Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-03
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.

Synopsis of Preceding Chapters. ,
CHAPTER 1.-The officers of the |
United States ship Wolverine. cruising !
in the Pacific, are mystifed by a
strange radiance which appears sud-
denly on the face of the sea and van
isheS as suddenly. The officers discuss .
the strange disappearance, two years
previously. Of the schooner Laughing
Lass. chartered by DIR. Schermerhorn,
CHAPTER 1.-THE Wol> crime picks
up the Laughing Lass with everything
shipshape save that there is no living
being aboard.
CHAPTER III-Ensign Edwards is
sent aboard the Laughing Lass with Il
CHAPTER Tv.-The Wolverine sees
the strange light again. In a 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-
terious light IS seen again. and the
Wolverine discovers a volcano in fun
eruption. The Laughing Lass vanishes
again.
CHAPTER VI-The wolverine picks
up a dory belonging to the Laughing
Lass 1t contains Ralph Slade, Il jour
naliSt known to have been with Scher-
merhorn, and the corpse of the Wolver-
ines ho's'n's mate, who had gone with
Edwards. Slade is in very bad condi-
ton from fever. thirst and exhaustion.
CHAPTER VII-Slade RECEIVERS and
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 VIII-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 Schermerhorn for
two years. her destination being I'M
known. The doctor displays extraor-
binary care in taking aboard u heavy
DraSS
CHAPTER IX.-Slade makes the ac-
quaintance of Handy Solomon, a pratt
cal looking seaman with a steel hook
in place OF a right hand, and his four
mates. The crew show an unusual in
terest 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 SelOver and DarrOw,
Schermerhorn's assistant, are ignorant
of the schooner's destination.
CHAPTER XII The crew believes
that the doctor is in search of treas
ure.
CHAPTER XII. - Captain SeIover
overawes the crew. Slade ana 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 Selover Is Indifferent to the
mems plotting, but gives Slade "A re-
CHAPTER XIIL-Landing is made on
an uncharted island, with a volcano in
partial action. The wreck of the Gold
en- Horn is discovered. barrow picks
out n small valley in which he and the
professor are to stay.
CHAPTERS XIV. and XV.-A labora-
tory, guarded by Il stockade, is built
for the professor: The captain puts
the crew to work cleaning ship and
stripping the wreck in order to keep
them employed. After seven weeks
there is nothing left for them to do,
and he becomes afraid of them.
CHAPTER XVI-A herd of wild
sees barrow engaged in a chemical eX-
pertinent at miniature volcanic era
ter
CHAPTER XVII-One of the sailors
mutinies, and Slade fails in an attempt
to overawe the men. The mastery of
the situation passes to Handy Solo
mon.
CHAPTER XVIII. - Idleness makes
the crew surly and quarrelsome. until
barrow sets them to hunting seals for
the animals whiskers, etc sSelover,
who has taken to drink, remains aboard
CHAPTER XIX-The crew, made
blOodthirsty by the slaughter of the
seals, murder Captain Selover, when he
comes ashore.
CHAPTER XX.-Slade is seized and
bound. but escapes.
CHAPTE XXI.-Slade observes one
result Of the doctors experiments in a
binding light that Eliminates for a
short time the valley of the laboratory.
He is recaptured but manages to warn
barrow, who comes to tell the sailors
that the time to leave the island has
arrived.
CHAPTER X%II-The sailors try to
kill barrow and succeed in wOunding
him, but he escapes. The volcano be-
gins TO erupt violently as Schermer-
horn, carrying the chest, is seen APP
preaching the sailors camp.
CHAPTERS X&IlL-XXIN.-The doc
tor declares that the chest contains the
greatest substance in the world, and
the men kill him to get possession OF
It. The volcano becomes very active
and all, save barrow. embark on the
Laughing Lass. The schooner narrow
ly ESCAPES destruction.
CHAPTER XXV.-The crew open the
MYSTERIOUS chest. As they do so q
weird fire envelopes the entire vessel
and all on board including Slade, throw
themselves overheard Slade declares
that he was possessed by an irresisti-
BILE craving for water.
CHAPTER XXVL-In the Wolverines
messroom again. Slade is amazed tC
learn that the Laughing Lass, wher
found, showed no signs of fire. He de
Clares that the two prize crews arc
surely dead. The cruiser approaches
the island, to take off barrow.
CHAPTER XXVII.-On the island the
Wolverines landing party fails to fine
barrow, but discovers a book left By
him