my buried treasure-第3章
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〃you'd jump at the chance。 It isn't every day a man can dig for
buried treasure。〃
〃That's all right；〃 I said。 〃Perhaps I appreciate that quite as
well as you do。 But my time has a certain small value； and I can't
leave my work just for excitement。 We may be weeks； months How
long do you think we〃
Behind his eye…glasses Edgar winked reprovingly。
〃That is a leading question；〃 he said。 〃I will pay all your
legitimate expensestransportation； food； lodging。 It won't cost
you a cent。 And you write the storywith my name left out；〃 he
added hastily； 〃it would hurt my standing in the trade；〃 he
explained 〃and get paid for it。〃
I saw a sea voyage at Edgar's expense。 I saw palm leaves； coral
reefs。 I felt my muscles aching and the sweat run from my neck and
shoulders as I drove my pick into the chest of gold。
〃I'll go with you！〃 I said。 We shook hands on it。 〃When do we
start？〃 I asked。
〃Now！〃 said Edgar。 I thought he wished to test me； he had touched
upon one of my pet vanities。
〃You can't do that with me！〃 I said。 〃My bags are packed and ready
for any place in the wide world； except the cold places。 I can
start this minute。 Where is it； the Gold Coast； the Ivory Coast；
the Spanish Main〃
Edgar frowned inscrutably。 〃Have you an empty suit…case？〃 he asked。
〃Why EMPTY？〃 I demanded。
〃To carry the treasure；〃 said Edgar。 〃I left mine in the hall。 We
will need two。〃
〃And your trunks？〃 I said。
〃There aren't going to be any trunks；〃 said Edgar。 From his pocket
he had taken a folder of the New Jersey Central Railroad。 〃If we
hurry；〃 he exclaimed； 〃 we can catch the ten…thirty express； and
return to New York in time for dinner。〃
〃And what about the treasure？〃 I roared。
〃We'll' bring it with us；〃 said Edgar。
I asked for information。 I demanded confidences。 Edgar refused
both。 I insisted that I might be allowed at least to carry my
automatic pistol。 〃Suppose some one tries to take the treasure from
us？〃 I pointed out。
〃No one；〃 said Edgar severely； 〃would be such an ass as to imagine
we are carrying buried treasure in a suit…case。 He will think it
contains pajamas。〃
〃For local color； then；〃 I begged； 〃I want to say in my story that
I went heavily armed。〃
〃Say it； then；〃 snapped Edgar。 〃But you can't DO it！ Not with me；
you can't！ How do I know you mightn't〃 He shook his head
warily。
It was a day in early October； the haze of Indian summer was in the
air； and as we crossed the North River by the Twenty… third Street
Ferry the sun flashed upon the white clouds overhead and the
tumbling waters below。 On each side of us great vessels with the
Blue Peter at the fore lay at the wharfs ready to cast off； or were
already nosing their way down the channel toward strange and
beautiful ports。 Lamport and Holt were rolling down to Rio； the
Royal Mail's MAGDALENA； no longer 〃white and gold；〃 was off to
Kingston； where once seven pirates swung in chains； the CLYDE was
on her way to Hayti where the buccaneers came from； the MORRO
CASTLE was bound for Havana； which Morgan； king of all the pirates；
had once made his own； and the RED D was steaming to Porto Cabello
where Sir Francis Drake； as big a buccaneer as any of them； lies
entombed in her harbor。 And I was setting forth on a
buried…treasure expedition on a snub…nosed； flat… bellied；
fresh…water ferry…boat； bound for Jersey City！ No one will ever
know my sense of humiliation。 And； when the Italian boy insulted my
immaculate tan shoes by pointing at them and saying； 〃Shine？〃 I
could have slain him。 Fancy digging for buried treasure in freshly
varnished boots！ But Edgar did not mind。 To him there was nothing
lacking； it was just as it should be。 He was deeply engrossed in
calculating how many offices were for rent in the Singer Building！
When we reached the other side； he refused to answer any of my
eager questions。 He would not let me know even for what place on
the line he had purchased our tickets； and； as a hint that I should
not disturb him； he stuffed into my hands the latest magazines。 〃At
