Frank Reade Library: Six Sunken Pirates — page 10: what you’re looking at

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10 SIX SUNKEN PIRATES. ——————— eee A ED EEE ae that rich furnishings had once been there. These were now but dust however, and merged into the sands of the sea. The extreme loneliness of the place, and the realization that death had long since swept all life from this once prosperous city, hada more or less depressing effect upon the exylorers. But they kept on, and not until he had visited all the chambers did Pentlow turn his footsteps in another direction. Some broad stairs led down into dark depths. Pentiow placed his helmet close to Barney’s and shouted: ‘“T believe we shall fiud the treasure down there!” *¢ All roight, sor!” ‘Now if you are reluctant to take the risk of following me you may wait here until I return!” ‘¢ Begorra, [ll go wid yez!” replied Barney. ‘© Come on, then!” Down the slippery steps they slowly made their way. The lights upon their helmets showed objects about quite plainly. At the foot of the stairs was a long passage. From this doors opened into rooms similar to those above. rooms had no appearance of being treasure chambers. But at the end of the passage was another flight of stairs. At the foot of these was a blank wall. “Ah,” thought Pentlow. ‘* Now we are coming to something.” ‘¢ Begorra, do yez think we can go ary further?” asked Barney. ‘+(f course,” replied the treasure hunter, ‘‘there is something be- yond this wall; these stairs were never made for nothing, be sure of that.” Pentlow searched the wall in every way for a sign of a secret spring or the outlines of a door. None such existed, The wall was tight and closely plastered in the chinks. no dout of this. A sudden thought struck Pentlow. He knelt down and scraped away some of the sand upon the floor. His fingers were suddenly thrust into an aperture. He pulled strongly and lifted a square alab of rock, revealing a dark opening below. He experienced a thrill of surprise and delight. ‘¢ Hurrah!” he cried. ‘‘Now we have found the way!” He bent over and tried to look down into the place. light enabled him to see a square chamber below. Instantly he Jowered himself into the place. Barney followed. The sight which was now revealed to the two explorers was indeed a wonderful one. They stook ina square crypt or vault, devoid of windows or any other opening. One part of this chamber was half walled up. In the compartment thus made was a heap of what looked like dull bits of stone. _Pentlow eagerly leaned over and picked up some of these. citement was moat intense. ‘‘The treasure,” he cried, ‘‘look, they are ingots of gold. people did not know the manufacture of coin. and ingots.” . This seemed true. Barney was quite etupefied. “Do yez reckon that this is all gold?’ he asked. ‘sWhy of course!” cried Pentlow, ‘* don’t you see that the action of the water and time bas destroyed everything above this crypt? The destroying influence could not get down here, for it was tightly sealed u ‘I’m not afeard!” These There was His helmet His ex- Thiese They dealt in slugs ‘‘ Begorra, there’s heaps av it,” averred the Celt. ‘‘More than a ton.” cried Pentlow. ‘Only think of it, enough to buy a whole State in America. Why, we are all ten times milliou- aires, This was rather an extravagant statement, put Pentlow was excited. He picked up the yellow slugs and ingots and began to fill a re- ceptacle he carried. Barney did the same, ‘“We will take these to the Sea Mole.” declared Pentlow, ‘then we will devise a plan to remove the treasure to the boat.” And the two divers, with all they could stagger under of the metal, gtarted to return to the Sea Mole. CHAPTER IX. ALL A SHAM: inal was tremendously excited. It was the crowning hour of his fe. He reached the rail of the sabmarine boat and clambered over it, followed by Barney. He entered the vestibule, and at that moment Frank and Pomp caughi sight of him. The water was exhausted from the vestibule, and then the two div- ers entered the cabin. th pel" cried Frank in astonishment, ‘* you have found some- ing ‘Found it!” cried the professor, wildly, as he flung his burden down. ‘ We are millionaires, I tell you-—rich as rich can be!” The sack burst open, and the yellow slugs rolled out. Pomp gave Q great cry. ‘* Golly fo’ glory!” he