g, and springing upon a hen-coop, I directed my gaze
straight ahead, with my hand over my eyes to shield them from the dazzle
of the sun.

Yes, there it was, undoubtedly; a faint, pinkish-grey shape, right over
the starboard cat-head, as I then stood; a low hummock on the left, with
a hill next it, the outline of which, even at that distance, bore a
striking resemblance to a man's nose, the upper lip on the right of it
showing just clear of the horizon. Yes; there was the treasure island,
beyond all question! The next point to be determined was, whether the
treasure still lay buried there; and if so, how was I to obtain and
retain possession of it?

Of one thing I felt morally certain, which was that, as soon as the men
felt assured that the whole of the treasure was on board, they would
take the ship from me, either by force or guile, if they could. It was
of course open to me to make a fight for it, if I chose; but, even
assuming that I could reckon upon Sir Edgar's assistance--as I felt sure
I could--that would make only four of us to oppose eleven men, who, I
had no manner of doubt, would prove as resolute and determined in a
stand-up fight as they had already shown themselves to be in the pursuit
of their organised plans. The odds were nearly three to one against us.
Opposed to these, with, for our antagonists, resolute men, whose
knowledge of the consequences that must inevitably follow upon an
unsuccessful attempt at piracy would nerve them to desperation--men who
were unquestionably full of brute courage, and who, moreover, were
doubtless as well armed as ourselves--was I justified in entertaining
the slightest hope of success in the event of my submitting the matter
to the arbitrament of battle? The answer to this question was an
unqualified "No!"

If, then, it was hopeless to expect that a resort to force would enable
me to retain my property, my freedom, and the freedom and property, ay,
perhaps even the lives of those who, in such a crisis as this, would
naturally look to me for the preservation of both, I must resort to
guile. I mortally hate anything that in the slightest degree savours of
deception, either in words or conduct, and have made it an invariable
rule never to engage in any transaction needing the one or the other for
its successful accomplishment; but here was a case in which I had no
choice but to meet guile with guile. How was it to be done? Possibly,
if the treasure happened to b