t get me where I'm going in though," laughed Fred. "I'll be so
close to shore that any shark would run aground trying to get at me."

"Let's all go in," exclaimed Grant. "We've got work to-day and if we are
going swimming we'd better hurry."

"Ah mus' hab one o' dem teeth," said Sam, referring to the array in the
ugly mouth of the great shark.

"What do you want one of them for?" asked George curiously.

"'Cause it am sho' to bring yo' luck."

"Then I want one too," cried George. "I want luck myself."

"Get us each one, will you, Sam!" exclaimed Fred. "We can at least wear
them for watch fobs when we get home."

"They'll help us to find the gold maybe," suggested George.

"Don't worry about that," exclaimed John, confidently. "We'll find the
gold all right and we don't need any shark teeth or anything else to
help us, either."

"Well, I say we don't fool around here any more, but go and get the
gold," said Fred. "All we've done so far is to talk about it."

A moment later they were all splashing around in the water enjoying
their early morning swim. Soon afterward they returned to the cave,
where they collected everything they had that might aid them in their
search for the buried treasure. They spent but little time there,
however, and then quickly started on their way towards the big black
rock that was so strangely fashioned in the semblance of a shark. Never
did a party start out more eagerly or with higher hopes than this little
band of castaways on their search for buried wealth.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE SPOT IS MARKED

"You've got your compass, haven't you, Pop?" demanded Grant.

"Right in my hand," replied George, holding the precious article in
question up to view.

"Does it work?" asked Fred, slyly.

"Of course it works," said George loftily. "Anything that I have is all
right. You ought to know that by this time."

"If we didn't have so much work ahead of us this morning," said Fred, "I
should suggest that we stop here for a minute and take the conceit out
of him."

"Oh, Pop's all right," laughed Grant. "He just feels good to-day."

"Why didn't you bring your nice gentle little parrot along, Pop?"
inquired John. "He'd have enjoyed seeing his owner do some work."

"I was going to bring him," said George, "but look what he did to me,"
and he held up a bleeding finger. "That's his answer to my invitation to
come along."

"Isn't he affectionate?" laughed John. "My, I wish I had a parro