Do you see the game?"
The sailors sprang upon the land and pulled the boat well in from the
water. The officers stepped lightly ashore, and railed against the
low-lying branches, which whipped their faces. The trees were thick and
low, making passage beneath them arduous and slow. However, the whole
island was small and soon traversed; and, finally, a spot was selected
as being accessible and suitable to the purpose.
Two deep holes about ten feet apart were dug, and the chests brought and
deposited within them. Some of the earth was replaced; and then they
sought two small trees to plant above the chests. This was accomplished
slowly and carefully, so that the growth of the trees would not be
stopped.
At length the task was completed; and the little island bore within its
bosom wealth sufficient to buy an earldom. The silence of the dreary
solitude sealed the secret; and there was no man who might discover it,
other than those who laid the chests in their earthly hiding place. The
moon gave testimony to the hidden treasure, and bore its silent witness
through the many decades that followed.
Upon leaving the island, they rowed to the mainland, which was but a
short distance away; and there Captain Redfield hid in three places in
the ground the money which Captain Kidd had supplied him for his own
needs, and as compensation for his services until his return. The axes
and shovels, also, were secreted in the woods.
It was past midnight when they returned to the ship, which set sail at
break of day towards the north. By sunset they reached Albemarle Sound,
the rendezvous of some companion buccaneers; and there waited for
several days feasting and engaging in jovial pastimes.
Meantime, a small sloop was procured for Captain Redfield; and, having
been supplied with necessary provisions and household comforts, and
manned by four sturdy men who knew naught of the buried treasure, but
engaged for the service on goodly pay, it sailed for the captain's new
home near Money Island.
Upon reaching their destination, the pioneer residents set to work at
once to construct temporary quarters, and were soon provided with a
comfortable house. According to the plans of the Commander-in-Chief, the
men who accompanied Captain Redfield were to understand that they were
to engage in any service that might come to hand. They were to clear the
land and till it, build houses and fences, and do such other work as
might tend to prepar
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