sing on the bosom of old ocean.

"Bad weather comin',---windy to-night," said the Seminole prophet,
pointing to a bank of jagged slaty-gray clouds that was rising in the
west over the gulf.

"Reckon you're right, Dave. If that brings half the wind its looks
promise, I'd ruther have these keys between it and us---eh? There's
anuther squall brewin' out yonder. Come on, let's go ashore, lads."

Making in shoreward, the _Arrow_ presently cast anchor off a shallow
cove "inside" the nearest bar. All five boys got into the sloop's
dory, and after landing the others on the beach, Hugh rowed back to
the sloop to bring the captain, Norton and the guide ashore. When
they landed, they discovered Billy and Alec, Chester and Mark
engaged in examining a big battered tin box, locked, with its cover
sealed up with black sealing wax, which they had found half buried
in the sand.

"What is it? What have you got there?" Hugh asked quickly, running
forward.

"It looks like part of Captain Kidd's buried treasure!" said Billy,
whose eyes were sparkling with anticipation.

"Nothing of the sort!" declared matter-of-fact Chester. "It's
probably a lot of old maps and charts."

"Let's open it and see," was Alec's advice.

But the captain interposed.

"Let it alone, boys," he said. "It's marked with a small initial 'B.'
That may stand for Bego or---bait."

CHAPTER III

ON A LONE SCOUT

The captain's oracular advice mystified the boys until, seated by
their evening camp fire of driftwood, he explained to them that the
mysterious box might be filled with articles such as Juan Bego and
his men were both hiding and collecting.

"I dunno as he's been as far up the coast as this," Vinton added,
"but 'twouldn't be hard for a sly old sea-dog like him to creep
along these keys at night time 'most any distance."

"Are we far from the Everglades?" asked Billy, cautiously stirring
the fire; for, in spite of the spring warmth, there was a decided
chill in the air so close to the ocean.

"Well, the 'Glades are a good stiff hike from here," replied the
captain. "Eh, Dave; how about it?"

The guide made no answer. Wearied with doing nothing all day, save
lying around on the deck of the _Arrow_ a prey to seasickness, he had
fallen asleep. Above the splash of the surf and the rustle of the
wind in the palmettos, his snores could be heard distinctly, making
night hideous. Alec was on the point of waking him with a nudge
in th