removal of the treasure.

I scarcely slept that night, and when I did my mind was filled with wild
imaginings. The next morning we were heedless scholars indeed, and at
dinner I ate so little that Mrs. Handsomebody was moved to remark jocularly
that somebody not a thousand miles away was shaping for a bilious bout.

At four o'clock Captain Pegg appeared at his window looking the picture of
cheerful confidence. He said it warmed his heart to be at his old
profession again, and indeed I never saw a merrier twinkle in any one's
eyes. He had found the plan of the yard sent by Jenks and he had no doubt
that we should soon be in possession of the Spanish treasure.

"But there's one thing, my lads;" he said solemnly, "I make no claim
whatever to any share in this booty. Let that be understood. Anything we
find is to be yours entirely. If I were to take any such goods into my
son's house, his wife would get suspicious, uncomfortable questions would
be asked, and it'd be all up with this archaeologist business."

"Couldn't you hide it under your bed?" I suggested.

"Oh, she'd be sure to find it," he replied sadly. "She's into everything.
And even if they didn't locate it till I am dead, they'd feel disgraced to
think their father had been a pirate. You'll have to take it."

We agreed, therefore, to ease him of the responsibility of his strangely
gotten gain. We then parted with the understanding that we were to meet him
in the passage between the two houses promptly at midnight, and that in the
meantime we were to preserve a calm and commonplace demeanour.

With the addition of four crullers and a slab of cold bread pudding filched
from the pantry, our preparations were now complete.

We were well disciplined little animals; we always went to bed without a
murmur, but on this night we literally flew there. The Seraph ended his
prayers with--"and for this piwate tweasure make us twuly thankful. Amen."

The next moment we had dived under the bed clothes and snuggled there in
wild expectancy.

From half past seven to twelve is a long stretch. The Seraph slept
peacefully. Angel or I rose every little while and struck a match to look
at the clock. At nine we were so hungry that we ate all four crullers. At
eleven we ate the slab of cold bread pudding. After that we talked less,
and I think Angel dozed, but I lay staring in the direction of the window,
watching for the brightness which would signify that Captain Pegg was asti