tude of the sun, by setting a
stick upright in the ground and measuring the length of its shadow very
carefully several days running; and in this way he afterwards found that
the latitude of the wreck was about 3 degrees 50 minutes South. Then,
when he was satisfied that he'd got the position near enough to be able
to find it again, he set his sail and went out to sea.

"But he was unlucky again, for on that very night a gale sprang up, his
sail was blown away, and he had all his work cut out to keep the boat
from being swamped. Then he fell ill again and went crazy once more,
coming to himself again aboard a Chinese junk bound for Singapore. Of
course the first thing he did was to search for his little packet of
gems; but they were gone; and, although he strongly suspected the
Chinese of having stolen them, they swore that they had seen nothing of
them. At Singapore Mr Barber applied for help as a distressed sailor,
and, after waiting a bit, he was sent home in a ship bound for London.
Four days after he landed in London he met Father, who helped him by
giving him money and inviting him to take up his quarters, for a bit,
aboard the _Yorkshire Lass_. Then he told Father all about the
treasure, and they kept on talkin' about it every evenin', when the
day's work was done, until at last Father agreed to help Mr Barber to
search for the treasure, he and Mr Barber to go halves in everything
they found, and Mr Barber to come with us as mate. And--and--I think,
sir, that's all."

"And quite enough, too," I said. "Why, it is the most amazing story to
which I have ever listened. And do you really mean to say that your
father actually allowed himself to be persuaded into engaging in such a
wild-goose chase as that of hunting for a spot of which the latitude
only is known--and that merely approximately, I should imagine."

"Yes, indeed, sir, it is a fact," answered Billy. "I know, because
Father and Mr Barber drew up an agreement and signed it, Father keeping
one copy, and Mr Barber the other. Father's copy is in his desk now,
if you'd care to see it."

"Later on, perhaps," I said. "There are other and more pressing matters
requiring attention just now. This--er--unfortunate affair of the night
before last has, I suppose, upset all plans, and clapped an effectual
stopper on the treasure-hunting scheme, eh?" I asked, turning to the
boatswain.

"Oh no, sir, it haven't," answered Enderby. "It looked a bit like it