appetites too small by reason of our great
excitement; anyhow, Adam would have sufficed for us both, and Eve would
have made a capital breakfast for us in the morning. As it was, the
mangled remains of the patriarchs remained for our dinner the next day,
as breakfast was, under the circumstances of what happened next day,
quite out of the question.

As we did not get to bed till four a.m. we were not up till ten; in
fact, I slept but little, as dreams of treasure islands, fairy land, and
wonderful nuggets of gold persistently kept me tossing about feverishly,
till my comrade ran in and wanted to know if he was to dig the treasure
up before I was out of bed.

I sprang out of bed and dressed, and in five minutes we were busy with
paper and rule.

Hurrah! with metres instead of yards the distances tallied within a few
inches, so that near the centre of the garden we had a number of pegs
stuck in the mould all round a currant bush, of perhaps three or four
years' growth, which had thus accidentally marked the spot that was
indicated by a skull on the paper.

Now came Alec's turn for excitement, and he was _intensely_ excited. I
must say I liked my form of excitement best, for Monday seemed
completely off his head, and was gesticulating like a monkey dancing a
hornpipe on hot bricks; he was fairly beside himself. I took mine in a
calmer manner, that is, although I was brimful and even bubbling over
with it, I did not rave, but kept as cool as possible, and I remember at
the time thinking it was due to our different nationalities, the
excitable and phlegmatic temperaments predominating in the two
individuals and giving character. Probably a stranger looking on would
have thought us either a couple of fools or a pair of lunatics.

Off came our jackets, and our sleeves were quickly rolled above our
elbows, displaying arms as brown as those of gypsies.

Monday took the pick and I the shovel, and to work we went.

I must not forget to mention that I had told Alec that whatever we found
I should consider it my duty to give up to M. Oudin as the real
proprietor of the island, and to this he readily assented, mentioning
that he at all events could say nothing to my plans, as he was simply my
assistant, my Monday.

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CHAPTER XVIII.

DIGGING FOR THE TREASURE--A NOONDAY REST--THE GHASTLY TENANT OF THE
TREASURE HOUSE--WE FIND THE