MERRIWELL’S **Can. we getin ?’? “We will find a way—or make it!”’ CHAPTER VIII. AGAIN AT THE GRAVE. The door of the housé would not open for them. Bruce threatened to burst it in with his shoulders, but Bart advised him not to do so, unless as a last resort. Then a window was found that would open, and soon they had clambered in. There was some furniture in the house, _but still the place had the same dreary, deserted air of the big building they had just left. Browning began by shouting Frank’s name, to which cry there was no auswer. The rising wind rattled a loose window. It did not take them long to go through the house, to which there was no cellar, and they found nothing’ to indicate that a human being had entered the place for’ months. As they stood outside, after getting out of the window and closing it behind them, they looked! at each other in a helpless manner. ‘What has become of Bart, huskily. ‘That is what I would like to know,”’ him ?’’ asked confessed Bruce. ‘‘He seems to have-dis- appeared completely.”’ ‘And the man in gray——’? “Is gone, too.”’ ‘“‘Browning, I am afraid Merry was lured into some sort of a trap.’ “So-gin. T;?? ‘Why should they take him in pattic- ular, and not harm any of the rest of us??? ‘‘Perhaps their motto is one at a time.’’ “No. I believe Frank was selected out of our party as the one to get out of the way. He was determined to solve the mystery of this wretched island, and he was the leader of our party. ‘The ruffians fancied that they would put an end to all DISAPPEARANCE. trouble by getting him out of the way; for they fancied we would run at once.” Browning grtinted, and Hodge went on swiftly and fiercely: ‘‘By the eternal skies, they made a big mistake! J’ll not leave this island till I know what has happened to Frank Merriwell; or I am dead !”? ‘Nor I,’’? nodded Bruce. you, old man.’’ ‘Tf he has been harmed,’’ Bart went on, ‘‘the wretches who did the dirty work shall suffer! I swear it!’’ **T’m another.’ ‘‘We will bring them to justice!’ ‘‘Or kick the bucket trying.’ They shook hands on it, and they were “Pm with in deadly earnest. They decided not to retutn to the yacht by the path, but to go over the island and through the woods. Thus, by chance, they followed almost directly in Frank’s footsteps. As they drew near to the dark woods, Browning felt a tightening at his heart— a sensation similar to that he had once before experienced as he stood beside the lonely grave in the dark glade. He sought to throw it off, but could not do so. ““Come,’’ he said, ‘“Which way ??’ asked Bart. “This way.’ He seemed to feel something drawing him toward the grave in the glade, and Bart followed without another word. Unconsciously, the big Yale man ‘stepped softly, as if he feared to alarm somebody or something. ‘Ihe moss be- neath, his feet gave no sound. Not even atwig snapped. Without knowing that he did so, Hodge imitated Browning’s stealthy manner. . ; The wind soughed through the pines and cedars in a fitful manner. ‘There seemed to be strange rustlings in the air. At the edge of the glade Bruce halted, There was the grave, with the gray headstone. He stood there staring at it. FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE, 21 ~ Somehow he was possessed by a feeling that the grave had something to do with Frank though his reason told him that sucha ‘the vanishing of Merriwell, al- “thing was folly. >) ‘*What is the matter ?”’ a. _ Hodge almost whispered tlie question, ~ Gor he was beginning to feel the uncanny Sh air that overshadowed the place. _ ‘There is the grave,’ said Bruce. .. “What grave?”? ‘Why, the one we told you about—the ~ grave of the Boston man who disappeared - # such a inysterious manner. i posed that he was murdered on thisisland and buried there.” _ Bart shivered, “*You act as if you half expected to see another grave beside that one,’’ he mut- It is sup- ‘*Not so soon.’? **But to-morrow——”’ “Tf Frank has: been foully dealt with, the villains have not been given time to make another grave. ‘somewhere. But I will not believe any- thing of the kind has happened. We ‘shall find him somewhere—alive and -well,’’ ‘We must!’ Bruce remembered the strange whisper- g they had heard there when he and Frank visited the place, and now he lis- -tened, half expecting to hear it again. His body is hidden _ The silence was unbroken save by the mournful sound of the wind in the trees. Bruce went forward quickly and stood ' by the grave. Bart came up, and to- ~ gether they looked down at the gray headstone. “What is that??? asked Hodge, point- ing. ‘‘Somebody has been doing some- thing to the stone since it was placed here.’? | 3 They bent down and looked at the tone. ‘Why,’ cried Bruce, ‘‘the first name SLT RL 5 v has been chiseled off! Another name has been put on! That name is——”’ “Frank Merriwell!”’ Astounded, they stared at the head- What did it mean? Why was that name upon it? stone, The tightening sensation grew around Browning’s heart. All at once, it seemed that the mystery of the island was deeper and darker than ever before. ‘*Now what do .you think of that?” cried Bart, huskily. Bruce shook his head, for the moment feeling that he was not able to speak. It did not seem that he could govern his voice. All sorts of wild fancies were rush- ing through his head. He looked at the mound, and a feeling of relief caine to him when he saw that it seemed. undistu1 bed. He reached out and grasped the big fellow’s arin with a Hodge was shaking. savage clutch. “Was it—was it ing?’ he asked. meant for a warn- ‘"Yes,’’ said Bruce, quickly grasping at that explanation, ‘‘it must have been. You have struck it, Hodge.”’ ‘Then it is not likely Frank saw it.”? ‘*Perhaps not, and yet he may have come here.’ Then they stood there a long time, silently staring at that stone, on which was chiseled the name of the friend they held dearest in all the world. At last Bruce hoarsely said: ‘*Come, let’s get away from here !”? ‘‘But it may be that—somehow—we may strike a clue here. ‘This may bea clue. This may explain what has hap- pened.”? ae ‘If this explains it, there is but one construction to be placed on Frank’s remarkable disappearance.’ ‘‘And that is that he is—-—”’ Dead 1” In the treetops the wind seemed to repeat the word in a whisper. FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPKMARANCE. gut neither Bart nor Bruce were will- that for all that them on the ing to believe Frank Merriwell was dead, his name was there be- fore a of the lonely grave. eray stone at the head Vil know the tr ith !’? caine passionately from If he is dead, ‘*Dead or living, never rest till I Bart’s lips. ‘ the murderers shall suffer !’’ off the feels anything so awful has happened. ‘now he may be with the yacht. While we for him, he may have returned.’’ no that ‘(We must throw g Even others at the have been searching Hodge caught at this eagerly. “You are right!’’ he said. ‘‘Comeon; we will hurry back there.”’ They 1 back look as they passed on into the gloomy left the olade, turning to {a woods. “They were glad to get away. At first they buoyant their hearts with the thought that they should find him waiting for them at the at them, jolly them because. of their foolish fears. hurried on, yacht. He would laugh would The placing of his name on the head- stone of the grave was a ghastly joke, and nothing more. In his how he would growl at Merry for He of the words he would use. mind Browning was thinking causing them so much trouble. even thought Sut as they came nearer and nearer to of the yacht was anchored their spirits fell again the side island near which the and they were beset by doubts and fears. What if. they s ing for them when they arrived ? doubts them should not find Frank wait- / to walk dreaded to These caused and slower, for they hearthat Frank was stil “It seeins to me,’’ said Bart, is very probable Merriwell will with jack and Hans.’ ‘‘He may not be,’?’ confessed Bruce. “Tf he had returned, have fired guns.and done'things to let us know if? slower ] missing. not be they would ‘that it ‘*We might not have heard them.’ ‘“We are near the yacht now.’’ should. The wind is right. We Bruce felt like turning back and mak- ing another search. He dreaded to return and report that they had discovered noth- of the missing lad on > ing save the name the headstone of a.grave. All at once they caine out of the woods the upon high bank, from which posi- look down into the cove tion they could the y swinging idly | where acht lay. There she was; with the incoming tide, and on her deck they could see Dunner- wust and Diamond. Merriwell was not in sight. Alimost as thick woods, they were seen by Diamond, soon as they came out of the and be called to them: OW lh ‘‘Nothing,’’ answered you found ?’’ Hodge, ily. ‘*Hasn’t Frank returned ?”’ “CNig I? at have : gloom- CHAPTER IX. SLIPPERY MR. COOLER. Immediately Diamond and Dunnerwust the 7 a yacht. floated beside _Hans boat ashore. Bart and the told them where they had been and what they which took got into boat, the soon rowed the They guns, and Bruce came down bank and had seer. name on the headstone, Diamond became greatly ex- On hearing about the cited. ‘*Can it be that If so, I'l] never letting him ‘My God!’ he cried. Frank has been killed? follow that treacherous lit- I could strangle him! I had him here now!”’ ‘ **You really seem so.” RIW ELL’ 5 DISAPI to shoot Cooler. -EARANCHE, ‘“‘Where is he?’ ‘“How do I know ?’’ ‘““Vou do know! He followed you, and you trapped him some way. What have you done with him?’’ *“He! ‘“FRollowed me, chuckled the little man. did he? Why did that? It seems to me he should have been he!’ he do more cateful.’’ “There it ‘’That is the know vou have done something to him!” - > is!” burst from same as a boast! Hodge. Now we ‘““Vou are avery knowing young man. the resentment of the Now the manner of nian in gray aroused the anger and boys. He seemed to be iaunting them. ‘“Shail we shoot the snake, Bruce?’’ asked Diamond, his face purple with passion. ‘‘Shall we avenge Frank ?”’ “Not just yet,’’? said Browning. ‘‘We will give him a chance for his life.”’ ““VYou are very kind!’’ murmured Mr. Cooler. “Tf he will tell us what has become of Frank—if he will lead us to Frank, we will spare his life.’ ‘*What if I don’t know where he is?”’ “You do know. You rer? dare not deny ‘You do deny it. are very much mistaken, for I give you my word of honor that I do not know where Mr. Merriwell is at this I do know he fol- He thought he was doing a very shrewd thing, and I must confess that I rather admired his skill at it, but I knew. all the time that he was behind me.”? moment. lowed me. Hal’? exclaimed Hodge. know what became of him ?’’ ‘““Then you ‘““No. He followed me over to the other side of the island, and then he started to return by coming straight back through the woods. That is all I know. I am here to learn if he returned safely. If he did, I intended to warn him that is his life was in: danger if he should go — 24 | FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPHARANCKH. about theisland alone. You must see that I am serious now.’’ “Oh, yes, we see!’’? came scornfully from Diamond. ‘‘Itis too thin! It will not work, Mr. Cooler. You know too much not to know more. Jf you wish to keep your skin whole, just lead us straight to Frank Merriwell—that’s all!” **T can’t. I would do it if could. But I give you my word to do iny best to save him if he isin trouble. ‘That is the best I can do.”’ Diamond’s anger caused him to lose his head so that he threatened the old man with his fist. He quickly realized what he was doing, however, and, with an air of apology, he cried: 1) ‘Tf you keep it up you will lead me to do something of which I shall be ashamed! You can’t fool us, old man. We have you foul, and we’ll never let up on you till you lead us to Frank Merri- well. Weare young, but you will find we can keep a pledge like men.”’ In truth Cooler seemed 1n earnest as he said : “Young gentleman, you wrong me very much. Iamready to go with you and do what I can to help find Mr. Mer- riwell, but that is all I can do. It will be better if you will let me goalone. I shall be able to work alone far better.’’ "Oh, vyes!? sneered. Hodge. |" You think we are fools! No, we go with you.”? “Ale nght. Tam ready”? ~ It did not seem that anything further could be forced from his lips. They warned him that they would not hesitate to shoot if he tried to run away, and then they climbed the bank, ‘Tf you want me to lead“ you,”’ Mr. Cooler, ‘‘come on.”’ He did not take the path, but. plunged ‘into the woods. ‘They kept close to him, watching him. “Tf you try. to lead us into.a trap,”’ said Hodge, ‘‘vou will be sorry. If we are ambushed here in these woods, ny first shot will be at you. IJ] fix you, if I never do another thing.’’ There was nothing like words, and Mr. Caleb Cooler knew Bart ~ meant exactly what he said. oe biatas allright, nodded the i LapR “Shoot oe ” said © Hera | 1 ‘ bluster in the | looked at icagh other. He led them toward the glade in which was the mysterious grave. At last, they stood around the grave, and he said: ‘‘Here is something I discovered since. coming to the island. That name was on the stone before I joined you at the clam- bake. { forgot to tell you about it.”’ ‘*Vesterday there was another naine on that stone,’’ said Browning. ‘‘The new name must have been cut there after we left the island yesterday afternoon.”’ ‘I do not know when it was cut there,’’ declared Cooler; ‘‘but everything shows it must have been very recently, I do know it wags there when I landed on this island to-day.”’ ‘‘And you know who cut it there!’’ ac- cused Diainond. ? ‘Tf you think so, it is useless to deny it.” : ‘(Now take us to Frank Merriwell!??/ ‘‘ Al] I can do is aid you in the search. I ain willing to go anywhere with you.’’ They passed on from the dark glade, leaving the mysterious grave behind them. Cooler seemed inclined to keep to the left, although the woods were. thicker there. They pushed forward, as if pass- — ing through a jungle. Branches whipped them in the face, and beneath their feet the underbrush crackled. All at once Diamond shouted: ‘Stop! stop! Where is Cooler?” ‘Why,’ gtunted Browning, ‘*he’s right here. Miunder! He was at my el- bow a moment ago. I scarcely took my eyes off him.’’ “He isn’t here now! voice. ‘‘He has disappeared! ing to hide in these thick bushes. Scatter and search for him! If you see him run- ning, shoot at his legs! Stop him some- ) rang out Jack’s_ CHAPTHR =X. THE VOICE IN THE’ NIGHT. =% o> ~ The excited. lads beat the bushes in | vain. Caleb Cooler had ‘disappeared in a | moment, ' and swallowed him. It seemed impossible that he could give them the slip in such a nlanier, but he had. At last four very disgusted and anery boys stopped in a little opening aud e RY He is try-).. as if the ground had opened ~ FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPEARANCE, 25 _ **We are a set of chumps!’? declared ; Hodge. Fa “Bhat’s so!”? grunted Browning. “Ought to have held onto the snake all.the time,’’ came savagely from Dia- ‘mond. ‘‘Oh, if we had him here now!”’ Yaw !?? gurgled Hans. ‘‘Uf we had him here now he vouldn’t done a thing ‘to us!”? ‘‘T feel like crawling _ growled the big Yale man. 4 ) **So do i) potted Hodge; into a hole,’? put.) iat cle we ate!’ ey Paeoush. W! gurgled Hans. » ‘Yaw!’ again ools you vos!? f “But in hanged if I can understand ' it,’? said Bruce. ‘‘How did he do it? ~. That is what I want to know.’’ Vou tell. He was within reach at one oment and gone the next.’’ ‘Lets search again.’ _ They did so, but the time was spent in in. They were close to the rocks which rose above the ground in the vicinity of he quarry, but it seemed au utter impos- 2 for any one to hide amid those ‘*Vot They decided to remain in the vicinity Bei and watch for Mr. Cooler thinking he was ina place of hiding near at hand, and he would be forced to show himself ooner or later. Having decided on this, ency scattered somewhat, but were within ag sall of each other. Then they settled , own to watch for the man in gray. It becaine ominously silent there amid the cedars and pines, save when the fitful wind made a rustling. “Once a_ squirrel was heard chattering in the distance. An hour passed, and then Diamond uld stand it no longer. He called them getier and said: ‘Fellows, while we remain idle here se villains may be completing the rk of putting Merriwell out of the I think we “So do I,’’ said Hodge. Und I vos some é more," put in Hans. Then they decided to scour the island. hidden near at hand, Cooler knew 1éy were watching for him, and it was t likely he would make a move. 7" o hours were spent in wandering Iver the island, calling to the missing ce They awoke the echoes in the dark are wasting our time,’’ woods, but the echoes were the only an- swers to their cries. Disheartened and desperate, they re- turned to the cove. in which the yacht lay. They were troubled by fears that something had happened to her while they were away, but when they obtained a view of her, she was seen riding peace- fully at anchor. The small boat was there, and Bart was the first to reach it. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation, and then called the at- tention of the others to a slip of paper that lay beneath a stone that had been placed on one of the seats. .A moment later he secured the paper. ‘“There is writing upon it clared. > he de- ‘*Read it!’ exclaimed the others, presseae> ing nearer. On the paper, which leaf torn from a pocket account book, were scrawled the following words: ““Vou fellers Haid better git g erway Frum Devul irelan in a Blame bio H urry git used the saim As frank you wunt Naver or you will Merrywull did. moar of Him.”’ se no ‘“That settles it!’? said Diamond, bit- terly. ‘‘Frank is done for this time! They have finished him—the devils!” ‘*Well, they’ll never. drive me away from this island till I have found out how they did it and who they are!’’ vowed Hodge. ‘‘Right here I swear I will spend the rest of my. life i in avenging Merry, if it is necessary.’ “T am with you!”’ SAnd Tt” ‘*VYaw!- Me, too!’ They shook hands on it, with heads. Never were four lads in deadly earnest. The sun was low in the western sky, tinting the rippling waters with golden light. The scene was a peaceful one, and it did not seem possible that an awesome and appalling tragedy had taken place on that quiet little island that day. Despite their determination, the. boys were stunned and at a loss to know what was to be done. They entered the ‘boat’ and rowed off to the yacht. It was plain no one had visited the White Wings while they were away, for nothing on board was inolested. bared niore seemed to bea 26 FRANK MERRIWELL’S Hans was hungry, but he was the only one of them all who seemed to have any appetite. They did not talk much, but all were thinking, and the Dutch boy cried softly over the food he ate. Little had they dreamed when they started out on the cruise that anything so terrible could happen and that they would be so completely dazed and be- wildered. ‘Their hearts were full of sor- row, but on their faces were looks of reso- lution that told they did not mean to be driven away till they had fulfilled their oath. The sun went down redly in the west and tinted twilight crept over the water. In the woods on shore darkness gathered swiftly. They stared away toward those woods, as if watching for the appearance of their missing friend. All at once Jack caught hold of Hodge, hissing; “(Took there!’ ‘““Where ?”’ ‘‘Down toward the point. See—back in the shadows beyond the two pines! Can you see them there ?”’ ‘‘T see something. ’ ‘Two figures ?”’ ce Yes. )» ‘‘T saw them move—saw_ thein out of the woods. They are men, and they are watching us!’’ ‘“That’s right.”’ ‘“‘And one of them eee 3 little man in pars ”) ‘*T believe it! ‘‘T know it! Geta rifle, Hodge!’’ ‘What would you do? 2 ‘(Shoot him!’ panted the hot- blooded Virginian. ‘‘Get a rifle! I will put a bul- let through the villain!’’ Although hot-blooded and reckless him- ' self, Bart realized that Diamond must not do anything of the kind. But he did not find it necessary to reason with Jack, for the two men turned and disappeared into the woods. ‘“They’re gone!’’ exclaimed the Vir- vinian, regretfully. “But they may come back again. We must keep a close watch to-night. There is no telling what desperate deed they may attempt. Hn So the night was divided into watches, and: each ad took his turn on see, is that snake, the “come _to tell you what it was, DISAPPEARANCE, The sky became overcast, so there was little light. The black shadow of the shore se emed potent with dangers. Bart had his second watch on deck, and ~ it was not’ far from midnight when he was startled to hear a voice hailing from the shore: ‘‘Ahoy, the yacht!’ ‘‘What do you-want?’’ asked Bart, gripping a revolver and staring toward the point from which the voice had seetned to come. ‘‘Who are you?’ ‘‘Caleb Cooler, at your service,’’ caime back the answer. ‘‘I thought I’d tell you something that may relieve your minds somewhat. Frank Merriwell is alive and unharmed.’ Bart gasped. . ‘‘Why do you come to tell us that?’ he asked. ‘*Because I know you about him. Don’t worry. with you to-morrow,”’ This angered Bart so that he lifted his revolver, being tempted to send a ran- dom shot toward the point from which the voice seeined to come, but he changed his mind and lowered the weapon. ‘“So long,’? called the voice of the queer old man. ‘‘T'urn in and sleep. You won’t be troubled.’’ ‘That is what they want us to do,’ thought Bart. ‘“‘Itisatrick. But they can’t fool us that way.’’ | No further sound was heard from the shore. Cooler did not answer, although Bart called to him several times. Jack had heard Hodge speaking, and he came on deck. When Bart told Dia- mond what had happened, the latter was ~ furious, “Tf I had been here, I would have fired six shots in his direction,’’ he declared. Diamond took his turn on deck, and it was about two o’clock when he fancied he heard the sound of oars. ‘The sound came nearer and nearer, till at last it seemed that the boat reached the island,’ and then the sound was heard no more. Morning dawned, and Browning arose | in a strangely agitated state of mind. Never had his companions seen him in such a condition. When asked about i he said: ‘* Boys, are worrying He will be- I had a queer dream. ro I eee that aes I’m going sie FRANK MERRIWELL’S DISAPPIA Frank Merriwell is buried in the grave ‘en the island. I thought him buried alive. Wedug him out and restored him to life.” ~ Tt can’t be that Merry is buried there, for the’ mound has not been disturbed -Jately,’? said Diamond. CAT the same,’’ declared Browning, “Tam going to oe that grave. lam % CHAPTER XI. THE SECRET OF THE GRAVE. i Browning was determined, and ot lony before he had worked the ito a state of excitement over it, it waiting for breakfast, they ato the boat and rowed ashore. | + ‘I saw some tools in the sheds at the snd of the railroad,’’ said Bruce. ‘‘We ill secure them.’’ ‘The path was taken, and they passed through the old quarry and down the ack to the sheds. ‘There they founda pick and spade. With those in their pos- session, they hastened to the black glade in which lay the grave. “For once in his life Bruce Browning was filled with energy—he was aroused. ut even as he reached the grave, he alted suddenly, his hand uplifted, lroarsely gasping: ‘‘ Listens” “The boys were silent. weelpt' It was a smothered cry, and it seemed come from the ground at their feet It aade the hair of the Dutch boy stand ‘and his teeth chatter. It astonished and nazed them all. Seep” Again that ome from the grave. What did it mean? _ “Use the pick, Hodge!’’ hoarsely com- manded Browning. ‘We will soon open up. Goat it lively o it was others With- sprang _ Bart obeyed, and the eround gave back strange hollow sound as he struck his pick into it. 3rowning Shoveled away the dirt, having torn off his coat to work with greater ease, Soon something of a hole had been ide in the mound. All at once, with a cry of horror, Bart, arted back, pointing down into the hole we had made. smotherd cry seemed to ‘and it wasn’t hard to tie RANCE. 