The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

176 THE BUNKEL MYSTERY. 9) a safe piace,’’ reasoned Phin. ‘‘ They are not going to leave us in any such way.’”’ ‘“As you seem to know, Phin, how are they going to leave us?’’ asked Dolph, with a laugh, for he was only anxious to bring his companion into his own condition of mind. ‘‘ They are going to tie us hand and foot, and leave us in the-cave !”’ ex- claimed Phin, with melodramatic earnestness. ‘‘’Then they are going to stop up the entrance of the hole with that big rock which lies near it.’’ ‘‘I think you are right, Phin,’’ said Dolph, in the most encouraging tones. ‘‘ They are not going to leave us in a situation to start a pursuit of them.’”’ ‘“ Nobody in Montoban has the least suspicion that we are on Bunkel Island; they are looking for us in New York City and elsewhere. We should starve to death in the cave; die a lingering death, prolonged for weeks, perhaps,’’ said Phin, with a shudder. ‘You take a cheerful view of the end of the whole matter, though it seems to me that you are wholly right,’’ returned Dolph. ‘‘ The robbers can’t do it in any other way. ‘They must either shoot us or tie us in the cave so that we can’t get out. They are not going to take any risks, of course. Poddy has one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cold cash in his bag, and He can bea count on the Lake of Como if he succeeds in making his escape.’ ‘‘ We need not argue the matter any more, for we agree perfectly,’’ added Phin, who in some measure ascribed this result to his own logic and elo- quence. “Then all we have to do is to strike now !”’ said Dolph, in a low tone, but with the most determined energy. “What do you mean ?”’’ inquired Phin, who had not got so far as his companion. ‘“ We must change the signs in both members of the equation by getting possession of the two revolvers.’’ ‘*Can we do that ?’’ asked Phin, amazed at the idea. ‘We can try !”’ ‘But we may be shot.’’ ‘That will not be half so bad as being shut up in the cave, with our hands and feet tied, to starve to death!’’ exclaimed Dolph. ‘‘ Better be shot than starved. But we have a good chance to succeed. If you will take Tom, I will take Poddy. When they are asleep, we have more than an even chance with them. Get the revolvers, and then use them.’’ ‘“T don’t think I could handle Tom,’’ said Phin. ‘“ Not when you take him asleep?”’ ‘*T will think how to do it,’? added Phin, shrinking from such a contest as was indicated. ‘‘T have thought of it all, and you can do it as easily as you can tumble down on the ice. ‘The first thing will be to hit him the heaviest crack on the head you can with a clubor a rock,’’ said Dolph earnestly. ‘‘ I know I can fix Poddy the first time trying.”’ Tomichook (S@)