o the Cap'n,
and holding him firmly by the coat lapel. "As you and I have talked
it, you've sort of got cold feet on this treasure proposition." This
was news to the Cap'n, but his eyelids did not so much as quiver.
"Here you are now up against a man that's gone crazy and that's
threatenin' to kill you, and may do so if you try to do more business
with him. Colonel Ward says he's known him a good many years, and
pities him in his present state, and, more than that, has got sort
of interested in this Cap Kidd treasure business himself, and has
a little money he'd like to spend on it--and to help Mr. Bodge.
Proposition by Colonel Ward is that if you'll step out and turn over
Mr. Bodge and this hole to him just as it stands he'll hand you his
check now for fifteen thousand dollars, and"--the showman hastened
to stop the Cap'n's amazed gasping by adding decisively--"as your
friend and general manager of this expedition, and knowin' your
feelin's pretty well, I've accepted and herewith hand you check.
Members of Hecla fire company will please take notice of trade. Do
I state it right, Colonel Ward?"

The Colonel, with high color mantling his thin cheeks, affirmed
hoarsely.

"And, bein' induced to do this mostly out of regard for Mr. Bodge,
he thinks it's best for us to sail away so that Mr. Bodge can calm
himself. We'll send a packet from Portland to take 'em off. They would
like to stay here and prospect for a few days. Right, Colonel Ward?"

The Colonel affirmed once more.

Casting one more look into the hole, another at his inexplicable
brother-in-law, and almost incredulous gaze at the check in his hand,
Cap'n Sproul turned and marched off down the hill. He promptly went
on board, eager to get that check as far away from its maker as
possible.

It was an hour later before he had opportunity of a word with Hiram,
who had just finished the embarkation of Imogene.

"My Gawd, Hiram!" he gasped, "how did you skin this out of him?"

"I could have got twenty-five thousand just as quick," replied the
showman. "You take a complicated plot like that, and when it does
get ripe it's easy pickin'. When old Dot-and-carry got to pokin'
around in that hole this mornin' and come upon the chist bound with
iron, after scrapin' away about a foot of dirt, he jest naturally
concluded he'd rather be equal partners with Colonel Gid Ward than
be with you what I explained he was to the Colonel."

"Chist bound with iron?" demanded the C