formed many a wild
conjecture as to what the treasure would be.

It was not without considerable difficulty that we effected a landing.
At first I determined to make straight for the place we had come to
seek, but presently I felt hungry, which led me to remember that we had
no food on board, and that we should surely need some before we reached
the object of our search. So after much haggling with Eli, we at length
decided to land at St. Mary's, where there was a safe harbour, which we
did after much hard struggling. Indeed, so much had the journey
fatigued us that, supposing that we found what we desired, I almost
despaired of ever taking it to the mainland, unless the sea were much
becalmed. Still I imagined that we might on returning commence our
journey in the morning, and if the wind were favourable accomplish a
great part of the distance before the night came on.

Our appearance at Hugh Town, St. Mary's, seemed to call forth no special
comment. Accustomed as were the islanders to all sorts of sea
excursions, they apparently regarded our voyage as natural. At the same
time they were curious as to our visit, and in a kindly way asked our
business.

I left all the questions for Eli to answer, who was far more adept at
such matters than I, and who seemed to satisfy the curiosity of the
fisher people without trouble. Perhaps they thought we were smugglers
like themselves, for I suppose that almost all the men on the islands
were in some way interested in deceiving the king's officers. They were
very hospitable, however, and would charge nothing for the hearty meal
of which we partook.

Late in the afternoon we boarded our little boat again, and without
apparently attracting any attention we rowed for Annette Island. It was
well it was calm, for the place was surrounded with low-lying rocks,
which might any moment destroy our craft. Never shall I forget the reef
off Annette Head, for even on that calm day the innumerable "dogs"
churned the waters into foam as they roared around them, as if to tell
us that if we came near them they would surely destroy us. And we were
near becoming wrecked, too, for there were many cross currents, which,
had we not been very watchful, would surely have drawn us to
destruction. One especially was dragging us to the reef of the
_Hellweathers_, and but for my great strength we should never have
landed.

As the day was closing, however, we saw a small cove, and toward this we
made ou