Transcriber’s Notes:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end.
* * * * *
No. 134
BOUND-TO-WIN LIBRARY
IN THE VOLCANO’S MOUTH
BY FRANK SHERIDAN
[Illustration]
STREET & SMITH · PUBLISHERS · NEW YORK
* * * * *
THE BOUND TO WIN LIBRARY
We called this new line of high-class copyrighted stories of adventure
for boys by this name because we felt assured that it was “bound to
win” its way into the heart of every true American lad. The stories
are exceptionally bright, clean and interesting. The writers had the
interest of our boys at heart when they wrote the stories, and have not
failed to show what a pure-minded lad with courage and mettle can do.
Remember, that these stories are copyrighted and cannot be had in any
other series. We give herewith a list of those already published and
those scheduled for publication.
PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK
To be Published During September
136--Spider and Stump By Bracebridge Hemyng
135--The Creature of the Pines By John De Morgan
134--In the Volcano’s Mouth By Frank Sheridan
133--Muscles of Steel By Weldon J. Cobb
To be Published During August
132--Home Base By Bracebridge Hemyng
131--The Jewel of Florida By Cornelius Shea
130--The Boys’ Revolt By Harrie Irving Hancock
129--The Mystic Isle By Fred Thorpe
128--With the Mad Mullah By Weldon J. Cobb
To be Published During July
127--A Humble Hero By John De Morgan
126--For Big Money By Fred Thorpe
125--Too Fast to Last By Bracebridge Hemyng
124--Caught in a Trap By Harrie Irving Hancock
123--The Tattooed Boy By Weldon J. Cobb
122--The Young Horseman By Herbert Bellwood
121--Sam Sawbones By Bracebridge Hemyng
120--On His Mettle By Fred Thorpe
119--Compound Interest By Harrie Irving Hancock
118--Runaway and Rover By Weldon J. Cobb
117--Larry O’Keefe By Bracebridge Hemyng
116--The Boy Crusaders By John De Morgan
115--Double Quick Dan By Fred Thorpe
114--Money to Spend By Harrie Irving Hancock
113--Billy Barlow By Bracebridge Hemyng
112--A Battle with Fate By Weldon J. Cobb
111--Gypsy Joe By John De Morgan
110--Barred Out By Fred Thorpe
109--Will Wilding By Bracebridge Hemyng
108--Frank Bolton’s Chase By Harrie Irving Hancock
107--Lucky-Stone Dick By Weldon J. Cobb
106--Tom Scott, the American Robinson Crusoe By Frank Sheridan
105--Fatherless Bob at Sea By Bracebridge Hemyng
104--Fatherless Bob By Bracebridge Hemyng
103--Hank the Hustler By Fred Thorpe
102--Dick Stanhope Afloat By Harrie Irving Hancock
101--The Golden Harpoon By Weldon J. Cobb
100--Mischievous Matt’s Pranks By Bracebridge Hemyng
99--Mischievous Matt By Bracebridge Hemyng
98--Bert Chipley By John De Morgan
97--Down-East Dave By Fred Thorpe
96--The Young Diplomat By Harrie Irving Hancock
95--The Fool of the Family By Bracebridge Hemyng
94--Slam, Bang & Co By Weldon J. Cobb
93--On the Road By Stanley Norris
92--The Blood-Red Hand By John De Morgan
91--The Diamond King By Cornelius Shea
90--The Double-Faced Mystery By Fred Thorpe
89--The Young Theatrical Manager By Stanley Norris
88--The Young West-Pointer By Harrie Irving Hancock
87--Held for Ransom By Weldon J. Cobb
86--Boot-Black Bob By John De Morgan
85--Engineer Tom By Cornelius Shea
84--The Mascot of Hoodooville By Fred Thorpe
In the Volcano’s Mouth
OR
A BOY AGAINST AN ARMY
_By_ FRANK SHERIDAN, _author of_ “_Bert Fairfax_,”
“_Through Flame to Fame_,” “_Life-Line Larry_,” “_Lion-Hearted
Jack_,” _etc._
[Illustration]
STREET AND SMITH, PUBLISHERS
79-89 SEVENTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
* * * * *
Copyright, 1890
By Norman L. Munro
In the Volcano’s Mouth
* * * * *
IN THE VOLCANO’S MOUTH.
CHAPTER I. MADCAP MAX.
“All aboard!”
“All but passengers ashore.”
The loud, stentorian voices of the officers of the magnificent palace
steamer L’Orient, of the Peninsular and Oriental Line, sounded all
along the Southampton docks, up the streets to the old gates, and even
penetrated into some of the business houses of the quaint old English
town.
The shout, so commonplace to the citizens of Southampton, was one of
serious import to those gathered on the deck of the steamer.
Parting is never pleasant, and when the journey is a long one, and it
is known the absence is for years, the last words are always tearful.
On the deck stood two men, alone.
Not one had come to bid them good-by or a godspeed on their journey.
And yet tears filled the eyes of both.
The elder was a bronzed veteran, his face as dark as that of any
mulatto, his long, white mustache standing out in startling contrast to
the color of his skin.
He was sixty years of age, but his strong body, his hard muscles, and
firm walk, would rather betoken a man of forty.
