The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 171 ing bag and spent the next hour in counting his villainous gains. As Dolph looked at him, he thought of the schemes that had flashed through his mind before he went to sleep. He had better be shot than live branded as a bank robber. He could not determine how it was to be done, but he firmly re- solved to undo the mischief, or attempt to do so. When Poddy was tired of looking at the immense mass of bank bills he went to the entrance of the grotto. Little by little he removed the firs from the mouth of the cave and then stepped out. He cautiously looked about him, and then out upon the lake in the direction of the town. ‘* All right!’’ exclaimed he. ‘‘ They have left the island, and now I am monarch ofallI survey. ‘That boat is a mile off, and youcan come out, Dolph and Phin ; but you must not show youselves.”’ ‘That is the Dragon, my boat,’’ said Dolph. ‘‘ Our visitors have left. Can we walk on the back of the island, where we can’t be-seen from the town ?”’ Poddy gave his consent. CHAPTER XXVII.—Tom SAWDER’S BLOODTHIRSTY SUGGESTION. ‘Vou will not show yourselves near the shore in any part of the island,’’ said Poddy, after the prisoners had walked a few steps from the spot where the robber stood at the entrance of the cave. ‘No one could see us from the main land,’’ said Dolph. ‘‘Some gunner or fisherman may be ina position to see you. If you please, I prefer that you should stay where no one can see you,’’ added Poddy. ‘‘I can keep youin the cave all the time ; but if Iam good natured enough to let you take the air, you must observe my directions.’’ ‘‘Very well, Mr. Poddy ; we will do as you say,’’ returned Dolph. ‘‘Keep away from the west side of the island, and you may go where you please on the other side,’’ continued the robber, as he returned to the interior of the cave. _ Poddy was satisfied that it was simply impossible for the prisoners to leave the island, as there was no boat except the one in the cave. The near- est part of the main land was halfa mile distant, at the strait, while the channel was a mile and a half wide. They were to keep away from the shore of the strait, and no person could see them across the channel. ‘The robber did not even think it waseneces- sary to watch thém, though he was not likely to allow them to remain out of his sight for any great length of time. Dolph led the way to the highest part of the island, which was directly over the grotto. There were plenty of firs growing on the summit, though the sides were exceedingly rough. The rocks lay as though a mountain of them had been dumped in this place, with a small proportion of earth mixed in with them. Here and therea crevice, sometimes amounting to what boys would call a cave, was to be found. ‘“What’s going to be the end of this thing ?’’ asked Phin, as his com- panion seated himself on a rock near the summit of the hill. COMmmicooolxs (S@)