y right, and Arthur
was informed that we three would attend to the business the following
evening.

I could not avoid strolling out to the Beacon Tree the next day. I did
so in the most off-hand manner and with the most unconcerned expression
I could assume; but had any one scrutinized my countenance, I am sure
he would easily have detected the deep agitation under which I was
laboring.

I was considerably disturbed, upon examining the immediate surroundings
of the tree, to discover signs which looked as if some one had been
digging there quite recently.

"The secret has become known and the treasure has been carried off," I
gasped, with a rapidly throbbing heart.

Reflection, however, reassured me. No one had seen the writing in the
bottle beside myself (though evidently it must have been known to
others), and it was certain that if any person had succeeded in
unearthing the hidden wealth, he would not have taken the trouble to
hide all signs with such extreme care. Closer examination, too,
convinced me there had been no digging about the tree at all. And yet
I was mistaken.

We three reached the old poplar the next evening between ten and eleven
o'clock. Arthur had escaped inquiry by slipping out of his bedroom
window after bidding his parents good-night; and, inasmuch as the
lantern which I carried was not lit until we arrived at the tree, we
were confident of escaping attention. Still I watched sharply, and was
greatly relieved to discover no persons abroad at that hour beside
ourselves.

Since the treasure was located but three feet below the surface, in
sandy soil, I brought only one shovel, while the boys watched me, one
holding the lantern, and both casting furtive glances around to guard
against eavesdroppers. It would be useless to deny my excitement. My
heart at times throbbed painfully, and more than once I was on the
point of ceasing until I could regain mastery of myself.

"Pop, you must be nearly deep enough," said Frank, in a guarded
undertone.

"I'm pretty near to the place," I replied stopping a minute to draw my
handkerchief across my perspiring forehead.

"I'm afraid there's somebody watching us," added Arthur.

"Where?" I asked in affright, staring around in the gloom.

"I thought I saw a man moving out yonder."

"Well, it's too late for him to interfere now," I said, compressing my
lips and renewing my digging more determinedly than ever; "I carry a
revolver with me, and I