the drop-curtain. I know not why only the decorators of drop-curtains are inspired to create landscapes of such strange enchantment, of

nconscious audience, over an orchestra engaged in tuning up, and was lost in the marvelous landscape of the drop-curtain

ed it to me here on Leeward Island. Here was the feathery foliage, the gushing springs, the gorgeous flowers of

ak, rising to a height of nearly three thousand feet. At its base on three sides lies a plateau, its edges gnawed away by the sea

ough the hollow to fall into the little bay. All the plateau and much of the peak are clothed with woods, a beautiful bright green against the sapphire of sea and sky. High above all other growth wav

, and many beautiful banana-palms. The rank forest growth had been so thoroughly cleared out that it had not yet returned, except stealthily in the shape of brilliant-flowered creepers which wound their si

roof of palm-thatch had been scattered by storms. Nearer the stream on a bench were an ol

irate. Without taking the trouble to combat this opinion, Mr. Shaw explained to Cuthbert Vane that a copra gatherer had once lived here, and that the place must have

lves for naps. Aunt Jane, however, could not be at rest until Mr. Tubbs had been restored by a cordial which she extracted with much effort from the dept

the tropic dawn. The men were hard at work with bales and boxes, except Mr. Tubbs, who gave advice. It must have been valuable advice, for he assured everybody that a word from his lips had invariably been enough to make

e explained, "but they didn't use par

put an end to Mr. Tubbs'

at and sleep even with the wealth of the Indies to be had for the turning of a sod. The cabin was reroofed and set apart as the bower of Aunt Jane and Miss

ted, and it ended by my having a tarpaulin

for they were of the humdrum domestic variety, and had doubtless appertained to the copra gatherer's establishment. But you should have seen how clean, how seemly, how self-respecting were our Leeward Island pigs to realize how profoundly the pig of Christian lan

me immured in the cabin o' nights so that I should not be eaten. But n

mark him to avoid becoming a cannibal at second hand. I s

eeling," said Aunt Jane, ge

nt in much for family tombs?" remar

them," I assured him, and he walk

rms and chest were like cream solidified to flesh. Instead of his nose peeling like common noses in the hot salt air, every kiss of the sun only gave his skin a warmer, richer glow. With his striped silk sash of red and b

dday was terrific. But the temperature brought us neither illness nor even any great degree of lassitude. Always around the island blew the faint cooling breath of the sea. No marsh or stagnant water bred insect pests or fever. Every day while we were there the men worked hard, and grew lean and sun-br

far, except in general terms, she had imparted it to no one. Everybody, in coming along, had been buying a pig in a poke-though to be sure Aunt Jane had paid for it. The Scotchman, Cuthbert Vane had told me incidentally, had insured himself against l

own the treasure-story of Leeward Island, as I gathered it later, a little here a

there was more gold afloat on the Pacific than at any time since the sailing of the great plate-galleons of the seventeenth century. Captain Sampson, of the brig Bonny Lass, found himself with a passenger for nowhere in particular in the shape of a certain Spanish merchan

at home. But somewhere off Ecuador on a dark and starless night the merchant of Lima vanished overboard-"and what could you expect," asked Captain S

been buried. Who knows but that he, too, was bent on treasure-seeking? Be that as it may, the little brig found her way into the bay on the northeast side of the island, where she anchored. Water was needed, and there is refreshm

utting off from the Bonny Lass, in which were captain, mate, and one Bill Halliwell, able seaman, a man of mighty musc

betters. It is a word and a blow with the captain of the Bonny Lass, and Bill is conveniently

bbling along the Bristol quays, and perhaps from pity took the shabby creature home with him. Hopperdown dealt in sailors' slops, and had a snug room or two behind the shop. Here for a while the former Captain Sampson dwelt, and after a swift illness here he died. With the hand of death upon him, his grim lips at last gave up their secret. With stiffening fingers he traced a rough map, to refresh Hopperdown's memory after the lapse of time since either had seen the wave-beaten cliffs of Leeward Island. For Captain Sampson had never been able to return to claim the treasure which he had left to Bill Halliwell's silent guardianship. Somehow he had lost his own vessel, and there would be rumors about, no doubt, which would make it difficult for hi

ssage in a sailing ship for Valparaiso, trusting that once so far on the way he would find means to accomplish the rest. But the raging of the

