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〃That's the way to obey orders；〃 said Holmes； with a scornful glance at Blackstone。
〃I was only jesting； Captain；〃 said the latter； paling somewhat。
〃That's all right；〃 said Holmes； taking up his glass again。 〃So was I when I ordered you in irons； and in order that you may appreciate the full force of the joke I repeat it。 Bonaparte； do your duty。〃
In an instant the order was obeyed； and the unhappy Judge shortly found himself manacled and alone in the forecastle。 Meanwhile Captain Cook； in response to the commander's order； repaired to the deck and scanned the distant coast。
〃I can't place it；〃 he said。 〃It can't be Monte Cristo； can it？〃
〃No； it can't；〃 said the Count； who stood hard by。 〃My island was in the Mediterranean； and even if it dragged anchor it couldn't have got out through the Strait of Gibraltar。〃
〃Perhaps it's Robinson Crusoe's island；〃 suggested Doctor Johnson。
〃Not it；〃 observed De Foe。 〃If it is； the rest of you will please keep off。 It's mine； and I may want to use it again。 I've been having a number of interviews with Crusoe latterly； and he's given me a lot of new points； which I intend incorporating in a sequel for the Cimmerian Magazine。〃
〃Well； in the name of Atlas； what island is it； then？〃 roared Holmes； angrily。 〃What is the matter with all you learned lubbers that I have brought along on this trip？ Do you suppose I've brought you to whistle up favorable winds？ Not by the beard of the Prophet！ I brought you to give me information； and now when I ask for the name of a simple little island like that in plain sight there's not one of you able so much as to guess at it reasonably。 The next man I ask for information goes into irons with Judge Blackstone if he doesn't answer me instantly with the information I want。 Munchausen； what island is that？〃
〃Ahem！ that？〃 replied Munchausen； trembling； as he reflected upon the Captain's threat。 〃What？ Nobody knows what island that is？ Why； you surprise me …
〃See here； Baron；〃 retorted Holmes； menacingly； 〃I ask you a plain question； and I want a plain answer； with no evasions to gain time。 Now it's irons or an answer。 What island is that？〃
〃It's an island that doesn't appear on any chart； Captain；〃 Munchausen responded instantly； pulling himself together for a mighty effort； 〃and it has never been given a name； but as you insist upon having one； we'll call it Holmes Island； in your honor。 It is not stationary。 It is a floating island of lava formation； and is a menace to every craft that goes to sea。 I spent a year of my life upon it once； and it is more barren than the desert of Sahara； because you cannot raise even sand upon it； and it is devoid of water of any sort； salt or fresh。〃
〃What did you live on during that year？〃 asked Holmes； eying him narrowly。
〃Canned food from wrecks；〃 replied the Baron； feeling much easier now that he had got a fair start〃canned food from wrecks； commander。 There is a magnetic property in the upper stratum of this piece of derelict real estate； sir； which attracts to it every bit of canned substance that is lost overboard in all parts of the world。 A ship is wrecked； say； in the Pacific Ocean； and ultimately all the loose metal upon her will succumb to the irresistible attraction of this magnetic upper stratum； and will find its way to its shores。 So in any other part of the earth。 Everything metallic turns up here sooner or later； and when you consider that thousands of vessels go down every year； vessels which are provisioned with tinned foods only； you will begin to comprehend how many millions of pounds of preserved salmon； sardines； pate de foie gras； peaches； and so on； can be found strewn along its coast。〃
〃Munchausen；〃 said Holmes； smiling； 〃by the blush upon your cheek； coupled with an occasional uneasy glance of the eye； I know that for once you are standing upon the； to you； unfamiliar ground of truth； and I admire you for it。 There is nothing to be ashamed of in telling the truth occasionally。 You are a man after my own heart。 Come below and have a cocktail。 Captain Cook； take command of the Gehenna during my absence； head her straight for Holmes Island； and when you discover anything new let me know。 Bonaparte； in honor of Munchausen's remarkable genius； I proclaim general amnesty to our prisoners； and you may release Blackstone from his dilemma； and if you have any tin soldiers among your marines； see that they are lashed to the rigging。 I don't want this electric island of the Baron's to get a grip upon my military force at this juncture。〃
With this Holmes； followed by Munchausen； went below； and the two worthies were soon deep in the mysteries of a phantom cocktail； while Doctor Johnson and De Foe gazed mournfully out over the ocean at the floating island。
〃De Foe；〃 said Johnson 〃that ought to be a lesson to you。 This realism that you tie up to is all right when you are alone with your conscience； but when there are great things afoot； an imagination and a broad view as to the limitations of truth aren't at all bad。 You or I might now be drinking that cocktail with Holmes if we'd only risen to the opportunity the way Munchausen did。〃
〃That is true；〃 said De Foe； sadly。 〃But I didn't suppose he wanted that kind of information。 I could have spun a better yarn than that of Munchausen's with my eyes shut。 I supposed he wanted truth； and I gave it。〃
〃I'd like to know what has become of the House…boat；〃 said Raleigh； anxiously gazing through the glass at the island。 〃I can see old Henry Morgan sitting down there on the rocks with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands； and Kidd and Abeuchapeta are standing back of him； yelling like mad； but there isn't a boat in sight。〃
〃Who is that man； off to the right； dancing a fandango？〃 asked Johnson。
〃It looks like Conrad； but I can't tell。 He appears to have gone crazy。 He's got that wild look on his face which betokens insanity。 We'll have to be careful in our parleyings with these people；〃 said Raleigh。
〃Anything new？〃 asked Holmes； returning to the deck； smacking his lips in enjoyment of the cocktail。
〃Noexcept that we are almost within hailing distance；〃 said Cook。
〃Then give orders to cast anchor；〃 observed Holmes。 〃Bonaparte； take a crew of picked men ashore and bring those pirates aboard。 Take the three musketeers with you； and don't let Kidd or Morgan give you any back talk。 If they try any funny business； exorcise them。〃
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 replied Bonaparte； and in a moment a boat had been lowered and a sturdy crew of sailors were pulling for the shore。 As they came within ten feet of it the pirates made a mad dash down the rough； rocky hillside and clamored to be saved。
〃What's happened to you？〃 cried Bonaparte； ordering the sailors to back water lest the pirates should too hastily board the boat and swamp her。
〃We are marooned；〃 replied Kidd； 〃and on an island of a volcanic nature。 There isn't a square inch of it that isn't heated up to 125 degrees； and seventeen of us have already evaporated。 Conrad has lost his reason； Abeuchapeta has become so tenuous that a child can see through him。 As for myself； I am growing iridescent with anxiety； and unless I get off this infernal furnace I'll disappear like a soap…bubble。 For Heaven's sake； then； General； take us off； on your own terms。 We'll accept anything。〃
As if in confirmation of Kidd's words； six of the pirate crew collapsed and disappeared into thin air； and a glance at Abeuchapeta was proof enough of his condition。 He had become as clear as crystal； and had it not been for his rugged outlines he would hardly have been visible even to his fellow…spirits。 As for Kidd； he had taken on the aspect of a rainbow； and it was patent that his fears for himself were all too well founded。
Bonaparte embarked the leaders of the band first； returning subsequently for the others； and repaired with them at once to the Gehenna； where they were ushered into the presence of Sherlock Holmes。 The first question he asked was as to the whereabouts of the House…boat。
〃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 t