OTHER NOVELS
BY
ARTHUR D. HOWDEN SMITH
HISTORICAL
THE DOOM TRAIL
BEYOND THE SUNSET
ADVENTURE
THE TREASURE OF THE BUCOLEON
To R. L. S.
Oh, Tusitala, you who lie
"Under the wide and starry sky"
On that Samoan hill,
Think not this wretched, miswrought tale
Is meant to breast the thundering gale
Of your great art and skill—
As well the humble trading bark
Might sail to cloudland with the lark!
Be patient, sir, until
We meet on some far height of dreams
And I explain just why it seems
John Silver's with us still,
And all the raffish, ruffian crew
That you and young Jim Hawkins knew—
They burst Time's dungeon-grill!
FENLEY HUNTER, Esq.,
Flushing,
N. Y.
DEAR FEN:
You are responsible for some of the incidents in this roaring yarn, and for that and other reasons it should be inscribed to you—who, in your own person, lead a life as swaggeringly varied from the existence of office, home and country-club as any character I have created between these covers. If it detains you from the out-trail for a night or two, persuades you to sample the pleasures of the sheltered hearth, I shall be rewarded.
Yours,
KING ARTHUR.
Babylon, N. Y.,
Feb. 9, 1924.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER