is, can you indicate with any degree of exactness the whereabouts
of the chest? For there is a good deal of sand on the shores of
this island."

"Oh, but Mr. Shaw!" interposed Aunt Jane tremulously. "In the
sand--why, I am sure that is such a helpful thought! It shows
quite plainly that the chest is not buried in--in a rock, you
know." She gave the effect of a person trying to deflect a
thunderstorm with a palm-leaf fan.

"Dynamite---dynamite--blow the lid off the island!" mumbled Captain
Magnus.

"If any one has a definite plan to propose," said Mr. Shaw, "I am
very ready to consider it. I have understood myself from the first
to be acting under the directions of the ladies who planned this
expedition. As a mere matter of honesty to my employers, I should
feel bound to spare no effort to find the treasure, even if my own
interests were not so vitally concerned. Considering its
importance to myself, no one can well suppose that I am not doing
all in my power to bring the chest to light. Tomorrow, if the sea
is favorable, it is my intention to set out in the boat to
determine the character of such other caves as exist on the island.
I'll want you with me, lad, and you too, Magnus."

Captain Magnus looked more ill at ease than usual. "Did you think
o' rowin' the whole way round the dinged chunk o' rock?" he
inquired.

"Certainly not," said Mr. Shaw with an impatient frown. So the
man, in addition to his other unattractive qualities, was turning
out a shirk! Hitherto, with his strength and feverish if
intermittent energy, plus an almost uncanny skill with boats, he
had been of value. "Certainly not. We are going to make a careful
survey of the cliffs, and explore every likely opening as
thoroughly as possible. It will be slow work and hard. As to
circumnavigating the island, I see no point in it, for I don't
believe the chest can have been carried any great distance from the
cove."

"Oh--all right," said Captain Magnus.

Mr. Tubbs, who had been whispering with Aunt Jane and Miss Browne,
now with a very made-to-order casualness proposed to the two ladies
that they take a stroll on the beach. This meant that the
triumvirate were to withdraw for discussion, and amounted to notice
that henceforth the counsels of the company would be divided.

Captain Magnus, after an uneasy wriggle or two, said he guessed
he'd turn in. Cookie's snores were already audible between
splashes of the waves on the sand