shouted, ‘‘dat am de bes’ fing yet! It am gold fo’ suah—it am gold!” Barney also deposited his burden, and removing his helmet, gasped: ‘* Bejabers, I should say it wuz gold er somethin’ powerful heavy. Me back is nigh broke wid it.” Frank looked at Pentlow. ‘* You have found the treasure of Katunda?” he asked. “ Yes! cried Pentlow wildly; ‘‘ and Fate led me right to it. Noth- ing could have been more wonderful!” Phen he narrated his experience and Frank listened with interest. “ How much do youthbink there is of the stuff?” he asked. ‘“©T don’t know. Certainly more than a ton.” =<: Wonderfull We will arrange a plan to bring it aboard the boat at once.” That is the talk.” It was quickly decided that Barney and Pomp should use heavy sacks and make regular trips back and forth until the treasure vault should be empty. Accordingly they donned their helmets and began to work. It proved an enormous task. But steadily they worked at it, bringing the metal aboard until hundreds of pounds of it cumbered the cabin floor. Pentlow was almost delirious with delight. He could not restrain hia exuberant feelings. ‘You cannot blame me!” he cried, ‘It is a great lift for me. Do you know what I shall do? I intend to carry out the fondest dream of my life and erect the biggest observatory in the world upon the high- est peak in the Rocky Mountains.” ‘That is a praiseworthy resolve,” said Frank. all this metal is gold.” ‘Gold! Why, of course it is. corrosion in this length of time.” ‘Ah, you forget! This treasure has been carefully sealed up in a crypt where there could be little of the corroding infiuence felt.” «+ Eb?” exclaimed Pentlow, with sudden lengthening of the face, ‘‘ there could be no mistake. Of course it is gold, Jl guarantee it to stand test—-—” ‘ Ab!” cried Frank, ‘‘ that is the idea. it a test.” ‘* Do sol” Frank picked up one of the slugs and went into the chemical room. Here there was a strong glare of light. He experienced a peculiar chill as he glanced at the metal in this light. It looked too white for gold. He applied a file to the corroded surface and filed away the rust. It seemed to him that for gold the metal was intensely hard and brittle. However he said nothing. Pentlow watched the experiment. When he had exposed the metal from its coating of rust, Frank applied the chemical. The test was instanuly made. Then Pentlow gave a groan and sank into a chair. ‘*Great Heavens!” he gasped. ‘‘ We are duped—sold! old!” e ‘*No,” replied Frank, steadily; “the natives of Katunda probably knew nothing of gold. This is a queer alloy somewhat akin to brass.” It was somewhile before Pez.tlow recovered his spirits. pointment was keen. Frank commanded Barney and Pomp to desjst in bringing the spurious metal aboard. ‘Then a discussion was held. ‘The treasure of Katunda may not have been a fable, anyway,” said Pentlow, with a sudden revival of hope. be other treasure chambers.” . ‘© That is possible,” agreed Frank, ‘‘ but not altogether likely. How- ever, if you wish to resume the search, by all means do 80.” ‘«T believe I will,’’ declared the scientist. So accordingly he went forth again with Barney. The Katunda palace was again most thoroughly explored, Another treasure vault was found, and in it various other articles of the same kind of metal, among them being a crown studded with pearls and other jewels. This had some value, and was the only article found worth preserv- ng. Not yet satisfied, Pentlow explored other buildings. Bat all was to no purpose. He finally returned to the cabin of the Sea Mole. ‘* Well?” asked Frank, cheerily, ‘‘ how did you make out?” ‘“T am satisfied,” said Pentlow wearily, ‘‘the treasure of Katunda was asham. The gold which they were reputed to have in such quantity was not gold at all.” ** Quite right.” ‘‘We have explored the treasare vaults of what must have been the royal palace, and we have found what were undoubtedly the tule jewels. They are only cheap pearls and rubies. [tis alla sham.” ‘‘ Just so,” agreed Frank. ed?” ‘* More than I can tell you.” ‘‘ Well, Iam not.” Pentlow looked astonished. ‘* You are not?” “No.” f rT Why” ‘‘T did not expect to find any gold in Katunda.” ‘©T only hope that No other metal could have escaped It will do no harm to give It is not The disap- ‘‘T suppose you are much disappoint- ‘+ You know there may COMICDOOKS (C(O) =