Part 44 (2/2)

”Do you think we're apt to get a sunstroke?” queried John

”There's a good chance of it, I should think I don't believe that people who are used to living in the tropics would be working out in it either”

”Suttinly dey wouldn't,” said Saerous”

”I think so too,” exclaiins to go down a little We've got more than half of itto do the rest”

”The only trouble is,” remarked Fred, ”that if ait until then to finish theto-day”

”What of it?” demanded Grant ”Gold won't evaporate, you know, and if it's there to-day it'll be there just as e ”There's no hurry, andto wait 'till to-”

Having reached this decision they lay about in the shade all through the tropical noon and discussed the treasure for the thousandth time since they first had come into possession of the code Sometimes they dozed and Sam, true to the traditions of his race, slept soundly

At last the shadows began to lengthen and a cool breeze sprang up off the water It was like food to a starving

”We're off!” cried Grant, springing eagerly to his feet

Every one joined hi cooler now, they all worked better andas the last one, isn't it?” said Grant

”Yes,” said John, ”that th of my shoe”

Due east theyhad e of their journey

”Now,” exclaio north by east thirty-three feet How ure it out, Fred,” urged John ”You've got pencil and paper and all you have to do, you know, is to multiply thirty-three by twelve and divide by ten”

”Thirty-nine and six-tenths times,” announced Fred ”How can we measure that fraction exactly?”

”We won't need to,” said Grant ”It's the last figure and we can get it within a couple of inches We'll dig a hole a couple of feet square all around our last marker, so two or three inches won't reed Fred, and the measurements were continued

Soon they came to the end, but there an unexpected complication presented itself Thirty-three feet froainst a palm tree some twelve or fifteen inches in dia down through a tree like that though? We must have made a e

”I don't see how it could be any other way,” insisted Fred ”In the first place how can any one bury anything underneath a tree like that?”

”They didn't,” said George ”They buried the treasure here and then planted this palm tree to mark the spot Do you notice that it is the only one within fifty or a hundred feet of here?”

”You're right, Pop,” exclaimed Grant ”I believe that that's exactly what happened”

CHAPTER XXVII