re than half incredulous, surged round me. Then
Mr. Shaw said rapidly:

"You're right. Of course, if you have found the cave, the best
thing we can do is to keep them shut up in it. But we must move
fast--perhaps we're too late already. If they have found the chest
they may by now be starting for camp with the first load of
doubloons."

Again I shook my head.

"They haven't found the gold," I assured him.

The astonished faces grew more anxious. "It sho' have told on
li'le Miss Jinny's brain," muttered Cookie to himself.

"They haven't found the gold," I reiterated with emphasis, "because
the gold is not in the cave. Don't ask me how I know, because
there isn't time to tell you. There was no gold there but the two
bags that the pirates brought back last night. The--the skeleton
moved it all out."

"My Lawd!" groaned Cookie, staggering backward.

"Virginia! I had no idea you were superstitious!" quavered Aunt
Jane.

"I say, do take some sleeping tablets or something and quiet your
nerves!" implored Cuthbert with the tenderest solicitude.

In my exasperation I stamped my foot.

"And while we are arguing here the pirates may be starting back to
camp! And then we'll have to kill them and go home and give
ourselves up to be hanged! Please, please, come with me and let me
show you that I know!" I lifted my eyes to the intent face of
Dugald Shaw.

"All right," he said tersely. "I think you do know. How and what,
we'll find out later." Rapidly he made his plan, got together the
things needful for its execution, looked to the bonds of the still
dazed and drowsy prisoners, posted Cookie in their neighborhood
with a pair of pistols, and commanded Aunt Jane to dry her tears
and look after Miss Higglesby-Browne, who had dismayed every one by
most inopportunely toppling over in a perfectly genuine swoon.

Then the Scotchman, Cuthbert Vane and I set off through the woods.
The men were heavily armed, and I had recovered my own little
revolver and restored it to my belt. Mr. Shaw had seen to this,
and had said to me, very quietly:

"You know, Virginia, if things don't go our way, it may be
necessary for you to use it--on yourself."

And I nodded assentingly.

We went in silence through the green hush of the woods, moving in
single file. My place as guide was in the van, but Mr. Shaw
deposed me from it and went ahead himself, while Cuthbert Vane
brought up the rear. No one spoke, even to whisper. I