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—THAPPY DAYS‘
_ good look to realize that the mysterious
vessel that had made its appearance at El-
dorado was a bark, , As Sinbad had said,
it-was in badshape. The foremast was
gone and the other masts were only stumps,
from which rigged cans, answering for
. Sails fluttered in the breez:
“S$ “sit's the first
range,” sai Sinbad,
disabled ‘ship that has ever made this
island, for Eldorado lies right out of the | on his face,
sailing track.
“What shall we do?”
“Why give them hospitality. Poor
wretches ! for all we may know they may
be starving. Go right ahead, Con, and
run into harbor.”
g
Con Cregan was about to give the neces-
sary orders, fen as shout from Jacques
caused him to
“Look Look ! Y]
“Th! What is there: to look at?”
“The ship, Sinbad! exclaimed the
Frenchman, excite
“That's not a very interesting sight.”
“ You don’ tunderstand. See him! ‘tisere
he is
Sinbad reall thought Jacques was ‘g0-
ing crazy, for he Frenchman's talk was a
complete puzzle.
h, won’t you understand?” shouted
Jacques. “See onthe deck of that ship,
standing by the mainmast is the man-
”
What does this mean?
to, Con!" cried Sinbad, excitedly.
: Ear
~ showed us the
must be cantious, for things look
ugly and no mistake,’
Even without a glass lung Lu could be
seen clearly as he stood by the mainmast
ofthe bark; giving orders to the crev.
With a glass Sinbad made a discovery
that confirmed his previous suspicions,
“We were right, Jacques,” he said.
How?”
“That villain is no Chinaman, There's
no attempt at disguise now. . The yellow
- dye is off his face, Zone, ye. ‘Ss
a white man beyond a doubt. Tia rec:
ognize | the wretch now. re bis ‘Saul Dente
n hé means misc
4 “Yes. Jacques, and bea with Dick
Qu ince he may give us a lot of trouble.”
“ wee oan em rt present us from landing.”
**No, that’ ‘Ss Mot his game. See! he’s sail-
ing right away from the jetty.”
“That clears the way for us.”
Con Cregan rushed u
“Begorra | an’ ye "re not going: to Jet the
Spalpeen escape.
It can’t be helpe:
“Och! murther'! bat it's meself'd ‘send
an iron pill to sink him.”
“Yes!. yes!” cried. Jacque:
Sink the ship.
“Too late tnuttered Sinbad.
“Too late !
“He's nearly reached ibe island where
the natives are, and ‘it’s almost certain
that some of the shots w vould miss the ship
and Kill the poor wretche:
hey deserve no better Tate.”
** Maybe so, but not one life shall be
taken by me unless it self-defense, Be-
sides, where’s the need? Wecan land,
and once on shore it’ : easy for.us to hol
our ow
“Con's
| few minutes the Avenger was
safely moored to the pier, and Sinbad and
his friends, including the prisoner, Stephen
Miggs, anc and the old castaway, started for
the pal
What was Sinbad’s surprise to see Claire
at the entrance.
He ran forward joyfully,
“ Returned !-he cried.
“Yes, yes! Forgive me! Forgive me!”
exclaimed the girl, hiding her face in her
hands,
‘“‘ T have nothing to forgive, Claire.”
Ilurriedly Claire disappeared, and Sin-
bad, perplexed at her behavior, turned to
Kama for an explanation, .
“What does it mean, Kama?”
“My lord, the poor young lady is in
great trouble, Minta, her maid, found her
wandering on the island, weeping bitter-
ea I think she has discovered
that her father, Don Ricardo, is a villain,
Minta says that Miss Claire was horrified
by what she had seen while with him after
abe left the palace, - He has been murder-
ing man; oor wretches who were
with him, ‘and she killed them in his daugh-
ter's presence.
“Ah! now I understand, Poor girl!”
said Sinbad ‘to himself, “Truly you suffer
for your father’s sins, But I am powerless,
Teannot break my oath of vengeance, come
what may,
Theold man they had brought away from
the deserted island had improved consider
ably under Jacques’ care. Yet ugh he
seemed rational, he was unable toy rive an
account of himself, His mind seemed to be
a blank,
“His memory will return,” said Jacques,
confider
"Are 3 You sure?”