ed by her son, himself a sailor. He learned from her its history, and having been in the Pacific, and heard the tales and rumors that cling about Leeward Island like the everlasting surf of its encompassing seas, this grand-nephew of old Hopperdown's, by name David Jenkins, became for the rest of his days a follower of the ignis fatuus. An untaught, suspicious, grasping man,

was that at the last he should have parted with the c

om Cuthbert Vane. But so far nobody had seen the map. And now we were to see it; the ti

ship and loyalty, and the necessity of the proper mental attitude in approaching the business we had in hand. I did not listen clos

lacking whom it would have been but a body without a soul. It was I who had uttered words which were painful and astounding to one conscious of unimpugnable motives. In the days of toil to come, we were reminded, the Young Person, to wit, myself, would have no share. She would be but skeptic, critic, drone in the busy hive. Thus it was obvious that the

e swift ferret-glances at the faces of the company. Captain Magnus had taken a sheath-knife from his belt and was balancing it on one finger, casting about him now and then a furtive, crooked, roving look, to meet which made you feel like a party to some hidden crime. Mr. Vane had remained for some time in happy unconsciousness of the significance of Miss Browne's oration. It

breath, preparatory to resuming her v

really didn't.) "I think you are-sillier than any grown-up people I ever saw. In the second place, anything you do find you are welcome to keep. Do you think I came along with people who didn't want me, and have turned my own aunt against me, for the sake of filthy lucre? Did I come intentionally at all, or because I was shanghaied and couldn't help myself? Aun

burst in

ully sudden way. You might at least have been considerate enough to wire beforehand. As to blood-stains, there was a preparation your Aunt Susan had that go

lped greatly to clear the situation. I opened m

st or equitable claim to participate in the profits of this ex

own way," I sa

in a stately manner toward Mr. Tubbs-"that you offer for Mis

r. Vane suddenly, "I cal

Miss Browne loftily, "the matter may be p

ng of the tables. Captain Magnus responded with a sudden bellow, which caused him to drop the gleaming knife within an inch of Aunt Jane's toe. Mr. Sh

briny and inadequate that I passed her mine. From Cuthbert Vane alone there came a steadfast no-and th

by the party. Mr. Tubbs took evident pride in the numerous aforesaids and thereofs and other rolling legal phrases of his composition, and Miss Browne listened with satisfaction as he read it off, as though each word had been a nail in the coffin

ery seemed indecently intrusive. Let it be granted, then, that I ought to have got up with stately grace and gone away. Only, I did nothing of the sort. In spite of my exclusion from all its material be

Captain Magnus, who was of a restless and jerky habit at the best of times, was like a leashed animal scenting blood. Beneath his open shirt you saw the quick rise and fall of his h

in his cheek. All worldly good, all hope of place, power, independence, hung for him on the contents of the

ity. For him the whole affair belonged in the category known as sporting,

body held his breath, except poor Aunt Jane, wh

with the name it bears in the Admiralty charts-Lantern Bay-written in, and a dotted line indicating the channel. North of the bay the shore line was carried for only a little distance. On the south was shown the long tongue of land which protects the

s directions for entering the cove. There was absolutely n

hat which had written Lantern Bay across the face of the cove, and which, tho

cave at the half Tide but beware the turn for the pull is strong. He sed to find the Grave again look for the stone at the head marked B. H. and a

nded the obsequies of Bill and knew where to look for the stone ma

into the intent fac

l jest precisely where that cave might be

eated Miss Browne cha

ther detail cou

am afraid," remarked

her no longer as the deluder of Aunt Jane, but as herself the deluded. Her belief in the treasure was an obsessio

N the immediate neighborhood of the grave of William Halliwell, which is to be recognized by its headstone. As the area of our s

o find, Miss Browne. As to caves, I doubt but they are numerous. The formation here m

nthusiasm which has floated us thus far must inevitably recede, leaving us flotsam on a barren shore. What can one weak woman-pardon, my unfaltering Jane!-two women, achieve against the thought of failure firmly held by him to whom, we looked to lead us boldl

sed for breath, whereupon Mr. Tubbs, anxious to retrieve h

n't, why there's others which is not given to blowin' their own horn, but which might at a pinch dash forward like Arnold-no relation to Benedict-among the spears. I may be rather a man or thought than action, ma'am, and at present far from my native hea

As for Aunt Jane, she gazed upon the noble countenance of Mr. Tubbs with