The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

52 “ Mon Dieu, what a man! ”’ I entered the cave. I called Sander- man. I searched every cavern, every nook and cranny. There was no Sanderman to be found. CHAPTER XXV. A PUZZLING SITUATION, I sANK on one of the benches in the cavern used as a dining-room, and held my head, which was swimming. I could see all kinds of trouble loom- ing up before us, black as an African night. Of course I knew that the islander had spirited Sanderman away while Ordway and | had been talking with the three officials on the shore. And what persuasive arguments could be brought to bear on the man we had named Crusoe Donaldson, to compel him to produce the young aero- naut? Ordway and I were castaways on the island, subsisting, practically, on Don- aldson’s bounty, for there was little doubt in my own mind of his authority as the sole inhabitant. In no sense of the word were Ordway and I residents of the place. What could we do? I walked, or, rather, I should say, staggered outside. Ordway, who had been as agitated as myself over the outlook, and who knew the moods that showed themselves in my countenance, started forward as soon as he saw me emerge. “What's the asked anxiously. ‘““He—he isn’t there,’ I managed to gasp. “What! Gone?” ‘“ Kvaporated—flew the coop.” “Heavens, what next?” groaned Ordway. Collins, the attaché of the embassy, was the first of the three official visit- ors to grasp the meaning of this dia- logue. -““ What is the trouble?’ he asked, matter, Dag?” he THE ARGOSY. as anxiously as Ordway had spoken. “ Sanderman missing? ” “Yes,” I replied. “ When we went to the shore to meet you at landing we left him inside.” “What is this?” bruskly demanded Inspector Ravary. ‘Our bird has flown?” This question stung me into action. Without speaking a word in reply I darted away and ran to where Ordway and I had seen the wrecked air-ship in the trees. It was still there. I hurried back to the expectant group. “Truly,” said the inspector of the Department of Safety, “ Americans are strange beings. I ask you a ques- tion, and you run away as though I had aimed a pistol at your head.”’ “T ran, inspector, because the man- ner in which you asked the question put a question in my own mind. I ran to see if Sanderman had actually flown.” “ And—well?”’ this from Captain Delatouche, which we had learned was the naval officer’s name. “The air-ship is still there. It will never fly till a good deal of doctoring is done.”’ ' “ Let me understand this fully,” said Inspector Ravary, and his manner was rapidly becoming ugly. “ You say you left the murderer in the cave.” “T said we left Sanderman in the cave. In our-country we don’t call a man a murderer until it is proven he committed murder.” “We will not quibble over terms. Where is he now? ” “He is somewhere on this island. That much is certain, and you know as much about the matter as we do.” “T am not so sure about that,” re- plied Ravary. “ He is your country- man. I have had dealings with Amer- ican rogues before. One will always help another. You—” Ordway stepped forward and laid his hand on Ravary’s shoulder. “This is not the prefecture de po- lice of Paris. Another word like that and I will knock you down. My friend CoOMmicbook CO