a Monster is the helpful
sort. Mention the words Staunch Friend,' I have said, 'and
immediately the Sea Monster comes to mind.'"

The Phoenix reached up one wing and began to pat the Sea Monster's
flipper.

"Monster, old chum, we--ah--we--Well, the plain fact is that
we--ah--we have need of--such a trifling matter" (here the Phoenix
gave a careless laugh) "that I should not really bring it up at all.
Ah--we need a bit of money."

"Oh," said the Sea Monster. Its whiskers sagged.

"Now, please do not be offended, Monster," said the Phoenix hastily.
"After all, you have no need for the treasure, and it does absolutely
no good buried under the ground."

"It doesn't do any harm there, either," said the Sea Monster. "Really,
Phoenix, I never thought _you_--"

"Monster," said the Phoenix solemnly, "_this_--is a matter of life or
death."

"Life or death--ha!"

"Please, Monster," said David. "It really is life or death, because
the Scientist is chasing the Phoenix, and the Phoenix has a plan to
escape him, and we need some money to carry out the plan so the
Scientist can't hurt the Phoenix."

"A few small coins will do," added the Phoenix, with a winning smile.
"A louis d'or, for example, or some pieces of eight. After which you
may bury the rest again."

"_Please_, Monster!" David begged.

The Monster looked at David, and at the Phoenix, and then at David
again, and then at the lagoon. It sighed a very doubtful sigh.

"Oh ... all right," it said reluctantly. "But for goodness sake, don't
go telling anyone where you found it."

"Of course not," said the Phoenix. And David leaped up and shouted
"Hooray!" and grabbed the spade and his jacket.

"The stuff is on the next island," said the Sea Monster. "I can swim
over with you two on my back. This way, please--we have to leave from
the outer beach."

The Sea Monster was a magnificent swimmer. Its neck cut through the
water like the stem of a Viking ship, and it left a frothing wake
behind. Every once in a while it would plunge its head into the water
and come up with a fish, which it would swallow whole.

"Should you like some breakfast, David?" said the Sea Monster.

[Illustration]

"No, thank you," David answered, "but you go right ahead. Phoenix," he
added, "what _are_ you doing?"

The Phoenix, which had been walking up and down with its wings clasped
behind its back, stopped and gazed over the sea. "Pacing the
quarter-deck, my boy. Scanning the horizon