Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-22

Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
CHAPTER 1.-The officers of the
United States ship Wolverine cruising
In the Pacific, are mystihed by a
strange radiance which appears sud
ishes as suddenly. The officers discuss
the strange disappearance, two years
previously, of the schooner Laughing
Lass. chartered by DR.. Schermerhorn,
CHAPTER 1.-THE Wolverine picks
up the Laughing Lass, with everything
Shipshape save that there is no living
CHAPTER III-Ensgn Edwards IS
sent aboard the Laughing Lass with
prize crew.
CHAPTER IV.-The Wolverine sees
the strange light again. In volcanic
mist the Laughing Lass drifts away
and is found again with no one on
board and her boats untouched.
CHAPTER VA second prize crew
Is sent aboard the schooner The mys-
FERROUS light is seen again, and the
wolverine discovers n volcano in full
eruption. The Laughing Lass vanishes
again.
CHAPTER vI-The Wolverine picks
up dory belonging to the Laughing
Lass. 1t contains Ralph Slade. a jour
nalist known to have been with Scher-
mer aorn. and the corpse of the Wolver-
ines bo'SnS mate, who had gone with
Edwards. Slade is in very bad condi-
ton from fever. thirst and exhaustion.
CHAPTER VII-Slade RECEIVERS and
directs the Wolverines course toward
the volcanic island, on which he de-
clares a man named barrow is maroon
ed. Slade begins to tell his story to
the officers of the Wolverine.
CHAPTER NIII-Slade's story. He
ships under the name Eagen, as mate
aboard the Laughing Lass, Captain Sell
over, commander. after the schooner
had been engaged by Schcrmerhorn for
two years, her destination being I'M
known. The doctor displays eXtraor-
binary care in taking aboard heavy
brass bound chest.
CHAPTER IX.-Slade makes the ac-
quaintance of Handy Solomon pratt
cal looking seaman with steel hook
in place of right hand, and his -four
mates. The crew show an unusual in
tercst in a book on alchemy. The Laugh
ing Lass leaves San Francisco.
CHAPTER X.-Slade discovers a col
lection of arms in the captains cabin
Both Captain Seloyer and barrow
Schermerhorn's assistant, are ignorant
of the schooner's destination.
CHAPTER XII The crew believes
that the doctor is in search of treas
CHAPTER XII. = Captain Selover
overawes the crew. Slade ana a negro
sailor overhear Schermerhorn tell Oar
row he has the secret of the transmuta-
tion of metals locked up in his brass
bound chest. The negro tells the crew
Captain Selovcr is Indifferent to the
mems plotting, but gives Slade re-
Volver.
CHAPTER XIII.-Landing is made on
an uncharted island, with volcano in
partial action. The wreck of the Gold
en- Horn is discovered. barrow picks
out small valley in which he and the
professor are to stay.
CHAPTERS NV. and IVA labora
tory, guarded by a stockade, is built
for the professor The captain puts
the crew to work cleaning ship AND
stripping the wreck in order to keeI
them employed. After seven weeks
there is nothing left for them to do
and he becomes afraid of them.
CHAPTER XVI-A herd of wilC
sheep is found and hunted. The crew
sees barrow engaged in chemical eX.
pertinent at a miniature volcanic era
ter
CHAPTER XNII.-One of the sailor:
mutinies and Slade fails in an attempt
to overawe the men. The mastery o
the situation passes to Handy Solo
mon.
CHAPTER XVIII - Idleness make:
the crew surly and quarrelsome, unit
barrow sets them to hunting seals TO
the animals whiskers, etc. SelOver
who has taken to drink. remains aboart
the Laughing Lass.
CHAPTER XIX The crew, mad
bloodthirsty by the slaughter of TIN
seals, murder Captain Selover, when h
comes ashore.