Part 29 (1/2)

Fred, who remembered how the bully had tried to put on him the theft of some examination papers at Rally Hall, hesitated, but Teddy, who noticed how shabby and downcast Andy looked, intervened

”I guess we ht fix it up,” he ventured to say ”Just let me speak to the others for a minute”

They had a short conference, as a result of which Teddy collected and handed over the five dollars that Andy desired

Andy's thanks were profuse, but after having tucked theof his old surly manner returned He took leave of his benefactors with scant cereet rid of him that they hardly noticed this

”After all,” reo down the street, ”five dollars isn't soto lose a lot ain”

The boys made their purchases and took their way to the place that Lester had in h sand dune, overgroith coarse grass It afforded an excellent view of the sea and also furnished a coreat!” exclairub and pitch in

I could eat a barrel full of brass tacks and never know I had eaten anything”

”I guess you wouldn't know anything very long,” laughed Lester, as he proceeded to lay out the provisions

The eatables vanished with surprising speed, and after the first sharp edge of their hunger had worn off, the conversation turned, as it usually did these days, to their quest for thein frorass kept up a constant rustling This sound served adure that had followed the boys at a distance ever since they had left Bartanet This figure crept closer and closer to the sand dune, until only a projecting hump concealed it from the five boys on the seaward side

As it attained this position of vantage, Teddy was addressing a remark to Ross

”Haven't you lost a bit of your confidence yet, Ross?” he queried

”Not a particle,” affirmed Ross stoutly ”We'll find that treasure, sooner or later, if it ever was actually hidden in the neighborhood of Bartanet Shoals”

”You bet ill!” declared Fred, ”even if we have to i up the whole territory”

”I hope it will be soon,” interposed Bill ”It'll be us for Rally Hall, you know, before long, and then what chance e have?”

”Keep a stiff upper lip,” counseled Lester ”We've just begun to fight”

During the conversation the eavesdropper had lain quietly and listened with the closest attention Now he edged away cautiously, and when he had reached a sufficient distance rose to his feet and hurried back in the direction of Bartanet

The boys light-heartedly got into their boat and rowed back to the lighthouse without the slightest suspicion that almost all they had said had been overheard by Andy Shanks

That rascal hastened back to town, his brain awhirl with dreah to know that there was treasure buried in or around Bartanet, and he also knew that the boys whom he held in hatred were in search of it What joy to steal the riches fro thee those vices in which he delighted!

Before Andy had gone far, he e youths whose acquaintance he had recentlyfelloas na for practical jokes, and after Andy, with his usual boastfulness, had thrown out sly hints about knowing how to ”pick up all the money that he wanted,” Morton scented a chance tothe sources froet his wealth, Morton did not hesitate to i through his hat”

”Notby the imputation ”I tell you I know there's oodles of money buried somewhere around here and what's more, if you'll help me to find it, I'll let you in for a share of it”