Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-16

49, again the skulklng through Vic
bushes, while hunted from point to
point, he had not thought but that they were
the pirates.
So excited was he, first by finding the place
where the treasure had really been buried,
and then by the supposed knowledge that
their enemy had returned, that the possibility
of any ones coming to aid them had never
for an instant entered his mind
He was ready to seek safety by flight the
instant the small boat should be near the
shore, but, even as he crept further into the
bushes, there was something 80 familiar IN
the appearance Of one of the men that he
halted. Then he stepped close to the beach,
and in few seconds more was running along
the sand, calling, joyously:
"Father father! father!"
As soon as the boats prov touched the
shore, MIR. Pearson held his in his arms,
and he said, as he pressed him closely to his
bosom:
From the message you sent, had ex-
pected to find you, in serious trouble. Where
are Percy and DudleyT'
"'They are down the coast little way"
Bob replied, almost HISTORICALLY. -, But what
do you mean by message, father!"
"Old Antonio picked up one that had been
sent on gourd, and | feared | might have
some trouble in releasing you. Where are the
men of whom you spokeT
1t did not take Bob a very long while to
give his father a brief account of what had
happened, but he preferred not to tell him
how near they were to the finding of treas
ure until he could do so privately.
won't you come down to the shore, and
see how we have been living, Besides, i par
ticularly want you to stay here until to-
morrow"
Bob pleaded some time before his father
would consent to the delay. He wanted the
boys to come on board the schooner at once,
that they might take advantage of the first
wind to return to Tampa. The bov was so
urgent in his request however, that Mr.. Pear
son finally told the sailor who had accom-
panied him to return to the schooner, and
work her into the harbor as soon as the wind
would permit.
After the man had rowed away the boat,
main, and when he finished the story Ar
Pearson was very nearly as much interested
as was his son.
1t is hardly necessary to attempt to de-
scribe the joy of Dudley and Percy when
Bob appeared at the sandy square with his
father.
The cook was quite frantic in his delight
and the first act of the mate, after he had
visitor, was to attack the fire with his shovel,
scattering the embers far and wide, that the
digging might be begun again.
I'VE took the sand out of here once" he
said, grimly, "and then we threw it back
again. After we've done it two or three times,
it will begin to seem like business"
Bob's father took his turn with the boys
in the work. and Peter was sent back to the
SnOre 10 tell Iue bdllOTS, III case tneV sue
ceeded in gaining the harbor, that they were
to remain there until the party should be
able to come on board, Mr.. Pearson thinking
it best not to let them know exactly what
was being done
So energeticaily was the work carried on.
that it was not yet dark when the marble
was uncovered for the second time, and again
did excitement run high
The hole had been made sufficiently large to
expose the tabletop entirely and also to
allow Percy and Mr.. Pearson to stand in II
when the covering was removed Bob and
Dudley were lying on the sand above, watch.
ing every movement made, and almost hold
ing their breath in suspense as the marble
was lifted.
1t was not as startling a display as thew
had expected, when at last they could see
the deposit made by the pirate, although there
was more wealth in this locker cut in The
rock than they had dared to hope.
At first view it was as if the excavation had
simply been filled with old rags, but as Mr..
Pearson brushed aside what was really fraV-
ments of bags in which coin had been stored
o cry of JOY and surprise came from the lips
of all, for there before them was a great pile
of dull, yellow gold. Coins of all nations
ingots, bars and even articles of adornment
were heaped together in what seemed to be
reckless profusion.
1t was such sight as the boys thought
repaid them for all the suffering they had un.
dergone, and for half an hour they INDUCED
in the most ridiculous antics around the hole
in the sand, Percy receiving full need OF
praise for his persisteney in continuing tho