Part 42 (1/2)

We tossed the rocks and sand upon the table and came to a piece of ragged paper folded in two. In a faint red four words were traced as if with the end of a pointed stick.

Sold, you devils! BUCKS.

CHAPTER XXII

TREASURE-TROVE

Tom broke the silence again.

”Now will some one tell me who the devil is Bucks?”

It was the question in all our minds and our eyes groped helplessly in those of each other for an answer.

”Bucks! Bucks! I've heard his name somewhere.”

Blythe spoke up like a flash.

”So have I, Jack. He was one of the sailors that took the _Santa Theresa_. Quinn gave a list of them in his story. This fellow must have escaped somehow when the s.h.i.+p was blown up.”

”Or from the gig that set out to pursue the long boat. Perhaps when the _Truxillo_ pounded the boat to pieces he swam to sh.o.r.e,” I suggested.

”Yes, but Quinn does not mention that Bucks got ash.o.r.e. That's funny too, because he says that he was the only man from the _Santa Theresa_ left alive after Bully Evans was shot.”

”That is queer. But it's plain Bucks _did_ escape. Don't you think it might be this way? When he got to sh.o.r.e he ran forward to tell the four who had landed with the treasure about the coming of the _Truxillo_. But before he reached the top of the hill he heard shots and suspected danger. So he stole forward cautiously and saw what had happened to Wall and Lobardi. Of course he wouldn't dare show himself then, for he was probably unarmed. So he kept hidden while the two survivors buried the treasure.”

”Of course. Like a wise man too,” a.s.sented Tom. ”And when Quinn and the mate had pulled their freights he steps out and buries the gold in another place.”

”Probably he waited till the _Truxillo_ was out of the harbor,” amended the Englishman.

”Sure. But the big point that sticks out like a sore thumb is that Bucks didn't fool Evans and Quinn, but us. The treasure's gone. That's a rock-bottom fact,” Yeager commented.

”I'm not so sure about that,” I reflected aloud. ”Look here. If Bucks dug the gold up he had to rebury it somewhere. He had no way of taking the doubloons with him. He couldn't have hauled the other boxes far.

Therefore, it follows that he buried them close to where he found them.

The one thing we don't know is whether he came back later and got the treasure. I'll bet he didn't. The man was a common sailor and had no means.”

”Even if we give you the benefit of every doubt, the treasure is hidden.

We don't know where. In a year we might not find it.”

”True enough, Sam. And we might stumble on it to-morrow. Look at the facts. He was alone, probably superst.i.tious, certainly in fear lest Bully Evans might return and find him there. More than that, he had no provisions. To get away and reach the Indians to get food would be his main thought. It was a case of life and death with him. So you can bet he chose easy digging when he transferred the treasure. That means he buried it in the sand not far from where he found it.”

”You have it figured out beautifully,” Sam laughed. ”Well, I wish you luck.”

”But you don't expect any for me. Just you wait and see.”

We called the crew in and showed them what we had found, explaining the facts and our deductions from them. For we thought it better they should know just how matters stood. Their disappointment was keen, but to a man they were eager to search further.