“Yes, now Lam, Sinbad, [answer for
it. There's one thing must be done with
“ivhat?”
“Te wants a barber. Cut his halt short,
it’s afther cutting the ould man’s
hair, ye are?” asked Con, with a black look
“That's 80.”
“And ye're * goin’ to clip them illigant
whiskers?”
“He's going to have a clean shave,”
y
Con dashed his cap violently on the
round, , seeming to
“Jack, it's a aaron
“Eas: sy, Con:
* Aisy is itt ne an’ ould Santa Claus
belongs tome. I found h n’, begorra,
I won't have a hair of his head touche d.”
“* Why, Con,” said Sinbad, surprised ex:
tremely at the skipper's 's behavior, “you're
not Serious? Jaci $ a doctor, says it’s
for fhe Poor fellow S health that "this must
e
Arrah an’ who's goin’ to make good
na great passion,
1 avin’ |”
to me?
“Feel his pulse, Jacques,” laughed Sin-
bad “our friend's got the fever, or some-
ing
“ ‘Won ami,” said Jacques, “if you were
not bald it's your head would want shav-
ing. Allow me to feel your pulse.”
“Don't lay a finger on me, Jack, The
blood of the Crega ‘ans is up an’ I’m danger-
ack, dangerous?”
was S Tosing his temper now. He
had i reaarded Con’s behavior as a joke at
first, but did so no longer,
“ This i is no time for nonsense,” he said
sternly, ‘Explain yourself, Con Cregan,
and particularly what you mean by want-
ng to Know * who's going to make it good
to you
oT found him,” said Con, sulkily, ‘an’
he’s my property. Shure, like he is now
he’s a great sight for a dime museum, an’
it’s a barr'l of money I'd be afther makin’,
Cut his hair an ’ them illigant whiskers, an’
what's he worth
Sinbad Jacques roared with laugh-
ter, for the idea that the old man pos-
sessed a commercial value seemed ex-
tremeiy comical to ther
him of you, Con,” cried Sinbad
“‘ Name your own price and I pay
you spot cash,”
‘e Faith, it’s a deal. ere, you black
villain, fix up ould Santa Claus in your
best, style or ye'll be having a fight wid
Whe en Neptune had finished his work, | 0
the old man was transformed. More than
twenty years seemed to have fallen off him,
and he appeared to be a man of tifty. Ilis
health improved, too, as Jacques had said
it would, but yet he seemed to have no in-
tereSt in anything that wi ent ¢ on,
Suddenly Claire made pearance,
Instantly the old man brightened up. ile
could not take his eyes off the girl, and
followed her movements wherever she
One he smoothed her hair. .
re yl he murmured i in an
Pretty |
absent sort of w ay,
- ‘oor old man,” said the kind-hearted
irk “1 know w your story, and I will take
care of you.”
“* Miss Claire,” said Jacques, joyfully,
“ in your hands he will recover,
hope soindeed. I feel attracted to
him in a mysterious manner, and, although
ol tren came here to-day, he seems like an
°
nd so from that day the girl and the
poor old castaway were quite inseparable,
and under her care he made rapid progress
towards recovery.
CHAPTER XX, ~
A NIGHT ADVENTURE—SINBAD ON BOARD
SAUL DEXTER'S SHIP.
(puxpap found himself in a strange situ-
ation,
Ilis three chief enemies, Saul Dexter,
Dick Quince and Steve Miggs were all on
the island as the result of his operations,
but the last named only was in his power,
The other two were at large and were
thus a a constant menace.
Of Dick Quince nothing was seen,
But Saul Dexter’s ship was now at
anchor quite close to the small island to
which the natives whom Con had made
drunk had been taken. - So far it appeared
that no landing had taken plac
As night fell, Sinbad called Jacques and
entered into a serious talk with him,
‘he palace is all safe, Jacques,” he said,
“for Ivan and the men under him can hold
theirown against any force that may come
against them,
“Then what are you anxious about?”
