Cornelius Shea

“ But Van did not notice him. The boy's eyes were riveted upon the back of a man who was just entering the door of a saloon.
As he passed through the doorway the object of his gaze turned his head around for a single instant.
"That's the murderer!" exclaimed Van, and with a single bound he sprang from the car platform into the street, leaving the driver staring at his retreating form in blank amazement.
Van was satisfied that the man he saw was Doc Clancy, alias John Moreland. He had the features and general appearance of the villain stamped too deeply upon his mind to be deceived. ”

“ Since the death of Masie Langford, Jack has never been exactly himself, and the poor fellow, no doubt, wants to get back to the balmy African clime and visit the grave of the girl who loved him, and who, for the sake of being at his side, traveled in the guise of a boy until she met her death at the hands of a cruel assassin. ”

“ The woman looked at him in mute astonishment as he uttered the words.
"Why, surely you are all willing to marry," she gasped.
"I am not, for one," returned Jack.
"And I would rather die first!" exclaimed Joe, with flashing eyes.
"You kin count me out, too," chimed in Lank Edwards.
"Same here," echoed Dr. Pestle.
"I wouldn't think of such a thing," observed our hero.
"Well, I suppose I will have to do as my friends do," said Prof. Drearland; "although I don't think it a half bad idea to marry."
"You shut up, professor," Jack exclaimed. "You have got a wife in England, you know you have." ”

“ Also, it is the law of the African Utopia that a man who is proven a murderer—whether the crime was committed here or in any other part of the world—must die. Your confession proves that you are a vile murderer, and therefore, you must die!"
"What!" screamed Doc Clancy, in a frantic voice. "Van, you will not allow this, will you?"
"Come away!" exclaimed Poppet, taking our hero by the arm. "Bandy no more words with the scoundrel." ”

“ Van ran into the forecastle to get the few things he possessed before the ship was abandoned.
As he reached his bunk a cry of horror escaped his lips.
By the light of the blazing rigging he saw the body of a man lying in a pool of blood in the bunk he had so lately occupied.
"Great heavens!" exclaimed the boy, "this is the work of the red-whiskered sailor, and I firmly believe he mistook this man for me. Poor fellow! he no doubt crawled in my bunk after I left it, thinking it was cooler there. I am now sure the man with the thumbless hand is Doc Clancy." ”

“ Why is it you faint away so often? You put me in mind of a girl sometimes."
"Do I?"—and the face of Joe turned a deep crimson. "I suppose it is my weak nature that makes me swoon every time something awful frightens me; but I won't do it any more, for it might be the means of us both losing our lives."
"Well, never mind, Joe," said Jack, in a kindly tone. "You are a brave little fellow in times of danger, and I can't blame you for fainting when such a thing as those down there gets a hold of you." ”

“ If they attempted to row the boat so as to get away from Clancy and his crowd, they would surely be shot down; and if they remained quietly where they were it would only be a question of time before they would be wiped out.
Before they had time to decide upon what action to take they were astonished to hear a number of rifle shots up the river.
They lifted their heads quickly and glanced at those who were pursuing them.
Doc Clancy and his gang were making for the shore with all their might.
And no wonder! for down the river a boat was being rapidly rowed by half a dozen stalwart blacks. ”

“ Meanwhile the dwarfs picked up their two prisoners and started across the cavern.
They were bent upon joining their companions, by the manner in which they hurried, and in spite of the pleadings of Doc Clancy and his friend, they were hustled away in a fashion that was decidedly unceremonious.
"See here," said Van, suddenly; "there is a great deal of hubbub over there; let's walk out a little ways and see what is going on."
"That's it," returned Lank Edwards. "Them fellers can't see us as long as we don't carry a light." ”

“ The look on his uncle's face told Van that what he said was true.
Just at that moment an old man called Ben, who was the only male servant about the house, came rushing in the room in a terrified manner.
"Oh, Lord!" he exclaimed, wildly. "Whatever has happened, Mr. Vincent?"
"Silence, Ben!" spoke up the dying man. "Van, hand me a glass of brandy and I will try and describe my murderer so that you may hunt him down and bring him to justice." ”

“ He has always been kind to me since I can remember, and I appreciated it and loved him. My mission now is to hunt down his murderer and bring him to justice, and I swear to do it. Cousin John Moreland, I congratulate you on being the heir to uncle's estate. Accept my hand on it."
As Van clasped the hand of John Moreland a sudden thrill shot through his frame, and he glanced downward.
The hand he held in his own was minus the thumb.
In the twinkling of an eye Van's whole manner changed.
With the force of an enraged lion he seized the man by the throat and hurled him back against the wall. ”

“ But there's Doc Clancy! I can't go away and leave him here; for I have sworn that if the villain lives long enough, I will take him back to the United States to stand trial for the murder of my uncle."
"He'll never live long enough for you ter do that," spoke up Lank Edwards; "I'll kill him myself afore that happens." ”

“ Ten minutes later they were drifting rapidly along with the current in the wake of Doc Clancy, who was now over half a mile ahead of them.
Van and Jack proceeded to steer the huge craft, while their companions undertook the task of rolling the loose logs into a pile on either side, to serve as a cover against the possible attack from any persons on either shore.
They knew there must be human beings in the vicinity, or they would never have found the rafts as they were. ”

“ I had been out setting a trap to catch a lion, and on my way back stopped in the cellar of the old building. Almost the first thing I stumbled upon was your body, and, finding that you were one of my own nationality, apparently, I threw you upon my horse's back and brought you here."
"Well," said Van, after a pause, "I should like to go and look up my friends."
"You remain just where you are. I'll send out a couple of men to hunt up your friends. You lie down and go to sleep, and you will surely see them in the morning."
"I guess I'll do as you say," returned our hero. ”

