New Treasure Seekers or, The Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune   By: Edith Nesbit (1858-1924)

[Illustration: THE STAIR WAS OF STONE, ARCHED OVERHEAD LIKE CHURCHES.]

NEW TREASURE SEEKERS

Or The Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune

by

E. NESBIT Author of "The Treasure Seekers," "The Would Be Goods," Etc.

With Illustrations by Gordon Browne and Lewis Baumer [Illustration]

[Illustration]

New York Frederick A. Stokes Company Publishers

TO ARTHUR WATTS (OSWALD IN PARIS) FROM E. NESBIT

Montparnasse, 1904.

NEW TREASURE SEEKERS

[Illustration]

CONTENTS

PAGE THE ROAD TO ROME; OR, THE SILLY STOWAWAY 15

THE CONSCIENCE PUDDING 37

ARCHIBALD THE UNPLEASANT 62

OVER THE WATER TO CHINA 88

THE YOUNG ANTIQUARIES 113

THE INTREPID EXPLORER AND HIS LIEUTENANT 136

THE TURK IN CHAINS; OR, RICHARD'S REVENGE 161

THE GOLDEN GONDOLA 185

THE FLYING LODGER 209

THE SMUGGLER'S REVENGE 236

ZAÏDA, THE MYSTERIOUS PROPHETESS OF THE GOLDEN ORIENT 262

THE LADY AND THE LICENSE; OR, FRIENDSHIP'S GARLAND 287

THE POOR AND NEEDY 311

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

THE STAIR WAS OF STONE, ARCHED OVERHEAD LIKE CHURCHES Frontispiece

DORA DID SOME WHITE SEWING 19

THEY LAUGHED EVER SO 34

AND HE WAS AWFULLY RUDE TO THE SERVANTS 69

THE OTHERS CAME UP BY THE ROPE LADDER 73

SO OSWALD OPENED THE TRAP DOOR AND SQUINTED DOWN, AND THERE WAS THAT ARCHIBALD 75

"WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT?" HE ASKED. "NYANG, NYANG," JANE ANSWERED TAUNTINGLY 83

WHEN FATHER CAME HOME THERE WAS AN AWFUL ROW 85

IT SEEMS THE SAILOR WAS ASLEEP, BUT OF COURSE WE DID NOT KNOW, OR WE SHOULD NOT HAVE DISTURBED HIM 94

WE WENT ROUND A CORNER RATHER FAST, AND CAME SLAP INTO THE LARGEST WOMAN I HAVE EVER SEEN 99

IT WAS INDEED A CELESTIAL CHINAMAN IN DEEP DIFFICULTIES 103

ON THE SIDEBOARD WAS A BLUEY WHITE CROCKERY IMAGE 107

OSWALD LISTENED AS CAREFULLY AS HE COULD, BUT DENNY ALWAYS BUZZES SO WHEN HE WHISPERS 117

IT WAS NOT TILL NEXT DAY THAT HE OWNED THAT THE TYPEWRITER HAD BEEN A FIEND IN DISGUISE 123

THE STATIONMASTER AND PORTER LOOKED RESPECTFULLY AT US 127

HER VOICE WHEN SHE TOLD US WE WERE TRESPASSING WAS NOT SO FURIOUS 131

THE LUNCH WAS A PERFECT DREAM OF A.1. NESS 137

OSWALD DID NOT STRIKE THE NEXT MATCH CAREFULLY ENOUGH 145

WITH SCISSORS AND GAS PLIERS THEY CUT EVERY FUSE 157

"HI, BRIGANDS!" HE EXCLAIMED 167

IT WAS RATHER DIFFICULT TO GET ANYTHING THE SHAPE OF A TURKEY 173

WHEN THE DOOR WAS SHUT HE SAID, "I AIN'T GOT MUCH TO SAY, YOUNG GEMMEN" 179

THE FIVE OTHERS 191

OSWALD SAW THE DRIVER WINK AS HE PUT HIS BOOT ON THE STEP, AND THE PORTER WHO WAS OPENING THE CAB DOOR WINKED BACK 201

HE LOOKED AT OSWALD'S BOOTS 203

HE FETCHED DOWN HALF A DOZEN PLANKS AND THE WORKMAN 218

"HOW MUCH?" SAID THE GENTLEMAN SHORTLY 222

"THEN I'LL MAKE YOU!" HE SAID, CATCHING HOLD OF OSWALD 232

A COASTGUARD ORDERED US QUITE HARSHLY 244

SURE ENOUGH IT WAS SEA WATER, AS THE UNAMIABLE ONE SAID WHEN HE HAD TASTED IT 259

"I SAY, BEALIE DEAR, YOU'VE GOT A BOOK UP AT YOUR PLACE" 265

ALICE BEAT THE DONKEY FROM THE CART, THE REST SHOUTED 272

"WE'VE GOT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS," SAID NOËL 280

THE ROAD TO ROME; OR, THE SILLY STOWAWAY