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〃That we do not know；〃 replied Kidd； mournfully； gazing downward at the wreck of his former self。 〃We came ashore； sir； early yesterday morning； in search of food。 It appears that whenacting in a wholly inexcusable fashion； and influenced； I confess it； by motives of revengeI made off with your club…house； I neglected to ascertain if it were well stocked with provisions； a fatal error； for when we endeavored to get supper we discovered that the larder contained but
half a bottle of farcie olives； two salted almonds； and a soda crackernot a luxurious feast for sixty…nine pirates and a hundred and eighty…three women to sit down to。〃
〃That's all nonsense；〃 said Demosthenes。 〃The House Committee had provided enough supper for six hundred people； in anticipation of the appetite of the members on their return from the fight。〃
〃Of course they did；〃 said Confucius； 〃and it was a good one； too salads； salmon glace； lobstersevery blessed thing a man can't get at home we had； and what is more； they'd been delivered on board。 I saw to that before I went up the river。〃
〃Then；〃 moaned Kidd； 〃it is as I suspected。 We were the victims of base treachery on the part of those women。〃
〃Treachery？ Well； I like that。 Call it reciprocity；〃 said Hamlet； dryly。
〃We were informed by the ladies that there was nothing for supper save the items I have already referred to；〃 said Kidd。 〃I see it all now。 We had tried to make them comfortable； and I put myself to some considerable personal inconvenience to make them easy in their minds； but they were ungrateful。〃
〃Whatever induced you to take 'em along with you？〃 asked Socrates。
〃We didn't want them；〃 said Kidd。
〃We didn't know they were on board until it was too late to turn back。 They'd broken in； and were having the club all to themselves in your absence。〃
〃It served you good and right；〃 said Socrates； with a laugh。 〃Next time you try to take things that don't belong to you； maybe you'll be a trifle more careful as to whose property you confiscate。〃
〃But the House…boatyou haven't told us how you lost her；〃 put in Raleigh； impatiently。
〃Well； it was this way；〃 said Kidd。 〃When； in response to our polite request for supper； the ladies said there was nothing to eat on board； something had to be done； for we were all as hungry as bears； and we decided to go ashore at the first port and provision。 Unfortunately the crew got restive； and when this floating frying…pan loomed into view； to keep them good…natured we decided to land and see if we could beg； borrow； or steal some supplies。 We had to。 Observations taken with the sextant showed that there was no port within five hundred miles； the island looked as if it might be inhabited at least by goats； and ashore we went； every man of us； leaving the House…boat safely anchored in the harbor。 At first we didn't mind the heat； and we hunted and hunted and hunted； but after three or four hours I began to notice that three of my sailors were shrivelling up； and Conrad began to act as if he were daft。 Hawkins burst right before my eyes。 Then Abeuchapeta got prismatic around the eyes and began to fade； and I noticed a slight iridescence about myself； and as for Morgan； he had the misfortune to lie down to take a nap in the sun； and when he waked up； his whole right side had evaporated。 Then we saw what the trouble was。 We'd struck this lava island； and were gradually succumbing to its intense heat。 We rushed madly back to the harbor to embark； and our ship； gentlemen； and your House…boat； was slowly but surely disappearing over the horizon； and flying from the flag…staff at the fore were signals of farewell； with an unfeeling P。S。 below to this effect： 'DON'T WAIT UP FOR US。 WE MAY NOT BE BACK UNTIL LATE。'〃
There was a pause； during which Socrates laughed quietly to himself； while Abeuchapeta and the one…sided Morgan wept silently。
〃That； gentlemen of the Associated Shades； is all I know of the whereabouts of the House…boat；〃 continued Captain Kidd。 〃I have no doubt that the ladies practised a deception； to our discomfiture； and I must say that I think it was exceedingly clevergranting that it was desirable to be rid of us； which I don't； for we meant well by them； and they would have enjoyed themselves。〃
〃But；〃 cried Hamlet； 〃may they not now be in peril？ They cannot navigate that ship。〃
〃They got her out of the harbor all right；〃 said Kidd。 〃And I judged from the figure at the helm that Mrs。 Noah had taken charge。 What kind of a seaman she is I don't know。〃
〃Almighty bad；〃 ejaculated Shem； turning pale。 〃It was she who ran us ashore on Ararat。〃
〃Well； wasn't that what you wanted？〃 queried Munchausen。
〃What we wanted！〃 cried Shem。 〃Well； I guess not。 You don't want your yacht stranded on a mountain…top； do you？ She was a dead loss there； whereas if mother hadn't been in such a hurry to get ashore； we could have waited a month and landed on the seaboard。〃
〃You might have turned her into a summer hotel；〃 suggested Munchausen。
〃Well； we must up anchor and away；〃 said Holmes。 〃Our pursuit has merely begun； apparently。 We must overtake this vessel； and the question to be answered iswhere？〃
〃That's easy；〃 said Artemus Ward。 〃From what Shem says； I think we'd better look for her in the Himalayas。〃
〃And； meanwhile； what shall be done with Kidd？〃 asked Holmes。
〃He ought to be expelled from the club；〃 said Johnson。
〃We can't expel him； because he's not a member；〃 replied Raleigh。
〃Then elect him；〃 suggested Ward。
〃What on earth for？〃 growled Johnson。
〃So that we can expel him；〃 said Ward。 And while Boswell's hero was trying to get the value of this notion through his head； the others repaired to the deck； and the Gehenna was soon under way once more。 Meanwhile Captain Kidd and his fellows were put in irons and stowed away in the forecastle； alongside of the water…cask in which Shylock lay in hiding。
CHAPTER XII： THE ESCAPE AND THE END
If there was anxiety on board of the Gehenna as to the condition and whereabouts of the House…boat； there was by no means less uneasiness upon that vessel itself。 Cleopatra's scheme for ridding herself and her abducted sisters of the pirates had worked to a charm； but； having worked thus； a new and hitherto undreamed…of problem； full of perplexities bearing upon their immediate safety； now confronted them。 The sole representative of a seafaring family on board was Mrs。 Noah； and it did not require much time to see that her knowledge as to navigation was of an extremely primitive order； limited indeed to the science of floating。
When the last pirate had disappeared behind the rocks of Holmes Island； and all was in readiness for action； the good old lady； who had hitherto been as calm and unruffled as a child； began to get red in the face and to bustle about in a manner which betrayed considerable perturbation of spirit。
〃Now； Mrs。 Noah；〃 said Cleopatra； as； peeping out from the billiard… room window； she saw Morgan disappearing in the distance； 〃the coast is clear； and I resign my position of chairman to you。 We place the vessel in your hands； and ourselves subject to your orders。 You are in command。 What do y