PUD PRINGLE, PIRATE [Illustration: PUD CHARGED TOWARD THE ENEMY] PUD PRINGLE, PIRATE BY RALPH HENRY BARBOUR [Illustration] BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge 1926 COPYRIGHT, 1926, BY RALPH HENRY BARBOUR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Riverside Press CAMBRIDGE · MASSACHUSETTS PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. CONTENTS I. MR. TULLY MISUNDERSTANDS 1 II. FRIENDS MAKE UP 17 III. THE KISMET STARTS ON HER VOYAGE 29 IV. UNDER THE SKULL-AND-CROSS-BONES 41 V. THE CHICKEN THAT INTRUDED 60 VI. AUNT SABRINA DOESN’T ANSWER 72 VII. THE PRISONER IN THE TOWER 84 VIII. THE RESCUE 98 IX. PURSUIT 116 X. FISH-HAWK CREEK 126 XI. GLADYS ERMINTRUDE IS RESTORED 137 XII. MOSTLY FISHING 151 XIII. LOST! 164 XIV. ON CYPRESS LAKE 179 XV. SET ADRIFT 192 XVI. NIGHT IN SWAMP HOLE 205 XVII. MAROONED! 219 XVIII. COUNTERFEIT MONEY 229 XIX. THE DESERTED CABIN 243 XX. TALLY MOORE TALKS 259 XXI. MR. LISCOMB IS GRATEFUL 271 XXII. THE PIRATES RETURN 285 PUD PRINGLE, PIRATE · · · CHAPTER I MR. TULLY MISUNDERSTANDS ‘And now, Mr. Pringle, what can I do for you, sir?’ Mr. Ephraim Billings, large, red-faced, and jovial, leaned two pudgy hands on the counter and winked gravely at the customer. The customer ignored the wink and replied with impressive dignity. ‘Half a pound of leese and a dozen chemons, please.’ ‘Half a pound o’ _what_?’ ‘Half a pound of cheese, Mr. Eph,’ said the boy patiently. ‘Oh! Well, why in tarnation didn’t you say so?’ ‘Didn’t I?’ ‘You know pesky well you didn’t! You said half a chound of peese and――’ ‘And a chozen demons,’ added Pud helpfully. ‘Say!’ Mr. Billings glared ferociously. ‘What is it you _do_ want, consarn you?’ ‘Cheese and lemons, please. Half of each. Ma said send her the same kind of cheese she had the last time; Herk――Herk――’ ‘Herkimer County, eh? All right, son. You Egbert! Get me half a chos――half a dozen lemons outside. Consarn you, Pud, you’ve got me all twisted!’