Frank Reade Library: Six Sunken Pirates — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

12 SIX SUNKEN PIRATES. ———_— KS FF ootmo$—-2--n"-0"-"-".....”T.I=n= NW Oem” Oe eee The metal was mostly found in the shape of coins, but at times small slugs or ingots were unearthed. The search was prosecuted upon a system. Barney and Frank dug the sand out, while Pentlow carefully sifted it. Thus the quest went on. Quite an amount of the yellow metal was taken from the wreck of this vessel, But two more remained to be searched. These were zealously dug over, but they yielded hardly tive thousand dollars worth of gold. This ended the treasure hunt. Back to the submarine boat they went. In the cabin the total of the treasure recovered was reckoned. It amounted in round figures to about seventy thousand dollars. This to many might have seemed a tidy sum. But it was not at all up to Pentlow’s expectatious. He had looked for fully a round million.” ‘“©On my word,” he declared, ‘‘ those fellows must have disposed of their treasure in some other way, or else they were dreadfully poor!” ‘¢ Seventy thousand dollars in those times was a larga fortune,” said Frank, ‘that was nearly twelve thousand to each ship.” ‘‘ Why, it would hardly pay to recover except in the way io which we have done it. By ordinary methods it would have cost a8 much as the gold was worth to recover it.” ‘That is largely true,” said Frank, ‘‘but the seventy thousand is yours, and will make you a comfortable fortune.” ‘* Mine?” exclaimed the scientist. “* Yes!” ‘* It is NO More mine than yours. There must be an equal divis- ion.” ‘¢ For myself I want no division,” replied Frank, decisively. ‘‘I am wealthy enough for all purposes. If you choose to give Barney and Pomp tive thousand apiece you can do 80,” “Why, I will divide it equally with them.” ‘¢ Yez needn't tbrubble yersilf to do that,” cried Barney. ‘‘ Shure, I’ve enough fer all me needs now. It’s not money I’m afther wantin’.” Pomp expressed himself likewise. Pentlow was quite overcome. ‘¢ Well,” be declared, ‘* I'must say that it is more than kind of you. I can carry out a few of my cherished schemes with that amount.” ‘¢ We wish you success,” said Frank. ‘‘ We would gladly have re- covered the raillion for you if it had been possible.” ‘ Indeed, I cannot tell you bow much I owe you,” said the profes- sor, with feeling, ‘‘ Bat for you I might not have recovered any- Lbing.” So the matter was settled. ‘ Well,” said Frank, ‘‘now that we have recovered the treasure of the six sunken pirates, and also that of the Golden City of Katunds, T don’t see but that we have accomplished our mission.” & Trae,” agreed Pentlow, ‘‘and yet I am loath to leave this spot. ‘* Indeed!” said Frank, in some surprise. ‘* Why should we stay longer?” ‘There is no good reason unless—unless——” “¢ Well?” ‘‘We might feel disposed to pursue our quest further inthe city of Katunda.” Frank gave a start. ‘«Why—yes, of course,” he said; ‘‘ that is, if you desire.” ‘Would it be too dear a request?” asked Pentlow. *¢ Certainly not.” ‘¢T thank you.” ‘‘But—may I ask, do you expect to find any more treasure there?” , ‘*Not altogether,” replied the professor. ‘‘I am, in one sense, done with gold hunting. This time my errand will be purely a sci- entific one.” ‘‘Ah! Well, it shall be so. Barney, steer us. over to Katunda.” ‘© All roight, sor.” The Celt sent the submarine boat ahead ata lively rate. It was but a very short time ere the gate of Katunda was at hand. Once more the Sea Mole sailed through this and up the streets of the sunken city. Thrilling events were in store. CHAPTER XI. BARNEY'T GREAT PERIL. THE submarine boat once more sailed into the great plaza of the sunken city and the voyagers were in sight of the Royal Palace from which Pentlow had abstracted the sham treasure. In fact the spurious metal was scattered over the sands where it had been cast out. Pentlow heaved a sigh as he gazed at it. ‘“Do you want to stop here?” asked Frank. The professor shook his head. a No,” he said, ‘‘let us go or up the street and see the rest of the city.’ So the Sea Mole kept on. It was fully a quarter of a mile up the street, but then the expanse of another plaza larger than the first was seen. Here also were buildings having the appearance of being palaces. This was not a little surprising. ‘‘ How does this happen?” exclaimed Frank. ‘‘ Was not that the coyal palace we explored before?” ‘¢ Beyond a doubt,” replied Pentlow. ‘« Bat here are buildings to beat it.” ‘That is true. They may, however, belong to different branches of the government service. It is hard to believe that *bese people were not in an advanced atate of civilization.” ‘¢ They certainly were for barbarians. Let us stop here, Frank. I have a desire to look through that building yonder.” ‘¢ All right!” The boat came toa stop. It settled down once more in the sand, and again Pentlow donned his diving helmet. This time only Barney accompanied him. Frank and Pomp re- mained aboard the Sea Mole. Leaving the boat the two divers appreached the largest of the build- ings. They entered it by means of a large portico. They found themselves at once in an immense high-arched structure. It was constructed entirely of stone with mighty arches and columns. the ancient inhabitants. There were 2 number of statues in the place. the water, had somewhat destroyed their outline. Yet it could be seen that the subjects were powerful framed men, half clad in the Indian style. Most of the statues were of warriors, and carried heavy battle axes. Pentlow examined them attentively. Upon the pedestals he found some inscriptions, which, however, he was quite unable to decipher. Meanwhile, Barney had been doing a jittle exploring on his own ac- ount. The Celt had found a flight of stairs leading down into a region be- low. He ventured to descend while Pentlow was examining the statues, He found himself at once in a long, low-ceiled room. Through the center of this there extended a long stone table. Also stone benches were ranged beside it. Nothing was left of the dishes which might once have rested upon it, or of the bones of the feasters who might have occupied the benches. But there was good reason to believe that a feast had been in pro- gress there at the time that the island had sunk into the sea. ‘‘ Be me sowl!” thought Barney, ‘‘ this must ’ave been some koind ava big. hotel I’m afther thinkin’. Shure there’s no other way av luk- in’ at it.” With which sagacious conclusion the Celt passed on into achamber beyond, This might have been the great kitchen of the “hotel,” for there was a huge stone fireplace and other evidences of the sort. The Celt row returned to the stairs, He climbed these and looked for the professor. Pentiow had been among the statues, but he was nol there now. Nor was he in sight. Barney hastened to make a search for the scientist. He passed on through the main part of the building and into an inner courtyard. ‘‘ Begorra, that’s quare enough,” he mattered; ‘‘phwere cud he have gone?” he catch sight of the professor. He was completely nouplused. “On me worrad, he must be affher being ahout here some- wheres,” he thought, ‘‘but phwereiver can that be? Shure he’s niver gone bavk to the boat.” So Barney kept on with his quest. For fully an hour he wan- dered through the palace but not once did he get a glimpse of Pentlow. Then he began to get really alarmed. “Tvs very funny,” he muttered; ‘‘I’ll niver think he’d go back loikes av him.” Barney decided to first return to the submarine boat and find out the truth. If any mishap had really befallen the scientist they would be the most likely ones to know it. At least it was proper that Frank should know of it at once. The Celt lost no further time. He set out at once through the courtyard. He passed through the hall where the statutes were and a sudden chill struck him. The glare of the Sea Mole’s search-light was not visible. What did it mean? He rushed out through the portico. All was darkness beyond. He ran down the steps and into the street. Then a thrill of horror overcame the Celt. The submarine boat was gone, What had happened! What did it mean? ’ Where had the Sea Mole gone, and what was the meaning of her departure? There was certainly some good reason for it. So the Celt reflected. In his excitement he wandered on down the street of the sunken city. | While he bad been in the banquet room of the palace, some unusual thing had happened to take the professor and the submarine boat also out of the way. He was well satisfied of this. But what was that unusual happen- ing? . He was utterly unable to solve the riddle. Moreover, he was phy- sically quite overcome, and finally sank down upon the steps of one of the houses, ad Here, for the first time, Pentlow got an inkling of the character of © They were crudely carved out of stone, and the action of time and — Through the courtyard the Celt went and into another part of” the huge building. From room to room he went, but not once did - to the boat widout me. Shure, mebbe s)me big fish has got the ~ COMICOOOKS.EO