Porto Bello Gold

BY

ARTHUR D. HOWDEN SMITH

NEW YORK
BRENTANO'S
PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1924, by
ARTHUR D. HOWDEN SMITH

All rights reserved


First printing, August, 1924
Second printing, September, 1924

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

OTHER NOVELS

BY

ARTHUR D. HOWDEN SMITH


HISTORICAL

THE DOOM TRAIL
BEYOND THE SUNSET


ADVENTURE

THE TREASURE OF THE BUCOLEON

To R. L. S.

Oh, Tusitala, you who lie
"Under the wide and starry sky"
        On that Samoan hill,
Think not this wretched, miswrought tale
Is meant to breast the thundering gale
        Of your great art and skill—
As well the humble trading bark
Might sail to cloudland with the lark!
        Be patient, sir, until
We meet on some far height of dreams
And I explain just why it seems
        John Silver's with us still,
And all the raffish, ruffian crew
That you and young Jim Hawkins knew—
        They burst Time's dungeon-grill!

FENLEY HUNTER, Esq.,
   Flushing,
      N. Y.

DEAR FEN:

You are responsible for some of the incidents in this roaringyarn, and for that and other reasons it should be inscribedto you—who, in your own person, lead a life as swaggeringlyvaried from the existence of office, home and country-club asany character I have created between these covers. If itdetains you from the out-trail for a night or two, persuades youto sample the pleasures of the sheltered hearth, I shall berewarded.

Yours,
    KING ARTHUR.

Babylon, N. Y.,
    Feb. 9, 1924.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I   My Father's Secret
II   The One-Legged Man and the Irish Maid
III   A Caller in the Night
IV   An Inkling of the Plot
V   Aboard the Brig
VI   Tall Ships and Lawless Men
VII   Murray's Plan
VIII   A Wicked Old Man's Dream
IX   The Island
X   Hostages
XI   Peter Plays at Bowls with Destiny
XII   The Treasure Ship
XIII   Trouble Boards the ...