I really was at last upon the right track. I met with a few
difficulties, it was true; but, braced-up and encouraged by what I had
already achieved, I speedily surmounted them, and, after somewhat more
than an hour's patient labour, succeeded in evolving the following:--

"Latitude 3 degrees 40 minutes South; longitude 139 degrees 18 minutes
West. Approached from the south-west the island, at a distance of
fifteen leagues, bears the exact likeness of the face of a man floating
on the water. Steer for the hollow between mouth and chin, and ye shall
find a river, which boldly enter, and sail up it a distance of three
furlongs to the creek on starboard hand; pass into the creek and land on
the island. The treasure lies buried at a spot one thousand feet due
south from the base of the obelisk rock."

I was so elated at this discovery, the mental relief and exhilaration
were so great that, in the exuberance of my delight, I felt constrained
to acquaint my friends with my success; and rushing up on the poop with
the cryptogram and its rough translation in my hand, I sat down by the
open skylight, close to which Sir Edgar and Lady Emily were seated, and
presenting the baronet with the documents, said--

"There, Sir Edgar, read that; and never hereafter dare to assert that
there is nothing in dreams!"

"I do not remember that I have ever yet made the assertion," he retorted
laughingly. "But do you really mean to say that you have at length
mastered the secret of the cipher?" as he took the paper from me, and
forthwith read it aloud for the benefit of his wife and Miss Merrivale,
the latter having joined us at her sister's call.

"Well," exclaimed Lady Emily, when her husband had finished, "it is
really wonderful! quite the kind of thing that one reads of in books but
does not believe, because one seldom or never meets with anything like
it in real life. But so many strange things have happened during this
eventful voyage of ours, that I shall never again be incredulous of
anything."

"Quite so, my dear," agreed Sir Edgar. "Never commit yourself to the
statement that you disbelieve anything. To refuse credence simply
because one cannot understand, or because to our limited understanding
the occurrence seems unlikely or impossible, is an infallible indication
of ignorance. The wider our experience, and the deeper our knowledge,
the more ready are we to admit that there may be many wonders that have
never come wit