Frank Reade Library: Six Sunken Pirates — page 9: what you’re looking at

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SIX SUNKEN PIRATES, 9 ‘’ Oh, that will be all right. The salt water has no effect on gold that is destructive. Silver and the other metals may rust, carrode or crumble, but I do not fear for the precious metal.” ‘*Then you think we will find treasure aboard the pirate vessels?” ‘¢ Yes, and why notin the sunken city? 1 am gure we shall tind that well preserved.” ‘¢T hope so!” said Frank, with interest. Barney and Pomp had litte thought of the treasure. Neither were smitten with a love of filthy lucre, and cared much more for adventure and excitement. Now that the subinarinve boat was once more under way, and mat- ters had settled down to a species of routine, the two jokers began to beguile the time with playing pranks upon each other. Barney was io the custom of indulging in a glass of toddy upon re- tiring at night. Generally he mixed this up early in the day in a half pint bottle and left it under bis pillow so that it would be all ready when he should retire, Pomp, with true mischievous spirit, ¢ubstituted a bottle containing a@ condiment which embraced all the spices and pungent liquids he could lay hands upon. The result was that Barney swallowed a surprise, 80 much of a sur- prise, in fact, that he did not recover from a gagging and coughing fit for nearly an bour. Of course the Celt knew who had laid the joke for him and was de- termined to retaliate. Pomp had carefully sifted a huge quantity of flour in a bread trough, and left it on the shelf in the galley. He intended to manu- facture some toothsome cakes with it. Barney leisurely sauntered into Lhe place, while Pomp was momen- tarily called away, and dropped a small white object into the flour, Then he whistled Garry Owen, and was innocently toasting his feet on the electric cooker, when Pomp came in. ‘s How yo’ be, chile?” saluted the darkey. @ Visit, eb?” ‘«« Begorra, it’s a foine place yez have down here, naygur!” ‘‘Sho’s yo’ bo’n: it um de bes’ place on bo’d,” averred Pomp. ¢¢ Neber feel homesick down hyah, yo’ kin bet!” ‘¢ Shure, as long as yez kin ate sich foine cakes as yez make, nay- gur, it’s the best place fer a huogry mao.” Pomp chuckled. ‘¢ Kain’t take dat hint fo’a cent, Tish,” he said, ‘fo’ I ain’ got a cake made up yit.” ‘I reckon yez will be afther makin’ some atwixt an’ atween now an’ dinner time?” ‘¢Sho!” exclaimed Pomp, glancing at the flour in the trough. ‘‘I jes’ clean nigh fo’got about dat flour. Hol’ yo’ hosses, I’ish, an’ I jes’ nix yo’ up some lily bit ob a cake now.” ‘s Be jabers iv’s me best frind yez are,” cried the Celt. ‘‘I’ll do as much fer yez, naygur. Shure that’s funny lookin’ flour yez have there.” ‘Tt am de bes’ yo’ kin buy fo’ money,” declared the darky. ‘‘ Marse Frank he won’ hab none but de bes’.” So Pomp doused a long wooden spoon into the flour to give ita shakirg up. What followed was astounding. There was a sharp explosion and—whiff! the fine flour went in a clond over the whole room. Barney turned a back somersault out of the place. Then he crouched down in a perfect paroxysm of laughter at the spectacle before him. Pomp was a sight to behold. He never would have been taken for a colored man. was literally driven into the pores of his black skin. Face and hair were full of it. Eyes, ears, mouth and nose were full, and the air was one white cloud aboat him. He was powerless for a minute or more to speak or act, and could barely get his breath. Then he fell to digging out his eyes and ears. The first thing he saw—the first thing he heard—was the Celt in a rosring fit of Jaugh- ter. So sudden had been tke explosion that Pomp had not been able to realize what had happened for a time. Then he saw his reflection in a glass opposite. lieve his senses. From head to foot—skin, garments and all—he was as white as driven snow. He gasped in amazement. ‘Fo’ de lan’s sakes!” he muttered. into mah face like o’ cat?” Then his gaze lit upon Barney. An instant suspicion crossed his mind that the Celt was at the bottom of it all, and be was instantly angry—io fact, more angry than words can tell. ‘* Done fink yo’ pay me The fine flour He could hardly be- ‘¢Whoebber frowed dat flour CHAPTER VIII. KATUNDA AT LAST. ConvINcED that Barney was the actual cause of his mishap Pomp made a dash for him. The Celt bolted for the forward hold. He reached the steel door of : the magazine. But before he could dodge through it Pomp was upon him. ing the way. ‘* Huh! Yo’ fink yo’ berry smaht, don’ yo’, yo’ no ’count J’ishman? I jes’ fix yo’ fo’ dat, yo’ kin jes’ bet!” ‘* Murther!” roared Barney, “ lave go av me hair, yez black ape!” ae Pomp was not letting go just then. A tremendous scuffle fol- owed. In