the pursuit of the house-boat-第15章

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views　with　Crusoe　latterly；　and　he's　given　me　a　lot　of　new　points；　which　I　intend　incorporating　in　a　sequel　for　the　Cimmerian　Magazine。〃

〃Well；　in　the　name　of　Atlas；　what　island　is　it；　then？〃　roared　Holmes；　angrily。　　〃What　is　the　matter　with　all　you　learned　lubbers　that　I　have　brought　along　on　this　trip？　　Do　you　suppose　I've　brought　you　to　whistle　up　favorable　winds？　　Not　by　the　beard　of　the　Prophet！　　I　brought　you　to　give　me　information；　and　now　when　I　ask　for　the　name　of　a　simple　little　island　like　that　in　plain　sight　there's　not　one　of　you　able　so　much　as　to　guess　at　it　reasonably。　　The　next　man　I　ask　for　information　goes　into　irons　with　Judge　Blackstone　if　he　doesn't　answer　me　instantly　with　the　information　I　want。　　Munchausen；　what　island　is　that？〃

〃Ahem！　that？〃　replied　Munchausen；　trembling；　as　he　reflected　upon　the　Captain's　threat。　　〃What？　　Nobody　knows　what　island　that　is？　　Why；　you　surprise　me　…

〃See　here；　Baron；〃　retorted　Holmes；　menacingly；　〃I　ask　you　a　plain　question；　and　I　want　a　plain　answer；　with　no　evasions　to　gain　time。　Now　it's　irons　or　an　answer。　　What　island　is　that？〃

〃It's　an　island　that　doesn't　appear　on　any　chart；　Captain；〃　Munchausen　responded　instantly；　pulling　himself　together　for　a　mighty　effort；　〃and　it　has　never　been　given　a　name；　but　as　you　insist　upon　having　one；　we'll　call　it　Holmes　Island；　in　your　honor。　　It　is　not　stationary。　　It　is　a　floating　island　of　lava　formation；　and　is　a　menace　to　every　craft　that　goes　to　sea。　　I　spent　a　year　of　my　life　upon　it　once；　and　it　is　more　barren　than　the　desert　of　Sahara；　because　you　cannot　raise　even　sand　upon　it；　and　it　is　devoid　of　water　of　any　sort；　salt　or　fresh。〃

〃What　did　you　live　on　during　that　year？〃　asked　Holmes；　eying　him　narrowly。

〃Canned　food　from　wrecks；〃　replied　the　Baron；　feeling　much　easier　now　that　he　had　got　a　fair　start〃canned　food　from　wrecks；　commander。　There　is　a　magnetic　property　in　the　upper　stratum　of　this　piece　of　derelict　real　estate；　sir；　which　attracts　to　it　every　bit　of　canned　substance　that　is　lost　overboard　in　all　parts　of　the　world。　　A　ship　is　wrecked；　say；　in　the　Pacific　Ocean；　and　ultimately　all　the　loose　metal　upon　her　will　succumb　to　the　irresistible　attraction　of　this　magnetic　upper　stratum；　and　will　find　its　way　to　its　shores。　　So　in　any　other　part　of　the　earth。　　Everything　metallic　turns　up　here　sooner　or　later；　and　when　you　consider　that　thousands　of　vessels　go　down　every　year；　vessels　which　are　provisioned　with　tinned　foods　only；　you　will　begin　to　comprehend　how　many　millions　of　pounds　of　preserved　salmon；　sardines；　pate　de　foie　gras；　peaches；　and　so　on；　can　be　found　strewn　along　its　coast。〃

〃Munchausen；〃　said　Holmes；　smiling；　〃by　the　blush　upon　your　cheek；　coupled　with　an　occasional　uneasy　glance　of　the　eye；　I　know　that　for　once　you　are　standing　upon　the；　to　you；　unfamiliar　ground　of　truth；　and　I　admire　you　for　it。　　There　is　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of　in　telling　the　truth　occasionally。　　You　are　a　man　after　my　own　heart。　Come　below　and　have　a　cocktail。　　Captain　Cook；　take　command　of　the　Gehenna　during　my　absence；　head　her　straight　for　Holmes　Island；　and　when　you　discover　anything　new　let　me　know。　　Bonaparte；　in　honor　of　Munchausen's　remarkable　genius；　I　proclaim　general　amnesty　to　our　prisoners；　and　you　may　release　Blackstone　from　his　dilemma；　and　if　you　have　any　tin　soldiers　among　your　marines；　see　that　they　are　lashed　to　the　rigging。　　I　don't　want　this　electric　island　of　the　Baron's　to　get　a　grip　upon　my　military　force　at　this　juncture。〃

