ning to the deck, smacking his lips in
enjoyment of the cocktail.

"No--except 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.

[Illustration: "THE PIRATES MADE A MAD DASH DOWN THE ROUGH, ROCKY
HILL-SIDE"]

"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 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