ee which marked the
spot so long sought by them.

"Got your knife, Sam?" exclaimed Grant. "Let's see how good a lumberman
you are."

"Ah'll hab dat ol' tree down in no time," cried Sam confidently, and
with his great heavy knife grasped firmly in his right hand he fiercely
attacked the unsuspecting tree. The wood was soft and before long began
to yield to Sam's blows.

"That'll just about finish up that knife," remarked Grant to Fred.

"Suppose it does," said Fred. "There's another hoop from that old cask
up at the cave and he can easily make another."

"Isn't a barrel of gold worth more than an old iron knife anyway?" said
John. "I should say so if you asked me."

"A barrel of gold wouldn't have done you much good when that shark was
after you though," said Grant grimly. "I guess just at that time Sam's
old iron knife was worth more to you than anything in the world."

"That's true," acknowledged John soberly. "I have no right to talk
against that knife."

"Come over here and give this tree a push," shouted George who was
bustling importantly around Sam. "You fellows seem to think this is a
party or something. Come over here and do some work."

No great amount of urging was required, however, and a moment later
every one in the party was standing about the tree, pushing and pulling
with all his might.

"She's beginning to give!" exclaimed George. "Keep it up!"

"Let Sam get to work for a minute or so more," suggested Grant. "About a
dozen more good blows will finish the job."

"Dat's right," agreed Sam readily. "Lemme at dat ol' tree agin."

As though it was his mortal enemy Sam attacked the unsuspecting palm
tree and dealt it such fierce blows that it soon required only a slight
exercise of strength to topple it over.

"There she is," panted George when the tree lay prostrate. "She's down
and now the only thing that stands between us and the treasure is a few
feet or yards of sand."

"Let's hope it's feet," said John.

"And that there are no rocks to go through either," added Fred.

"You certainly can think of more hard luck than any one I ever saw,
Fred," exclaimed George, pretending to be very much discouraged with his
friend. "Why do you always look on the dark side of things?"

"I don't. I just believe in being sensible about it, that's all."

"It seems to me you're always looking for trouble."

"By the way," said John, "you didn't get those shark teeth, did you,
Sam?"

"'Deed Ah didn't,