ightful
heir to reach out and get it."

"If there's anything at all in that," asserted Jack, "I'll bet the thing
lays in a bed of quicksand. When the tide is just right it softens up
and boils. Then any solid substance may be thrown up to the surface.
Maybe someone has seen a piece of log or some driftwood at some such
time and that's the way the treasure story started."

"But I have the map," declared Harry excitedly. "What do you make of
that? You'll have to go some to explain that."

"I guess that's so," sheepishly admitted Jack. "I forgot that."

"Until tonight," stated Harrison, "I never had much faith in the story,
but this map as a climax to other things is convincing."

Rowdy, who had been lying on a berth with Arnold, now slipped to the
floor. His whole body became tense and rigid while the hairs on his back
rose on end. A low, menacing growl issued in subdued notes from his
throat. His attitude was threatening.

"Watch the dog," whispered Jack. "Look at him."

"Someone's coming," announced Arnold. "He does that only when he gets
near someone who's a sneak or pirate or something."

"Goodness, I'm glad I'm not a pirate," declared Harrison.

"Get a leash on him," ordered Jack. "He's been shot once tonight and
that's enough. Get your guns unlimbered, boys."

"I'll keep a lookout on the water," volunteered Frank.

"And I'll watch the wharf," said Tom. "I wish, though," he continued,
"that the lights were off. I could see better."

"Turn the switch, Charley," was Jack's request. "It's at your hand there
on the bulkhead. It's the middle one."

"I see him," whispered Tom. "It looks like Wyckoff."

"Slide the door open a crack," Harry suggested, "and get the drop on
him. If he starts anything, shoot him in the legs!"

"He's laying down a bundle," whispered Charley. "It's only a small
package. I wonder what he's going to do."

For answer, Wyckoff, for it was none other, deposited the small package
described by the boy on the bow of the Fortuna. He knelt on the wharf a
moment leaning over toward the boat. The boys were unable to see him
well because of the curving lines of the vessel.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Charley, starting from his post toward the
bows. "He lit a fuse and has started away!"

"Come back from there," cried Jack in a tone of authority. "Come back
from there! Do you want to get blown into bits?"

The boys rushed forward to seize their chum and drag him to a place of
safety. He ke