“Those poor creatures on the island,”
“ “ Are they i in danger
es.”
“What, several hundred of them? Sure-
ly, they can defend themselves,”
ot against the men with Saul Dexter,
Recollect, Jacques, that his ship is manned
by savages, cannibals. My poor people,
without a leader, will be no match for
the
“ Vet we can’t help them.”
“Tm not so sure of that, Anyway, we
can 2 find @ out what's going on there?”
“There's only one way. We'll see for
ourselves, It's dark now. You and
Jacques, will row quietly over, land on the
is land, and do a bit of scouting.
hall we ever come back
“T trust to fortune, as I always bers
done. My lucky star hasn't get
ou're afraid, say so, and I'L t Nan a.
** Afraid for you, Sinbad, Tot ane myself,
What is my life e compared to
“ Jacques, it is our duty to help those
I
Pa
poor creatures.
the island, and now we must protect them.
‘ome !”
No one in the palace was aware of their
going, and they pushed off quietly from
the shore, their boat gliding softly over
the water, ing unseen owing to
blackness of the n
As they neared the island, they saw
that great fires were burning. ‘Tt was evi-
dent that the natives there feared an at-
tack would be mad that
lit up the gloom so t
aware of the enemy’s a)
This made it more diltenit t to land.
“They must see us !” exclaimed Jacques,
“Ym afraid that isso, It’s getting as
bright as day now.”
Let us go back.”
“What! Return?”
“Tt's safest.”
“And leave our work undone? No, no!
Row straight for the island, Jacques, I
command you 0."
When Sinbad spoke in this way, the
Frenchman had nothing to do but obey.
He would have gone to certain death if he
ad been so ordered, and in ce Jacques
imagined that he was doing So" ne
In the stern of the boat sat Sinbad, fac
ing the shore, knowing that ina moment
he would be in the midst of several hun-
dred hostile natives, and yet he exhibited
no fear, nor did he fee
Suddenly there was of Breat ery.
natives had perceived the
acques, brave though hes was, trembled,
and almost dropped the oars,
“e nn!” said Sinbad, sternly, seeing
he had ‘stopped. “*T answer for your life.”
he boy sprang from the boat to the
island, and in a moment dozens of the
natives were crowding around him with
every sign of delight on their faces, They
threw themselves on the ground in front
of him, Kissing his hands and feet, and ut-
tered joyful c
Sinba cast. a proud look on Jacques.
**T knew my people,” he said, smilingly,
“* How they love him,” muttei ered Jacques. .
~ Soon a semblance of order was obtained,
and then one of the natives explained that
they were terrified at the arrival of the
strange ship with the savages on gard.
“Fear nothing,’ "said Sinbad. “I a
here to save you.
It was wonderful to see how the
creatures relied on the boy,
nm them, and they
tthe ey might be
This simple
We imprisoned them on | b:
not so, Numbers of savages were stretched
out on the deck, and all of them appeared
to be in a deep sleep, It was clear that the
boy's danger was great, for at any moment
some of these wretches might wake.
Whilst Sinbad was wondering what his,
next step should be, he saw two men walk-
ing slowly along the deek towards him.
Instantly be sank down behind a
ca a ropes which made a good hiding:
Pithe two men came forward until they
stood near the forecastle, and then the
went to the side and leaned over the bul-
warks, where they stayed looking towards”
the small isla
“ Right over Jacques’ head,” mutterd Sine
“By Jove! he’s shaking in his shoes
Wonder who shey ar e. Ll takea
squint at them anyw:
Cautiously he rais: ed. his head above the
ropes and then he found that he was with-
in a few yards of the twomen, Their backs
e | were towards.him, so recognition was im-
ossible,
Al) at once they turned quickly, One of
the savages had rolled over es his sleep, ©
and the noise had disturbed t
Sinbad saw their faces now
One was the mandarin Hung Lu, or
rather Saul Dexter, to give him his right
name, The other was Dick Quince.
Sinbad was thunderstruck at finding the:
latter on board of the bark, and instantly
he realized how vastly his peril had in-
crease -
~_—
CHAPTER XXI, “
SINBAD FIGHTS FOR IS LIFE—THE SHIP
ON FIRE.
