says I, "you ain't lookin' to put any such fancy tale as that
over on Mr. Robert, are you?"

"I hope I can interest him in the enterprise," says Killam.

"Well, take my advice and don't waste your time," says I. "He's a good
deal of a sport and all that, but I don't think he'd fall for anything
so musty as this old doubloon and pieces-of-eight dope."

"I have proofs," says Rupert, "absolute proofs."

"Got the regulation old chart, eh," says I, "with the lone tree marked
by a dagger?"

No, he didn't have a chart. He went on to say how the treasure was
buried on a certain little island under a mound in the middle of a
mangrove swamp. He'd been there. He'd actually helped dig into one
corner of the mound. He had four pieces of jewelry that he'd taken out
himself; and nobody knew how many chests full was left.

"Back up!" says I. "Why didn't you go on diggin'?"

But he's right there with a perfectly good alibi. Seems, if he dug up
anything valuable and got caught at it, he'd have to whack up a
percentage with the owner of the land. Also, the government would
holler for a share. So his plan is to keep mum, buy up the island,
then charter a big yacht and cruise down there casually, disguised as a
tourist. Once at the island, he could let on to break a propeller
shaft or something, and sneak ashore after the gold and stuff at night
when the crew was asleep.

The Cap. explains that to do it right would take more cash than he
could raise. Hence his proposition for lettin' in Mr. Robert to
finance the expedition. No, he didn't know Mr. Robert personally, but
he'd heard a lot about him in one way or another, and understood he was
generally willin' to take a chance.

"Maybe you're right," says I. "Anyway, he shouldn't miss hearin' this
lovely yarn of yours. You come back with me and I'll see if I can't
fix it durin' the afternoon. Let's see, what did you say the name of
this island was?"

"I didn't say," says Rupert. "I can tell you the old Spanish name,
however, which no one on the west coast seems to know. It is Nunca
Secos Key--meaning the key that is never dry."

"Huh!" says I. "That listens better in Spanish. Better not translate
if you want to make a hit."

"I am merely stating the facts as they are," says Rupert.

He's a serious-minded gink, and all frivolous cracks are lost on him
completely. He's a patient waiter, too. He sticks around for over two
hours without gettin' restless, until