measure in various directions to see
if he could get the measurements correct to certain rocks or tree
stumps, to see if they tallied with the paper, but it was no use,
nothing would coincide with that faded paper.

We tried the Crevichon, but nothing there agreed; then La Fauconnaire,
but could make nothing of that either, so we had again to let the matter
rest.

One day, however, it suddenly struck me that as none of the trees on the
island were one hundred years old, I might have spared myself the
trouble of attempting them when making my calculations and measurements.

By the way, perhaps it would be as well to state what the precise
contents of my document were. Here is a copy:--

"This is the Will of Jean Tussaud, Master Mariner of C----
(sometimes called Barbe Rouge). To the person who is lucky enough
to find my treasure house, I herewith declare him to be my heir,
and whatsoever he may find shall be his, and for his sole benefit.

"My chief mate, William Trefry, a Cornish man, wished to become my
heir before my death, but I could not agree with him on that point,
although I left him in possession of the key of my 'petites fees'
(little fairies). The key and a valuable knife are all I gave him.

"The bearings of my treasure house are these:--

[Illustration:-THE PUZZLING DOCUMENT-]

"The lucky one will find the following property.... (Here follows a
list of many valuable articles, and winds up with), 'and lastly my
pretty box of _petites fees_.'

"I leave Jethou to-night to join my vessel, which is about to make
a voyage to the West Indies, to see what business can be done
there. I leave this paper, so that should I never return, the goods
I have so industriously and riskily gathered together, may still be
of service to someone who may have skill enough to discover their
whereabouts.

Signed

"JEAN TUSSAUD (Barbe Rouge),

"Feb. 19, 17--."

Here was a puzzle to which for weeks I could obtain no clue whatever,
but one day as I was sitting under the shade of the huge walnut tree
overlooking the garden, the idea came into my mind that this kind of
tree flourishes for generations, and from the gigantic proportions of
this particular tree, it must be a great deal more than a century old.

I found Monday, and aske