HE two men began to talk, and it be-
came evident, from what they said, that
Dick Quince had been on board a very
short time,
* We've had our ron ot luck, Dick,” said
Saul Dexter. ay ings have turned
against us, n't have everything your
own way all the time.”
r coming has altered the look of
things, though. How did you manage ‘it,
The| Sa’
“Tvs along yarn, but I'll spin it as short
asTcan. Iwas carried off from China on
the We put in for water at
an island, and I swam re
” laughed Saul Dexter,
“though these friends of mine thought of
eating me at first. made them a few
Preekon’ and that Square matters,
end. Something happened that
Manned” the look of things, This ship,
disabled, same beating in to shore.”
tne Lavages and “nyself boarded her,
They wanted to leave the island as ba
id, and we made the crew, or what was
fet of it, take us,
“But where is the crew? I don’t see
any, white men about,
vahey’ re safe under lock and key—
poor | ther
her
Saul Dexter pointed to the forecastle
assurance of his quieted them all and} cabin,
made the
r they can fight
$s signal to Con. He's on the
. He wouldn't understand.
Tow does he know we've left the palace?”
‘hen we'd better row back and get
alee got an idea,”
“I'm going aboard Saul Dexter's ship.”
Jacques gave a shout, The madness of
the project astounded him, But Sinbad
ersisted, and Jacques had “nothing to do .
obey.
“ Out Meith the fires !" exclaimed Sinbad.
The natives scattered the burning em-
bers, and ina few minutes, though there
was plenty of smoke, there was so light. *
acques, we can drift over. gee into
the boat, Make no noise. Our lives de-
pend upon being still as death.”
The current carried the small craft
towards the bark, and when they reached
the bow of the ship they clung to the haw-
ee Keep her fast here, Jacques. _ You
can’t be seen from the deck, and so long
as you make no noise you're perfectly safe,
“But what are Fou about t
“Tn going t to climb this rope, ind get
m deck, Fron looking like that,
Jacques: You now me, and when I say
a thing I mea
Without another word Sinbad left the
boat, and clinging to the loosely hanging
rope, he climbed up with great rapidity,
acques, leaning over the boat's side, saw
him disappear
“Tost! lost! he gasped, “ What a
fate! eis horrible.”
The intrepid boy had surmounted the
first, and what to him seemed. the great-
estdanger, Ie had climbed on deck with-
out being seen,
The deck appeared to be deserted, but on
looking closer Sinbad saw that this was
m Pappy
ey h; (arin we might do some- | m
“ ‘Where does she hail from—thls craft, I
“ ‘she’ sa Yankee and they're all Yankees
on board of her.
“Why in thunder don’t you make "em
join you? One white man is worth a
dozen favages.
“When they're not too white,” growled
Saul Dexter.” “These fellows what are
called honest men, curse them! No, Dick,
they won't raise a finger to help me, but
by gosh | phere raise the whole lot to
down me
“ Get rid of 'e
“What @'you mean?”
“Baht ou make me tired, Throw
em over to feed the sharks, It’s safer,
Locks can be picked, friend Saul, don’t
forget that.”
“TE Claire could hear this wretch talk,”
muttered Sinbad, “‘she’d disown him for
2
>
“And now I'm here, Dick,” continued
Saul Dexter, in a gloomy tone, * what's
to be done? Get away I reckon as soon as
we can, and be mighty glad we've escaped
with our liv
“We can’ rE sail far in this old hulk.”
“As far as the island, anyway, where
we came from.
Dick Quince was thoughtful for a min-
™S'say, Saul, how the mischief did you
strike this place?”
Sinbad point it out on the chart
one ay to o the Frenchman, Come, Dick,
let’s settle our plans, You're on board, let's
up with the anchor and run,’
“You're cra: at Why, these savages
would Ki killus, We're in their hands, Be-
“Well?”
hi thew We can be masters of this island if we
ike.
wins it wort th 1 ite h
“Te e,my hearty. You and
me'll be afan richest men in the world if we
can lay our hands ona tenth part of the
(Continued on page 10.)
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