for Rally Hall,
you know, before long, and then what chance will we have?"

"Keep a stiff upper lip," counseled Lester. "We've just begun to fight."

During the conversation the eavesdropper had lain quietly and listened
with the closest attention. Now he edged away cautiously, and when he
had reached a sufficient distance rose to his feet and hurried back in
the direction of Bartanet.

The boys light-heartedly got into their boat and rowed back to the
lighthouse without the slightest suspicion that almost all they had said
had been overheard by Andy Shanks.

That rascal hastened back to town, his brain awhirl with dreams of
sudden riches. He had heard enough to know that there was treasure
buried in or around Bartanet, and he also knew that the boys whom he
held in hatred were in search of it. What joy to steal the riches from
them and thus gain the twofold advantage of thwarting them and at the
same time putting himself in a position to indulge those vices in which
he delighted!

Before Andy had gone far, he met one of the village youths whose
acquaintance he had recently made. Unfortunately for Andy, this young
fellow, who was named Morton, had a strong liking for practical jokes,
and after Andy, with his usual boastfulness, had thrown out sly hints
about knowing how to "pick up all the money that he wanted," Morton
scented a chance to make a victim.

As Andy was very vague regarding the sources from which he expected to
get his wealth, Morton did not hesitate to impart to Andy the slighting
opinion that he was "talking through his hat."

"Not much I'm not," retorted Andy, stung by the imputation. "I tell you
I know there's oodles of money buried somewhere around here and what's
more, if you'll help me to find it, I'll let you in for a share of it."

His acquaintance, seeing that Andy was in earnest, quickly formed a plan
to have some fun at the other's expense.

"Well, seeing you're so certain of it, I _will_ help you, then!" he
exclaimed. "Shake hands on the bargain."

CHAPTER XXVI

BADLY FOOLED

Morton gravely extended his hand and Andy shook it.

"Let's see, now," said the town youth, pretending to be racking his
memory, "whereabouts could that money be hid? It's probably in some old
shack or cave somewhere. Say!" he shouted as though struck by an idea,
"I'll wager I know the identical place where it's stowed away. Come to
think of it, I'm sure I do."

"Where? Where?" questioned Andy eag