27 ‘*Look!? he gasped. ‘“That ring—that hand! It is Frank Merriwell’s hand!” And there before them they saw a human hand that seemed to be thrust up through the ground. Hans began to pray. The hand moved—it ately at the ground! ‘*It ais Frank!’? . Diamond almost screamed. ‘‘Heis down there! He has been buried alive! Dig, fellows—dig! But be careful not to hurt him!’ At that moment the ground caved in at their feet, and up out of it rose the dirt-covered head of Frank Merriwell. He rubbed the dirt out of his eyes, and then he cheerfully observed: ‘‘Good-morning, fellows! It seems to be a pleasant. morning outside, but it’s a trifle close inside. If you will take hold and pull me out, I'll be much obliged.’’ They clutched him—they dragged him to the surface. Behind him lay a deep, dark hole that was not filled by the earth that had caved in. “Well, of all things wonderful!’’ grunted Browning. ‘‘Never knew any- thing like this -before—never heard of anything like this! I believe I am still dreaming!” : Se rank, are you hurt?’ asked Dia- mond. ba ies ‘Not much,’’ answered Merry. ‘‘They trapped me without much trouble. I didn’t have a chance to get hurt.”’ ‘But to be buried under ground—to be in a grave!”? ‘Khe A grave? Why, Great Scott! It is the orave—and the stone with my name on it! ‘This’is the spot where I was caught. I-was standing right here. f the TIP T OP WEERLY. the publishers offer “one hundred warranted nickel watches for the one hundred best answers to the question given above. Replies must be written on ostal Cards, and the sentence should not contain more than ten words commencing 100 Warranted Nickel Ht Watches. ‘This contest will close Saturday, May 21st, J 898. Postals should be addressed to ‘TIP TOP WEEKLY, NEW TORS Ory. Calks With Cip Top Readers. The following letter from Mr. Burt I. Standish} written in reply to a -a Tip Top Weekly reader, may prove of general interest: Street & Smith, Publishers— Dear Sirs: A Chicago reader of the Tip Top Weekly has asked how to throw. the ‘‘double shoot,’’ a remarkable curve used by Frank Merri- well in pitching. I would willingly give him the information sought if it were possible, but I doubt if there is a person living who can tell on paper how to throw this curve. Old ball players will say, with very few exceptions, that it is an absolute im- possibility for scientific reasons; but it is not so many years ago that intelligent, well-educated persons positively asserted it was an impossibility to throw any kind of a curve. It is said that Billy Mains, who was given atrial on the Bostons in ’96, can throw the double curve, but that he is not able to control it, Isaw him pitch his first three innings for Boston in the opening game with Balti- more. He was put into the box after Boston had the game safely in hand, and the very first ball he pitched caused twenty persons in the grand stanc to shout, ‘‘Oh, did you see that?’’ At my side sat a man who exclaimed, ‘‘I have been following base ball for fifteen years, and this is the first time I ever saw an out curve that ended with an inshoot.’’ As for myself, I had been wondering if my eyes had fot de ceived me, for to me it had seemed that the ball had curved both out and in. And the Bal- timore batter was so astonished that he dropped his stick and stared at the long, ‘‘ganglihg’’ fellow in the pitcher’s box as if he saw a wizard. There is a book published called, ‘‘The Art of zig-zag Curve Pitching,’’ but whether it describes the ‘*double shoot’’ or not I do not know. Sincerely yours, 3urt L. question from Standish, Correspondence. Constant Reader, West Superior, cans but of Scotch descent. E. Y., Aurora, Ill.—Ventriloquism learned only of a teacher, cult art to acquire. Wis. —Ameri- can be It is an extremely diffi- Robert Downey, Yonkers, N. Y.—Cameo is a general name for all gems cut in relief, in contta- distinction to those hollowed out, or intaglios., More, particularly a cameo is a gem composed of several different colored layers, having a subject in relief cut upon one or niore of the upper layers, an underlayer of a different color forming the ground. For this purpose the ancients used the. onyx, sardonyx, agate, etc. L. W. Cooper, Sacramento, Cal.—‘‘Why is the vulture.a cowardly bird, while the eagle is most courageous?’ The eagle attacks living birds and large animals, and therefore needs courage. The vulture’s nature is to feed on carrion, or dead flesh, and with this it is content. It rarely attacks its... ‘prey. until weakness or death has made its. intended 3 victim almost, if not ates eemeteg. VIP TOP WEEKLY. The Pearl Diver’ s Foe. the diver for also thrives whose firmly Two dangers constantly menace pearls, Whérever the oyster grows there the giant tridachna, a shell is from four to anchored to the bottom. It lies with its scalloped shells yawning a foot or more apart. Immediately anything touches it the shells snap together, and once these 1: ‘ge shells are closed not a dozen men out of water get them apart, far less the single diver, fifteen fathoms deep, who may have dropped into the capacious mouth, or have carelessly put his hand within its shells while groping in the gloom. If such a fate befall a diver, there is only one thing for him to do, and that is to amputate himself from the enormous mollusk and rise to fainting, bloody and mangled, fight anything from alion to a panther on land, but they haven’t the courage to run against a bivalve under ninety feet of water, and stand the chance of those yawning shells closing in on an arm or a leg and crushing the bones to splinters. If the monstrous feliusk should close down and catch the diver’s head, of course he would never know what killed him. His head would be mashed to a pulp, and it would go off as if severed by a guillotine: I saw only one native who had been caught by one of these mollusks. It had closed down on his left hand, and the only thing he could do, as the monster held him in its grip, was to cut off the left arm at the elbow joint. bivalve, length, monstrous feet in six could the surface, Those savages will > © > The World a Cocoanut Shell. The savage islanders of the South Pacific believe that the world is *a cocoanut shell of enormous dimensions, at the top of which is a single aper- ture communicating with the upper air, where human beings dwell. At the very bottom of this imaginary shell is a stem gradually tapering to a point, which represents the beginning of all things. This point is a spirit or demon without human form, whose name is ‘‘Root of All Existence.’’ By him the entire fabric of creation is sustained. In the interior of the cocoanut shell, at its very bot- tom, lives a fetnale demon. So narrow is the space into which she is crowded that she is obliged to sit forever with knees and-chin touching. ler name is ‘‘The Very Beginning,’’ and from her are sprung numerous spirits. They inhabit five different floors, into which the great cocoanut is divided. From certain of these spirits mankind is descended. The islanders, regarding themselve$ as the only real men and wo- men, were formerly accustomed to regard strangers as evil spirits in the guise of humanity, whom they killed when they could, offering them as sacrifices. okies eA rnin Little Sister (who opened the door)—Sister told me to say she was very sorry, but she couldn’t see you to-night. Gentleman (alarmed)—Is she sick ? Little Sister—I fink’ she feels weak. passed the parlor Mr. Getthere » was helpin’ stand up. W’en I her to dish of the Sultan of Turkey is stamped before it leaves his kitchen. Hivery and sealed Montana is larger than Turkey; Texas is larger than the whole Austrian Empire by 30,000 square miles, and New Mexico is larger than Great, Britain and Ireland put together. 7 A short time ago the Moorish Kaids gave she Sultan of Morocco and his-son a present of 200 male and female slaves to celebrate the event of the marriage of the heir to the Moorish throne. There is a little insect in Nevada which fastens itself on the wire fences in the autumn and exudes a sticky, glutinous substance. In the spring the Wire parts at the poiut where the insect had been. In China the cobbler still goes from house to house, announcing his approach with a rattle, and taking up his abode with the family while he ac- complishes the necessary making and mending. The most polite man the country has produced has been found hanging to the limb of a tree, one of the shoes containing a note begging pardon for » trespassing on the land where the body was. found, In Finland there is a curious stone which serves as a barometer in the northern part of that country. It is called ‘‘IImakiur,’’ and turns black, or dark gray, when foul weather is approaching, becoming almost white in fine weather. The deepest lake on the American continent is said to be Crater Lake, in Oregon, which is said © to be two thousand feet deep. The water is nine hundred feet below the ridge of the old crater. The bottom of the lake is flat, with the exception of two large cones, one eight hundred, the other twelve hundred feet high. > O- Under the Ocean. If the Pacific could be a most singular spectacle. There would be a num- ber of mountains with truncated tops scattered over it, and those mountains would have an ap- pearance just the very reverse of that presented’by the mountains we see on shore, mountains on the shore are covered with