m, until at length Leirya said he would get rid
of me. The men clamoured for my death, for I had often sent others of
them to their death; but Jose refused to kill me, as I had been so long
with him. He promised to maroon me, however, and the scoundrels had to
be satisfied with that promise. They made many attempts, however, to
murder me, but I escaped them all.

"We did not sight an island for some time, and now, every day, I brooded
over the wrong Jose had done me in listening to the lies of others, and
acceding to their demands, and I determined to have my revenge on him.
He had always trusted me, and did so still, and I had a key that fitted
the lock of his cabin. One day we sighted a ship; and, as it fell calm,
the boats were ordered out to pull to her and capture her. Nearly all
hands went, including Leirya himself, but I remained behind to help look
after the schooner. While they were away, I went into the captain's
cabin, and, finding his keys in the pocket of a jacket of his that hung
there, I opened his private drawer and took out all the papers that were
there, putting back blank ones of similar appearance to those that I had
stolen, relocked the drawer, and replaced the key. I then hid the
papers in my own chest, which I was certain Jose would allow me to take.
I will tell you why I stole those papers. It was because I thought I
should find the key to his hidden treasure among them; and I was not
mistaken. I found it, or what I believe to be it, but it was in cipher;
and I have spent nearly all my time since I have been on the island in
trying to translate it, but have not been able to do so. I know,
however, whereabout the bay is in which the hiding-place is situated.
It is at the east end of the island of Cuba, in latitude 20 degrees
north, longitude 75 degrees west.

"I have those papers still; and before I die I will give them to you,
Master Trevose. They may be useful to you; and if you can translate the
cipher, why, there are millions there for you, unless, indeed, Jose
Leirya removes them before you can get there. Well, sirs, Jose did not
discover the loss by the time that we fell in with this sand-bank, and,
according to his promise to the crew, I was marooned here; but he gave
me a musket, with powder and ball, and enough provision to keep me for a
year. The men who went in the boat to put me ashore were, however, my
most deadly enemies; and before we reached the shore, and when they we