found the
captain's treasure. But you'll find it, an' you'll bring it home to
Captain Obed, won't you, Bob? Of course you will. You're a good
boy, and if you bring it home safe, why, I'll give you"--he paused
and seemed to make a great effort--"yes, I'll give you a hundred
dollars, or maybe a hundred and fifty. There! What do you say to
that?"

"How much treasure is there?" asked Bob, hardly knowing whether to
laugh at the old man or take him seriously.

"How much? It must be near a million dollars. O h, there's lots of
treasure!"

It struck Bob that if there was that amount he would not be getting
much for his share.

"Now you take that map," went on Captain Obed. "It gives the exact
location or the island, and shows where the treasure is buried on
it, right in the center of a place where four trees grow. The
island is about eighty-two degrees west longitude and twenty-one
degrees south latitude. It'll be easy to locate. Just cruise about
in that locality for a few days and you'll find it. Then dig up the
treasure."

"But suppose Captain Spark doesn't want to cruise around there?
It's his ship."

"Oh, you give him twenty-five dollars or so--out of your share, mind
you--and he'll be glad enough to do it. Now, Bob, I rely on you.
You're the only one I ever told my secret to, and I want you to keep
it close. Don't let 'em get that map away from you. They'll
try--oh, they'll try dreadful hard. I got it from my grandfather,
who had it direct from Captain Kidd himself, so I know it's correct.
Now, Bob, you'd better go. Take good care of the map and bring me
the treasure."

He thrust the yellow, crackling piece of parchment into Bob's hands
and opened the door.

"Put it in your pocket," he cautioned as Bob went out. "Some one
might see you."

Now Bob was quite a level-headed youth, and though he knew that
sometimes treasure might be found on islands in the ocean, where it
had been hidden by modern pirates or illegal pearl fishers, he did
not take much stock in what Captain Obed had told him.

Still he thought it would be no harm to take the parchment and show
it to Captain Spark. That seasoned mariner would soon be able to
tell if it was worth anything. At any rate, Bob was not going to
lie awake at night over the possibility--the very small
possibility--of securing the treasure.

"Guess I'll have to make a better bargain for my share of it before
I do much searching," he decided.

The