THE KING OF ARCADIA BY FRANCIS LYNDE Author of "A Romance in Transit," "The Quickening," etc. ILLUSTRATED CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK 1909 Copyright, 1909, by CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS Copyright, 1909, by Published February, 1909 To my daughter Dorothea, AMANUENSIS OF THE LOVING HEART AND WILLING HANDS IN ITS WRITING, THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. "You must help me," she pleaded; "I cannot see the way a single step ahead." CONTENTS I. The Cryptogram II. The Trippers III. The Reverie of a Bachelor IV. Arcady V. "Fire in the Rock!" VI. Elbow Canyon VII. The Polo Players VIII. Castle 'Cadia IX. The Brink of Hazard X. Hoskins's Ghost XI. Gun Play XII. The Rustlers XIII. The Law and the Lady XIV. The Maxim XV. Hospes et Hostis XVI. The Return of the Omen XVII. The Derrick Fumbles XVIII. The Indictment XIX. In the Laboratory XX. The Geologist XXI. Mr. Pelham's Game-Bag XXII. A Cry in the Night XXIII. Deep Unto Deep The Cryptogram The Trippers The Reverie of a Bachelor Arcady Fire in the Rock! Elbow Canyon