least tell me this；〃 I demanded。 〃Have you ever been to this place
before to…day？〃
〃0nce；〃 said Edgar shortly； 〃last week。 That's when I found out I
would need some one with me who could dig。〃
〃How do you know it's the RIGHT place？〃 I whispered。
The summer season was over； and of the chair car we were the only
occupants； but； before he answered； Edgar looked cautiously round
him and out of the window。 We had just passed Red Bank。
〃Because the map told me；〃 he answered。 〃Suppose；〃 he continued
fretfully； 〃you had a map of New York City with the streets marked
on it plainly？ Suppose the map said that if you walked to where
Broadway and Fifth Avenue meet； you would find the Flatiron
Building。 Do you think you could find it？〃
〃Was it as easy as THAT？〃 I gasped。
〃It was as easy as THAT！〃 said Edgar。
I sank back into my chair and let the magazines slide to the floor。
What fiction story was there in any one of them so enthralling as
the actual possibilities that lay before me？ In two hours I might
be bending over a pot of gold； a sea chest stuffed with pearls and
rubies！
I began to recall all the stories I had heard as a boy of treasure
buried along the coast by Kidd on his return voyage from the
Indies。 Where along the Jersey sea…line were there safe harbors？
The train on which we were racing south had its rail head at
Barnegat Bay。 And between Barnegat and Red Bank there now was but
one other inlet； that of the Manasquan River。 It might be Barnegat；
it might be Manasquan。 It could not be a great distance from
either； toward the ocean down a broad； sandy road。 The season had
passed and the windows of the cottages and bungalows on either side
of the road were barricaded with planks。 On the verandas hammocks
abandoned to the winds hung in tatters； on the back porches the
doors of empty refrigerators swung open on one hinge； and on every
side above the fields of gorgeous golden…rod rose signs reading
〃For Rent。〃 When we had progressed in silence for a mile； the sandy
avenue lost itself in the deeper sand of the beach； and the horse
of his own will came to a halt。
On one side we were surrounded by locked and deserted bathing
houses； on the other by empty pavilions shuttered and barred
against the winter； but still inviting one to 'Try our salt water
taffy〃 or to 〃Keep cool with an ice…cream soda。〃 Rupert turned and
looked inquiringly at Edgar。 To the north the beach stretched in an
unbroken line to Manasquan Inlet。 To the south three miles away we
could see floating on the horizon…like a mirage the hotels and
summer cottages of Bay Head。
〃Drive toward the inlet；〃 directed Edgar。 〃This gentleman and I
will walk。〃
Relieved of our weight； the horse stumbled bravely into the
trackless sand； while below on the damper and firmer shingle we
walked by the edge of the water。
The tide was coming in and the spent waves； spreading before them
an advance guard of tiny shells and pebbles； threatened our boots'
and at the same time in soothing； lazy whispers warned us of their
attack。 These lisping murmurs and the crash and roar of each
incoming wave as it broke were the only sounds。 And on the beach we
were the only human figures。 At last the scene began to bear some
resemblance to one set for an adventure。 The rolling ocean； a coast
steamer dragging a great column of black smoke； and cast high upon
the beach the wreck of a schooner； her masts tilting drunkenly；
gave color to our purpose。 It became filled with greater promise of
drama； more picturesque。 I began to thrill with excitement。 I
regarded Edgar appealingly； in eager supplication。 At last he broke
the silence that was torturing me。
〃We will now walk higher up；〃 he commanded。 〃If we get our feet
wet； we may take cold。〃
My spirit was too far broken to make reply。 But to my relief I saw
that in leaving the beach Edgar had some second purpose。 With each
heavy step he was drawing toward two high banks of sand in a hollow
behind which； protected by the banks； were three stunted；
wind…driven pines。 His words came back to me。
〃So many what…you…may…call…'ems。〃 Were these pines the three
somethin
