|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 41
Bonaparte embarked the leaders of the band first, returning subsequently
for the others, and repaired with them at once to the _Gehenna_, where
they were ushered into the presence of Sherlock Holmes. The first question
he asked was as to the whereabouts of the House-boat.
"That we do not know," replied Kidd, mournfully, gazing downward at the
wreck of his former self. "We came ashore, sir, early yesterday morning,
in search of food. It appears that when--acting in a wholly inexcusable
fashion, and influenced, I confess it, by motives of revenge--I made off
with your club-house, I neglected to ascertain if it were well stocked
with provisions, a fatal error; for when we endeavored to get supper we
discovered that the larder contained but half a bottle of farcie olives,
two salted almonds, and a soda cracker--not a luxurious feast for
sixty-nine pirates and a hundred and eighty-three women to sit down to."
"That's all nonsense," said Demosthenes. "The House Committee had provided
enough supper for six hundred people, in anticipation of the appetite of
the members on their return from the fight."
"Of course they did," said Confucius; "and it was a good one, too--salads,
salmon glac�, lobsters--every blessed thing a man can't get at home we
had; and what is more, they'd been delivered on board. I saw to that
before I went up the river."
"Then," moaned Kidd, "it is as I suspected. We were the victims of base
treachery on the part of those women."
"Treachery? Well, I like that. Call it reciprocity," said Hamlet, dryly.
"We were informed by the ladies that there was nothing for supper save the
items I have already referred to," said Kidd. "I see it all now. We had
tried to make them comfortable, and I put myself to some considerable
personal inconvenience to make them easy in their minds, but they were
ungrateful."
"Whatever induced you to take 'em along with you?" asked Socrates.
"We didn't want them," said Kidd. "We didn't know they were on board until
it was too late to turn back. They'd broken in, and were having the club
all to themselves in your absence."
"It served you good and right," said Socrates, with a laugh. "Next time
you try to take things that don't belong to you, maybe you'll be a trifle
more careful as to whose property you confiscate."
"But the House-boat--you haven't told us how you lost her," put in
Raleigh, impatiently.
"Well, it was this way," said Kidd. "When, in response to our polite
request for supper, the ladies said there was nothing to eat on board,
something had to be done, for we were all as hungry as bears, and we
decided to go ashore at the first port and provision. Unfortunately the
crew got restive, and when this floating frying-pan loomed into view, to
keep them good-natured we decided to land and see if we could beg, borrow,
or steal some supplies. We had to. Observations taken with the sextant
showed that there was no port within five hundred miles; the island looked
as if it might be inhabited at least by goats, and ashore we went, every
man of us, leaving the House-boat safely anchored in the harbor. At first
we didn't mind the heat, and we hunted and hunted and hunted; but after
three or four hours I began to notice that three of my sailors were
shrivelling up, and Conrad began to act as if he were daft. Hawkins burst
right before my eyes. Then Abeuchapeta got prismatic around the eyes and
began to fade, and I noticed a slight iridescence about myself; and as for
Morgan, he had the misfortune to lie down to take a nap in the sun, and
when he waked up, his whole right side had evaporated. Then we saw what
the trouble was. We'd struck this lava island, and were gradually
succumbing to its intense heat. We rushed madly back to the harbor to
embark; and our ship, gentlemen, and your House-boat, was slowly but
surely disappearing over the horizon, and flying from the flag-staff at
the fore were signals of farewell, with an unfeeling P.S. below to this
effect: '_Don't wait up for us. We may not be back until late._'"
There was a pause, during which Socrates laughed quietly to himself, while
Abeuchapeta and the one-sided Morgan wept silently.
"That, gentlemen of the Associated Shades, is all I know of the
whereabouts of the House-boat," continued Captain Kidd. "I have no doubt
that the ladies practised a deception, to our discomfiture, and I must say
that I think it was exceedingly clever--granting that it was desirable to
be rid of us, which I don't, for we meant well by them, and they would
have enjoyed themselves."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|