Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

“64 A MONTH IN THE MOON. ‘“Willingly. Take all that you need. I shall be only too pleased if you succeed.’’ Kaddour equipped himself, and, taking a store of oxygen, sallied forth. ‘‘ Where is he going?’’ they all wondered. ‘‘ Does he suppose that the prisoners could have buried seven tons of chlorate in the ground?” It seemed a ridiculous idea. CHAPTER XLIV.—TuHE STOLEN CHLORATE. AY the end of an hour the dwarf returned. ‘“ The chlorate of potassium is at the bottom of the crater of Rheticus,” he said. ‘‘ Those villains took it in sacks, and threw it down the opening of the well that supplies us with air. J have found it all in a heap underneath the well. I opened the crater, and after a thorough examination closed it again.”’ ‘*Can it be possible that you have not made a mistake, Kaddour?’’ cried Norbert, scarcely daring to believe the good news. ‘‘ Here is the proof,’’ continued the dwarf, taking out of his pocket a handful of chlorate of potassium, which he laid on the table. There was no gainsaying the fact now. After warm congratulations on his discovery, they took counsel together concerning the fate to be awarded the three criminals. ‘‘ What is your opinion, doctor?’’ asked Norbert. ‘‘ What ought to be done with these wretches, under the circumstances? ’’ : ‘It is an atrocious crime,’’ said the doctor, ‘‘and on board ship it would be visited most certainly with death. It is, perhaps, rather more heinous, under existing circumstances. JI am not a man of violence, and it is very much against the grain to have to utter such a verdict. But the scoundrels deserve the worst.’’. ‘“And what do you say, Sir Bucephalus ?”’ ‘‘ There cannot be two opinions about it,”’ peremptorily replied the baronet. ‘These villains are a permanent source of danger. Fraud and treachery are their favorite weapons, and it is useless to expect either gratitude or repent- ance from them. I vote for their death.’’ ‘‘ And you, Kaddour ?’’ ‘“ Death is too good for them—that is all I have to say.”’ ‘““And you, Virgil ?”’ ‘“ Indeed, sir,’’ said the brave Algerian, ‘‘ I have seen many a poor wretch of a soldier shot for not a quarter of what these villains have done.’’ ‘What do you say ?”’ ‘“ Death.’’ Norbert was silent and thoughtful. He was, perhaps, about to indorse the verdict of his companions, when Gertrude opened the door. She had come to fetch her work—some cloth slippers she was embroidering in spare mo- ments for her dear father. : ‘Pardon me !”” she said. ‘‘I am afraid I am disturbing you. You all look like conspirators, sitting round the table.’’ Eomichbooks (<(0) mm