Chapter I: Front Matter

[Picture: The Stranger drew forth a bundle of business cards]

THE PURSUIT OF THE
HOUSE-BOAT

_BEING SOME FURTHER_
_ACCOUNT OF THE DOINGS_
_OF THE ASSOCIATED SHADES_,
_UNDER THE LEADERSHIP_
_OF SHERLOCK HOLMES ESQ._

BY
JOHN KENDRICK BANGS
AUTHOR OF “A HOUSE-BOAT ON THE STYX,” ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

[Picture: Decorative graphic]

LONDON AND NEW YORK
HARPER AND BROTHERS
45, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1919

* * * * *

FOURTEENTH IMPRESSION

* * * * *

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I. The Associated Shades take Action 1
II. The Stranger Unravels a Mystery and Reveals 19
Himself
III. The Search-Party is Organized 42
IV. On Board the House-Boat 58
V. A Conference on Deck 73
VI. A Conference Below-Stairs 89
VII. The “Gehenna” is Chartered 105
VIII. On Board the “Gehenna” 121
IX. Captain Kidd Meets with an Obstacle 139
X. A Warning Accepted 157
XI. Marooned 172
XII. The Escape and the End 189

ILLUSTRATIONS

“The Stranger drew forth a bundle of business _Frontispiece_ cards” “Dr. Johnson’s point is well taken” 8 “What has all this got to do with the question?” 10 “Poor old Boswell was pushed overboard” 22 “Three rousing cheers, led by Hamlet, had been 42 given” “A black person by the name of Friday finds a 54 bottle” Madame Récamier has a plan 66 The hard features of Captain Kidd were thrust 70 through “Here’s a kettle of fish!” said Kidd 74 “Every bloomin’ million was represented by a 84 certified check, an’ payable in London” Queen Elizabeth desires an axe and one hour of her 90 olden power “The committee on treachery is ready to report” 102 “You are very much mistaken, Sir Walter” 108 “In the dead of night he had stolen quietly up the 118 gang-plank” Shem in the lookout 128 Judge Blackstone refuses to climb to the mizzentop 126 Captain Kidd consents to be cross-examined by 148 Portia Kidd’s companions endeavouring to restore 154 evaporating portions of his anatomy with a steam-atomizer “He told us we were going to Paris” 160 “You are a very clear-headed young woman, Lizzie,” 170 said Mrs. Noah “That ought to be a lesson to you” 178 “The pirates made a mad dash down the rough, rocky 180 hill-side” “Now, my child,” said Mrs. Noah, firmly, “I do not 192 wish any words” “A great helpless hulk ten feet to the rear” 200