r way, and finally succeeded in landing. I saw now why this
island had been chosen for the burial of the treasure, if, indeed, one
was buried. Even the islanders themselves seldom visited it because of
its dangerous coast, and because there seemed nothing on it to tempt
them to go thither.

Once on land, however, we climbed Annette Head and looked cautiously
around. No one was, as far as I could see, in sight. We were alone on a
tract of land about forty acres big, entirely surrounded by treacherous
waves and rocks.

"Come, Eli," I said, "we are safe so far. Now we will see if this paper
has any meaning."

I saw that he was nearly as excited as I, for his eyes shone strangely,
and he uttered many wild ejaculations as we wended our way southward.

CHAPTER XXIII

HOW WE FOUND THE IRON BOX ON ANNETTE ISLAND, AND THE TERRIBLE ENDING TO
OUR ADVENTURE

There can, I think, be few drearier prospects than the one which
presented itself to us as we made our way toward the south of Annette.
Above was a gray sky, all around was a sullen sea. True, the waters were
calm, but they looked as though at any moment they might rouse
themselves to fury. East of us we could see the Island of St. Agnes, but
beyond this no land was visible, except the rocky islets which lifted
their heads from out the dark sea.

On the Island of Annette we could see nothing of interest. No human
being lived there, neither was any cattle to be seen. Possibly there
might be enough verdure to keep a few alive, but I think that even they
would have died of loneliness. The people at Hugh Town said that
scarcely any one ever thought of going to Annette. Why should they?
there was nothing to induce them there.

Since then I have seen the whole group of islands bathed in the sunlight
of summer, I have seen them covered with rich vegetation, I have seen
the waves shine bright as they leaped on the many-coloured cliffs, and
make sweet music as they played around the innumerable rocks. Seen in
this way they are pleasing to all who can enjoy a strange and lovely
beauty, but on the day of which I am writing they were gloomy beyond all
the power of words to tell.

Even the wind, little as there was of it, wailed and sobbed as it moved
along the waters, while birds, the like of which I had never seen
before, cried as though they were in bitter pain.

"Eli," I said, "surely we are on the devil's mission, and God is
forbidding us to go further."

Eli mad