E-text prepared by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 29462-h.htm or 29462-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/29462/pg29462-images.html) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29462/29462-h.zip) THE HOUSE UNDER THE SEA A ROMANCE BY MAX PEMBERTON Author of Kronstadt, The Phantom Army, Etc. ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1902 Copyright, 1902 By MAX PEMBERTON All rights reserved Published September, 1902 [Illustration: "Shall we go, or stay?"] CONTENTS I.--IN WHICH JASPER BEGG MAKES KNOWN THE PURPOSE OF HIS VOYAGE TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN, AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT THAT HE COMMISSIONED THE STEAM-SHIP SOUTHERN CROSS THROUGH PHILIPS, WESTBURY, AND CO. II.--WE GO ASHORE AND LEARN STRANGE THINGS III.--IN WHICH JASPER BEGG MAKES UP HIS MIND WHAT TO DO IV.--WE GO ABOARD, BUT RETURN AGAIN V.--STRANGE SIGHTS ASHORE, AND WHAT WE SAW OF THEM VI.--JASPER BEGG MEETS HIS OLD MISTRESS, AND IS WATCHED VII.--IN WHICH HELP COMES FROM THE LAST QUARTER WE HAD EXPECTED IT VIII.--THE BIRD'S NEST IN THE HILLS IX.--WE LOOK OUT FOR THE SOUTHERN CROSS X.--WE ARE SURELY CAGED ON KEN'S ISLAND XI.--LIGHTS UNDER THE SEA XII.--THE DANCING MADNESS XIII.--THE STORM XIV.--A WHITE POOL--AND AFTERWARDS XV.--AN INTERLUDE, DURING WHICH WE READ IN RUTH BELLENDEN'S DIARY AGAIN XVI.--ROSAMUNDA AND THE IRON DOORS XVII.--IN WHICH JASPER BEGG ENTERS THE HOUSE UNDER THE SEA XVIII.--CHANCE OPENS A GATE FOR JASPER BEGG, AND HE PASSES THROUGH XIX.--WHICH SHOWS THAT A MAN WHO THINKS OF BIG THINGS SOMETIMES FORGETS THE LITTLE ONES XX.--THE FIRST ATTACK IS MADE BY CZERNY'S MEN XXI.--WHICH BRINGS IN THE DAY AND WHAT BEFELL THEREIN XXII.--THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTY HOURS XXIII.--THE END OF THE SIXTY HOURS XXIV.--THE SECOND ATTACK ON CZERNY'S HOUSE XXV.--IN WHICH THE SUN-TIME COMES AGAIN LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS "Shall we go or stay?" Like dancers at a stage play. A picturesque old figure standing there. She looked at me with her big, questioning eyes. We were all sitting at the supper table. The drawing-room is a cave whose walls are of jewels. "If there is a sound at the door, fire that gun." Another man fell with a loud cry. THE HOUSE UNDER THE SEA CHAPTER I IN WHICH JASPER BEGG MAKES KNOWN THE PURPOSE OF HIS VOYAGE TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN, AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT THAT HE COMMISSIONED THE STEAM-SHIP SOUTHERN CROSS THROUGH PHILIPS, WESTBURY, AND CO.