ion in his use of it.

Twice my grandfather made unsuccessful efforts to find the chests. He
urged that I, his grandchild, should keep the knowledge of the treasure
as a family heritage; but that I might do as I liked about it. After
giving the subject very careful thought, I have now given up the secret
of Money Island, and have not withheld a single detail which was told
me. Of course, nearly a century and a half has elapsed since the
precious booty was hidden. The story, therefore, is old, but I do not
believe it has suffered from age. Captain Kidd was executed in London
not long after the hiding of the treasure, and his associates gave up
their old calling; and probably no one has since disturbed the precious
chests.

* * * * *

Now, as to when I first heard Mr. Landstone's story. It was when I was a
boy in the early forties, and the events connected with its telling have
modified its conclusion, as will presently be seen. I have heretofore
spoken very little of the subject to any one; and when I have done so at
all, it has been to one or two intimate friends as a matter of
particular confidence. In my old age, however, I am going to let my tale
forsake its hiding-place and become public property.

My parents owned a summer home on Greenville Sound not far from Money
Island. To us children it was the very heart of life. The best pleasure
of the year was confined to the four months spent there from the first
of June to the last day of September. We rowed, sailed, fished, swam,
hunted, frolicked, and ran the whole gamut of youthful delights. Those
good days are yet vivid in memory; and it is a matter of regret with me
that my grandchildren--as fine boys and girls as ever lived--cannot have
the same wild, wholesome fun at the Sound as fell to my lot when I was a
boy.

The time that I now speak of, however, was about the middle of May, the
balmy month of soft breezes and bright flowers. I had been particularly
studious in school, and my father agreed to let me spend three days at
the Sound in company with a young friend. We arranged our food supply,
took the old family rockaway, and set out early in the morning, as happy
a pair of boys as ever started on a project of pleasure.

After spending an hour or two at the Sound house, arranging our fishing
tackle and looking after the boats, which had been hauled up for the
winter, we started out on a sail towards the beach. It was a fine da