. I wired yesterday for a tug I'm
somewhat interested in to pick up supplies at Harbor Springs and it will
put in here some time during the afternoon."

"You are wonderful!" exclaimed Mrs. Perry. "After you ran past the
barricade so successfully and delivered the little Congdon girl I've
been sure Ruth's confidence in you isn't misplaced."

"That was a trifling matter. I wish you'd tell me before we leave just
how much credence you give this buried treasure story? While we're
about it we must go to the bottom of that."

The rays of the lantern Archie held disclosed an incredulous smile on
Mrs. Perry's face. She was a tall handsome woman, very like Isabel, even
in the tones of her voice and in an occasional gesture; and she had
Isabel's fine eyes.

"I've never thought that more than a fairy tale," she said. "I should
not want you gentlemen to waste time or run the risk of bodily injury in
looking for chests of money that may never have been buried here at all.
There was, to be sure, a considerable fortune, but my father-in-law,
whom I never saw, would have been much likelier to distribute it among
banks in the northern states or in Canada. Richard Carey evidently
believes the story, though from his actions I'm inclined to think him
utterly mad. He's going to desperate lengths to search for the treasure.
His conduct is tinged a good deal with resentment because Isabel has
repeatedly refused to marry him. He's a ne'er-do-well, a blacksheep and
a disgrace to his family."

The Governor sighed deeply.

"I sometimes wonder that there's any white wool in the world; there are
so many of these skittish little black lambkins scattered over the
pastures!"

"They make uncomfortable neighbors!" Mrs. Perry exclaimed, so heartily
that they all laughed.

On the silent shore with the tents of Heart o' Dreams Camp slowly
emerging from the shadows of the surrounding wood in the first
glimmering of dawn, Archie wondered just what Mrs. Perry's feelings
would be if she knew that she had been countenancing three rogues, two
of whom were far-wandering sheep with badly spotted fleeces and the
third, the solemn, silent Leary, with a trail of crime that reached from
ocean to ocean.

She walked with them to the landing and waved the lantern in farewell as
they set forth across the brightening waters for Huddleston.

IV

When the Governor and Archie went down to breakfast at nine o'clock they
learned that Congdon had risen early and