With　this　Holmes；　followed　by　Munchausen；　went　below；　and　the　two　worthies　were　soon　deep　in　the　mysteries　of　a　phantom　cocktail；　while　Doctor　Johnson　and　De　Foe　gazed　mournfully　out　over　the　ocean　at　the　floating　island。

〃De　Foe；〃　said　Johnson　〃that　ought　to　be　a　lesson　to　you。　　This　realism　that　you　tie　up　to　is　all　right　when　you　are　alone　with　your　conscience；　but　when　there　are　great　things　afoot；　an　imagination　and　a　broad　view　as　to　the　limitations　of　truth　aren't　at　all　bad。　　You　or　I　might　now　be　drinking　that　cocktail　with　Holmes　if　we'd　only　risen　to　the　opportunity　the　way　Munchausen　did。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　De　Foe；　sadly。　　〃But　I　didn't　suppose　he　wanted　that　kind　of　information。　　I　could　have　spun　a　better　yarn　than　that　of　Munchausen's　with　my　eyes　shut。　　I　supposed　he　wanted　truth；　and　I　gave　it。〃

〃I'd　like　to　know　what　has　become　of　the　House…boat；〃　said　Raleigh；　anxiously　gazing　through　the　glass　at　the　island。　　〃I　can　see　old　Henry　Morgan　sitting　down　there　on　the　rocks　with　his　elbows　on　his　knees　and　his　chin　in　his　hands；　and　Kidd　and　Abeuchapeta　are　standing　back　of　him；　yelling　like　mad；　but　there　isn't　a　boat　in　sight。〃

〃Who　is　that　man；　off　to　the　right；　dancing　a　fandango？〃　asked　Johnson。

〃It　looks　like　Conrad；　but　I　can't　tell。　　He　appears　to　have　gone　crazy。　　He's　got　that　wild　look　on　his　face　which　betokens　insanity。　We'll　have　to　be　careful　in　our　parleyings　with　these　people；〃　said　Raleigh。

〃Anything　new？〃　asked　Holmes；　returning　to　the　deck；　smacking　his　lips　in　enjoyment　of　the　cocktail。

〃Noexcept　that　we　are　almost　within　hailing　distance；〃　said　Cook。

〃Then　give　orders　to　cast　anchor；〃　observed　Holmes。　　〃Bonaparte；　take　a　crew　of　picked　men　ashore　and　bring　those　pirates　aboard。　　Take　the　three　musketeers　with　you；　and　don't　let　Kidd　or　Morgan　give　you　any　back　talk。　　If　they　try　any　funny　business；　exorcise　them。〃

〃Aye；　aye；　sir；〃　replied　Bonaparte；　and　in　a　moment　a　boat　had　been　lowered　and　a　sturdy　crew　of　sailors　were　pulling　for　the　shore。　　As　they　came　within　ten　feet　of　it　the　pirates　made　a　mad　dash　down　the　rough；　rocky　hillside　and　clamored　to　be　saved。

〃What's　happened　to　you？〃　cried　Bonaparte；　ordering　the　sailors　to　back　water　lest　the　pirates　should　too　hastily　board　the　boat　and　swamp　her。

〃We　are　marooned；〃　replied　Kidd；　〃and　on　an　island　of　a　volcanic　nature。　　There　isn't　a　square　inch　of　it　that　isn't　heated　up　to　125　degrees；　and　seventeen　of　us　have　already　evaporated。　　Conrad　has　lost　his　reason；　Abeuchapeta　has　become　so　tenuous　that　a　child　can　see　through　him。　　As　for　myself；　I　am　growing　iridescent　with　anxiety；　and　unless　I　get　off　this　infernal　furnace　I'll　disappear　like　a　soap…bubble。　　For　Heaven's　sake；　then；　General；　take　us　off；　on　your　own　terms。　　We'll　accept　anything。〃

As　if　in　confirmation　of　Kidd's　words；　six　of　the　pirate　crew　collapsed　and　disappeared　into　thin　air；　and　a　glance　at　Abeuchapeta　was　proof　enough　of　his　condition。　　He　had　become　as　clear　as　crystal；　and　had　it　not　been　for　his　rugged　outlines　he　would　hardly　have　been　visible　even　to　his　fellow…spirits。　　As　for　Kidd；　he　had　taken　on　the　aspect　of　a　rainbow；　and　it　was　patent　that　his　fears　for　himself　were　all　too　well　founded。

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　whenacting　in　a　wholly　inexcusable　fashion；　and　influenced；　I　confess　it；　by　motives　of　revengeI　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　crackernot　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　glace；　lobstersevery　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…boatyou　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　clevergranting　that　it　was　desirable　to　be　rid　of　us；　which　I　don't；　for　we　meant　well　by　them；　and　they　would　have　en