Produced by Greg Weeks, Jason Isbell, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net RALESTONE LUCK By ANDRE NORTON _Author of_ The Prince Commands ILLUSTRATED BY JAMES REID D. APPLETON-CENTURY COMPANY INCORPORATED NEW YORK 1938 LONDON Copyright, 1938, by D. Appleton-Century Company, Inc. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO D. B. N. _In return for many miles of proof so diligently read_ [Illustration: _"How hold ye Lorne?" Rupert's softly spoken question brought the well-remembered answer to Val's lips: "By the oak leaf, by the sea wave, by the broadsword blade, thus hold we Lorne!"_] CONTENTS I. THE RALESTONES COME HOME II. THE LUCK OF THE LORDS OF LORNE III. THE RALESTONES ENTERTAIN AN UNOBTRUSIVE VISITOR IV. PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE V. THEIR TENANT DISCOVERS THE RALESTONES VI. SATAN GOES A-HUNTING AND FINDS WORK FOR IDLE HANDS VII. BY OUR LUCK! VIII. GREAT-UNCLE RICK WALKS THE HALL IX. PORTRAIT OF A LADY AND A GENTLEMAN X. INTO THE SWAMP XI. RALESTONES TO THE RESCUE! XII. THE RALESTONES BRING HOME A RELUCTANT GUEST XIII. ON SUCH A NIGHT AS THIS-- XIV. PIRATE WAYS ARE HIDDEN WAYS XV. PIECES OF EIGHT--RALESTONES' FATE! XVI. RALESTONES STAND TOGETHER XVII. THE RETURN OF RICK RALESTONE XVIII. RUPERT BRINGS HOME HIS MARCHIONESS ILLUSTRATIONS "How hold ye Lorne?" Rupert's softly spoken question brought the well-remembered answer to Val's lips: "By the oak leaf, by the sea wave, by the broadsword blade, thus hold we Lorne!" "I'se Lucy," she stated, thoroughly at her ease. "An' dis is Letty-Lou" Ricky lifted off the cover. Val stared at the canvas "It's a genuine Audubon," Charity said _Zzzzzrupp_! Satan was industriously ripping the remnants of lining from its interior The canoe floated almost of its own volition into a dead and distorted strip of country At the bayou at last, they wriggled Jeems awkwardly into the boat Then came a tree burdened with a small 'coon which stared at the boy piteously, its eyes green in the light Ricky held aloft a great war sword. There could be no doubt in any of them--the Luck of Lorne had returned RALESTONE LUCK _How hold ye Lorne?_ By the oak leaf, By the sea wave, By the broadsword blade, Thus hold we Lorne! _The oak leaf is dust, The sea wave is gone, The broadsword is rust, How now hold ye Lorne?_ By our Luck, thus hold we Lorne! CHAPTER I THE RALESTONES COME HOME "Once upon a time two brave princes and a beautiful princess set out to make their fortunes--" began the dark-haired, dark-eyed boy by the roadster.