Part 12 (1/2)

”By persons anxious to get hold of the secret map that tells of the treasure buried on the island. Are you all alone, Bob?”

”Of course.”

”Then go ahead into my house. I'll follow as soon as I've taken an observation.”

The boy thought the old man must be rather queer to imagine any one would try to steal his secret, if secret he had. Bob was half inclined to give the whole thing up. But he walked on, and was soon inside the rather humble home of the retired mariner. Presently Captain Obed entered and quickly closed the door.

”Have to be very careful--very careful,” he said in a whisper. ”If any one knowed I had this map they'd rob me of it.”

He pulled down the shades of the windows, and then carefully locking the door he went to another room. Bob heard him fumbling about, and soon the old man came out with a yellowish piece of paper in his hand.

”Feel of it,” he said to Bob.

Bob did so. It was stiff and crackly.

”Parchment--parchment,” whispered Captain Obed. ”The map is drawed on parchment--that's sheepskin instead of paper. He wanted it to last for years and years.”

”Who did?”

Once more Captain Obed looked around to see if by chance any one had stolen into the room. He made Bob rather nervous.

”Captain Kidd,” he answered in a lower whisper than he had yet used.

”Captain Kidd drawed that map. It gives the real secret of his buried treasure. I'm the only one that knows where it is. There's lots of maps of Captain Kidd's treasure, but I've got the only real one. All them others was jest drawed so as to fool folks. An' they did fool 'em. 'Cause why? 'Cause n.o.body ain't never yet found the captain's treasure. But you'll find it, an' you'll bring it home to Captain Obed, won't you, Bob? Of course you will. You're a good boy, and if you bring it home safe, why, I'll give you”--he paused and seemed to make a great effort--”yes, I'll give you a hundred dollars, or maybe a hundred and fifty. There! What do you say to that?”

”How much treasure is there?” asked Bob, hardly knowing whether to laugh at the old man or take him seriously.

”How much? It must be near a million dollars. O h, there's lots of treasure!”

It struck Bob that if there was that amount he would not be getting much for his share.

”Now you take that map,” went on Captain Obed. ”It gives the exact location or the island, and shows where the treasure is buried on it, right in the center of a place where four trees grow. The island is about eighty-two degrees west longitude and twenty-one degrees south lat.i.tude. It'll be easy to locate. Just cruise about in that locality for a few days and you'll find it. Then dig up the treasure.”

”But suppose Captain Spark doesn't want to cruise around there?

It's his s.h.i.+p.”

”Oh, you give him twenty-five dollars or so--out of your share, mind you--and he'll be glad enough to do it. Now, Bob, I rely on you.

You're the only one I ever told my secret to, and I want you to keep it close. Don't let 'em get that map away from you. They'll try--oh, they'll try dreadful hard. I got it from my grandfather, who had it direct from Captain Kidd himself, so I know it's correct.

Now, Bob, you'd better go. Take good care of the map and bring me the treasure.”

He thrust the yellow, crackling piece of parchment into Bob's hands and opened the door.

”Put it in your pocket,” he cautioned as Bob went out. ”Some one might see you.”

Now Bob was quite a level-headed youth, and though he knew that sometimes treasure might be found on islands in the ocean, where it had been hidden by modern pirates or illegal pearl fishers, he did not take much stock in what Captain Obed had told him.

Still he thought it would be no harm to take the parchment and show it to Captain Spark. That seasoned mariner would soon be able to tell if it was worth anything. At any rate, Bob was not going to lie awake at night over the possibility--the very small possibility--of securing the treasure.

”Guess I'll have to make a better bargain for my share of it before I do much searching,” he decided.