growth. A straight
line ran off in one direction to a point marked on the border of the map
"south," followed by the note: "From Tavern half a mile." Close to this
was a rude skeleton, with a black spot close by marked "treasure rock."
The skeleton of a tree had a huge split through the trunk, in which were
the words "big split hemlock."

On the opposite edge of the map marked "north" was added "to railroad,
half-mile." East and west through the center, lengthwise of the
envelope, ran an irregular line close by the tavern, which was indicated
by the word "highway."

The whole thing was simple and seemingly plain, and all they apparently
had to do was to take a due south course from this building shown as the
ghost tavern, for half a mile. Right near where they had paused when Nan
was showing glimpses of the old building, they turned the car into a
grove of young second-growth spruces and halted. They were now hidden
from view from the road, that was clear.

"Can we leave this car here safely?" queried Billy dubiously.

"I doubt if it is safe," replied Dave, naturally cautious where the Big
Six was concerned. "Billy, let's you and me flip a nickel to see who
stays with the car. I ain't anxious to go that half mile; I _am_ anxious
to know the car'll be here when we come back."

After some discussion there was a toss up and Dave won. Billy looked
vexed.

"Aw, what's the use of anyone staying?" he growled. "The car's safe
enough."

"What is the use of running risks?" rebuked Phil. "After what we went
through back at Griffin we must take no more chances."

Worth resigned himself to the inevitable, but it was evident that he
would much rather have gone with the others.

As the three boys disappeared Billy blinked a while, finally stretching
out in the tonneau, pulling over himself Paul's big rug and--though he
did not mean to--he soon fell asleep. The woods were unusually quiet; no
wind, much shade, with a soothing buzz and hum of insects that was in
itself conducive to drowsiness.

The other three, not deeming it necessary to actually visit the old
tavern just then, took the compass with which Paul had provided himself
and struck out due south.

"How will we know when we have gone half a mile?" suddenly questioned
Paul. "It's too thick with underbrush to pace off so many yards. Say,
how many yards in half a mile? Anyone know?"

"Seventeen-sixty in a mile," said Dave, drawing from his pocket one of
those circ