the course of it Barney got a liberal dose of the flour, thereby be- ing made to take some of his own medicine as it were. While the equal conflict was being waged there came a startling ring from the alarm gong. | ae meant that the presence of all was required in the pilot-house at once. The two jokers at once made a dash up the stairs. They presented & very strange appearance when they presented themselves td Frank. But the young inventor and Pentlow as well were too excited to notice much ahout this, Frank cried sharply. ‘* Stand by the wheel Barney. at last!” A glance was sufficient to betrxy the fact that Frauk spoke the truth. Instantly all was excitement. Distant less than three hundred yards through the water was the sunken city. Its gates and walis were plainly to be seen. Katunda was found. That it might be any other sunken city was hardly likely. This no doubt was the Golden City whose fate was narrated so thrillingly in the M. S. owned by Pentlow. The professor was hardly able to contain himself. As the Sea Mole bore down for the gates of the sunken city, he danced and,stouted in wildest glee like a child with a new toy. “This is indeed a triumph,” he cried, ‘‘ why, we shall make our- selves famous. It is wonderful.” Frank turned the search-light full force upon the sunken city. Its buildings were seen to be of a strange style of architecture, un- like that ever seen by the explorers. It was half between the Greek and the Egyptian. As the Sea Mole sailed up to the walls of the city, it could be seen that they were half buried in white and gleaming sand. This was the result of the action of deep sea currents for many scores of years. The city gates were open, and the boat without any difficulty passed through and up the main street of the place. Upon either side rose the buildings of stone, but deeply incrusted with coral. It was a weird and strange spectacle. In the white glare of the search-light it looked like a ghastly city of the dead. Indeed this was what it really was, for tbe inhabitants had all perished in its streets when the island sank. Nothing was, uf course, left of their remains. They were long since ashes and dissipated by the action of the water and its organisms. No articles of any sort were left in any of the buildings. The shelves of the open bazaars were empty; the stalls where once goods had been exhibited held not a vestige of them. But everywhere sand and silt had gathered, and curious fish and sea animals played in and aboat the empty buildings, Frank noted all this ag the submarine boat sailed on, and could not help but say with conviction: ‘< Professor, Iam afraid that your golden treasure has been dis- pelled, even as these other articles which must have existed in these buildings. It must be that there are other articles as impervious to time and the action of the water as gold. But Pentlow was confident. ‘« Have patience,” he said; ‘* we shall see.” ‘¢ But where will we look for the treasure?” persisted Frank. At that moment they emerged upon a great pleza, with a disused fountain in the center, of carven stone. Direetly opposite this, there was an enormous building, with great columns and a mighty dome. ‘¢ There is the palace of the ruler, no doubt,” cried Pentlow. ‘‘I feel sure that we shal! find treasure there. Of course, it will be found jn some chamber underground, securely locked and barred. There is where we must look for it.” ** All right,” agreed Frank. He brought the Sea Mole to a stop right at the entrance to the palace. The boat rested upon the sandy bottom. Then preparations were made for leaving the boat. I, was arranged that Pentlow and Barney should pursue the quest for the treasure chamber, upon the presumption that such existed, Frank and Pomp were to remain aboard and keep a lookout for any strange sea monster which might essay to enter the place. In a few moments Barney and Pentlow, equipped in their diving suits, were on the outer deck. They descended over the rail, and then plunging through the yielding bank of sand, ascended the coral en- crusted steps. They passed through the great entrance and stood in a mighty hall, The light from the submarine boat pervaded this to a great extent and made all quite plain. Pentlow led the way through this, Beyond was another arched door and an immense courtyard, which must once have looked fine when it was gay with its tropical plants and trickling fountains. Across this the two explorers made their way. This brought them into the main body of the palace. chambers to the number of fully one hundred. From one to another the explorers hurriedly passed, Pentlow lead- Here were Everyone was barren and emrty. But there were some indications We have found the city of Katunda | (COLAN NOOKS., CO =