In the Wonderful Land of Hez; or, The Mystery of the Fountain of Youth

  BRAVE & BOLD

  _A Different Complete Story Every Week_

  _Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered according toAct of Congress in the year 1905, in the Office of the Librarian ofCongress, Washington, D. C., by_ STREET & SMITH, _79-89 Seventh Avenue,New York, N. Y._

  No. 127. NEW YORK, May 27, 1905. Price Five Cents.

  * * * * *

  IN THE WONDERFUL LAND OF HEZ; OR, The Mystery of the Fountain of Youth.

  By the author of “The Wreck of the ‘Glaucus.’”

  CHAPTER I. AN ECCENTRIC COUPLE.

  One fine October afternoon, in the year 1880, a sailboat might havebeen seen gliding serenely over the waters of Lake Okechobee, in thesouthern part of Florida.

  The boat had but two occupants, and these were so different inappearance that a little description of them will not be out of order.

  The elder of the two was attired in a very loose-fitting suit of blueflannel, and wore a Panama hat.

  He was probably fifty years of age, and one look at his round,smooth-shaven face would have told the casual observer that he was agood-hearted individual.

  His eyes were hidden by a pair of blue goggles of extraordinaryproportions, which made the man look as though he had donned a diver’shelmet.

  In stature this remarkable personage was short and very stout.

  Prof. Remington Easy was his name, and now, as he has been introduced,we will turn our attention to his companion--a tall, lanky individual,attired in corduroy knee breeches, heavy top-boots, red flannel shirt,linen coat and a broad-brimmed hat--a typical Yankee, for all the world.

  This was Martin Haypole, the professor’s right-hand man.

  The Yankee was not over thirty years of age, and had it not been forthe thin bunch of yellow hair he wore on his chin, he would have been afair-looking man.

  Martin was about six feet two inches in height, and weighed probablyone hundred and thirty-five pounds; thus it will be seen that hepossessed not an ounce of superfluous flesh.

  He had often remarked that what he lacked the professor amply made upfor, and vice versa.

  But what are these two curious individuals doing in this wild part ofFlorida? the reader may ask.

  The question is answered in a very few words.

  Prof. Remington Easy was of an exploring turn of mind.

  About a month before the opening of our story he became deeplyinterested in that vast, unexplored region in the southern part ofFlorida known as the Everglades.

  The more he studied over the matter the more he became desirous ofpenetrating the heart of the swamp and discovering something wonderful.

  The professor possessed an unlimited supply of cash, and he spared noexpense in fitting himself out for his trip.

  Thus we now find them in their boat upon the lower part of LakeOkechobee, within about five miles of the beginning of the Everglades.

  The sun was yet about three hours high, and the professor hoped toreach a good place to land before the shades of night gathered aroundthem.

  It was now the second day since they had entered the upper portion ofthe lake, by way of the stream beyond it, and the professor judged thatthe marshes must be close at hand.

  Owing to the fact that their boat did not possess one of those usefulthings known as a centerboard, and that the winds had been contraryever since they entered Lake Okechobee, they had made but a scanttwenty miles in nearly two days.

  While Prof. Easy was satisfied with this slow mode of progress, MartinHaypole was not.

  The boat, which was christened _Maid of the Marsh_, appeared to be avery insignificant thing in the eyes of the Yankee.

  He had laughed at it, swore at it and nearly cried over it.

  And now, just as Prof. Easy made a prodigious effort and rose to hisfeet, he began again.

  “I tell you, professor, this is the dod-rottedest boat that ever sotin water. Them trees there to the south’ard are ther Everglades; butd’yer think we’ll ever git thar at this rate? Mought better started ina rowboat. _Maid of ther Marsh!_ A cussed fine name, ain’t it? I hopeshe gits stuck in some marsh afore long, an’ never gits out again. ButI’m ’fraid we’ll both be gray-headed afore she gits to a marsh. Twentymiles in two days! Well, I swan ter Guinea! If that ain’t travelin’ inther nineteenth century, I’m a downright fule!”

  “Tut, tut, Martin,” replied the professor; “take things easy. I tooknotice that you were very glad to get in the boat day before yesterday,when that big alligator gave chase after you.”

  “Oh! she were good enough then, professor. I don’t want a ’gator nosin’aroun’ me; an’ this tub is good enough when that kind of work is goin’on. But when you come right down ter sailin’, whar in blazes does thisdod-rotted thing come in?”

