The San Francisco call., 1897-10-31

voyages together. In fact, we are old
friends. If we had not known each other
so we'll think / might not have been so
confident that his story was strictly true.
as it is, there is no doubt of its entire
accuracy. The captain took me into his
private cabin and locked the door. Then
he took out from a locker a sandalwood
box with brass hinges.
" In this said the captain, SIS queer
manuscript that was given to me in New
Guinea. 1 have been able to translate IT,
with the help. of the ships carpenter, who
is scholar"
81 read the manuscript carefully and
made copy of it. / will not weary you
lads with the particulars, but this Is the
point of it all: The writing was by
German sailor, who is at this time King
In the interior of New Guinea. He cannot
get away. He has two sons in Germany,
who have advertised for Information about
him. l inquired all about these boys.
They did not seem to me the sort to make
the trip into the place where their father
is virtually a prisoner. So went to San
Francisco. organized this party, with the
assistance of Mr.. Lane, and here we are.
That is all there is to it
$50 we are going to the heart of New.
Guinea2"
THAT is the idea exactly"
"How are we to get the King away from
his fond subjects2'
"Ah! You are asking me too muchY"
"But we shall get him2" asked Ned.
with out a doubt"
The six boys looked at Harry Ostend
xuith auu in. Thara voa thjno nf
bravado about him. He evidently meant
just what he said, and there was some
thing about him that gave them all conf
dence that he would try to do just what
he proposed and that he would succeed.
But to go-only nine men and boys
among thousands and thousands OF saw
ages, cannibals at that. and, after travel
ing hundreds of miles through an m
known land, to try to abduct king and
carry him away from his subjects; then
to retrace their steps and defend them
selves as best they could, all the time !iv-
ing on the country-that seemed like the
most unheard-of adventure. But If any
one could do this undou btedly the man
for the exploit was this same prompt, dc
cided. cool, experienced Harry Ostend.
What a talk the boys had after they had
left Mr.. Ostend and had gone to the cabin
for "a council of war"
This is not one Cali ifornia town COM
peting with another?" said Tom of
Fresno. This is California against the
cannibals of almost continent"
"Will We stop anywhere on the way 2
Binnie asked of his father.
mo; we want to get there as soon as
possible"
There was enough in the situation and
what it promised 10 excite the boys
highly.
"If," said Harry Ostend later in the
day, "there is any one of you who would
rather stay with the yacht when we get
to New Guinea he can do SO, of course.
do not expect to get the German away
without trouble. We will sometimes be
many miles from the yacht and sur
rounded by hostile savages. There will
be danger. L will not deny that. Think
it all over fully before you give me your
answers"
Back outP None of the boys felt in
clined that way.
"Very well, then, see that no mistake
was made in selecting this party. / can
now say that 1 liked your looks
thoroughly when 1 first saw you. Now it
will be California forever with me from
now on"
Several weeks passed without much
that was exciting. The boys practiced
loading and firing two small cannons
which were on the deck of the California,
and also learned to handle Gatling gun
very well.
I'VE will be ready for pirates or saw
ages" Harry Ostend said, at the close of
one days gun practice.
That very night the crew of the Cali
fornia, in open ocean, came in contact
with savages, and what then happened
was destined to lead them through
strange and exciting adventures.
d. II. W.
Ito be continued.)