share alike all round, when there's anything to share."

"To be sure," said Wilton.

"And I say that the youngsters come into the swim; only look here, young
squires, if there's nothing you get nought."

"Agreed," cried the boys, in a breath.

"Agreed all," cried Griggs merrily. "Now then, doctor, open the roll
and let's see; but before you begin, who'll buy my share for ten
cents?--What, all silent? No buyers? Tchah! There's speculation! I
won't sell it now. Read away, doctor, and let's hear--or see."

CHAPTER SIX.

A WILD-GOOSE CHASE.

The doctor carefully opened the roll of skin upon the table, while Chris
turned the lamp up a little higher, keeping one eye upon his father's
actions the while and then scanning eagerly the plainly-seen marks which
pretty well covered the little guide.

For that it was evidently intended to be, so as to give future searchers
an easy means of reaching the treasure that the unfortunate adventurer
had discovered.

All gazed down at the skin, which had been smoothed out, and for some
minutes not a word was spoken. But it did not take long for the whole
of the party to come to the same conclusion, and it was this--

That the adventurer had taken great pains in the preparation of his map
for another's benefit, in case he should not be able to seek for the
treasure himself, but that to make his chart available it needed
something more.

Griggs was the first to give his feelings words, which expressed the
thoughts of the rest exactly.

"This is all very well," he said, as he wrinkled his brow and scratched
his head viciously, "and it's very nicely done for a man who seems to
have begun by making his own makeshift for paper, and then his own pen
and ink. What do you make this skin to be, doctor?"

"The nearest guess I can give is that it is the skin of a jack-rabbit
that has been pegged-out tightly and dried in the sun."

"Same here," said Griggs; "but what about the ink?"

"Ah, that looks like charcoal ground very fine, mixed with water and
some kind of tree gum, and painted on with a pointed piece of wood."

"That's just what I thought it might be," cried Griggs, "and a deal of
trouble the poor fellow has taken with it. Look here, neighbours, east
and west and north and south plain enough. What does he say
here?--`Des--' Yes, that's right enough, and means desert. Plenty of it
too. And what's here?--`No water.' Of course, and over and over again,
`N.W.'