By his side stood his son, a youth almost effeminate in appearance,
but perhaps only because of the contrast to his father; there was a
brightness in his eyes which betokens an active spirit, and although so
effeminate-looking, when he clinched his hand one could see the strong
muscle rising beneath the sleeve.
The elder man is Maximilian Gordon, of the mercantile firm of Gordon,
Welter & Maxwell, of New York.
The son is Maximilian Gordon, also, but always called Max by those who
are intimate with him, and “Madcap Max” by his closest companions.
Gordon, Welter & Maxwell were interested in Egyptian produce, and for
many years Maximilian Gordon had been a resident of Alexandria.
His wife, sickly and delicate at all times, had been compelled to live
in England, where young Max had been educated.
The elder man paid a yearly visit to his family, and had just completed
arrangements for them to return to Egypt with him when cholera broke
out, and he arrived home only just in time to close his wife’s eyes in
death and see her body committed to its eternal resting place.
Hence it was that, as father and son looked at the English coast, which
was by this time fast receding, their eyes were filled with tears, for
they were leaving a plot of earth hallowed and sacred, because it was a
wife’s and mother’s grave.
Youth is ever buoyant, and before the steamer had left the English
Channel, Max was the happy, light-hearted lad once again, laughing,
chatting and larking with everyone he came in contact with.
His father could not hide his grief so easily, but showed by his manner
how nearly broken was his heart and ruined his life.
When the troubled waters of the Bay of Biscay were reached, Max had
given plentiful evidence of his love of practical joking, and showed
that he fully deserved his sobriquet of Madcap.
One of the passengers had on board an African monkey.
This little, frolicsome animal became very fond of Max, and was easily
induced to adapt itself to the ways of the fun-loving youth.
One night Max took Jocko and dressed him in a lady’s nightcap, which he
had obtained from a stewardess, and told Jocko he must lie in a certain
bed.
The stateroom was occupied by a snarling old bachelor, who declared
that women and children were a nuisance.
When the old fellow entered his room he saw, to his utter astonishment,
a head resting on his pillow.
Without staying to investigate, he rushed out of his room, shouting
“Steward!” at the top of his voice.
“What is it, Mr. Lawrence?” asked the first officer, startled by the
frantic shouting.
“Some one has placed a nigger baby in my bed.”
“Nonsense, Mr. Lawrence!”
“I say they have, and I’ll report every officer of the vessel if the
offender is not punished.”
“I will see that the matter is investigated,” said Officer Tunley.
“Of course--but when? Why, in a week’s time, when everyone will have
easily forgotten--no, sir, come at once.”
“I will do so; but allow me to suggest, Mr. Lawrence, that it may have
been the extra bottle of Bass’ ale----”
“Do you dare, officer, to insinuate----”
“Nothing, save that Welsh rarebit, highly seasoned, and three bottles
of strong ale, are likely to disturb the vision.”
“I’ll report you, sir--mark me, I’ll report you. Come, now, to my room,
and if there is not a nigger baby there I’ll eat my hat.”
“Very well, sir, I will come with you.”
By the time the stateroom was reached, Jocko had fled the room, and Max
had stripped the cap from its head.
The monkey sat on the table in the saloon, grinning, as if it enjoyed
the joke.
The officer and Mr. Lawrence entered the stateroom.
“By Jove!” exclaimed Lawrence, as he looked at his bed.
“I was afraid you were romancing, sir,” said the officer, with proud
indignation. “Take care, sir, that it does not occur again.”
The passenger was speechless.
Another day, when the steamer _L’Orient_ was being tossed about in the
most fantastic manner, sometimes taking a swift pitch forward, then
curving and twisting in a way which would bring joy to the heart of a
baseball pitcher, Madcap Max thought the time had come for a pleasant
diversion.
A drove of pigs, with other animals, was on board, to enable the
company to provide fresh meat for the passengers.
Max quietly released the pigs from their quarters, and saw them, with
one accord, make for the saloon.
That was just what he wanted.
A lady was tossed off her bed to the floor, but to her horror she fell
on the back of a pig, who set up such a squeaking and squealing that,
although the passengers were feeling sick, they were compelled to laugh.
After a voyage of fourteen days the city of Alexandria was sighted.
“Thank goodness!” exclaimed an old Indian nabob. “I am glad I have to
stay at Alexandria, for _L’Orient_ is the worst disciplined ship I was
ever in.”
The verdict was concurred in by nearly everyone on board.
And yet it was not the officers’ fault, for nine-tenths of the trouble
was caused by the pranks of Madcap Max.
“Do we land here?” asked Max.
“Yes, Max. We shall finish our journey overland.”
“Our journey?” repeated Max, opening his bright eyes still wider with
astonishment.
“Yes, Max. We go to Cairo before we settle down at Alexandria.”
“I am so glad.”
Several scores of boats surrounded _L’Orient_, manned by swarthy and
not too-much dressed Arabs; a dozen or so seized upon Max and his
father and literally dragged them to a boat.
On the way from the steamer to the landing dock, Mr. Gordon whispered
to Max:
“No jokes with these fellows, or your life is not your own.”
“All right, dad; I’ll be as sober as a judge and as full of fun as an
undertaker.”
“For your own sake be careful.”
“I will, dad. That is, as careful as I can be.”