“ The canoes put back for shore with all possible speed.
"I guess they won't trouble us much," remarked our hero. "But I believe we are drifting into danger, for all that."
"Why so?" asked Dr. Pestle.
"Because the way this current runs leads me to believe that there must be a falls close by."
"Then we'd better get ashore," remarked Lank Edwards.
"If we do that we will get into trouble. See! both sides of the river are lined with the white savages."
"Well," said Van, after a pause, "I think we had better stick to the raft as long as it holds together under us." ”

“ His captors did not stop until they had descended a flight of stone steps, and Doc Clancy, who was now thoroughly frightened, felt a draught of chilly air blowing upon him.
Along a damp passage he was conducted, the men carrying lighted candles to show them their way.
Suddenly they came to a halt in a large, cellar-like chamber, and deposited their prisoner on the ground.
"I say," pleaded Clancy, "let me go, won't you? I'll get out of your country right away, if you will."
"Silence! you dog of an Englishman," exclaimed one of the men. "You must die! ”

“ The bullet from Vincent's rifle struck the creature just behind the left fore-shoulder, entering the heart.
It all happened so quickly that none of the inhabitants of the wonderful city could make a move to stop the boy from killing the lion; and as soon as they saw what he had done, a hoarse cry of anger went up from their lips.
"You've played ther part of a fool, Van!" exclaimed Lank Edwards, with a look of disgust. "By saving the life of the murderer of your uncle, you have placed yer own in great danger." ”

“ We are three Englishmen, who have come to this continent to make explorations and endeavor to find some wonderful spot where the foot of civilized man has never trod. My name is Jack Howard; this gentleman on my right is Prof. Drearland, who intends to write a book on what we discover; and the other gentleman is Dr. Pestle, who came with us to keep us in good health by aid of the large stock of medicines and hard-earned experience he has with him."
"I am sure we are very glad to meet you all," returned Van, with a tone of deep sincerity. "But who are those men who attacked us? ”

“ The Utopians who came with them to witness and assist in the burial of the girl, were standing at the gate waiting for them, thinking that the strangers were merely examining the boat.
It was fast growing dark, and casting a last look at the grave of Masie Langford, Jack Howard led his horse down to the water's edge and boarded the scowlike craft. ”

“ It was just at that moment that it occurred to Van for the first time that he had made a mistake.
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"I ought to have brought a policeman with me," he thought. "But it is too late now. I will capture that man or die!"
Rash boy! He had not taken ten steps along the hallway when a figure suddenly confronted him; there was a dull thud, and Van Vincent sank to the floor with a thousand stars flashing before his eyes. ”

“ The next moment she left the crowd and entered the house.
"By Jove! Van, you are a dandy, and no mistake!" exclaimed Jack Howard. "Here I have been all over this city, and haven't had an opportunity of being of service to an old woman, let alone a pretty girl like that. You are a lucky fellow, anyhow."
"Why," observed Joe, turning his large eyes upon those of the young Englishman, "do you like pretty girls so much?"
"I like all girls, whether pretty or not," replied Jack, "but in all my travels I never met but one girl whom I liked enough to take for a wife ”

“ Though Van did not like the life of a sailor any too well, he got along fairly enough, thinking all the while that he would yet corner the murderer of his uncle, and be the means of having him conveyed to the United States to stand trial. ”

“ This morning we heard rifle shots down the river, and thought we would come down and see what was in the wind."
"If there was six of 'em when they left you, there are only four now," remarked Lank Edwards, in a grim manner. "Two of ther villains have turned up their toes."
"Yes," put in Van; "but they have got Doc Clancy with them, and he is a match for any two ordinary men, as far as wickedness goes."
"Suppose you go up to our camp with us?" said Jack Howard, after a pause.
"Certainly," returned our hero. "We have got no other place to go just at present." ”

“ When morning arrived a hearty breakfast was made from a doe shot by Jack, and then a consultation was held as to what course to pursue.
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"There is one thing certain," said Prof. Drearland, "we would never be able to reach the coast if we started back the way we came. My advice is to keep on until we strike some civilized people."
"Here are hoof prints!" Van exclaimed, suddenly. "That proves that Doc Clancy made good his escape. Where he can go, we surely can, so we will follow the trail."
Sure enough, there was the trail made by two horses, leading on through the wild forest. ”

“ The mate, who had fallen first, had only been grazed on the side of his head by the bullet from Clancy's rifle.
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As Van attempted to rise to his feet again, the mate cautioned him to lie still, and Gregory, who had already sought seclusion behind the thwarts, seconded the motion.
"Lay low," said the sailor, in a whisper. "We'll make 'em believe we are dead."
"That's our only show," added the mate. "If they leave us alone for a few minutes we'll drift out of range; ther tide is runnin' out like a race horse!"
But Doc Clancy and his villainous allies were not yet satisfied. ”

“ The pithy substance seemed to extend clear through the rock, and as soon as Jack saw what it was that was burning, he concluded to let it go, as it furnished him a very good light to see what was going on around him. He now could hear a sharp, clicking noise all around the rock, and a glance showed the place to be alive with monsters like the one which had started to carry off Joe.
Their huge claws, opening and shutting, caused the noise. ”

“ Only I should like to see the villain die with a rope around his neck."
"He might die a wuss death than bein' hung," said the mate. "You can't tell what'll happen in this strange country," and Lank Edwards shrugged his shoulders. ”

“ Such a thing as money was not used in African Utopia. All hands worked, and the results of their different labors were freely exchanged, thus making everything of value equal to money.
When a man became too lazy to work for his living, he was thrown to a hungry lion as a warning to any who might chance to follow in his footsteps. ”