t. Anyhow, we'll try out your theory, Gallagher."

I marked a space about twelve by twelve upon which to begin operations.
It took us an hour and a half to satisfy ourselves that nothing was
hidden there.

I marked a second square, a third, and finally a fourth. Dusk fell
before we had finished digging the last. Tired and dispirited we pulled
back to the yacht.

During the night it came on to rain again, and for three successive days
water sluiced down from skies which never seemed empty of moisture.
There was a gleam of sunshine the fourth day and though the jungle was
like a shower bath Blythe took his machete and shovel squad to work.

At the end of the day they were back again. Sam had picked on a great
_lignum vitae_ as the forked tree named in the chart and had come to
disappointment, even as I had.

In the end it was Gallagher who set us right. By this time, of course,
every member of our party had the directions on the chart by heart,
though several had not read the paper. We had finished luncheon and
several of the men were strolling about. I was half way through my cigar
when Gallagher came swinging back almost at a run.

"Beg pardon, sir. Would you mind coming with me?"

"What is it?" I asked in some excitement.

"It may not amount to anything. I don't know. But I thought I'd tell
you, Mr. Sedgwick."

He had been lying down on the sand where it ran back to the jungle from
the farthest inlet. Kicking idly with his heel he had come to solid
stone. An examination proved to him that he was lying on a big rock
covered with sand.

"You think this is the Big Rock," I said, after I had examined it.

"That's my idea. Stand here, sir, at the edge. You can't see the tongue
of the spit, can you?"

"No, but that doesn't prove anything. We can't see it from this inlet at
all."

"Sure about that, sir? Take three steps nor'east--long ones. Can you see
the point now?"

"No, there's a hillock between."

"Take one step more."

I moved forward another yard. Over the top of the rise I could just see
the sand tongue running into the bay.

Jimmie, the irrepressible, broke out impatiently.

"Don't see what he's getting at, Mr. Sedgwick. The map says to take
three steps _southwest_ to the big rock."

"Exactly, Jimmie, but we're starting _from_ the big rock, so we have to
reverse directions. By Jove, I believe you've hit on the spot,
Gallagher."

I called to Alderson to bring the men with their spades. A tre