amonds worth
many thousands of dollars. He managed to get on board one of the
vessels owned by Mr. Stanhope's firm, and Mr. Stanhope was on the ship
at the same time. The vessel was followed by revolutionists who were
no better than pirates, and after a fierce fight the revolutionists
shot Parmonelli and carried off his fortune."

"This is certainly getting deep," murmured Sam.

"Parmonelli was not killed at once, but died two days after being shot
down. He was very bitter against the revolutionists, and said they had
no right to take his fortune from him--that it was his and did not
belong to the state. As Mr. Stanhope had befriended him to the last he
made a will, leaving the fortune to Mr. Stanhope if the same could be
recovered."

"And how much was it?" questioned Dick.

"I cannot say exactly the will mentions six bags of gold and one bag
of precious stones, all packed in several chests."

"It's queer I never heard of this from Dora," said Dick. "She told me
about the other money her father left."

"Mr. Stanhope kept the matter to himself, and at his death told only
Mr. Laning, for--as you know--Mrs. Stanhope was then in delicate
health and it was deemed very unwise to excite her."

"But what about the fortune--was it recovered?" asked Tom.

"No."

"Then the money has long since been spent," cried Sam in dismay.

"No, Sam, the money and the jewels, to the best of my belief, have
never been touched. When the revolutionists carried them off they said
they were going straight back to Central America with them. Instead,
however, they landed on an island of the West Indies and there started
to divide the fortune. This caused a bitter fight, in which several of
the party were killed and wounded. Then it was decided to hide the
money and jewels in a cave on the island and make a division later. A
place was selected and the gold and jewels placed under heavy rocks in
a small cave. After that the party sailed away. When they got home,
much to their surprise and dismay, they found their country in the
hands once more of the government. They were captured and all but two
were sentenced to be shot as traitors. The two were sent to prison and
they were released less than a year ago. One was a Spaniard named
Doranez and the other a Spanish American sailor named Camel, but
usually called Bahama Jack, because he has spent nearly all his life
among the Bahama Islands."

"Did those two men go after the treasure when the