The Pursuit of the House-Boat Being Some Further Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades, under the Leadership of Sherlock Holmes, Esq. — Context and Discussion

I. THE ASSOCIATED SHADES TAKE ACTION

II. THE STRANGER UNRAVELS A MYSTERY AND REVEALS HIMSELF

III. THE SEARCH-PARTY IS ORGANIZED

IV. ON BOARD THE HOUSE-BOAT

V. A CONFERENCE ON DECK

VI. A CONFERENCE BELOW-STAIRS

VII. THE "GEHENNA" IS CHARTERED

VIII. ON BOARD THE "GEHENNA."

IX. CAPTAIN KIDD MEETS WITH AN OBSTACLE

X. A WARNING ACCEPTED

XII. THE ESCAPE AND THE END

"'DR. JOHNSON'S POINT IS WELL TAKEN'"

"'WHAT HAS ALL THIS GOT TO DO WITH THE QUESTION?'"

"POOR OLD BOSWELL WAS PUSHED OVERBOARD"

"THE STRANGER DREW FORTH A BUNDLE OF BUSINESS CARDS"

"THREE ROUSING CHEERS, LED BY HAMLET, WERE GIVEN"

A BLACK PERSON BY THE NAME OF FRIDAY FINDS A BOTTLE

MADAME RÉCAMIER HAS A PLAN

"THE HARD FEATURES OF KIDD WERE THRUST THROUGH"

"'HERE'S A KETTLE OF FISH,' SAID KIDD"

"'EVERY BLOOMIN' MILLION WAS REPRESENTED BY A CERTIFIED CHECK, AN' PAYABLE IN LONDON'"

QUEEN ELIZABETH DESIRES AN AXE AND ONE HOUR OF HER OLDEN POWER

"'THE COMMITTEE ON TREACHERY IS READY TO REPORT'"

"'YOU ARE VERY MUCH MISTAKEN, SIR WALTER'"

"IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT SHYLOCK HAD STOLEN UP THE GANG-PLANK"

JUDGE BLACKSTONE REFUSES TO CLIMB TO THE MIZZENTOP

CAPTAIN KIDD CONSENTS TO BE CROSS-EXAMINED BY PORTIA

KIDD'S COMPANIONS ENDEAVORING TO RESTORE EVAPORATED PORTIONS OF HIS ANATOMY WITH A STEAM-ATOMIZER

"'HE TOLD US WE WERE GOING TO PARIS'"

"'YOU ARE A VERY CLEAR-HEADED YOUNG WOMAN, LIZZIE,' SAID MRS. NOAH"

"'THAT OUGHT TO BE A LESSON TO YOU'"

"THE PIRATES MADE A MAD DASH DOWN THE ROUGH, ROCKY HILL-SIDE"

"'NOW, MY CHILD,' SAID MRS. NOAH, FIRMLY, 'I DO NOT WISH ANY WORDS'"

"A GREAT HELPLESS HULK TEN FEET TO THE REAR"

THE PURSUIT OF THE HOUSE-BOAT

THE ASSOCIATED SHADES TAKE ACTION

The House-boat of the Associated Shades, formerly located upon the River Styx, as the reader may possibly remember, had been torn from its moorings and navigated out into unknown seas by that vengeful pirate Captain Kidd, aided and abetted by some of the most ruffianly inhabitants of Hades. Like a thief in the night had they come, and for no better reason than that the Captain had been unanimously voted a shade too shady to associate with self-respecting spirits had they made off with the happy floating club-house of their betters; and worst of all, with them, by force of circumstances over which they had no control, had sailed also the fair Queen Elizabeth, the spirited Xanthippe, and every other strong-minded and beautiful woman of Erebean society, whereby the men thereof were rendered desolate.

"I can't stand it!" cried Raleigh, desperately, as with his accustomed grace he presided over a special meeting of the club, called on the bank of the inky Stygian stream, at the point where the missing boat had been moored. "Think of it, gentlemen, Elizabeth of England, Calpurnia of Rome, Ophelia of Denmark, and every precious jewel in our social diadem gone, vanished completely; and with whom? Kidd, of all men in the universe! Kidd, the pirate, the ruffian--"

"Don't take on so, my dear Sir Walter," said Socrates, cheerfully. "What's the use of going into hysterics? You are not a woman, and should eschew that luxury. Xanthippe is with them, and I'll warrant you that when that cherished spouse of mine has recovered from the effects of the sea, say the third day out, Kidd and his crew will be walking the plank, and voluntarily at that."

"But the House-boat itself," murmured Noah, sadly. "That was my delight. It reminded me in some respects of the Ark."

"The law of compensation enters in there, my dear Commodore," retorted Socrates. "For me, with Xanthippe abroad I do not need a club to go to; I can stay at home and take my hemlock in peace and straight. Xanthippe always compelled me to dilute it at the rate of one quart of water to the finger."

"Well, we didn't all marry Xanthippe," put in Cæsar, firmly, "therefore we are not all satisfied with the situation. I, for one, quite agree with Sir Walter that something must be done, and quickly. Are we to sit here and do nothing, allowing that fiend to kidnap our wives with impunity?"

"Not at all," interposed Bonaparte. "The time for action has arrived. All things considered he is welcome to Marie Louise, but the idea of Josephine going off on a cruise of that kind breaks my heart."

"No question about it," observed Dr. Johnson. "We've got to do something if it is only for the sake of appearances. The question really is, what shall be done first?"