growing closely together on the extreme northernmost
point of the island. The central tree of this group, and one of the
others, bears a mark (made by the removal of a piece of bark) as large
as a man's two hands. When you have identified these trees, walk away
from them, keeping them _in one_, until you open, clear of the trees on
the southern end of the island, a portion of the reef which you will
observe just rising above the water's edge. When you have done this,
you will be standing, as nearly as possible, immediately above the hole
in the deck of the wreck, through which I burrowed to her golden cargo."

The Spaniard (for such I found him to be) then went on to describe the
manner in which I should find the passage through the reef into the
lagoon, giving me as much information as he could from memory of the
various dangers to be avoided. He had carefully prepared a chart of the
channel before leaving the island; but this was on board the vessel he
had just lost.

I could see that the excitement produced by so much talking was
fearfully reducing his strength, and I more than once endeavoured to
persuade him to postpone the completion of his narrative; but he was
sensible that he had but a short time to live, and so anxious was he to
give me all the information necessary to enable me to discover this
strangely buried treasure, that my endeavour to stop him did more harm
even than the talking, so I was compelled perforce to suffer him to
proceed. And though I felt it my duty to urge him not to excite
himself, I must confess that I was deeply interested to learn how I
might become possessed of the wealth to which he had referred in such
glowing terms; for since it was manifest that he could not live to enjoy
it himself, and as he had declared he had no relative in the world, I
thought I might as well become his heir.

He continued to talk for some time longer, until he had explained to me
everything he could think of which would facilitate my efforts to reach
the buried treasure; and then, with a sigh of mingled exhaustion and
relief, he closed his eyes, and seemed to sink into a half sleep, from
which he roused himself at frequent intervals, to crave the refreshment
of a draught of lemonade.

At length the sound of carriage wheels was heard; and almost immediately
afterwards Bob returned, accompanied by the Catholic priest. The sick
man opened his eyes, and feebly welcomed the good old man who had so
readi