Front matter
Reading edition
Porto Bello Gold
BY
ARTHUR D. HOWDEN SMITH
NEW YORK BRENTANO'S PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1924, by ARTHUR D. HOWDEN SMITH All rights reserved First printing, August, 1924 Second printing, September, 1924
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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
I My Father's Secret II The One-Legged Man and the Irish Maid III A Caller in the Night IV An Inkling of the Plot V Aboard the Brig VI Tall Ships and Lawless Men VII Murray's Plan VIII A Wicked Old Man's Dream IX The Island X Hostages XI Peter Plays at Bowls with Destiny XII The Treasure Ship XIII Trouble Boards the Royal James XIV The Dead Man's Chest XV Suspicions XVI Treachery XVII The Storm XVIII Disaster XIX The Attack on the Stockade XX Prisoners XXI Flint's Way XXII "Fetch aft the Rum, Darby McGraw!" XXIII Cap'n Bill Bones XXIV Home
PORTO BELLO GOLD