vegeta- tion at their bases, while their tops are barren or covered with snow; but these mountains would be — perfectly bare at their bases and all round their tops they would be covered with beautiful vegeta- tion of coral polypes > o-—— Catching Fish by Electricity. A western Paadtdttain: has comp leted a device for catching fish by electricity. line. to the bottom of the water, while the other? leads to the point of the hook, where the bait is attached. As soon as the fish, attracted by. the bait, comes close enough, he receives an electric shock, which — either kills him immediately or else stuns him and | brings him to the surface. This cannot be considered sport, and will never become popular. oy laid bare, we should have _ You know that the 2 ‘There is a small. A paratus attached to the hook at the end of the fish — From this apparatus one electric? wire goes “ device, however, Sey LER Serpent-Eating Bird. fiere is. a bird called the serpent eater, some- secretary Oe: It is a native of South on the ground in sandy 1 open dates ee wages continual war against on covers its jles, especially serpents, which it pursues yot., When this bird attacks a serpent, it t with one wing (the wings being armed with on the elbow joints to protect itself from the , and with the « Pied strikes blows un- lit has stunned its prey. It breaks the ia “yh its beak, and if small, swallows it entire. In its wi > the bias? nt eater is shy and difficult’ of ap- ach; but it is easily tamed, and often kept y 3 the Cape of Hope, for of destroying lizards, 2s, rats, etc. It soon becomes habituated to the try; but if left too long fasting it does not ttuple to satisfy its hunger with the young cs It runs with great rapidity. A traveler scords = at, Bs wing killed one of these birds, rop os en rat es Kiso fearde three serpents arm’s length, and eleven small tortoises very —all of which had received the stroke on the , as well as a number of locusts, keetles and r insects, very little injured. The color of the ent eater in its perfect plumage is a bluish y on the he: ad, neck, breast, back and wing rerts; the throat white, abdomen black; thighs Black, streaked with brown: tail feathers black and gray, eure with white. The skin of the T It Hilds its nest on figh Ende S or i dense thickets, nd is not at all disposed to associate with its fel- s. The name of ‘‘secretary’’ was given/to it by Dutch settlers at the Cape, from a pendent rest on the back of the head reminding them he pen stuck behind the ear, according to the cus- violent then tears the ,renti in tears the reptile in ild is the purpose of —— 0m IT IS TO LAUGH. AMERICA GOOD eee ther ee Bp stom his bere the pub- ENOUGH. THE WRONG ‘ittle Dot—There’s a lady gettin’ up a type- ter class, an’ Susie Smart is goin’ to join. jittle Ethel—The idea! Why, she can’t even ay the piano yet. END. TWO PERFORMANCES. ‘irst Boy—Did you ever see Professor Thinkum Pay chess blindfolded? ~ $econd Boy—No, but Tggw I im slip down a coal _ hole with his eyes open. PROFESSIONALS COME HANDY. fachtsman (who sails his own boat)—‘‘I can’t e much fun in going sailing with a hired crew.” Rich man (quietly)—‘‘If some of us didn’t ise around with hired crews, what would be- ie of you fellows when you upset ?’’ TOP WEEKLY. . OLD STOCK, -Susie Stuckup has w furs. Girl—I don’t they they *cause they smell of camphor. Little Little isn’t fresh killed, Boy- some ne care iI are new, A FAVORITE BREED First Boy—Is that a watch d Second good R nx NT BOY — INO; ‘*Good bird dog ?’ ‘Nope. ’’ BOS Pine eee Lhe as Good tor rabpits-+s _Opy. Ry *Knows some tricks, maybe ?’’ “Nixie,’’ ‘*What is he good for?’ ‘‘Nawthin’, only to take 9 prizes at dog shows. WHY HE LEFT. Big Sister—I don’t see why Mr. Nicefellow should have left so early this evening. Little Brother—1 guess he went home his money. ‘Count his money ?’’ *‘Of course. I told him you was wondering how much he had.’ t 1 J to count AN OBSERVING BOY. your hat benedic- Mother (severely)—-Why did you grab before the minister was half through the tion ? Little Dick—I thort I’d start early to avoid the rush. EASILY STARTED. and the Aunty—I hear there was a stampede at your school to-day. cause? Did some one cry fire? Little Boy—I didn’t hear just what it was, but it doesn’t take much to start a panic w’en the weather is pleasant an’ th’ lessons is hard. terrible panic What was VERY THOROUGH. Mother—Is your Uncle John’s wife a thorough housekeeper ? Small Son (just back from a visit)—I . guess so. I was just as uncomfortable with her as I am with you. ANXIOUS TO SELL. Miss De Classic—I should like to look at some music; not hew music, like this on the counter, but old music, real old. Store Boy (anxious to assist)—Yes’m. th’ topshelf is jus’ black with. fly specks, guess they’ll sell it cheap. That on an