Part 19 (2/2)

Harry had not thought it possible the discovery could be of any value until this suggestion of Jim's, and then he worked with a will among the ruins, knowing full well how delighted the old sailor would be with two or three stout timbers.

It seemed hardly probable any very useful material could be gathered from the pile of rubbish, for that portion of the hut yet standing was in such a condition of decay that, as the fragments inside were removed, it came tumbling down with a crash, sending the centipedes and other crawling things scuttling away in every direction, while the dust rose in dense clouds, which caused the boys to sneeze as if a huge snuff-box had been overturned.

”According to the looks of that we sha'n't find very many serviceable pieces,” Walter said when it was possible to speak again. ”This stuff is so rotten that it wouldn't even make good fuel.”

”I reckon you're right;” and as he spoke Jim pulled toward him the corner-post, which had broken off close to the sand.

In dragging it out the wood crumbled to pieces, and Harry, who was a few feet away, sprung forward with a shout as he pointed to a small, dark object amid the fragments.

”Look at that! There's something hidden in the timber!”

Pressing forward, the boys saw a square black ma.s.s five inches long, four wide, and a trifle more than one inch in thickness, which was lying apparently in the very heart of the wood. The briefest examination revealed the fact that the odd-looking thing was in a cavity or recess which had been cut in the timber at what must have been about four feet from the ground when the post formed a portion of the hut. It had been most skillfully done, and concealed from view by a thin piece of wood rabbeted-in so neatly as to make it appear like the solid post. Even now, after so many years must have elapsed, it was difficult to see the joints; therefore when first done one would have looked in vain for marks of a tool on the timber.

”What is it?” Jim cried excitedly as he gazed at the black object, but made no move toward taking it from the recess where it had so long remained hidden.

”It's something valuable, or it wouldn't have been put away like that.

P'rhaps a pirate has left it for safe-keeping, and couldn't get back after it,” Harry suggested.

”He couldn't have been any very great shakes of a pirate if that's all he had to hide!” Jim said with a tone of contempt for the possibly blood-thirsty owner of the package which he now lifted from its wooden case.

The boys gathered close around; but the most minute examination failed to reveal anything more valuable than a ma.s.s of tar.

”There must be something inside!” Walter cried excitedly, ”for no one would have taken so much trouble to put such stuff away. Cut it open!”

Jim was soon chopping at the black ma.s.s with his pocket-knife, and but a few strokes were necessary to show that the tar simply covered a cunningly-plaited net-work of stout cord fas.h.i.+oned somewhat like an envelope.

”Be careful when you stick the knife through!” Harry cried warningly.

”There must be something precious inside, sure!”

Jim did not intend to run any risk of ruining the contents by a hasty stroke. After sc.r.a.ping the tar off sufficiently to expose the cords straight across both ends, he cut them carefully apart until the envelope was divided like an open wallet, exposing to view two thin sheets of wood.

”It's nothing but paper!” Walter exclaimed in a tone of most intense disappointment as Jim separated this inner covering, showing what appeared to be the attempt of some amateur to draw a diagram on a soiled piece of stout paper.

At the top of the sheet, which was yellow and time-worn, were two lines, as follows:

XLI. fathoms N. N. E. from this timber to palmetto tree.

XII. fathoms S. E. by E. to coral-head.

This information, if such it could be called, was jotted down in fanciful letters instead of writing, and immediately beneath it appeared the rude drawing of a hut, a crooked tree, and a rock or piece of coral.

From one to the other arrows were placed to mark the probable direction as given above, while below was what looked like a representation of an island or key.

Then was written, in angular penmans.h.i.+p, the following:

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