  “Have patience, Martin. We will reach those trees yonder in less thanan hour. See! a favorable breeze is even now springing up.”

  The professor was right. For the first time during their voyage uponthe lake the wind was blowing in a direction suited to their course.

  The hitherto flapping mainsail now bellied out, and the little craftwent skipping through the water like a thing of life.

  Even Martin Haypole was temporarily satisfied, and with his hand uponthe tiller he watched the rapidly nearing forest in the swamp district.

  The breeze kept up, and, sure enough, in a little while they arrived atthe end of the lake proper.

  As soon as they got among the trees, the breeze ceased to exist, andonce more the sail flapped idly about the mast.

  “I’ll be gosh-dinged if we won’t eat supper on land to-night, anyhow!”exclaimed the Yankee, as he pushed the boat, by means of a long pole,into a narrow creek, and made for a little island that was several feetabove the level of the marsh.

  “Good enough, Martin--good enough!” returned his companion, rubbing hishands. “I am agreeable, I assure you.”

  At that moment the prow of the boat struck the bank and caused the fatprofessor to lose his balance and tumble overboard.

  “Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the Yankee, as he observed his employerfloundering about in the muddy water. “How d’ye like it, professor? Youlaughed at me when I fell overboard--now it is your turn, by gosh! Itold you laughin’ was catchin’. Now, if one of them ugly ’gators waster come along there would be fun. Thunder and lightnin’! if thereain’t one, now, I’m a rank sinner!”

  A floundering was heard a few feet from the struggling professor, and ahalf-grown alligator was seen making for him with all his might.

  The luckless man had now assumed an upright position, with the dirty,black water even with his chin, and as he observed his peril hebellowed lustily for help.

  He strove in vain to reach the gunwale of the boat, but the distancewas too far for his short arms.

  Haypole, with an amused smile upon his face, allowed the alligatorto get within a few feet of his intended prey, and then reached oversuddenly and seized his employer by the arms.

  He then saw that he would not be able to get him out as quickly as hehad anticipated, and his gleeful look turned to one of alarm.

  The professor was a heavyweight of the first water, and had it notbeen for the fact that Haypole was a very strong man, the ferociousalligator would certainly have had a good supper that night.

  But by an almost superhuman effort he jerked him from the muddy waterjust as the ferocious monster made a vicious snap with its huge jaws.

  “Murder!” yelled the professor, as he fell in a heap at the feet of theYankee; “the thing has bitten off my f
oot!”

  “I guess not, professor; he only nipped off ther heel of yer shoe.Great haystacks! but that was a narrar escape, though! I didn’t knowyou was so ’tarnal heavy.”

  As soon as the half-drowned man found that he was not injured, he gotmad, and shaking his fist under Haypole’s nose, said:

  “Martin, if you ever let such a thing as that occur again, I’lldischarge you on the spot!”

  “Now, don’t git mad, old man; you won’t discharge me, you know youwon’t. Why, thunderation! You couldn’t git along without me.”

  “It makes no difference; the whole thing was your fault. If you had notmade such an ass of yourself by pushing the boat so hard against thebank, I would not have fallen overboard at all. Then the idea of yourstanding here laughing at me when the alligator was coming after mewith all his might. You think you are very funny, Martin Haypole; andI’ll tell you what I have a great notion of doing.”

  “What?” asked the Yankee, showing just a slight tinge of passion.

  “I have a great mind of thrashing you.”

  “You had better not try it, professor. I never seen that man yet ascould do that in a square rough and tumble.”

  Whack!

  The enraged professor struck his employee a smart blow on the face withhis open hand.

  “Thunder and lightning!” howled the Yankee; “I can’t stand that, evenif you do be my boss.”

  He made a sudden dive forward and seized Prof. Remington Easy by thecollar, and prepared to stand him on his head.

  But the fat man was still mad, and he ducked down and seized hisopponent by his long legs.

  Then each strove to force the other to the bottom of the boat.

  “Drat your tarnal hide! I’ll wallop you, anyhow, now,” exclaimedHaypole.

  He let out his full strength, and down went the fat professor, with himon top.

  But as they struck the boat gave a lurch, and overboard went both ofthem.

  And the alligator, who was still hovering about the place, openedwide his jaws and swam toward the two struggling forms, who were eachstriving to see who could shout “Murder!” the loudest.